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HUNTER, (DR) HENRY, a
divine highly distinguished in literature, was born at Culross, in the
year 1741. His parents, though in humble life, gave him a good
education, which was concluded by an attendance at the University of
Edinburgh. Here his talents and application attracted the notice of the
professors, and at the early age of seventeen he was appointed tutor to
Mr Alexander Boswell, who subsequently became a judge of the court of
session, under the designation of lord Balmouto. He afterwards accepted
the same office in the family of the earl of Dundonald at Culross abbey,
and thus had the honour of instructing the late venerable earl, so
distinguished by his scientific inquiries and inventions. In 1764,
having passed the necessary trials with unusual approbation, he was
licensed as a minister of the gospel, and soon excited
attention to his pulpit talents. So highly were these in public
esteem, that, in 1766, he was ordained one of the ministers of South
Leith, which has always been considered as one of the most respectable
appointments in the Scottish church. He had here ingratiated himself in
an uncommon degree with his congregation, when a visit to London, in
1769, opened up to his ambition a still wider field of
usefulness. The sermons which he happened to deliver on this occasion in
several of the Scottish meeting-houses, drew much attention, and the
result was an invitation, which reached him soon after his
return, to become minister of the chapel in Swallow Street. This he
declined; but in 1771, a call from the London Wall congregation
tempted him away from his Scottish flock, who manifested the sincerest
sorrow at his departure. This translation not only was an advancement in
his profession, but it paved the way for a series of literary exertions,
upon which his fame was ultimately to rest. Several single sermons first
introduced him to the world as an author. These were on the ordination
of O. Nicholson, N. A., 1775, 2 Cor. iv 7, 8 ; On the study of the
Sacred Scriptures, Acts xviii. 11, in the work called the Scottish
Preacher, vol. iv. at the funeral of the Rev. George Turnbull,
1783; On the opening of a meeting-house at Walthamstow, in 1787, Rev.
xxi. 3, 4; On the Revolution, 1788; The Believer’s Joy, Acts viii. 39;
also in the fourth volume of the Scottish Preacher. These sermons, with
some miscellaneous pieces, were collected and published, in two volumes,
after the author’s death. Dr Hunter first appeared as a general writer
in 1783, when he published the first volumes of his "Sacred Biography,
or the history of the Patriarchs and of Jesus Christ, which was
ultimately extended to seven volumes, and has become a standard work,
the seventh edition having appeared in 1814. Before this work was
completed, the notice attracted by the system of Lavater throughout
civilized Europe, tempted him to engage in an English version of the
"Physiognomy" of that philosopher, whom he previously visited at his
residence in Switzerland, in order to obtain from the conversation of
the learned man himself, as perfect an idea as possible of his
particular doctrines. It is said that Lavater at first displayed an
unexpected coolness on the subject of Dr Hunter’s visit, being afraid
that an English translation might injure the sale of the French edition,
in which he had a pecuniary interest. This, however, seems to have been
got over; for Lavater eventually treated his English visitor in a
manner highly agreeable. "As their professions were alike," says an
anonymous writer, "so their sentiments, their feelings, and their
opinions, are altogether alike. A complete acquaintance with the French
language enabled Dr Hunter to enjoy Lavater’s conversation freely; and
he ever afterwards talked with enthusiasm of the simplicity of manners,
the unaffected piety, the unbounded benevolence, and the penetrating
genius, of this valued friend. The bare mention of that barbarous
cruelty which massacred the virtuous Lavater, was sufficient to make him
shrink back with horror." -- The first number of this work was published
in 1789, and it was not completed till nine years after, when it
ultimately formed five volumes, in quarto, bearing the title of
"Essays on Physiognomy, designed to promote the knowledge and love of
mankind, by John Caspar Lavater. Dr Hunter’s abilities as a translator
were of the first order, and, in this instance, drew forth the entire
approbation of the original author. The work was, moreover, embellished
in a style, which, at that time, might be considered as unrivaled. It
contained above eight hundred engravings, executed by and under
the direction of Mr Holloway, and such was altogether the elaborate
elegance of the publication, that it could not be sold to the public
under thirty pounds per copy. We are only left to regret that so much
talent, so much taste, and a large sum of money as this price would
indicate, should have been spent upon an inquiry which the acute and
precise sense of the immediately succeeding generation had pronounced to
be in a great measure a delusion.
