Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 3.djvu/47

Rh copal, while his father expressed an aversion to his dedicating himself to the ministry at all, from a fear that he was not at heart sufficiently devoted to the sacred calling which he desired to assume. He, however, adhered to his original resolution, and proceeded to prepare himself accordingly.

In 1780, after undergoing the usual examination, he was admitted by the Associate presbytery of Perth and Dunfermline, to attendance in the divinity hall, Aberdeen, then under the superintendence of the celebrated John Brown of Haddington, where he studied for five years, spending during this time the greater part of his vacations with a paternal uncle, who took great pains in improving the language of his young relative, and in assisting him to rid himself of the provincial peculiarities by which it was disfigured.

On entering the divinity hall, a very remarkable temporary change took place in Dr Dick's personal manners. From being extremely lively and gay in his deportment, he, all at once, became grave and thoughtful, and continued thus for two years, when he again resumed the original and natural characteristics he had thus so strangely and suddenly laid aside, and remained under their influence throughout the rest of his life, which was distinguished by a singular flow of animal spirits. The cause of this change of manner is said to have been certain deep religious impressions which had imprinted themselves on his mind, and had weighed on his spirits during the two years of his altered demeanour.

Dr Dick now devoted himself, in an especial manner, to classical literature, and pursued his studies in this department of learning with a zeal and assiduity which soon introduced him to an intimate and extensive acquaintance with the more celebrated writers of antiquity. He also laboured assiduously to acquire a mastery of the English language, to eradicate Scotticisms from his speech and writings, and to attain a pure and elegant style ; a pursuit in which he was greatly aided by the celebrated Dr Beattie, who was then reckoned a master in the art of composition.

In 1785, Dr Dick, who had now attained the age of twenty-one, received his license as a preacher from the Associate presbytery of Perth and Dunfermline, and soon afterwards began to attract notice by the elegance of his sermons, the gracefulness of his delivery, and the dignity and fervour of his manner in the pulpit. The consequence of this favourable impression was, that he received shortly after being licensed, simultaneous calls from three several congregations,—those of Scone, Musselburgh, and Slateford, near Edinburgh, to the last named of which he was appointed by the synod, and was ordained on the 26th October, 1786, at the age of twenty-two.

With this appointment Dr Dick was himself highly gratified. He liked the situation, and soon became warmly attached to his people, who, in their turn, formed the strongest attachment to him. During the first year of his ministry he lived with Dr Peddie of Edinburgh, there being no residence for him in the village. One, however, was built, and at the end of the period named, he removed to it, and added to his other pursuits the culture of a garden which had been assigned him, and in which he took great delight. A few years afterwards he married Miss Jane Coventry, second daughter of the reverend George Coventry of Stitchell in Roxburghshire; a connexion which added greatly to his comfort and happiness.

Dr Dick's habits were at this time, as indeed they also were throughout the whole of his life, extremely regular and active. He rose every morning before six o'clock and began to study, allowing himself only from two to three hours' recreation in the middle of the day, when he visited his friends, or walked alone into the country. Nor was his labour light, for, although an