BROWN, JOHN, (Dl. D.) a very extraordinary me dical theorist, was born about the end of 1735, or the beginning of 1736, at the village of Lintlaws, or Pres ton, in the parish of Buncle, in Berwickshire. His fa ther certainly moved in no higher rank than that of a day-labourer, and belonged to the class of dissenters known in Scotland by the name of Seceders,—a sect, at that time, remarkable for austerity of life and so lemnity of demeanour. However contracted the notions of the elder Brown may have been on religious topics, he seemed to have been animated by a very laudable de sire of communicating to his infant son all the informa tion which his narrow finances could allow ; and accor dingly we find, that such attention had been paid to the improvement of the boy, as to have enabled him to read the whole of the Old Testament before he had attained his fifth year. His progress in his native language in duced his father to send him to the grammar-school of Dunse, which was then taught by Mr Cruickshank, a gentleman whose name is recollected with grateful af fection by those whose opportunities best enabled them to appreciate his worth. Scarcely had our author com menced his classical career, when he sustained a severe loss in the death of his father. This however, did not retard his mental improvement, for he continued under Mr Cruikshank's care until lie was between nine and ten years of age. By that time he had attained the highest rank in the school, which is distinguished in Scotland by the title of Dux.
This may be considered the period at which young Brown's misfortunes commenced. The limited funds of his parents could no longer support the expense of re taining him at school, and he was doomed to be a weaver. As might have been anticipated, he did not long re main in this truly mechanical employment ; the exact period is not ascertained, but it is sufficiently known, that he owed his change of situation to the liberality and favour of his old teacher, who having offered to give him gratuitous instruction, induced his mother and his step-father to forego his original destination, and to look up for him to the dignity of a seceding preacher.
His progress in his studies, on resuming them, justified the high opinion which Mr Cruickshank had formed. He soon regained his lost ground ; and, in the absence of the master, always presided and maintained order. It is probable that, between his twelfth and thirteenth year, the occurrence took place, which, in some mea sure, determined his future fate. He had been edu cated in all the severity of puritanism ; but having on one occasion been tempted to "hear a sermon in the established church of Dunse," he was summoned to appear before a meeting of the seceding congregation ; where he had every reason to expect a very severe cen sure : this his proud spirit could not easily brook, he immediately renounced his sect, and declared himself a member of the established enurch—an event which the seceding church may regret as long as it exists.
With his change of doctrine, a corresponding change in his hitherto habitual gloominess of manners took place ; and some have asserted, that that freedom, with regard to religious concerns, which he afterwards strongly displayed, became very perceptible even at this period ; indeed, the effect is what will be very ge nerally produced on persons possessed of vivid but ill regulated feelings.
About his thirteenth year, his proficiency in litera ture was so considerable, as to induce Mr Cruickshank to appoint him usher to his school, in which situation he remained between five and six years. During this time he devoted himself to the duties of his employment, and to his improvement in Grecian and Roman litera ture. It may be here remarked, that he distinguished himself among his companions, not only by his superi ority in his studies, but also by his skill in almost every athletic exercise—wrestling, boxing, and running, were his favourite recreations.