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No. XI.

REV. THOMAS SOMERVILLE, D. D. F.R.S.E., &c.

ONE OF THE CHAPLAINS IN ORDINARY TO HIS MAJESTY, AND

MINISTER OF JEDBURGH.

THERE is perhaps no class of men in this or any other country more generally distinguished for learning, intelligence, and moral worth, than the officiating clergy of the Scottish Church.

As historians, biblical critics, and moral philosophers, many of them have long held a distinguished rank in the republic of letters; while not a few have successfully laboured to enlarge the boundaries of science, and improve the mechanical and useful arts nor have the lighter species of literature been wholly neglected by them, though the leaven of puritanical prejudice which continued even so late as the beginning of the present century to prevail amongst the great body of the Scottish Presbyterians against the stage, rendered the cultivation of the drama by their clergy extremely unpopular, and consequently rare.

Amongst the eminent characters who have, during the present and foregoing age, filled the pastoral office in Scotland, there are few whose names are more intimately connected with the history of the Church and of literature than the highly gifted and estimable subject of the present brief Memoir.

Thomas Somerville was born in the spring of 1741, at Hawick, a small village in Roxburghshire, situated near the confines of the Scottish border, of which parish his father was minister. By the death of the Rev. Mr. Somerville, his son and two sisters were left orphans, having lost their mother several years before. But the deprivation the youthful stu

dent sustained from the loss of parental guidance, was in a great measure compensated to him by the kindness of the Rev. Mr. Cranstown, of Ancrum, and another member of the Presbytery of Jedburgh, to which his deceased parent belonged. Of the benefits conferred on him by the guardianship of those pious divines, Dr. Somerville retained during life a lively and grateful recollection, and ever spoke of their memory with filial reverence and regard.

Having received the rudiments of his education, we believe, at the Grammar School of Hawick, young Somerville in due time became an Alumnus of the University of Edinburgh, which at a later period conferred on him the degree of D. D.

Without evincing any uncommon precocity of talent, it should seem that he passed through the preparatory studies with credit to himself, and was regularly licensed as a preacher of the Gospel in the autumn of 1762, or during the early portion of the succeeding year.

Returning shortly afterwards to Roxburghshire, the young probationer was received into the family of Sir Gilbert Elliott, of Minto, in the capacity of preceptor to his son, the late Lord Minto, afterwards Governor-general of India. Here, however, he did not long remain; for, in 1767, the church of Minto becoming vacant, the presentation was bestowed by Sir Gilbert Elliott on his son's tutor, who immediately left the family of his patron to assume the pastoral charge of that congregation. Dr. Somerville continued to fill this office, however, only a few years; in 1772, on the translation of Dr. James Macknight to Edinburgh, the interest of his former patron was successfully exerted to procure for him the vacant and more lucrative living of Jedburgh. Hitherto the life of the future historian of William had flowed on in a clear and unruffled course; but he was now fated to endure one of those popular storms, which try the temper and afford a touchstone to the principles of men.

The act of Anne reviving church patronage in Scotland had always been extremely unpopular amongst the great body of the Presbyterians, and given occasion to much

violent discussion in their Synods and in the General Assembly; and only a few years previously to the period of which we write, produced a schism in this very parish of Jedburgh, which laid the foundation of the Relief Secession, now so widely extended over Scotland.

Except, however, in the above and a few other instances of violent settlements, as they are termed, the right of patronage had been exercised with so much delicacy and discretion as rarely to become a cause of offence.* In most cases the patron either consulted the inclinations of the majority of the congregation, or the presentee himself declined accepting the charge under circumstances in which the exercise of his pastoral functions must have been equally unpleasant to himself and unprofitable to his flock.

Different, however, it should seem, were the opinions and feelings of Dr. Somerville on this subject, for he unhesitatingly declared his acceptance of the presentation, in direct opposition to the opinion of a great majority of the congregation; and after repeated protests against his settlement on the part of the parishioners, the Presbytery sustained the legality of the nomination.

Whatever might be the cause of the reverend presentee's extreme unpopularity, whatever objections were alleged against the orthodoxy of his creed, or his mode of public teaching, his most strenuous opponents were compelled to admit the correctness of his moral character; and several of the most discontented having seceded to the Relief-meeting, tranquillity was gradually restored.

