548 MEMOIR OF 



His ev r enings 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 amusements 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 Woodbouselee, and which conveys 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 Tytler 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. 



" I 



