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THE

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE,

AND

MISSIONARY CHRONICLE.

FOR FEBRUARY, 1843.

MEMOIR

OF

THE LATE ROBERT HALDANE, ESQ.

FEW men have filled a more conspicuous place in the religious history of the last fifty years, than the late Robert Haldane. Descended from a long line of ancestors; the inheritor of extensive property; richly endowed with intellectual powers; it became his highest ambition to renounce every claim to mere worldly distinction; to consecrate himself and all that he possessed to the service of God, and to glory only in the Cross of Christ. His great personal sacrifices, and long-continued liberality, point him out as one of the most munificent promoters of the gospel. His striking example, and energetic labours, have “provoked the zeal of many;" while in America, France, Switzerland, and Germany, as well as in this country, and the British Colonies, his writings are extensively known, and will remain a noble monument of his attachment to the truth, and of the singleness of heart with which he was wont earnestly to "contend for the faith once delivered to the saints."

A slight sketch of his history may prove both useful and interesting, although our limits will not permit a detailed account of his eventful life.

VOL. XXI.

He was the eldest son of James Haldane, Esq., of Airthrey, in the county of Stirling, by Catharine, sister of the celebrated Admiral Lord Duncan. Both on his father's and mother's side, he was sprung from the Haldanes of Gleneagles, wellknown in Scotland, as one of the most ancient and nobly connected families in Perthshire, whose existing records are mentioned by antiquarians and feudal writers, as going back to the earliest period of Scottish documentary evidence; and who are also the lineal descendants of the last Earl, of the old race of Lennox, in whose lands they shared in common with the Royal House of Darnley, and the Napiers of Merchiston. The estates of Gleneagles and Airthrey, having centred in Captain Robert Haldane, M.P. for Stirling, who died without issue, he entailed the former successively upon his two sisters of the full blood, with remainder, in default of issue male, to his nephew, (the son of his half-brother, Colonel James Haldane, of the Guards, and the father of the late Mr. Robert Haldane,) to whom also he left the estate of Airthrey. Through this

F

entail and failure of issue male of the elder sister, the Earl of Camperdown is now the possessor of the Gleneagles estates, and as such, bears the name of Haldane.

Robert Haldane was born in Queen Anne-street, Cavendish-square, London, on the 28th of February, 1764, and, in consequence of the death of both his parents, he and his only brother James Alexander were, at an early age, left to the guardianship of their two uncles, Colonel Duncan, of Lundie, and his younger brother, the future hero of Camperdown. Their father died in 1768, in the vigour of manhood, of an inflammatory attack, just as he was about to be elected an East India Director; but he left behind him good evidence that he experimentally knew the value of the gospel. Their mother was a very eminent Christian. Much grace was given to her; and so calm yet triumphant was her death-bed, that a well-known physician, who attended her, (himself an avowed infidel,) declared that "such a scene was enough to make one in love with death." To her pious and affectionate instructions, to her holy example, and, above all, to her fervent prayers, both her sons have been wont to trace their conversion to God. It was stated, by Mr. James Haldane, in the sermon preached after the funeral of his lamented brother, that the latter mentioned on his death-bed, that in childhood, after his mother believed he was asleep, he had often heard her, when kneeling by their bed-side, pour out her soul in earnest prayer to God, that he would be pleased to guide her orphan children through the troublesome world she was about to quit; that they might live to his glory, and finally be brought to his everlasting kingdom. The impressions thus produced, were never wholly effaced even amidst the gaiety and thoughtlessness of youth. They were felt as a restraint in the midst of temptation, and more particularly with reference to the observance of the Lord's day. Under the influence of early convictions, it

was the wish of Robert Haldane to prepare himself for the office of a minister of the Church of Scotland, but this idea was discountenanced by his friends, and it was not till "after many days," that the seed sown by his mother, and the doctrines she so earnestly inculcated, sprung up in either of her distinguished sons.

Her death having taken place in September, 1774, they continued to reside with their maternal grandmother, Lady Lundie, and their uncle, Admiral Duncan, until the death of the former, and the marriage of the latter, in 1777. During this interval they had for their tutor, the late Dr. Fleming, afterwards one of the ministers of Edinburgh. They were then sent to prosecute their studies in the Scottish metropolis, and were boarded with the late Dr. Adam, so well known as the author of the "Roman Antiquities," and other classical works.

