This ancient and truly amiable family were long resident in the county of Fife. D. P. the brother of Dr. W. P. and father of Dr. D. was a Minister of the Church of Scotland, and for more than fifty years presided over the Church of Dysart, where he was a most exemplary parish priest, and universally beloved, for he was indeed the father of his flock. His original destination was the profession of medicine, and he had visited foreign countries with such intention; but he afterwards went into the church, and officiated among his parishioners both as pastor and physician. He was a man of extraordinary abilities, possessed much wit and humour, and was indeed remarkable for the variety of his talents. He had a very fine person, and the most agreeable and amiable manners. One of his brothers went into the army. Poor Major P.! he lost his life at the age of fifty-two, at the unfortunate battle of Bunker’s Hill, where he commanded the corps of marines. When he fell, every man of those whom he commanded cried out, “We have lost our father!” He was carried off the field on the shoulders of his son. His next brother, Dr. W. P. was, as is well known, very high in the profession of physic. Perhaps it may be asserted without fear of dispute or contradiction, that a more excellent and benevolent character never existed. On the melancholy death of his brother, the Major, he instantly became the father of his children: _notus in fratrem animi paterni_.—He was, in every respect, their protector, their guardian, and their friend. The fate of the Major’s family was somewhat singular. Mrs. P. the mother of Dr. David P. lived to a very advanced age, and survived five sons. Of these, four reached manhood, and all obtained credit in their several professions. One of them was in the navy, and Lieutenant of the Aurora frigate, which was lost in her passage to the East Indies, having on board many distinguished personages, and among them the Judges, Mr. Vansittart, Mr. Scroften, &c. Two more were in the army, both of whom certainly died in consequence of fatigues and hardships suffered in America. Of Dr. D. P. a great deal more is to be said.