PRINTED FOR THOMAS TEGG AND SON, 73, CHEAPSIDE;

R. GRIFFIN AND CO., GLASGOW ;

T. T. AND H. TEGG, DUBLIN :

ALSO, J. AND S. A. TEGG, SYDNEY AND HOBART TOWN.

1837.

MEMOIRS

OF

THE REV. DAVID M'NICOLL.

DAVID M NICOLL was born at Dundee, July 17th, 1781. His father is uniformly represented, by those who recollect him, to have been a simple-hearted, pious, and useful class-leader in the Wesleyan Society; and his mother, a woman of strong mind, and of thoughtful and sober habits of piety. Of this excellent mother he was accustomed to speak with much feeling. "When only six years of age she used frequently to kneel down with him at his bed-side, and sometimes for hours together fervently commend him in prayer to Almighty God." To those who find it wearisome to spend any time either in private or public devotions, this fact may appear questionable. But it must be recollected, that it relates to Scotch Christians, who, in the best periods of their history, have been celebrated for the length as well as the sober fervour of their religious exercises. No doubt, biblical, catechetical, and oral instructions formed a part of these domestic duties. It is not likely, that hours should be spent with a child in prayer only. But, accompanied by instruction in the knowledge of the great facts and principles of our holy religion, nothing could be more calculated to make a salutary impression, and lead the youthful mind to serious reflection, and, ultimately, to the enjoyment of religion, than this maternal tenderness and piety. How sweet and soothing must have been the recollection of these scenes! A mother's love, instructions, and prayers, are not soon forgotten by any, and never by those on whom they have left the impress of religion.

The vast influence of female excellence on families, is most obvious. The spirit, the conversation, the prudence of mothers, the discipline which they maintain, the walk with God which

they exhibit, their familiar lessons of instruction, and, especially, their devotions, must create a moral atmosphere in their households, pregnant with life and health. The tender plants which grow around them must, from the passive pliancy of their infant state, take their moral impress from those parental influences so constantly, and almost irresistibly, operating on their yielding spirits.

The recorded instances of eminent characters, who have owed both their mental greatness, and their moral excellency, to the superior intelligence and religious assiduity of their mothers, Few infant minds are strong enough to are very numerous. resist the blighting influence of folly, passion, frivolity, and sin, constantly pressing on their attention and senses at home; and, on the other hand, few are so feeble as not to display a marked superiority when favoured with the opposite advantages. The causes of mental and moral phenomena, as developed in human character, are not easily accounted for; but the fact is, that few men of great qualities of any description have appeared on the theatre of human life, whose eminence is not traceable to maternal influence. DAVID M NICOLL is an instance; for, although his father is reported by all who knew him to have been a most pious and exemplary man, yet it is very evident, that he owed his great qualities chiefly to the natural endowments and pious exertions of his mother. The narrow circumstances of the elder M'Nicolls would not allow them to give their son any other education than such as could be obtained at a common night-school. With this small assistance, and the instruction he procured at home, he soon, however, began to surmount the difficulties of his station, and in early life gave indications of mental superiority. His brother attests this fact; and, after referring to the inability of their parents to afford their son a regular education, remarks: "This was partly obviated by his own extraordinary thirst for knowledge. It was easy to see in his early childhood a degree of intelligence far beyond his years. When a mere boy, his propensity for books was perfectly insatiable; he searched for them as for hidden treasure; and, when procured, their contents were literally devoured. Being blessed with a retentive memory, his mind thus became a vast storehouse of knowledge, which in variety and extent has seldom been equalled in a youth of his age." Besides this thirst for general knowledge, some of those mental tastes and qualities

which distinguished him in subsequent life now began to bud. The love of poetry and music was inherent in his nature. He could, indeed, enjoy little benefit from instruction; yet, in his lowly circumstances, he beheld all the forms of beauty presented to his attention by nature, with deep feeling, and listened to her voice with sensations of delight.

In respect of music, our young friend enjoyed one means of gratification; though, from its humble sphere, it could only afford him a very mediocre kind of assistance. But one of the qualities of true genius is, to surmount difficulties in the acquisition of the noble objects of its pursuit. Some persons of delicate and cultivated taste may not, perhaps, accord to Mr. M'Nicoll the praise of a refined knowledge of the science of music; but as he has often ministered to the gratification and solace of his personal friends in every place where he has sojourned, they will expect, that, in the cheerful buoyancy of youth, with a mind unclouded with care, and a heart beating high with benevolence and joy, this would be found amongst his earliest pleasures. Accordingly, the Rev. John Stephens remarks: "In the year 1800 I was appointed to labour in the Dundee Circuit, with the late Rev. William Fenwick. I had not been long there before my attention was fixed on little David,' as he was familiarly called by our friends in his native town. He was young, small, short, roundfaced, with a ruddy complexion, eyes beaming with benignity, softened by the shade of his dark, shaggy eye-brows, and a forehead indicating more than ordinary intelligence. His voice was singularly melodious; and as his pious father was the leader of the singing in our chapel, assisted by several members of his family and other friends, David had full scope for the exercise of his musical talents, in the worship and praise of Almighty God. This, I have often thought, was a great mercy; for, such was his passionate fondness for singing, in addition to his fine voice, that, had it not been for the influence of religion, it is probable, he might have been engaged, in after-life, as too many similarly gifted persons are, in strewing flowers and diffusing fragrance on the path which leads multitudes to eternal ruin. From this snare he was saved, by the blessing of God on the instructions, prayers, and example of his worthy parents, connected with the ministration of the Gospel in our chapel."

The apprehension expressed by Mr. Stephens is one of extremely probable occurrence. In addition to his poetic taste,