academy in the city of London, which indicates that he thought the dangers of a public education were overbalanced by its advantages. Without prefuming to say more on so nice a point, it may be confidently afferted, that Mr. Hay's fons received the most valuable part of their education in his example; and in his behaviour towards them, always that of a wife and affectionate father; but whofe affection was never fhewn to them in partial fondness. For nine or ten years of their lives they found themselves under the controul of a just and beneficent power, which they were not fuffered to approach carelefly. A little encouragement, a fmile of approbation, was given by him to any exertions, either of a ferious or playful kind, that fell within his notice; but, in general, they were left to run the common course with boys of their own age, except that they feemed to be more trufted, and were left to act more for themfelves in moft occurrences, than children in their fituations usually are. They were fent young to school, and in their vacations they returned to their home as to a place of liberty, where they were received with kindness, not with rapturous admiration. They were much more obferved than talked to by their father, who very rarely spoke to them in an imperative or even didactic manner;

but,

but, whenever they were with him, it might be seen that his thoughts, and his whole behaviour, were directed to their improvement, either by the turn he gave to his converfation with whomfoever chanced to be prefent, by fome amusement which he propofed, or by tranfacting before them business of which he thought it might be useful to them to get an idea early and easily; and no one had a happier talent for presenting to young minds an idea that was new to them, or could difcern more immediately what they were or were not capable of receiving.

Mr. Hay was fo much engaged in business, that his intervals of leifure were fhort; for, with a temper naturally chearful, and a mind formed to taste variety of intellectual pleasures, his activity in the duties of his fituation was admirable; and whoever fulfills them as he did will find small portions of their time unoccupied. That small part of the morning which he usually spent with his children was not loft; every little incident was turned to their benefit, even their reading an article in the newspaper; for, as foon as they could read, befides making them find the geographical fituation of any place mentioned, he would ask some question relating to it, himself remarking on it, and speaking of any eminent person,

who

who then was, or had formerly been, connected with it. Thus were examples of virtue and religion, instances of courage, honour, and generofity, occafionally brought before them; concisely, yet in a way to engage the affections, and leave impreffions on the memory. It was at thofe times he very early made them acquainted with some parts of natural history and experimental philosophy, fomething of which was often spoken of as intended for the afternoon's amusement: these they were permitted, not obliged, to attend; for, if he faw they wished for fome more active exercise, they were allowed to follow their inclinations without reproach. Indeed respect to him was always voluntary; he never reproved his children for the omiffion of any outward mark of it to himself: yet that father, who is reasonable enough to make a just allowance for the imperfection of all human things, will be well content if his children pay him as much real respect as Mr. Hay received from his, and to have as much weight with them from the first moment they were capable of any reflection. Perhaps nothing contributed more to this than the few things he required of them, and the invariableness with which they were infifted on. He always appeared to his children to entertain a good opinion of them, and did not seem to

take

take notice of little faults; yet, if any were committed of more confequence, he spoke to them with great seriousness, but without paffion, or long discourse; usually concluding with these words: "I disapprove of this, and expect it to be fo no more." And if at any time this admonition failed of its proper effect, they were made fenfible that his displeasure was not to be flighted.

As a ftrict adherence to truth was amongst the things indispensably required, fo from their earliest infancy he had made a point of never deceiving them in the merest trifle; not even in answering their tiresome word, Why? fo much in use with children. He obferved its being. common to them, and was for that reason remarkably in-dulgent in answering the question. It has been hazarded to give these minute particulars, on the authority of those who have reckoned it. amongst the advantages of biography, that it admits of the relation of little circumftances, by which one individual is beft diftinguished from another, and any peculiar traits of character more. diftinctly marked; whether any thing farther will be gained muft depend on the abilities of the writer, or the value of the life related. It has before been noticed, that.

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that there was a time when Mr. Hay's behaviour to his children was referved; but, when they approached towards manhood, he converfed with them freely, spoke to them of their fituation in life, and gave them his opinion and advice as to what he thought the most eligible course for them to pursue in it; fhewing them his intention of affifting them to the full extent of his power and fortune.

When he was beginning to enjoy the fruits of his long cares, he faw his youngest fon, a moft promifing and amiable youth, who had just left Westminster school, and was going to Christ Church in Oxford, of which college he was to have been admitted a ftudent, attacked by a fatal disorder on his lungs, under which he languished almost a year; when, in the nineteenth year of his age, he died at his father's house in the country, endeared to all who approached him, by the constant sweetness of his temper, his spirit, and his patience. Mr. Hay followed him to the grave, and inscribed on it, “Optima indoles, fpes parentum." He bore this lofs with fortitude and refignation, but survived it only from October to the June following.

It