cuous figure in the church of Scotland; both his political and oratorical powers seem to entitle him to this distinction. Indeed, that degree of eloquence displayed both by him and his great antagonist, Dr. Brown of Aberdeen, is not only highly creditable to their country, but would even make a considerable figure in the House of Commons, that principal field of modern eloquence.

Dr. Hill's eloquence is addressed rather to the understanding than the passions, and perhaps it is principally deficient in feeling and warmth. His speeches are short, argumentative, and impressive. He is particularly dexterous in seizing the proper moment of speaking. He generally waits till towards the end of the debate, and then often makes a very able comment on what has been advanced in its course. From speaking late he has also sometimes derived an opportunity of putting in practice another piece of oratorical dexterity. Before delivering his own sentiments, he has been enabled to observe what course the determination of the Assembly was likely to take; and when he perceived that sentiments unfavourable to those of his party were likely to prevail, he would sometimes rise and move those measures which he saw would be acceded to. By this means he prevented the mortification of a defeat, and preserved the appearance of still leading the deliberations of the Assembly. Nor did this manœuvre at all diminish the confidence of his own party; for he never employed it except on indifferent occasions, or where by so doing he could

procure

procure measures more conformable to the views of his friends, than if he had left the motion to be made by their antagonists.

In politics Dr. Hill has always been a steady adherent to the Dundas interest. His uncle, Dr. MacCormick, late principal of St. Salvador's College, had been tutor to Mr. Secretary Dundas; and to this connection Dr. Hill is in part indebted for the situation he enjoys in the college and church, as well as for some of those few sinecures, such as chaplain to his Majesty, which the Crown has in its power to bestow on clergymen of the church of Scotland.

Dr. Hill married a townswoman of his own, by whom he has a large family of very fine children. In domestic life, he is very much respected and beloved. The pleasure which he takes in his family circle must delight every visitor. He bestows much attention on the improvement of his children; and to the respect to which he is entitled as an orator and a teacher, it is no trifling addition to say that he is a good father of a family. He is likewise extremely ready to do acts of kindness to the students under his care, and few go away from that college without carrying along with them a grateful remembrance of his friendly attentions.

ADMIRAL

ADMIRAL SIR ROGER CURTIS, BART.

Set honour in one eye, and death in the other,

And I will look on both indifferently:

For, let the Gods so speed me, as I love

The name of honour more than I fear death.

SHAKSPEARE.

SIR ROGER CURTIS is the son of an eminent farmer, highly respected in the neighbourhood of Downton in Wiltshire, where he resided. Mr. Curtis evinced an early predilection for the honourable pro. fession of which he has become so distinguished an ornament. His father, however, whose property was considerable, opposed the inclinations of an only son, and used every endeavour to divert him from the choice he had made; nor can we wonder that an affectionate parent should reluctantly consent to part with the prop of his declining years, and rather wish him to enjoy ease and independence on his paternal estate, than expose himself to the perils of a maritime life. Every means having been ineffectually used to dissuade Mr. Curtis from his purpose, he at length obtained a slow leave to quit the cool sequestered vale of life.

Great part of Mr. Curtis's probationary time he passed under the command of Admiral Barrington, a man whose example and advice were well calculated to form the seaman and the officer; for among the many meritorious characters that have adorned the British navy, few have enjoyed the esteem of their brother officers, and the respect of the world in gene

ral,

tal, in a greater degree than that gallant admiral. Our young seaman, having served with diligence and attention for several years, and passed the usual professional ordeal, in 1771 was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

He was shortly after this period appointed lieutenant of the Otter sloop, on the Newfoundland station that great national concern (the fisheries) did not escape the inquiring mind of Mr. Curtis; he rendered himself fully master of the nature and principles of a commerce, which, considered either as a source of wealth or as a nursery for seamen, is of the utmost importance to the British empire; the professional abilities of Lieutenant Curtis at this time attracted the attention of Admiral (afterward Lord) Shuldham, who united the usual offices of naval commander and governor of Newfoundland; and in 1775, when he was appointed to command on the American station, he chose our young officer as one of his lieutenants, whose merit soon procured him the unlimited confidence of the Admiral. In June 1776, Lieutenant Curtis obtained the rank of commander, and was appointed to the Senegal sloop.

On Lord Howe's succeeding Admiral Shuldham in the command of the fleet, Captain Curtis remained on the American station.

It is in the recollection of every one, that this was the eventful period at which the North American provinces revolted, and the whole of his lordship's command became a scene of obstinate and sanguinary warfare; the extent of sea-coast which he had to guard, and the smallness of his means, obliged him to dis

perse his flect, and many important stations were consequently filled by young officers: a situation highly favourable to an active mind, as a fortuitous event may give occasion to display abilities that might otherwise have remained unnoticed for years. It was on one of these happy occasions that Captain Curtis, by a judicious exertion of the power vested in a commanding officer, attracted the attention of Lord Howe. They had till this period been totally unacquainted with each other; the repeated instances of zeal and good conduct which the captain of the Senegal exhibited on various services confirmed his lordship in the opinion he had formed of him, and in April 1777, the Eagle, on board which his flag was flying, becoming vacant, Lord Howe promoted Captain Curtis to the rank of post captain, and appointed him to that ship, although he was at the time one of the youngest masters and commanders in the fleet.

This was undoubtedly the greatest proof the commander in chief could give of the confidence he reposed in Captain Curtis, and the high opinion he entertained of his abilities. Lord Howe, it is well known, was not a man who hastily formed his opinion his friendships were the result of mature reflection, and conviction of the worth of those whom he honoured with them, and they were therefore the more likely to be lasting. The intimacy which now took place between Captain Curtis and that truly great man ended but with the lamented death of the latter.

During the remainder of the time Lord Howe commanded on the American station, Captain Curtis continued

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