APPENDIX. (31) 



neutral or indifFerent about Mr Tytler. In philofophy and ^-.xyu«°W. 

 in hiftory, he could not bear the coldnefs, or what fome might 

 call the temperance of fcepticifm ; and what he firmly believed. 

 It was his difpofition keenly to urge. 



His mind was ftrongly impreffed by fentiments of religion. 

 His piety was fervent and habitual. He believed in the doc- 

 trine of a particular providence, fuperintending all the adions 

 of individuals, as well as the great operations of nature ; and 

 he had a conftant impreflion of the power, the wifdom, and the 

 benevolence of the Supreme Being. 



His reading was varioxis and extenlive. There was fcarcely 

 a fubjedl of Uterature or tafte, and few even of fcience, that 

 had not at times engaged his attention. In hiftory he was 

 deeply verfed ; and what he had read his ftrong retentive me- 

 mory enabled him eafily to recal. Ancient as well as modern 

 ftory was familiar to him, and in particular the Britifh hiftory, 

 which he had read with the moft minute and critical attention. 

 Of this, befides what he has given to the public, a great num- 

 ber of notes which he left in MS. touching many controverted 

 points in Englifh and Scottilh hiftory, afford the moft ample 

 proof. 



In muGc as a fcience he was uncommonly fkilled. It was 

 his favourite amufement ; and with that natural partiality 

 which all entertain for their favourite obje(fls, he was apt to af- 

 fign to it a degree of moral importance which fome might deem 

 a Uttle whimfical. He has often been heard to fay, that he ne- - 

 ver knew a good tafte in mufic afTociated with a malevolent: 

 heart ; and being afked, what prefcription he would recommend ' 

 for attaining an old age as healthful and happy as his own ? 

 " My prefcription, faid he, is fimple : fhort but cheerful meals, 

 m.ufic, and a good confcience." In his younger days, he had 

 been a good performer on the harpfichord ; but his chief inftru- 

 ment was the German-fiute, which he thought peculiarly adapt- 

 ed to the expreffion of thafe natural and limple melodies in: 



which ; 



