Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 3.djvu/55

Rh debted for subsistence to a stepfather, who, although in very moderate circumstances, and burdened with a young family, discharged to him the duty of an affectionate parent. From a constitutional defect of eyesight, he was twelve years of age before he had learned to read; he was enabled, however, by the quickness of his intellect, and the constancy of his application, amply to redeem his lost time: his progress was so rapid, that after three years' attendance at the parochial school, he was the successful candidate for a bursary in the university of St Andrews. Having finished the usual elementary course of classical and philosophical education, he took the degree of bachelor of arts, and commenced the study of divinity, but was prevented from completing his studies by some conscientious scruples regarding certain of the articles in the presbyterian confession of faith. Thus diverted from his original intention of entering the church, he taught for several years, the parochial schools of Monifeith in Angus, and Kennoway and Falkland in Fifeshire. His great reputation as a teacher then obtained for him, from the magistrates of Stirling, the appointment of rector of the grammar school of that town ; which situation he continued to fill with the greatest ability for upwards of forty years. It is a curious coincidence, that on one and the same day, he received from the university of St Andrews a diploma as master of arts, and from the university of Glasgow, the honorary degree of doctor of laws. Dr Doig died March 16th, 1800, at the age of eighty-one.

In addition to a profound knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages, both of which he wrote with classical purity, Dr Doig had made himself master of the Hebrew, Arabic, and other oriental languages, and was deeply versed in the history and literature of the East. Of his proficiency in the more abstruse learning, he has afforded abundant proof in his dissertations on Mythology, Mysteries, and Philology, which were written at the request of his intimate friend, and the companion of his social hours, the Rev. Dr George Gleig, and published in the Encyclopaedia Britannica; of which work, that able and ingenious clergyman edited the last volumes, and was himself the author of many of the most valuable articles which the book contains. That part of the Encyclopaedia containing the article Philology, written by Dr Doig, having been published in the same week with a Dissertation on the Greek verb, by Dr Vincent, afterwards Dean of Westminster, that author was so much struck with the coincidence, in many points, with his own opinions, that he commenced an epistolary correspondence with Dr Doig: and these two eminent philologists, by frequent communication, assisted and encouraged each other in their researches on these subjects. The same liberal interchange of sentiment characterized Dr Doig's correspondence with Mr Bryant, in their mutual inquiries on the subject of ancient mythology. Amongst other proofs which Dr Doig gave of his profound learning, was a Dissertation on the Ancient Hellenes, published in the Transactions of the royal society of Edinburgh.

The most remarkable event of Dr Doig's literary life, however, was his controversy with lord Kames. That eminent philosopher, in his Essay on Man, had maintained, as the foundation of his system, that man was originally in an entirely savage state, and that by gradual improvement, he rose to his present condition of diversified civilization. These opinions were combated by Dr Doig, who endeavoured to prove, that they were neither supported by sound reason, nor by historical fact; while they were at the same time irreconcileable with the Mosaic account of the creation. In the bible, the historical details of the earliest period present man in a comparatively advanced state of civilization; and if we resort to profane history, we find that the earliest historical records are confirmatory of the sacred books, and represent civilization as flow-