CHARACTERS. 



7^5 



promising talents wliich he disco- 

 vered, had resolved to send him to 

 the university ; but a premature 

 death deprived Iiim of this advan- 

 tage, and imperiously called upon 

 liim to relinquish such pursuits, and 

 to devote his time and abilities to 

 the support of his mother's family. 

 This duty, for a long series ol jears, 

 lie discharged with assiduity and af- 

 fection : and whatever pleasure or 

 instruction the public have derived 

 from Dr. Beatties's writings, they 

 ought to consider themselves u£ in- 

 debted for it to the fostering, gene- 

 rous, and, I may say, parental care 

 of his elder brother. 



Of a character so interesting, one 

 would wish to be acquainted with 

 particulars, but the hand of time has 

 now consigned them to oblivion. 



In his earl}' years, Dr. Beattie 

 was of a very weakly constitution. 

 • It is, however, of little consequence 

 to inquire in what particular year 

 he went to school ; it is likely he 

 would afford as early indications of 

 a capacity to acquire the elements 

 of knowledge, as the generality of 

 boys exhibit; and this, it will be 

 admitted, is the oidinary and com- 

 mon maxim, whereby a parent is 

 actuated, when resolved on sending 

 achild to school. 



A narrative of the most minute 

 circumstances in the history of 

 the progress of a man of letters, 

 will be considered, by every judi- 

 cious person, as a most invaluable 

 treasure. We are informed, that 

 tlie first opportunity he ever had of 

 being acquainted with Virgil, was 

 through the medinm of Ogilvie's 

 translation. 



TfSe ])racticc of writing Latin 

 verses has never been generally in- 

 troduced into the public schools of 

 **cotlaiid, Beattie hail seldom, or 

 2 



never surely, attempted this in the 

 early part of his life, because he was 

 wont to confess, at a time when he 

 had already acquired the most dis- 

 tinguished reputation as an author of 

 real poetical genius, that he expe- 

 rienced great difficulty when he 

 tried it. 



At a very early period of life, 

 Beattio was distinguished by his 

 fellow scholars, not only by the su- 

 periority of his powers, but by bis 

 indefatigable application. He was 

 always in the highest station in his 

 class. 



The particular circumstances at- 

 tending the progress of his fame 

 among his school fellows, I cannot 

 now ascertain. It is an unquestion- 

 able truth, that he was called Poet 

 Beattie at school. Owing to the 

 delicate state of his health, his eldest 

 sister Elizabeth, always accompa* 

 nicd him to school. This young 

 lady died at an early age. Ilor at- 

 tach ui en t to her brother was so 

 great, that she not only gave attend- 

 ance at the public school, but as- 

 sisted him in private, and made such 

 proficiency, that she could read 

 Virgil with facility. 



The time now approached when 

 Beattie was to enter upon liis aca- 

 demicaJ course. In Scotland aa»< 

 cess is more easily obtained to the 

 higher establishments for learning 

 than in England. That is, persons 

 of moderate circumstances, if they 

 are disposed, have it in their power 

 to give the youth the best opportu- 

 nity of improvement which- the 

 country can afford. 'I he acutencss 

 of David Beattie had, for a consi- 

 derable time, discerned the very su- 

 perior talents of his brother, (lene- 

 rously disposed to aiibrd him 

 every opportunity to exert those 

 abilities wbich be had displayed at 



tcLooI} 



