1801. ] 
the duties of his minifterial capacity and Profef- 
for of the Univerfity. the Doctor alfo appeared 
in the character of an Author. His firft publi- 
cation sbeing,, * A Critical’ Differtation on 
the Poems af Offian,? which is perhaps the 
moft perfe& critical compofition extant in the 
Englith language. In 1777, he publithed a 
volume of Sermons, which had been fo much 
aimired when delivered from the pulpit. 
The MSS. was fent to Mr. Strahan, a cele- 
brated booicfeller, in London, who rather 
difcouraged its publication, but by fome ac- 
cident, fent one of the Sermons for Dr. 
John{on’s opinion, who after the unfavourable 
Jetter had been fent off by Mr. Strahan to Dr. 
Blair, fent a letter returning the fermen, of 
which the following was.a paragraph: *¢ I 
have read over Dr. Blair’s firft fermon, with 
more than approbation :—to fay it is good, is 
to fay too little.” ~ Mr. Strahan. had fhortly 
after a converfation with Dr. Johnfon, and’ 
" then wrote to Dr. Blair enclofing Dr. John- 
fon’s note, agreeing to give sol. for the 
volume. The fale of the book was fo rapid 
that a further prefent of sol. was afterwards 
fent to Dr. Blair by the publifher. Her majefty 
on hearing one of thefe fermons read by the 
late Earl of Mansfield, the patron of Scottith 
genius, fettled a penfion of 2col. per ann. on the 
author, to which an addition of rool. a year 
was made on his retiring from the Le€turefhip 
of the Univerfity. The unprecedented fuc- 
cefs of this volume, andthe folicitations of 
the publither, prompted Dr. Blair, to produce 
a fecond volume, for which he received 200). 
But the whole fum fince received for the two 
volumes madeup soel. On propofing a third 
volume, he was offered 6001. for the copy- 
right; and it is confidently reported, that 
his fourth volume produced » him 2000]. 
Thefe-well known fermons have been tranflat- 
ed into the French, Dutch, German, Hun- 
gariany and Italian languages, . the ~famous 
Zimmerman in his Treatife on Solitude quotes 
them asa model of the moft perfe& lite- 
rary excellence, In 1783, being far advanced 
in years, Dr. Blair retired from the exercife 
of public duties, his falary however was con- 
Account of Dr? Blair. 
183 
tinued for life. It was at this epoch, -that 
he arranged his Leé€tures for publication, 
which have been read with the fame avidity 
as his fermons, and tranflated into the before- 
mentioned languages, For this work, Dr. 
Blair received from Mr.Cadell, rsool. In 
1796, was -publifhhed, ‘* The Compaffionate 
Bencficence of the Deity,” a Sermon, preach~ 
ed before the Society inftituted, for the bene- 
fit of the Sons of the.Clergy, of the efa- 
blifhed Church of Scotland. We need only 
fay, that this performance adds additional 
luftre to the author’s fame, and has fince been 
affixed to the fourth volume of his fermons. 
As a private chara&ter, Dr. Blair was no lefs 
deferving-admiration- 5 his manners, were un- 
affuming and-his preferments the reward of 
virtue and literary attainments. For fome 
years preceding his death, he-preached but 
feldom, owing to his great age; Kauimes, 
Smith, Hume, Robertfon, Bofwell and 
Ferguflon, were among the number of his 
friends and admirers ; all the MSS. of Dr. 
Robertfon were communicated to Dr. Blair, 
nor did he efteem himfelf fecure from criti- 
cifm, till they had undergone his ftritures. 
Dr. Robertfon lived in the habits of literary 
intimacy with Dr Blair, andon the deceafe 
of the former, it was the general wiih thae 
Dr. Blair fhould fucceed him as'Principal of 
the Univerfity; but this he declined on ac- 
count of his age. In his political opinions, 
he was zealoufly attached to the Britifh Con- 
ftitution, as an author noman had ever fo 
few enemies; his library was well chofen, 
and one of the beit in Edinburgh, and his 
fortune ample. He had but one child, a 
very accomplifhed and beautiful daughter, who 
was taken from him by a fever in the blof- 
fom of her youth and beauty. Mrs. Blair, 
nearly the fame age as her hufband, died fome 
years fince. It will be needlefs to. add, that 
the man whofe life was fo exemplary, and 
whofe talents reflected fuch glory on his na- 
tive Jand, is univerfally lamented by his 
country-men, as well as every lover of virtue 
and literary pre-eminence. ] 
PROVINCIAL OCCURRENCES. 
WITH ati tHe MARRIAGES anp DEATHS, 
Arranged geographically, or in the Order of the Counties, from North to South. 
r*, Authentic Communications for this Department are always very thankfully received. ] 
NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM, 
Ata general quarter feflions held at Mor- 
peth before the juftices af the peace, refolu- 
tions were entered into to abftain from the un- 
neceflary ufe of wheaten flour in paftry, &c. 
The ufe of every other {pecies of grain was alfo 
reftri&ted, particularly for th fubfiftence of 
‘horfes k:* for pleafure, 
The Duke of Northumberland has ordered 
a quantity of mixed meal to be given weekly 
at Alnwick Caftle to 13§ induftrious and la- 
bouring mechanics. es 
The M yor and Corporation of Durham 
have fubfcribed 3001. to the foup and rice 
kitchen of that city. 
The 
