Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 7.djvu/107

Rh history, or sketching the characters which we every day see around us, and investing the whole with the light of a most extraordinary fancy.

It is by far the greatest glory of Sir Walter Scott, that he shone equally as a good and virtuous man, as he did in his capacity of the first fictitious writer of the age. His behaviour through life was marked by undeviating integrity and purity. His character as a husband and father is altogether irreproachable. Indeed, in no single relation of life does he appear liable to blame, except in the facility with which he yielded his fortunes into the power of others, of whom he ought to have stood quite independent. Laying this imprudence out of view, his good sense, and good feeling united, appear to have guided him aright through all the difficulties and temptations of life. Along with the most perfect uprightness of conduct, he was characterized by extraordinary simplicity of manners. He was invariably gracious and kind, and it was impossible ever to detect in his conversation a symptom of his grounding the slightest title to consideration upon his literary fame, or of his even being conscious of it.

By dint of almost incredible exertions, Sir AValter Scott had reduced the amount of his debts, at the time of his decease, to about 20,000, exclusive of the accumulated interest. On the 29th of October, a meeting of his creditors was called, when an offer was made by his family of that sum against the ensuing February, on condition of their obtaining a complete discharge. The meeting was very numerously attended, and the proposal was accepted without a dissentient voice. In addition to the resolution accepting the offer, and directing the trustees to see the acceptance carried into effect, the following resolution was moved and carried with a like unanimity:—

"And while the meeting state their anxious wish that every creditor, who is not present, may adopt the same resolution, they think it a tribute justly due to the memory of Sir Walter Scott, to express, in the strongest manner, their deep sense of his most honourable conduct, and of the unparalleled benefits which lliey have derived from the extraordinary exertion of his unrivalled talents, under misfortunes and difficulties, which would have paralyzed the exertions of any one else, but in him only proved the greatness of mind which enabled him to rise superior to them."

SCOUGAL,, a theological writer of considerable eminence, was born in the end of June, 1650. He was descended of the family of the Scougals of that ilk, and was the son of Patrick Scougal, bishop of Aberdeen, from 1664 to 1682; a man whose piety and learning have been commemorated by bishop Burnet. His son Henry is said to have early displayed symptoms of those talents for which he was afterwards distinguished. We are told by Dr George Garden, that "he was not taken up with the plays and little diversions of those of his age; but, upon such occasions, did usually retire from them, and that not out of sullenness of humour or dulness of spirit, (the sweetness and serenity of whose temper did even then appear,) but out of a stayedness of mind, going to some privacy, and employing his time in reading, prayer, find such serious thoughts, as that age was capable of." Tradition has asserted that Scougal was led to the study of theology, in the hope of finding in it a balm for disappointed affections; and this is in so far countenanced by the tenor of several passages of his writings. Another cause, however, has been assigned, and apparently on better authority. "Being once in a serious reflection what course of life he should take, he takes up the Bible, to read a portion of it; and though he was always averse to the making a lottery of the Scriptures, yet he could not but take notice of the first words which he cast his eyes