Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 3.djvu/290

318 the care of a maternal uncle at Lecropt, young FinLayson was sent to school at Kinbuck, in the neighbourhood of his father's house ; and at the age of ten was removed to that of Dumblane. At this early period, he was conspicuous among his playmates, not only for a gayety and energy of character, which placed him at the head of every plan of frolic or amusement, but at the same time for an uncommon degree of application to his juvenile studies, combined with an understanding naturally clear, and a memory so retentive, as to enable him to outstrip the greater number of his school-fellows. As it had been resolved, that he should devote himself to the clerical profession, he was sent at the early age of fourteen, to the university of Glasgow, where he commenced his preparatory course of study; there, his habits of industry were confirmed, his mind enlarged and invigorated, and his taste for literature and science acquired, under the instruction of the very eminent professors who then adorned that seminary.

In order to relieve his parents of the expense which necessarily attended his residence at college, he engaged in private teaching; and during the summer vacation, he employed himself in giving instruction to his younger brothers. During two years, he acted as tutor in the family of Mrs Campbell of Carie, and afterwards, with the intervention of a summer, which he devoted to private study, he was employed in the same capacity in the family of Mr Cooper of Glasgow. Professor Anderson, who had discovered his superior abilities and great steadiness, employed him for some time as his amanuensis; and in the year 1782, he had the good fortune to become domestic tutor to two sons of Sir William Murray of Ochtertyre.

There were many circumstances which rendered this connexion desirable to Mr Finlayson. The greater number of young men who engage as tutors in Scotland, look forward to a pastoral charge as the ultimate object of their ambition. The interest of the Ochtertyre family was amply sufficient to accomplish that object Sir William was a man of general information, of a liberal turn of mind, who derived much pleasure from the conversation of an ingenious and intelligent companion; and few persons were more suited to his taste than Mr Finlayson, whose manners were modest and unpresuming, and whose knowledge was accurate and extensive. Possessed of great natural acuteness and originality, his conversation was highly instructive, and rendered him a valuable addition in the retirement of a country residence. As the family spent the winter in Edinburgh, when his pupils attended the high school, Mr Finlayson, had many opportunities of improvement At the same time that he assisted them in their tasks, he resumed his own studies with renewed vigour; he attended the divinity hall, and other of the university classes. About this time also, he became a member of the theological society, a body still in existence. Although he took an active part in the discussions which were introduced, and although the extent of his knowledge and the philosophical precision of his language placed him far above the majority of his companions; yet it cannot be denied that Mr Finlayson's talents were by no means such as fitted him either to shine as an orator, or make a figure in extemporaneous debate.

Mr Finlayson was licensed to preach the gospel in the year 1785. We have the authority of an intimate friend for the style which characterized his earliest appearances in the pulpit "The composition of his sermons gives evidence of the maturity and manliness of his understanding. They exhibited no juvenile splendour of language, no straining for original or unexpected remark; ambi-