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 ADAM,
ALEXANDER, an eminent grammarian and writer on Roman antiquities, was born
at Coats of Burgie, in the parish of Rafford, and county of Moray, about
the month of June, 1741. His father, John Adam, rented one of those small
farms which were formerly so common in the north of Scotland. In his
earlier years, like many children of his own class, and even of a class
higher removed above poverty, he occasionally tended his father's cattle.
Being destined by his parents, poor as they were, for a learned
profession, he was kept at the parish school till he was thought fit to
come forward as a bursar, at the university of Aberdeen. He made this
attempt, but failed, and was requested by the judges to go back and study
for another year at school. This incident only stimulated him to fresh
exertions. He was prevented, however, from renewing his attempt at
Aberdeen, by the representations of the Rev. Mr Watson, a minister at
Edinburgh, and a relation of his mother, who induced him to try his
fortune in the metropolis.
He removed thither early in
the year 1758; but, it appears, without any assured means of supporting
himself during the progress of his studies. For a considerable time, while
attending the classes at the college, the only means of subsistence he
enjoyed, consisted of the small sum of one guinea per quarter, which he
derived from Mr Alan Macconochie, (afterwards Lord Meadowbank), for
assisting him in the capacity of a tutor. The details of his system of
life at this period, as given by his biographer Mr Henderson, are
painfully interesting. "He lodged in a small room at Restalrig, in
the north-eastern suburbs; and for this accommodation he paid fourpence
a-week. All his meals, except dinner, uniformly consisted of oatmeal made
into porridge, together with small beer, of which he only allowed himself
half a bottle at a time. When he wished to dine, he purchased a penny loaf
at the nearest baker’s shop; and, if the day was fair, he would despatch
his meal in a walk to the Meadows or Hope Park, which is adjoining to the
southern part of the city; but if the weather was foul, he had recourse to
some long and lonely stair, which he would climb, eating his dinner at
every step. By this means all expense for cookery was avoided, and he
wasted neither coal nor candles; for, when he was chill, he used to run
till his blood began to glow, and his evening studies were always
prosecuted under the roof of some one or other of his companions."
There are many instances, we believe, among Scottish students, of the most
rigid self-denial, crowned at length by splendid success; but there is
certainly no case known in which the self-denial was so chastened, and the
triumph so grand, as that of Dr Adam. In 1761, when he was exactly twenty,
he stood a trial for the situation of head teacher in George Watson's
Hospital, Edinburgh, and was successful. In this place he is said to have
continued about three years; during which, he was anxiously engaged in
cultivating an intimacy with the classics - reading, with great care, and
in a critical manner, the works of Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon,
Cicero, and Livy. His views were now directed towards the church, and he
was on the eve of being licensed as a preacher of the gospel, when
suddenly a prospect opened before him of becoming assistant, with the hope
of being eventually the successor, of Mr Matheson, rector of the High
School. This appointment he obtained, and in 1771 the increased
infirmities of Mr Matheson threw the whole of this charge into the hands
of Mr Adam.
The time when he assumed
this respectable office was very fortunate. Every department of knowledge
in Scotland was at this period adorned by higher names than had ever
before graced it; and hence the office of Master in the principal
elementary school of the country presented to a man of superior
qualifications a fair opportunity of distinguishing himself. This
opportunity was not lost upon Mr Adam. He devoted himself with singular
assiduity to his duties; and, under his auspices, the school gradually
increased in numbers and reputation. Soon after his appointment, he began
to compose a series of works to facilitate the study of the Latin
language. His Rudiments of Latin and English Grammar were published in
1772, and, though composed in a style which appeared to the generality of
teachers as a dreadful schism and heresy, met with the approbation of a
discerning few, whose praise was sufficient to overbalance the censure of
the multitude. His offence consisted in the novel attempt to teach the
grammatical rules of Latin in English prose, instead of Latin prose or
verse, which latter had been the time-honoured fashion of the schools both
of England and Scotland, since the days of the Reformation. The daring
innovator was assailed with a storm of abuse by numerous individuals, more
especially by those of his own profession.
