ABERCROMBY. Atr,x IN D Abercromby,) was the youngest son of G•orge Nbercromby of Tulli body, and was burn in 1745. Destined, probably on account of his promising talents. to the bar, he passed through all the various st:yes of education prescribed for our Scottish lawyers. Butt his mind was too much formed for the gaieties o!' fashi wable to rtlinguish them for the irksome drudgery of a laborious employ ment. For some n cars after he had been admitted into the Faculty of Advocates, his splendid talents were almost wholly obscured by_indolence or frivolity; till roused at. length to exertion by the dread of penury, or the desire of Buns, he engaged with ardent emulation in all the duties of his profession. Ilis industry and ambition were amply rewarded. Fie soon became emi nent for his professional skill, and was distinguished as one of the most eloquent pleaders at the bar. Ho nours now began to crowd upon him. Ile was first ap pointed one ol the inferior judges ; and, after pas.ing through various gradations of preferment, was raised to the bench ol the supreme civil court in the year 1792 ; and in the same year was made one of the judges in the High Court of Justiciary. In his judicial capacity
be was distinguished by a profound knowledge of law, a patient attention, a clearness of discernment, and an unbiassed impartiality, which excited general admira tion. But his country was soon deprived of his valua ble seen ices, for he was seized with a distemper, which terminated his existence In November 1795.
' Amidst the numerous and fatiguing duties of his profession, Abercroniby found leisure to indulge Ids passion for elegant literature. Of the correctness and of his taste, we have some very happy speci mens in the papers which he contributed to the Mir ror, a periodical work published at Edinburgh in 1779, :end conducted chiefly by the Faculty of Advocates, a class of men whose genius and learning do honour to their country.
The Mirror was revived, though under a different name, in the year 1785-6, by the same gentlemen who had established it at first. To this new work, which was called the Lounger, Abercromby contributed nine papers, which are remarkable for easy and elegant composition, justness of sentiment, and the extensive knowledge which they display of human life. ((.4)