the reformers that attention and interest with which they are now increasingly regarded. It was during his residence at Turvey, also, that Mr. Richmond drew up several little narratives, under the titles of "The Dairyman's Daughter," "The Negro Servant," "The Young Cottager," "The Cottage Conversation,” “A Visit to the Infirmary," &c., which were originally (in substance) inserted in the earlier numbers of the "Christian Guardian," and which were afterwards published in a volume entitled "Annals of the Poor." These narratives consist of the stories of several of Mr. Richmond's parishioners, who had either spontaneously imbibed his own pious views, or on whom he enforced those views with a zeal and an anxiety which could spring only from the purest and most laudable motives. Of these productions millions have been circulated, and they have been translated into twenty languages. During his residence at Turvey, also, Mr. Richmond became extensively known to the public, as the cordial friend and ready advocate of the different religious societies which have, within the last thirty years, sprung up in this country. His persuasive and pathetic eloquence on these occasions will not soon be forgotten. It is believed that his earliest appearance in this character was on the ninth anniversary of the Church Missionary Society, before whom he was appointed, in 1809, to preach their annual sermon. Mr. Richmond's preaching, for a long series of years, was altogether extemporaneous. His ready utterance, his exuberant fancy, his aptness of illustration, his deep knowledge of divine subjects, rendered his sermons always interesting and useful. Perhaps he did not, upon common occasions, allow himself sufficient previous study; but, if this were his fault, he acted upon principle. Why," he would often say, " why need I labour, when our simple villagers are far more usefully instructed in my plain, easy, familiar manner? The only result would be, that I should address them in a style beyond their comprehension." His appearance on the platform of a public meeting was universally hailed with pleasure. His ready adaptation of passing incidents, the suavity of his addresses, sometimes solemn, sometimes even jocose, interspersed with interesting narratives, which he could so well relate, deservedly placed him high in public esteem. In 1814, Mr. Richmond was appointed Chaplain to the late Duke of Kent, by whom he was honoured with a share of his Royal Highness's friendship. In 1817, he was presented, by the late Emperor Alexander of Russia, with a splendid ring, as a testimony of the approbation with which his Imperial Majesty viewed the narratives in the "Annals of the Poor." Many peaceful years were passed by Mr. Richmond at Turvey. Happy in the bosom of his family, no man more excelled as a pattern of domestic virtues. At length, in 1825, his peace sustained a severe blow by the death of his second son, a youth in his nineteenth year. For this beloved child he had fostered many a fond hope and anxious expectation, and beheld, with all a father's joy, "non flosculos - sed jam certos atque deformatos fructus." This fair flower was withered by consumption; and the bereaved parent, though he submitted as a Christian, yet sorrowed as a man. In a few short months the stroke was repeated: intelligence arrived that his eldest son, who had been absent many years, had died on his voyage from India to England. These afflicting events had a great effect upon Mr. Richmond. His bodily health, too, seemed in some measure decaying. His multitude of pastoral duties were too heavy for his strength. For the last twelve months of his life he was troubled with an irritating cough, which seemed to indicate an affection of the lungs. He also contracted a violent cold, which issued in pleurisy; from which, however, he shortly appeared to be recovering. During all this time, when, certainly, no immediate danger was apprehended, he was peacefully and quietly setting his house in order. It soon, however, became evident that the flood of life was ebbing, calmly, yet fast; and at length, on the 8th of May, 1827, without pain or struggle, Mr. Richmond expired. The foregoing Memoir is an abridgment of an Introduction, by the Rev. John Ayre (Mr. Richmond's son-in-law), to a new edition, recently published, of "Annals of the Poor." 256 No. XX. DUGALD STEWART, ESQ. AUTHOR OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN MIND; AND 66 FORMERLY PROFESSOR OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE In announcing the death of so illustrious an individual,” it has been justly observed, " though it may seem to be some alleviation that he has filled up the term of human existence, yet, when we consider his character, moral as well as intellectual, his private worth, his amiable qualities, his splendid talents, the mind is overborne by the sudden impression of so great a calamity, and yields to emotions which could have no place under the ordinary dispensations of humanity. For a period of more than thirty-nine or forty years, the name of Mr. Stewart has adorned the literature of his country; and it is pleasing to remark, as a striking evidence of the influence of private worth, to what a high degree of distinction he attained in society, though he lived in academical retirement, without official influence or dignity of any sort. It is well known that he devoted his life to the prosecution of that science of which Dr. Reid was the founder, but which was little known or attended to, until its great doctrines were expounded by Mr. Stewart in that strain of copious and flowing eloquence for which he was distinguished, and which, by divesting it of every thing abstruse and repulsive, rendered it popular, and recommended it to the attention of ordinary readers. But greatly as he distinguished himself in his works, he was even more eminent as a public teacher. He was fluent, animated, and impressive; in his manner there was both grace and dignity. In some of his finest passages he kindled into all the fervour of extemporaneous eloquence, and we believe, indeed, that these were frequently the unpremeditated effusions of his mind. His success corresponded to his merits. He commanded, in an uncommon degree, the interest and attention of his numerous class; and no teacher, we believe, ever before completely succeeded in awakening in the minds of his admiring pupils, that deep and ardent love of science, which, in many cases, was never afterwards effaced. Mr. Stewart's life was devoted to literature and science. He had acquired the most extensive information, as profound as it was exact; and he was, like many, or, we may rather say, like all, great philosophers, distinguished by the faculty of memory to a surprising degree, by which we do not, of course, mean that sort of mechanical memory frequently to be seen in weak minds, which remembers every thing indiscriminately, what is trifling as well as what is important, but that higher faculty, which is connected with, and depends on, a strong and comprehensive judgment; which, looking abroad from its elevation on the various field of knowledge, sees the exact position and relation of every fact, to the great whole of which it forms a part; and exactly estimating its importance, retains all that is worth retaining, and throws away what is useless. For this great quality of a philosophical mind, Mr. Stewart was remarkable; and he dispensed his stores of knowledge either for instruction or amusement, as suited the occasion, in the most agreeable manner. He was of a most companionable disposition, and was endeared to the social circle of his friends, as much by his mild and beneficent character, which was entirely free from every taint of jealousy or envy, as he was admired for his talents." The following interesting Memoir of this eminent and excellent person, we have derived from a source which enables VOL. XIII. * Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine. S |