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304 treated it, is more dependent on a general development of sound ordinary abilities, than on the existence of that genius which shines before the judgment is matured. Nothing seems to be known of his early habits, except his having fallen from a horse, and hurt his head; a circumstance which, not unnaturally, gave him a partiality for pedestrian exercises during the remainder of his life. The accident happened in Edinburgh, close to the residence of the reverend Mr Bain, an eminent clergyman of the Relief church. "In his family the patient was attended for several months, with a kindness and humanity which made a lasting impression on his mind. Often has the present writer," continues the memoir above referred to, "heard him express the pleasure and improvement he had reaped from the enlightened conversation of his worthy host, during a long and tedious convalescence." Somerville was licensed as a preacher, about the year 1762. He shortly after this event returned to Roxburghshire, and became tutor to the son of Sir Gilbert Elliott, afterwards lord Minto, and governor-general of India. In 1767, Sir Gilbert presented him with the living of Minto; and in 1772, the same friend procured his promotion to the more lucrative living of Jedburgh. At that period, opposition to the right of patronage in Scotland was still warm in the feelings of the people, if it might not be said to have revived. There is no doubt that the right was well exercised, and in the midst of so much scrutiny and opposition, it would have been singular had it not been so; but the very circumstance which produced the election of such men as Mr Somerville, was naturally the cause of objection to the persons chosen: and the subject of our memoir entered on his charge in direct opposition to a great majority of his parishioners. It may be predicated of a man of good feeling and sense, that he would hesitate to be the teacher of the conscience of persons who contemned and disliked him; but it was part of Somerville's political opinion to think otherwise; and biography affords many instances in which persons so swayed have been excellent men, and might have despised the action, had it been set before them divested of its political bearings. The appointment was followed by repeated protests, but its legality was confirmed. "Whatever," says the memoir, "might be the cause of the reverend presentee's extreme unpopularity, whatever objections were alleged against the orthodoxy of his creed, or his mode of public teaching, his most strenuous opponents were compelled to admit the correctness of his moral character; and several of the most discontented having seceded to the relief meeting, tranquillity was gradually restored."Somerville commenced authorship by a pamphlet, entitled "Candid thoughts on American Independence," which appeared soon after the commencement of the American war. Like Campbell, and other members of the church of Scotland, he maintained those opinions against the claims of the colonists, which wera so much opposed to the principles on which the church of Scotland struggled into existence, however much they might accord with those of its pastors after it was firmly established. In 1792, appeared his "History of Political Transactions, and of Parties, from the Restoration of Charles II. to the Death of King William." In his treatment of this subject, he showed himself a member of that class of politicians, whose doctrines are generally founded on either or both of two opinions, connected with the times. 1st, A dislike of popery, and all persons connected with it; and, consequently, a love of all measures termed protestant: secondly, An affection for the state of things existing at the period of writing, and such a respect for the persons, who, by operating great changes, have brought about that existing state, as the writer would have been the last person to feel, when the change was about to be made. Hence Somerville is, on all occasions, not only the admirer, but the vindicator of William, and a supporter of what are called "the principles of the