the pursuits of sacred literature. The chief founder of that society, which was denominated the Theological Club, was Dr Campbell;* besides whom, the principal members were, the Reverend Dr John Glennie, who afterwards successfully conducted an academy in the parish of Mary Coulter, in the county of Kincardine, of which he was minister, to a very advanced

* The Rev. Dr George Campbell, Principal of Marischal College, and Professor of Divinity, distinguished as a scholar and a divine by his valuable publications in the cause of religion; in particular, his "Essay on Miracles," in opposition to the doctrine of Mr Hume, has ever been esteemed one of the most acute and most convincing argumentative treatises on that great and fundamental doctrine of revealed religion, that has ever appeared. His translation of the "Four Gospels," with the accompanying dissertations, is a work of much erudition: and his "Philosophy of Rhetoric" is a very classical performance, in which the laws of elegant composition and just criticism are laid down with singular taste and perspicuity. Dr Campbell, with whom I had the happiness of being long intimately acquainted, besides being eminently learned as a writer, was a man of the utmost simplicity of manners and naiveté of character; pleasant and agreeable in conversation, and most attentive to the discharge of all the duties of his station as a minister of the gospel, and a public instructor of the youth committed to his care. The strongest friendship and strictest intimacy took place, at a very early period, between Dr Campbell and Dr Beattie, which continued, without interruption, to the close of Dr Campbell's life, which happened at Aberdeen, 6th April, 1796, in the 77th year of his age.

-period of life;* Dr Trail, afterwards Lord Bishop of Down and Connor in Ireland; and the Reverend Mr John Skinner, of the Episcopal church in Scotland, author of an Ecclesiastical History of that country, who, at the age of 83, is now the only surviving member of the society. It lasted during several years, until most of its members, having been settled as ministers in country parishes, removed to a considerable distance from Aberdeen.

In the beginning of the year 1758, a new society was formed, chiefly by the Reverend Dr Reid, † and his friend and relation, Dr John Gre

* To the memory of Dr Glennie, who first taught me the rudiments of learning, when I attended his English school at Aberdeen, I am happy in the opportunity of thus publicly testifying my most sincere respect; and that gratitude which I shall ever feel towards him for the warm interest he was pleased to take in the direction of my early studies. A strong and mutual regard subsisted between us ever after, during the long period of more than half a century. He died in 1801. His son married Dr Beattie's niece; and to him I here acknowledge my obligations for the materials with which he has taken the trouble to furnish me respecting the early part of the life of Dr Beattie.

†The Reverend Dr Thomas Reid, professor first at Aberdeen, afterwards in the university of Glasgow, whose "Inquiry into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense," and his " Essays on the Intellectual and Active Powers of Man," have deservedly ranked him among the first philosophical and

gory,

on a more extensive plan, for the discussion of literary and philosophical subjects. The

metaphysical writers of our age. He left Aberdeen not long after Dr Beattie was settled there. But the friendship which they had early contracted for each other continued unabated to the close of their lives. For farther particulars of Dr Reid, who died in the year 1796, in his 87th year, see an elegant and well written account of his life by my friend Professor Dugald Stewart of Edinburgh.

* Dr John Gregory, at that time professor of medicine in the university of Old Aberdeen, with whom Dr Beattie became early acquainted; and a friendship was formed between them, of the sincerest and most intimate nature, which lasted unimpaired to the death of Dr Gregory. Not long after the period here spoken of, he removed to Edinburgh, from a consciousness of his own talents, which he justly deemed calculated for a more extensive sphere than that wherein he was placed at Aberdeen. In Edinburgh he soon obtained a chair in that celebrated school of medicine, was honoured with the office of first physician to his majesty for Scotland, and speedily arrived at high eminence in the practice of his profession. His publications of " A comparative View of the State and Faculties of Man, with those of the Animal World," of his " Lectures on the Duties and Offices of a Physician," and his beautiful little address to his daughters, published after his death, with the title of " A Father's Legacy," show, in a most conspicuous point of view, the goodness of his heart as a man, and his merit as a philosopher. He possessed an elegant taste, and an intimate acquaintance with the world. He was, moreover, a person of much piety, and a Christian in the best sense of the word. Of manners uncommonly gentle and engaging, his society was courted by persons of the first distinction; and he lived in intimacy with the most eminent literary characters of his time, both in England and Scotland.

original members were, Dr Reid, Dr Gregory, Dr David Skene, a physician of genius and taste, particularly skilful in botany; the Reverend Dr Robert Trail, nephew of the Bishop of Down and Connor; and Dr Stewart, professor of mathematics in Marischal college. To these were afterwards added, Dr Gerard,* Dr George Skene, physician and professor of natural philosophy in the same university; the Reverend Mr John Farquhar, and Dr Beattie. This literary society,

He honoured me very early, and in a particular degree, with his friendship, of which he gave the most unequivocal proof, by naming me one of the guardians of his children. And I now look back, with a melancholy satisfaction, to the many pleasing and instructive hours I have spent in his company. For a more particular account of Dr Gregory, who died 9th February, 1773, see his life, written by Lord Woodhouselee, prefixed to his works.

*The Reverend Dr Alexander Gerard, professor of divinity, first in Marischal College, New Aberdeen, afterwards in King's College, Old Aberdeen, was another of that set of learned and philosophical friends, from whose writings those two universities have justly derived so great celebrity. He was distinguished by his publications, viz. “An Essay on Taste," to which was adjudged the gold prize-medal by the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh; "Dissertations on the Genius and Evidences of Christianity;"" An Essay on Genius;" and two volumes of sermons. Dr Beattie and he were constant and intimate friends from their first acquaintance. He died 22d February, 1795.

† Author of two volumes of excellent sermons, published af

(or rather club, for it was a convivial meeting in a tavern,) which the vulgar and uninformed denominated the Wise Club, subsisted for several years, and seems to have had the happiest effect in awakening and directing that spirit of philosophical research, which has reflected so much lustre on the north of Scotland. The members (says the elegant author of the life of Dr Gregory,) were persons of distinguished abilities and learning, attached to the same plan, and engaged in similar pursuits. The animosities and the mean jealousies, which so often disgrace the characters of literary men, were unknown to those friends, who, educated in one school, professing no opposite tenets, or contending principles, seem to have united themselves as in one common cause, the defence of virtue, of religion, and of truth.

It would be curious, in many instances, (continues the author whom I quote,) to trace the history of those literary compositions, which have instructed or amused the world, and to mark their progress from their first rude sketches to

ter his death, by his two friends, Dr Campbell and Dr Gerard. He was brother to Sir Walter Farquhar, Bart. physician in London.