Among those who took an
active part in condemning his work, Dr Gilbert Stuart was very
conspicuous. This extraordinary litterateur was a relation of
Ruddiman; and, as an additional incentive to his hostility, conceived that
Adam had gained the rectorship of the High School more by interest than by
merit. He accordingly filled the periodical works of the day with ridicule
and abuse directed against the unfortunate grammar. Amongst other
pasquinades, appeared an account, in Latin, of a Roman funeral, in which
that work was personified as the dead body, while the chief mourner
was meant to represent Mr Adam, sorrowing for the untimely fate of his
best-beloved child. The other persons officiating are introduced under the
technical terms in use among the ancient Romans; and, to heighten the
ridicule, and give it aid from local circumstances, the ingenious satirist
placed in front of the mourners, a poor lunatic of the name of Duff, well
known in Edinburgh at the time for his punctual attendance at the head of
all funeral processions. While his work was still the subject of censure,
the ingenious author was partly compensated for all his sufferings by a
degree of LL.D., which was conferred upon him by the College of Edinburgh,
in 1780. Some years after, the grammar began gradually to make its way in
schools, and finally he had the satisfaction of seeing it adopted in his
own seminary. Among the great names which at an early period had
sanctioned it with their approbation, are those of Lord Kames, Bishop
Lowth, and Dr Vincent, Master of St Paul's school.
The next work of Dr Adam is
entitled, A Summary of Geography and History, but the date of the first
edition is not mentioned by his biographer. In 1791, he published his
excellent compendium of Roman Antiquities, and in 1800 his Classical
Biography; for the copyright of the former he received £600, and for that
of the latter £300. Dr Adam's last, and perhaps his most laborious work,
was his Latin Dictionary, published in 1805. Towards the beginning, his
illustrations are brief, but, as he proceeds, they gradually become more
copious. It was his intention to add an English-and-Latin part, and to
enlarge the other to a considerable extent. In this favourite plan he had
made some progress at the time of his death.
On the 13th of December,
1809, Dr Adam was seized in the High School with an alarming
indisposition, which had all the appearance of apoplexy. Having been
conducted home, he was put to bed, and enjoyed a sound sleep, which
appeared to have arrested the progress of the disease, for he was
afterwards able to walk about his room. The apoplectic symptoms,
however, returned in a few days, and he fell into a state of stupor. His
last words marked the gradual darkening of the ray of life and
intellect beneath this mortal disorder. He said, "It grows
dark, boys - you may go-" his mind evidently wandering at that moment
to the scene where he had spent the better part of his life. This twilight
soon settled down into the night of death: he expired early in the morning
of the 18th December, 1809. The death of the amiable and excellent Dr Adam
operated, among his numerous friends and admirers, like a shock of
electricity. Men of all ages and denominations were loud in lamenting an
event which had bereaved them of a common benefactor. The effect of the
general feeling was a resolution to honour him with what is a very rare
circumstance in Scotland, a public funeral.
The life of Dr Adam proves,
had any proof been wanting, the possibility of rising to distinction
in this country from any grade of life, and through whatsoever intervening
difficulties. In 1758 and 1759 he was a student living at the
inconceivably humble rate of four guineas a-year; in ten years
thereafter, he had qualified himself for, and attained, a situation which,
in Scotland, is an object of ambition to men of considerable
literary rank. The principal features of his character were, unshaken
independence and integrity, ardour in the cause of public liberty, the
utmost purity of manners and singleness of heart, and a most indefatigable
power of application to the severest studies. "His external
appearance was that of a scholar who dressed neatly for his own sake, but
who had never incommoded himself with fashion in the cut of his coat, or
in the regulation of his gait. Upon the street he often appeared in a
studious attitude, and in winter always walked with his hands crossed, and
thrust into his sleeves. His features were regular and manly, and
he was above the middle size. In his well-formed proportions, and in his
firm regular pace, there appeared the marks of habitual temperance. He
must have been generally attractive in his early days, and, in his old age,
his manners and conversation enhanced the value and interest of every
qualification. When he addressed his scholars, when he commended
excellence, or when he was seated at his own fireside with a friend
on whom he could rely, it was delightful to be near him; and no man
could leave his company without declaring that he loved Dr
Adam." |
