The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-30 00:00:00

ARCHIBALD

(Abridged from the Edinburgh Courant.)
Mr. Alison was the second son of a well-known and
respected citizen and Magistrate of Edinburgh, and was
bora here in the year 1757. He went to the Univer-
sity of Glasgow, in 1772, and afterwards became an ex-
hibitioner at Ballot College, Oxford, where he took the
degrees of A.M., and L LB. He then took orders,
and his first, preferment was to the curacy of Brance-
' path, in the county of Durham. Notwithstanding his
connection with England, he was of course, frequently
ia Edinburgh in the early part of his life, and he was
united here, in the year 1784, to the eldest 'daughter
of the celebrated Dr. John Gregory ; with her he lived
in happiness for forty-six years, and by her he had six
children, three of whom survive.
He owed his farther preferment in the English
Church to the friendship of the late Sir William Pulte-
ney, and between the years 1786 and 1800, was almost
constantly resident in England. In the latter year he
was invited by his much respected friend Sir William
Forbes, and the vestry of the Episcopal Chapel, Cow-
gate, to become senior minister of that chapel ; and he
continued to officiate to that congregation, which after-
wards removed to St. Paul's Chapel, York-place, until
a severe illness in 1831 compelled him to relinquish all
public duties.

- His character as a man of • taste, of literature,
and of science,. may be gathered from the names
of his friends and associates in the different pe-
riods of life. The earliest and most intimate
friendship he formed was with Dugald Stewart. It
commenced . at Glasgow College -in 1772, and -con-
tinued without a single interruption Until the death of
the latter in 1828: Among' his intimate ..friends at
Oxford were Sir W. Jones, pr. White (Professor of
Arabic and author of the. Bampton Lectures), Mickle,
the author of the Lusiad, and Dr. Matthew Baillie.
Early in life he cultivated the acquaintance and ac-
quired the friendship and esteem of Dr. Adam Smith,
Dr. Adam Ferguson, Dr. Robertson, and Dr. Blair.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of
Edinburgh in the first year of its existence, and was the
intimate friend of many of its most distinguished mem-
bers—not only of Dugald Stewart, but of Dr. Gregory
(his brother-in-law), of Lord Woodhouselee, of Henry
Mackenzie, of Professor Playfair, of Dr. Thomas
Brown, of Lord Webbe Seymour, of Sir James Hall,
and of Sir David. Brewster. Indeed, his friend-
ship was sought by almost all the men of genius
and learning who have adorned our city dur-
ing the present century. Among those for whom he
had an affectionate feeling of regard, and who looked to
him with peculiar veneration, we may mention particu-
larly Dr. Morehead, long his colleague in Edinburgh,
the author of the " Pleasures of Hope," and Professor
Wilson. Of all his friendships with men of genius, none
gave him more gratification than that which he bad early
formed with the late Mr. Telford, the celebrated en-
gineer, the exertions of whose vigorous and enthusiastic
mind, ever intent on plans to improve and adorn his
native country, he always contemplated with peculiar
interest.

The elegance and refinement of his mind were
even more fully appreciated by his female acquaint-
ance ; and to those who are acquainted with
the direction given to the literature of the age
by female genius and worth, it will be suf-
ficient to say that he was the esteemed friend of Miss
Edgeworth, Mrs. Hemans, Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton,
and Mrs. Joanna Baillie. To these we may add the
names of two ladies, not known to the world as authors,
but for whose literary taste he had the highest respect,
and whose friendship was always to him a source both
of honour and happiness—Mrs. Duzald Stewart and
Lady Louisa Stewart.

His principal literary work was the Essays on the
Nature and Principles of Taste, the first edition of
which was published in 1790, and the second, with con-
siderable additions in 1811. Since then there have
been several editions published, both here and in Ame-
rica, and the work has been translated into French.
He used often to say, that the highest compliment he
had received, or could ever receive upon that work
was conveyed in the few emphatic words of his old
master in metaphysical science, Dr. Reid—" I think
your principles are just."
As a Minister of the Gospel, it was his fortune to
officiate for many years in two very different and
strongly contrasted situations—first, in a remote part of
England, where most of his parishioners were poor, and
remarkably illiterate ; and afterwards in a congregation
in Edinburgh, consisting almost entirely of highly edu.
cated persons, moving in the higher ranks of life. His
preparation for the instruction of the two classes of peo-
ple was, of course, very different ; but in both situations
he laboured with the same faithful zeal, the same bene-
volent feeling towards all his flock—the same heartfelt
anxiety for their temporal and eternal interests ; and
in both he was rewarded by the warm anti affectionate
attachment of all win came under his pastoral care.

NATIONAL EDUCATION. ST. MARY,
NEWINGToN.—Last night, a very numerous Vestry Meet-
ing of the parishioners of St. Mary, Newington, was
held at the Boys' School Room, near the Church, for the
puapose of taking into ernsideration "the Government
measure for the education of the people." After a short
statement from the Chairman, Mr. Sturge, a Member of
the Society of Friends, moved the following Resolution—.
"That this Meeting hails with peculiar satisfaction the inten-
tion of her Majesty's Government to propose a system of na-
tional education in accordance with the right of conscience.
The Rev. Mr. Page opposed the resolution, and after some
discussion, it was carried with only six dissentient votes.
A second resolution was proposed, to the effect that they
saw nothing i❑ the Government plan which interfered with
the proper functions of the Established Church, or tended
to the mutilation of the Scriptures. An amendment was
moved, but the original motion was carried. A petition '
was then drawn up in accordance with the resolution, to be
presented to the House of Lords by Lord Brougham, and
to the House of Commons by Mr. Hawes.
MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE.—Mr. Astley, of
horsemanship notoriety, was anything but a faithful disciple
of Lindley Murray, nor was he the most profound musical
theorist in the world, as the following anecdotes will testify.
When the band at his Amphitheatre was playing the over-
ture to some new piece, Astley, who was standing in the
ring, ob,erved the horn-players were not blowing; he
went up to them in a great rage, and cried out, " Why
don't you play as well as the rest of these here chaps ?"
One of the performers said, " We have twenty bars rest,
Sir." " Twenty bars rest I (cried he of the whip and spur),
I don't pay you for resting; play away, or I'll lay this
here vhip across your lazy shoulders I" On another occa-
aion one of the singers complained that a song she had to
sing was too high for her, on which great A., as ho used. to
be called, bounced to the leader of the band and said, " I
say, you sir, play that ere tune a bar lower for this here
voman when she squeaks it at night."—Cheltenham
Locker-on.