At the time of the French
revolution, Dr Hunter republished a treatise by Robert Fleming, whose
life, with an account of the work in question, has already been given in
this Biographical Dictionary. The pamphlet contained some prophetical
intimations, which Dr Hunter supposed to bear a reference to the events
in the neighbouring kingdom. It is needless to remark the weakness which
alone could dictate such a proceeding in this generally able and
enlightened man. Dr Hunter also published a "Sermon preached, February
3, 1793, on the execution of Louis XVI."
In 1795, he attempted a
translation from the German, selecting for this purpose Euler’s
celebrated "Letters to a German princess." This work met with the entire
approbation of the public, and has proved a very useful addition to the
stock of our native scientific literature. The first edition was in
quarto, and a second, in octavo, appeared in 1802. The work has since
been reprinted in a smaller size, with notes by Sir David Brewster. The
merit of Dr Hunter as a translator was now universally acknowledged, and
work accordingly pressed upon him. While still engaged in his version of
Lavater, he commenced, in 1796, the publishing of a translation of St
Pierre’s Studies of Nature, which was completed in 1799, in five volumes
octavo, afterwards republished in three. "His translation," says the
anonymous writer above quoted, "of the beautiful and enthusiastic works
of St Pierre, was universally read and admired: here, if in any
instance, the translator entered into the spirit of the author, for the
glow of benevolence which gives life to every page of ‘Les Etudes de la
Nature’ was entirely congenial to the feelings of Dr Hunter." Saurin’s
Sermons, and Sonnini’s Travels to Upper and Lower Egypt, complete the
list of Dr Hunter’s labours as a translator; and it is but small praise
to say, that few men have reached the same degree of excellence in that
important branch of literature. During the progress of other labours, Dr
Hunter published more than one volume of original sermons, and a volume
entitled "Lectures on the Evidences of Christianity," being the
completion of a plan begun by the Rev. John Fell. He also commenced the
publication, in parts, of a popular "History of London and its
Environs," which, however, he did not live to complete.
In the year 1790, Dr
Hunter was appointed secretary to the corresponding board of the Society
for Propagating Christian Knowledge in the Highlands and Islands of
Scotland. He was likewise chaplain to the Scots corporation in London,
and both these institutions were much benefited by his zealous exertions
in their behalf. It must be obvious from the frequent and involved
succession of his literary productions, that Dr Hunter spent a most
industrious life, and was upon the whole the most busy as he approached
that stage of existence when the generality of men begin to find ease
not only agreeable but necessary. It is probable that this unceasing
exertion, which no doubt was more occasioned by necessity than by
choice, tended to break down his constitution, which has further
weakened in his latter years by the agitation and distress of mind
consequent on the death of three beloved children. Having retired to
Bristol wells for the recovery of his health, he died there, of
inflammation in the lungs, October 27, 1802, in the sixty-second year of
his age.
"If Dr Hunter," says his
anonymous biographer, [Obituary of Gentleman’s Magazine, lxxii. 1072.]
"was conspicuous as an author, he was still more to be admired as
a man. An unbounded flow of benevolence, which made him enjoy and give
enjoyment to every society, joined to a warmth of feeling, which made
him take an interest in every occurrence, rendered him the delight of
all his acquaintance. His social talents were of the highest order. An
easy flow of conversation, never loud, never overbearing, and completely
free from affectation; an inexhaustible fund of pleasant anecdotes and
occasional flashes of wit and humour, made every company he joined
pleased with him and with themselves. He was particularly happy in
adapting his conversation to those he conversed with; and while
to a lady his discourse appeared that of a polished gentleman, the
scholar was surprised by his apt quotations from the classics, and the
ease with which he turned to any subject that was brought before him. *
* His private charities were as numerous as the objects of compassion
which occurred to him; nor should his unbounded and cheerful hospitality
be forgot among his other virtues." [He is said to have carried this
virtue beyond the bounds which a regard to prudence and economy should
have prescribed.] "The crowded attendance and the universal regret of
his congregation are the best proofs of the effect of his pulpit
eloquence. His enlightened and liberal views of religion made his
meeting-house the resort of the leading Scotsmen in London; and it was
here that the natives of the southern part of the island had an
opportunity of observing a specimen of that church which produced a
Robertson and a Blair. * * Dr Hunter was of a spare habit of body, and
remarkably active; and his usual cheerfulness and flow of good humour
continued till within a few weeks of his death." He left a family,
consisting of a wife, two sons, and a daughter. |
