38 HIS TORT of the SOCIETT. 



©rDryfdaL. ProvoSt, or chief Magistrate, of the fame town. He received 

 the elements of claflical learning at the parifh fchool, under 

 David Miller, a man who had alfo the honour of inftrucling 

 the celebrated Adam Smith, and James Oswald of Dunikeir, 

 perfons who have reflected fo much luflre on their country, the 

 one as a philofopher and man of letters, and the other as an 

 eminent ftatefman. Under the fame matter, were alfo educated 

 Dr John Oswald, Bilhop of Raphoe in Ireland, and 

 Dr George Kay, one of the minifters of Edinburgh, men 

 likewife of considerable talents and accomplifhments. So that 

 Miller had reafon to boaft, that few individual mailers of the 

 molt opulent and celebrated fchools, had fent from their tuition 

 a greater number of eminent men, than had been fent by him 

 from the obfcure fchool of Kirkaldy. 



While at fchool, John Drysdale greatly distinguished 

 himfelf as a claflical fcholar ; and there he contracted that Strict 

 friendfhip with the mod eminent of his fchoolfellows, particu- 

 larly Mr Oswald and Mr Smith, which continued unim- 

 paired through life. When he was thought to be fufficiently 

 prepared for the Univerfity, to which young men go at a much 

 earlier period in this country than in England, he was fent to 

 College at Edinburgh in the year 1732. He there profecuted 

 his Studies with great fuccefs, and foon attracted the notice of 

 the ProfefTors, by the rapid progrefs he made in the acquisition 

 of knowledge. After palling through the ordinary courfes of 

 languages and philofophy, he engaged in the Study of divinity, 

 the ultimate object of his repairing to the Univerfity ; and 

 having profecuted this the ufual time, he was admitted to trials, 

 according to the forms of the Church of Scotland, before the 

 PreSbytery of Kirkaldy j and by them licenfed to preach the 

 Gofpel, in the year 1740. 



He was foon after employed as afliSlant to the Reverend 

 Mr James Bannatyne, minifter of the College Church, Edin- 

 burgh j and while he publicly officiated there, he was much 



2 admired 



