Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 9.djvu/54

315 composed, broke down a constitution that, tinder other circumstances, might have endured several years longer. But even while he felt his strength decaying, he continued at his post until it was exchanged for a death-bed. His last labour, upon which he tasked his departing powers to the uttermost, was the preparation of a new edition of his "Directions for Sailing," &c., his favourite work, published in 1809, to which he had made large additions and improvements. He had completed the whole for the press except the index, and in his last illness he said to Sir Charles Forbes, "I would have died contented, had it pleased God to allow me to see the book in print!" His final charge was about the disposal of his works, so that they might be made available for more extensive usefulness ; and to this the Directors of the East India Company honourably acceded, while they took care that his children should be benefited by the arrangement. He died of hydrothorax on the 14th of May, 1836. His works still obtain for him the justly-merited title of "The Nautical Oracle of the World." It is pleasing also to add, that the lessons which he learned .from his pious, affectionate father, before he left the paternal roof, abode with him in all his subsequent career: he was distinguished by the virtues of gentleness, kindness, and charity; and even amidst his favourite and absorbing studies, the important subject of religion employed much of his thoughts. This he showed by treatises which he wrote in defence of church establishments, where his polemic theology was elevated and refined by true Christian piety. Of these occasional works, his pamphlet of "A National Church Vindicated " was written only a few months before his death.

INGLIS, .—This is one of a class of authors, unfortunately too numerous, who have failed in winning that literary reputation which their labours justly merited. How often it happens that, amidst a mass of neglected books ready to be sold by the pound as waste paper, some stray volume is pick- ed up, which, on being opened, is found to contain an amount of learning, genius, and talent, such as would entitle its writer to a respectable place in the authorship of the present day! But who was he? No one can tell; for either his name has been slightly recorded, or allowed to pass away without notice. Among these victims of the world's unjust neglect, we fear that David Henry Inglis has already been enrolled.

He was born in Edinburgh, in 1795. He was the only son of a barrister, who belonged to an ancient Scottish family: his maternal grandmother was daughter of Colonel Gardiner, who fell so nobly at Prestonpans. This lady was also the authoress of a heroic poem, which, even though written by a hero's daughter, has ceased to be remembered. Through this ancestress, David Inglis was allied to the Earl of Buchan, and the Erskines. Being intended for the mercantile profession, he passed from the college to the counting house; but after devoting himself for a short time to business, he found that his affections lay elsewhere: the distinctions of literature, rather than the profits of mercantile speculation, were the objects of his aspirations. lie was also anxious to visit foreign countries, and contemplate the scenes of great past events, and stirring living incidents, instead of being chained to the desk, and confined to the chapter of