548 MEMOIR OF 
His evenings were always passed in the midst of his family, 
either in joining them in the little family concerts with which, 
like bis father, he always wished to close the day, or in read- 
ing aloud to them some of those works by which he thought 
their tastes or their minds might be improved; or, not unfre- 
quently, when none but his more intimate friends were pre- 
sent, in sharing with his younger children in those various 
youthful amuseinents which contribute so much to the gaiety 
of domestic life, and in which the affections of kindred, and 
the love of home, are so well, though so insensibly cultivated. 
Of this scene of simple and virtuous happiness, there are 
some present who will not easily part with the remembrance, 
though accompanied with the melancholy reflection that they 
can meet it no more; and Mr Mackenzie will, I trust, forgive 
me for reminding him of an expression which he used to me 
many years ago, when I accidentally met him upon the road as 
he was returning from Woodhouselee, and which conyeys so 
much better than any thing I can say, the character of the 
scene. “ I hope,” said he, “ that you are going to Wood- 
“ houselee ; for no man can go there without being happier, 
“ or return from it without being better.” 
To this picture, however, there is yet another feature to be 
added : it is in the sentiments with which Mr Tyrer felt the 
prosperity he enjoyed. In the little MS. volume from which I 
have formerly quoted, (and from which I should more fre- 
quently quote, if I did not feel it a kind of profanation to ex- 
pose to the eyes of the world that train of secret thought which 
was intended. only for the eyes of his children), I find the fol- 
lowing passage, for the introduction of which, I am sure I need 
no apology, and which expresses, in a manner which no bio- 
grapher can do, the governing principles and persuasions of his 
mind. It was written on his birth-day, 15th October 1795. 
6h I 
