Grampian Club > Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland > Volume 1

200 HADDINGTONSHIRE.
learning. Lord Elibank was a friend and associate of Dr. Samuel
Johnson.
The following quaint inscription was formerly to be foiind in
this churchyard : —
" Here lies John Smith,
Whom Death slew for all his pith ;
The starkest man in Aberlady —
God prepare and make us ready."
PAEISH OF ATHELSTANEFOED.
In the churchyard of this parish a plain tombstone denotes the
resting-place of the Eev. Eobert Blair, author of "The Grave."
This ingenious divine was born at Edinburgh, in 1G99. Licensed to
preach in 1729, he was in the following year presented to Athel-
staneford. His celebrated poem, " The Grave," was highly
approved by Dr. Isaac Watts and Dr. Doddridge, but two London
publishers to whom it was submitted declined to risk money in the
publication. Mr. Blair died of fever on the 4th February, 1746.
In the following year his poem was published at Edinburgh, and
at once obtained favour. Mr. Blair was grandson of the celebrated
Eobert Blair, minister of St. Andrews, and was father of Eobert
Blair of Avontoun, the distinguished President of the Court of
Session. In 1857 a monumental obelisk was reared at Athelstane-
ford in honour of his memory.
A tombstone thus celebrates three members of the family of
Skirving : —
" Archibald Skirving, farmer, Muirton, one of the most athletic
and best tempered of men, lived only lifty-six years. His oldest
sun, Adam, farmer, Garleton, born 1719. Died 18U3."
" In feature, in figure, agility, mind,
And happy wit, rarely surpassed,