After finishing the usual course at the High School, and pursuing his studies for some time at the University of Edinburgh, the energetic and enterprising spirit of Robert Haldane induced him to seek employment in the navy, and accordingly, in 1780, he entered the Monarch as a midshipman, and, under the command of his uncle, exhibited such zeal and perseverance in the pursuits of naval science, as to remove all scruples which his guardians had previously entertained, as to his engaging in a profession, to which his fortune and prospects did not seem the best preparatives.

When Lord Duncan resigned the command of the Monarch, his nephew was committed to the care of his friend, Lord St. Vincent, then Captain Jervis. On board the Foudroyant, he had the opportunity of participating in a career of unusual brilliancy for two years, and he enjoyed the still greater advantage of being under a captain who discerned and appreciated his talents, who employed him in writing his despatches, and often selected him for duties commonly devolved on an older officer. In the memorable night

action with the Pegase, at the rescue of the crew of the Royal George, at the relief of Gibraltar, at the night action under Lord Howe, in the chase of Leocadia, and on several other trying occasions, he acquitted himself with such judgment, decision, and zeal, as to engage the attention of Lord St. Vincent, and to call forth his warmest eulogiums. It may also be added, as an interesting fact, that, while his early impressions of religion had been much effaced, they were by no means obliterated; and that when placed in circumstances of trial or of danger, he was wont to lift up his heart in prayer to Him, whose "Almighty grace" had, as he himself observed, “grasped him" in the midst of his career, and saved him from destruction. Among other instances, two may be mentioned. The one occurred, when going into action with the Pegase, he prayed that the Lord would give him strength and courage to acquit himself manfully, and enable him to do his duty. The prayer was answered. So young an officer has seldom been so much complimented as he was on that brilliant occasion; and it was no less owing to his judgment than to his knowledge of the French language, that he was employed to bring on board the Foudroyant, the reluctant captain of the Pegase, a service too of much danger, as the sea ran high, and no less than two boats were lost during that night in going between the ships. The other instance occurred, when during the chase of a Spanish 60 gun-ship, he was stationed to look out in the foretop-mast. It was blowing hard, and, owing to the press of canvas, the foretop-gallant mast sprung, so that at every blast he expected to be hurled into the sea. no orders were given for him to quit his post, and, at this awful moment, he refused to consult his own personal safety, and follow the example of another, who was near him, by acting as necessity seemed to dictate. At this extremity, the cry was heard, " A man overboard." Lord St. Vincent instantly

But

gave orders to shorten sail, and to this providential circumstance Mr. Haldane probably owed his life. On this, and on several other occasions, Lord St. Vincent held him up as an example to the other junior officers, and also wrote to Lord Duncan, that his nephew was inevitably destined to adorn the naval annals of his country.

Such, however, was not the will of Providence. In 1783 the peace converted the naval service into one of comparative dulness and monotony, and, although he made one cruise to Newfoundland, in the Salisbury, he returned to Lisbon in the Eolus frigate, and was finally induced to aban don the navy, when, after having made what used to be called, "the grand tour," he married, in 1786, the daughter of Mr. Oswald, of Scotstown, and the sister of the late member for Ayrshire.

The next ten years of his life were quietly spent, chiefly in ornamenting his estate of Airthrey, and it is to the taste of Mr. Haldane, that that singularly picturesque and beautiful place, now the seat of Lord Abercromby, is chiefly indebted for the disposal of the grounds, and, particularly, for the artificial lake, which is so justly admired. The prospect of his entering parlia ment was often discussed in the county, where his talents were fully appreciated, but his ambition did not run in that direction, nor did he take any part in politics, till the outbreak of the French Revolution. At that period, he was, like many other young men, dazzled with the delusive prospect of a new order of things; and, at a time when politics ran high, being fond of argument, he took considerable trouble in supporting in company the views expressed by Sir James Mackintosh, in his Vindicia Gallica. Thus the extent of his democratic opinions was much exaggerated; but he always refused either to join or to countenance any of the clubs and associations which were formed at that time, by persons calling themselves, "The Friends of the People." On one occasion, and one only, did he come forward

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