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ttiirtdV actuated by grbvrfmg and ^ or did opinions , liave a ; strong tendency to ascribe their own characters to the whole huoian - race , and to regard * as visionary , feelings of a more exalted description . To all such Mr . J 9 urnett * s conduct > and principles * and
itibse of a similar complexion , may ^ hb triumphantly opposed , and serve , on the ground of experience , to vin' tNeate , from the imputation of being mfere tlieorists 9 those ; who applaud and- ' recommend more generous , and , therefore , better principles of action , than are ^ en te rtained by the herd of
igho&ie moralists . His affection for his relatives was also warm and constant . His humanity was expansive and vigorous , and particularly interested in the wants of the poor . JDuring many years , he appropriated one or two hours every « layr to the hearing df their cases , and to their relief . In this manner , he
applied more than 3 OOl . yearly . * On the return *> f his brother , Jam es ^ from India , about the year 1773 , they resolved to discharge their father ' s ^ tebts ^ each of them paying . one half . Tile only exceptions , which they niaiie , were in the case of one or two creditors , who * had been , in the first
instance , Chiefly s instrumental in mining ttoeir fathers credit * and then , after his failure was accomplished , treated him with the . greatest harshness , and severity - This important Jh £ t , so honourable both to the suhiject of' this Memoir , : and to his brother , proves that strict integrity and honour were inherent in the
family . As family-likenesses are exhibited / in the countenance ; so , we often find them in the moral and intellectual character . Those two brothers th . «* & paid , on their father ' s account , $ bout 7000 L or . 8000 ] . This -swan , tfchielV compared with modern
failures , ; may appear insignificant , ^ as ; " When the failure of Mr . Burnett , Ben . ihappened ^ a nd even at the ti me his ^ debts were paid by his conscien > - 'tteKis sons ; considered as of no trivial rtia&iitude . . i .. > , , i-yfTh e' younger iBiimettl w&s tjiuevdr
tnttrried , and , at the age of 55 years * Jttiid on the 9 th bf November , 17 « 4 . tI " 'He possessed >< & small lat ^ ded estate , IV ^ S * 'B ^ chan , in Aberdeenshire , A ^ dlittiated about ^ -miles northward <^ AbeTdeen > whi ? h . h « J itiherited fro ^ t tU ^ bl othetl Iwithis property he : was
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succeeded by a brother , a . fclergymafc in lite Church of England , who died without issue . / It * devolved to a nephew , son of another hrntlia » ~ r
Mr . Burnett * who , now , possesses it M ^ i th the exception > of this property and of moderate legacies and annuities to various relatives , the residue of his fortune was apporated by him to be applied to charitable purposes .
Since his death , these charitable destinations have increased in value and may , now , produce , altogether ' about 7 . 00 K of annual ineome . They were , by the testator , appointed to be applied in the following
manner . ; I . For the relief of the poor in the city of Aberdeen , with a preference to those ? who may be hed-rid > or may labour under diseases deeoxed incurable
II . For the relief of the poor residing on . his own landed propeny , descending to his heirs . < III .- For behoof of all the poor within the bounds of die county and synod of Aberdeen ^ which last con * tains . 96 parishes , a sum , not leas than 201 . and hot exceeding 50 l . in proportion to the extetit of each parisn , and
to its peculiar circumstances * is to be paid annually , in rotation , till this payment has extended over all the parishes within the jurisdiction of the synod . When this rotation has taken place , it is to begin anew , and circulate , , in this manner , in constant succession , < The donation to each
parish is-to be applied , for the benefit df its poor , according to-the discretion of its minister , ot ministers , and elders . i .. IV « A sum is approrwriated for the benefit of lunatics , - or persons deprived of reason .- * . » ' •¦
V . ^ Another pdttion is desti ne d to proirtote inoculation among the children of tke ^ poor . This' money is , now , applied % n support pfa Vaccine Institur twn in Aberdeen—an improvement of inoculation unknown at the time of the donor ' s death . : VI . A Bmall sqfm is a ppropriatea of in
^ o the benefi t the prisoners the jail of Aberdeen , and , especially , ^ assist in procuring ^ to them , the consolations and correctives of . rejig ' by the regular p 6 rforrnacfcCe < of divine worship within the walk of ; their
confinement . . « ' , ¦ , «; VH-, A small pant , of this gene ^ faud is appointed ! Jtoi lie . e ^ t flp 311 '
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+ 40 MMoirrdatheio John Burnett 9 Es ^ , of Dtfis .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1816, page 440, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2455/page/4/
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