Miller, Edward

, Mus. D. younger brother of the preceding, was apprenticed to his father’s business, that of a paviour, in Norwich, but his dislike of the occupation became so great, that he absconded, and came to London. Soon afterwards he placed himself under the tuition of the celebrated Dr. Burney, with whom he continued in habits of intimacy and correspondence throughout his life. In 1756 he went to reside at Doncaster in Yorkshire, where he followed his profession with great reputation, and was organist of the church fifty-one years. He took his degree of doctor of music at Cambridge in 1786. Dr. Miller’s company was much sought after, as he was an agreeable, well-bred man, and his conversation abounded in anecdote and apt quotation. His only failing was an occasional absence of mind; which led him into several ludicrous mistakes that will long be remembered in the neighbourhood of Doncaster.

The latter years of his life were clouded by domestic calamities. He had a promising family of three daughters, who all died of consumptive complaints when they attained the age of maturity; of his two sons, one was lost by shipwreck on board the Halsewell Indiaman. His only surviving son is a popular preacher among the methodists, with whom his talents, zeal,- piety, and charity, have made him deservedly beloved. Dr. Miller died at Doncaster, Sept. 12, 1807.

Dr. Miller’s professional knowledge was very extensive, particularly in the theory of music; and his publications have been much valued. Among these are “The Institutes of Music,” intended to teach the ground-work of the science; and “The Elements of Thorough Bass and Composition.” But the most popular of his works was the “Psalms of David,” set to music and arranged for every Sunday throughout the year. This, which was expressly intended for the use of churches and chapels, met with very great encouragement from all ranks of the clergy, and the subscription, before publication, amounted to near five thousand copies. It is now regularly used in a great proportion of places of public worship. Dr. Miller also was somewhat of a poet, and somewhat of an antiquary. His first attempt in the former character was entitled “The Tears of Yorkshire, on the death of the most noble the Marquis of Rockingham.” He informs us himself, that so much was the marquis beloved, “that 600 copies of this | literary trifle were sold in the course of a few hours, on the day of his interment in York minster. As an antiquary he published, two years before his death,” The History and Antiquities of Doncaster," 4to, in which he was assisted by many learned friends in that neighbourhood; but even with their help it bears many marks of advanced years and infirmities. ¹