which pervaded his discourses, to have effected a visible improvement in the
morals of his pnrishioners, who had been formerly noted for their irregularities
and vice. After a faithful discharge of his parochial duties at Kirkliston for
fifteen years, he was, through the intercession of his friend Mr Oswald with
lord Bute, appointed minister of lady Yester's, one of the churches of Edinburgh. On his removal to town, the nervous eloquence of his sermons attracted
a great concourse of hearers to his church. And so great was his fame as a
preacher, that while he was on a visit to London, Mr Strachan, the printer,
pressed him much to prepare a volume of his sermons for publication. But although on his return to Scotland, he did begin to select and revise his sermons for that purpose, a natural diffidence induced him first to procrastinate and
ultimately to relinquish the undertaking.
Previous to his translation to Edinburgh, Mr Drysdale had taken little concern in the affairs of the church, but the close connection into which he was brought in town, with Dr Robertson the historian, the leader of the moderate party in the church, induced him to give that great man his best assistance and support.
In the year 1765, Mr Drysdale, without solicitation on his part, had the degree of doctor of divinity conferred on him by the university of Aberdeen. The following year, on the death of Dr John Jardine, he was preferred to the collegiate charge of the Iron church, where he had the good fortune to have for his colleague, the much esteemed and eloquent Dr Wishart. On the death of Dr Jardine, Dr Drysdale was also appointed one of his majesty's chaplains, with one-third of the emoluments of the deanery of the chapel royal. During the years 1773 and 1784, Dr Drysdale was moderator of the general assembly, being the highest mark of respect which the church of Scotland can confer on its members. At the meeting of the general assembly in May, 1788, he was appointed principal clerk to the assembly ; but being unable, from the delicacy of his health, to perform the duties, he obtained permission that his son-in-law, professor Dalzell, should assist him. He did not survive long ; his health had been for a considerable time very precarious, and early in June 1788, his complaints acquired increased violence, and his constitution being completely worn out, he died on the 16th of 'June of that year, in the 71st year of his age.
Drysdale was extremely pleasing in his manners and conversation, and seems to have gained the esteem and affection of his friends by the amiable benevolence of his heart, and the inflexible integrity of his conduct His house was open at all times to his numerous friends and acquaintance, and was their frequent place of resort. To young men in particular, the cheerful and agreeable conversation which was encouraged in his society held out a peculiar charm. He had a very extensive correspondence with many of the first people of the day and with the clergy in general, who frequently applied to him for advice. His letters were remarkable for a happy facility and elegance of expression. Drysdale was married to the daughter of William Adam, Esq., of Maryburgh, architect.
His only work was two volumes of sermons published after his death by Professor Dalzell. Of these the late Dr Moodie who was one of the ministers of Edinburgh, says " These sermons seem admirably calculated to inspire the mind with high sentiments of piety to God, trust in providence, independence of the world, admiration of virtue, steady and resolute attachment to duty, and contempt of every thing base and dishonourable."
DUNBAR, William, "the darling of the Scottish Muses," as he has been termed by Sir Walter Scott, was born about the middle of the fifteenth century. Mr David Laing suggests the year 1460 as about the date of bis birth. The place