It is probable Dr. Somerville had first imbibed a taste for political studies during his residence in the family of Sir Gilbert Elliott; but however this may be, soon after the commencement of the American revolutionary war, he began his

The late excellent Earl of Kinnoul, the enlightened friend of the Kirk of Scotland and its clergy, used to say, that though he would not promote any minister of whom he entertained not a good opinion, however earnestly the people might desire it, far less would he force even a good man into a parish, against whom the majority of the parishioners had conceived invincible prejudices. Scotch Preacher.

literary career by the publication of a pamphlet entitled "Candid Thoughts on American Independence."

This production, which was written in a spirit of determined hostility to the claims of the Colonists, in no long time drew forth a reply from Mr. Tod, of Kirtlands, called "Consolatory Thoughts on American Independence, by a Merchant," in which many of the postulates and conclusions of the reverend author were ably examined and successfully combated.

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A History of the Political Transactions, and of Parties, from the Restoration of Charles II. to the Death of King William," next appeared from the pen of Dr. Somerville, in 1792.

In this work the author displays great patience of research, an enlarged acquaintance with facts, and, on the whole, a commendable spirit of impartiality, except where the character of William is concerned. An ill-concealed partiality for this monarch forms a most striking feature in his political disquisitions; on all occasions he stands forth his uncompromising advocate and warm panegyrist. He vindicates him from the accusation preferred against him by Count d'Auvaux, the French Ambassador, of having, when Prince of Orange, been an accessory to the invasion of Monmouth; and likewise from a similar charge by Dr. M'Cormick, respecting Argyle's rebellion. He defends him from the accusation of bigotry, and an undue partiality for Calvinism, alleged against him by Macpherson, and maintains that his interference in continental politics was by no means at variance with the true interests of the British empire. Though many will doubtless dissent from the accuracy of the reverend author's reasonings, and deny the validity of his conclusions, on those and other subjects, none, we think, can withhold from him the praise of being an acute and able apologist for the doubtful policy of this prince.

In 1793, this indefatigable author published a small pamphlet "On the Constitution and State of Great Britain," now out of print.

About this period Dr. Somerville was nominated one of the

Chaplains in ordinary to his Majesty for Scotland, and also elected a Member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

In 1798 he published a a "History of the Reign of Queen Anne," dedicated by permission to George III.; and the author being, at the time of its publication, in London *, was introduced at St. James's, and personally presented a copy of the work to his Sovereign.

The same patience of research which characterised the former productions of Dr. Somerville, is exhibited in the present work. The scattered details of the various transactions of this stirring period are carefully and luminously arranged, though less new light is thrown on the different events, and more especially on the details immediately relating to the Union, than the author seems to imagine. The apology attempted to be set up for the selfish and disgraceful conduct of those who brought about this measure, is unsupported by original documents, and is besides highly objectionable, and wholly at variance with the moral feeling displayed throughout the writings of the reverend author.

Dr. Somerville's historical style, if not splendid, is in general correct, sometimes even elegant; - his delineations of character are spirited; and on that of Lord Somers he dilates with much animation; but however eminent the services of this nobleman, in bringing about and cementing the Revolution, his acceptance of large grants of lands must ever cast a shade of suspicion over the purity and disinterestedness of the motives by which he was actuated.

* On the day subsequent to his arrival, while in the lobby of the House of Commons, Dr. S. was arrested, and taken to Bow Street on a charge of felony. Thunderstruck, and utterly incapable of accounting for the strange predicament in which he was placed, our bewildered divine could scarcely avail himself of the polite advice of the magistrate, to apprise his friends of the circumstance. Meanwhile the late Lord M., then Sir Harry Dundas, who had witnessed his seizure, entered the office, and having satisfied the magistrate of the respectability of his countryman, indulged in a hearty laugh at his expense.

A notorious and specious swindler had been, it should seem, a passenger on board the packet in which Dr. S. came to London; and being seen in the company of this man on their landing, led to his arrest as an accomplice.

This anecdote the writer has often heard Dr. S. relate with much pleasantry.