Page:Scotish Descriptive Poems - Leyden (1803).djvu/24

 deeply impressed. He was accustomed to lose no opportunity for their instruction. Astronomy was one of his favourite pursuits; and as some of them, while young, slept on a little bed in the same chamber with their parents, in a clear and quiet night he frequently renewed the conversations which he had previously held, concerning the course and motions of the stars that passed the uncurtained window of his apartment. On Sunday evenings he was wont to make his daughter read the English Scriptures aloud to the family, while he amused himself with comparing the original with the translation. In domestic worship, it was customary for him to read an extemporaneous version of the Septuagint, or New Testament, instead of using the English translation. In religion, he adhered to the tenets of the moderate party in the church of Scotland. His eldest son James, a young man of more than ordinary abilities, displayed a fine taste for both poetry and drawing, and, like his father, possessed an uncommon share of humour. He went to sea; and after distinguishing himself in several naval engagements, was killed, October 11. 1776, in an action on Lake Champlaine; in which his conduct received such approbation from his commanding officer, that a small pension was granted by Government to his father. George, who died at the age of 21 years, was distinguished for his taste