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Rh own choice, as the desire of his father, to the clerical profession; and, with this view, he repaired to the university of Glasgow, after completing ail initiatory course of education at the parochial school of Blackford. Having given a due attendance on the literary and philosophical classes in the university, Sir Henry entered on the study of theology, in which he made a progress that raised the highest hopes of his future eminence; and these hopes were not disappointed. About this period, he had the misfortune to lose his venerable father, who sank into a premature grave: but the esteem in which that good man was held did not die with him. All those who had any influence in the appointment of a successor to his charge, unanimously resolved that his son should be that person; and, further, that, as he had not yet attained the age at which he could, according to the rules of the church, be licensed and ordained, the vacancy should be supplied by an assistant, until that period arrived. On the completion of this arrangement, which took place in 1768, Sir Henry removed to Edinburgh, where he prosecuted his studies to their close, distinguishing himself among his fellow students by the superiority of his talents, and continuing to inspire his friends with the most sanguine hopes of the success of his future ministry.

Having attained the prescribed age, he was licensed to preach the gospel, although he had not yet completed the required terra of attendance at the divinity hall; and immediately after, was ordained, 15th August, 1771, to the church of his native parish. The singular talents of the young preacher, however, did not permit of his remaining long in so obscure a charge as that of Blackford. On the occurrence of a vacancy in the extensive and populous parish of St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, Sir Henry Moncrieff, whose personal worth and extraordinary abilities were already known and appreciated in the capital, was called upon to supply it. Into this charge he was inducted in October, 1775, about four years after his ordination and settlement at Blackford. The subsequent life of Sir Henry Moncrieff, though remarkable for an exemplary and unwearied diligence in the discharge of the laborious duties of his office, and for a continued display, on his part, of every excellence and virtue which can adorn the human character, presents little of which the biographer can avail himself. Holding on the "even tenor of his way," and neither turning to the right nor to the left, but still anxiously promoting the interests of religion by his eloquence, and of morality by his example, Sir Henry Moncrieff was one of those great and good men, who are content to confine the exercist of their talents of talents which, if they had been directed by ambition, might have procured them a more dazzling fame to the immediate duties ot then calling; and who think that the high intellectual powers with which they have been gifted, cannot be more usefully, or more appropriately employed, than in extending the knowledge and promoting the happiness of those within the immediate sphere of their personal influence. The talents of Sir Henry Moncrieff could easily have procured him, had he chosen it, a wider and a more brilliant reputation than is now attached to his name; but he conceived, and he did so justly and wisely, that the end for which these talents were bestowed on him, was fully and amply attained, by devoting them to the task of instructing those over whose spiritual welfare Providence had called him to preside and who, as he well knew, must have lost in proportion to what others might have gained by a dissipation of his exertions.

It was not inconsistent, however, with his dut.es as minister of the esablishment, that he should take an active interest in the business of church courts. At the period when he entered public life, the -derate party heade by Drs Robertson and Drysdale, had attained a complete and hardly resist,