BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 95
might have ranked with the first names in the British Senate. He retired from
the business of the Church Courts in 1780, but still continued his pastoral duties,
preaching when his health permitted, till within a few months of his death,
which took place at Grange House, near Edinburgh, on the 11th June 1793.
His colleague Dr, John Erskine, in a sermon preached after his death, said,
“ Few minds were naturally so large and capacious as Dr, Robertson’s, or stored
by study, experience, and observation, with so rich furniture. His imagination
was correct, his judgment sound, his memory tenacious, his temper agreeable,
his knowledge extensive, and his acquaintance with the world and the heart of
man very remarkable.”
Dr. Robertson is said to have excited the enmity of Dr. Gilbert Stuart, in
consequence of his assumed opposition to the appointment of that clever, but
vindictive personage, to one of the Law chairs in the University. Whether the
Principal really interfered is not certain, but Stuart believed he had done so,
and that was quite sufficient to induce him to take every means in his power to
annoy his imagined enemy. The “View of Society in Europe,” is in direct
opposition to the luminous introduction to Dr. Robertson’s ‘‘ History of Charles
V.,” and the ‘‘ History of Scotland, from the Reformation to the Death of Queen
Mary,” is an undisguised and virulent hypercritical attack on the “History
of Scotland ” by the same eminent writer, and does no great credit to the talents
of Dr. Stuart. The Empress Catherine of Russia was so delighted with Dr.
Robertson’s works, that she presented him with a handsome gold enamelled snuffbox,
richly set with diamonds, through Dr. Rogerson, which is still in possession
of the family.
The eldest son, a Lord
of Session, retired some years ago from the Bench ; he lived in Charlotte Square,
and died only last year (1836). The next son, Lieutenant-General James, who
distinguished himself under Lord Conmallis, still lives at Canaan Bank, near
Edinburgh. The third son was also in the army, but, having ’married the
heiress of Kinloch-Moidart, now (1837) resides almost entirely on his eshte.
The eldest daughter married Patrick Brydone, Esq. of Lennel House, author of’
a “ Tour through Sicily and Malta,” one of whose daughters became Countess
of Minto; and another, the wife of Admiral Sir Charles Adam, K.B. The
youngest daughter married John Russell, Esq., Writer to the Signet.
Dr. Robertson left three sons and two daughters.
No. XIlIII.
QUARTERMASTER TAYLOR.
THIS gentleman was an officer in the 7th Regiment of Foot, and served under
General Elliot, afterwards Lord Heathfield, during the memorable siege of Gibraltar
by the Spaniards. While in Edinburgh, during the year 1788, his
extreme corpulency rendered him very conspicuous, and induced Mr. Kay to
make him the subject of the present etching. It is said that the night before
his death he was offered €400 for his commission, which he refused
96 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
No. XLIV.
COCK-FIGHTING MATCH
BETWEEN THE COUNTIES OF LANARK AND HADDINGTON.
THIS affair was decided in the unfinished kitchen of the Assembly Roams,
in 1785 ; on which occasion the gentlemen cock-fighters of the county of East
Lothian were the victors. Among the audience will be recognised likenesses
of the principal individuals of this fancy at the time. Hay, in his MS. notes,
particularly points out those of Sir James Baird of Newbyth, William Hamilton,
Esq. of Wishaw (afterwards Lord Belhaven), - MacLeod, Esq. of Drimnin,
Lord North the caddy, the noted Deacon Brodie, and several other eminent
cockers. The two figures in the pit represent the persons employed by the
different parties ; the one was an Edinburgh butcher, the other an Englishman.
In allusion to this contest Kay observes, " It cannot but appear surprising
that noblemen and gentlemen, who upon any other occasion will hardly show the
smallest degree of condescension to their inferiors, will, in the prosecution of
this barbarous amusement, demean themselves so far as to associate with the
very lowest characters in society."
Cock-fighting prevailed to a great extent among the Romans, who most
likely adopted it, among other things, from the Greeks, with this addition, that
they used quails as well as the common gamecock. With the Romans cockfighting
is presumed to have been introduced into Britain, although the first
notice me have of it is by Fitz-Stephen, in his Life of the famous Thomas
a-Becket, in the reign of Henry 11. There were several enactments made
against the practice in the reigns of Edward 111. and Henry VIII., but it is
well known that the cock-pit at Whitehall was erected by royalty itself, for the
more magnificent celebration of the sport : it was again prohibited during the .
Protectorship of Cromwell in 1654, and afterwards by the Act 25th Geo. 111.
Notwithstanding the efforts made to put it down, this disreputable amusement
continued in all parts of England to be practised with the utmost wantonness
almost to the present time.
In Scotland, cock-fighting was for many years an ordinary recreation. In
1705 William Machrie, fencing-master in Edinburgh, published " An Essay
upon the Royal Recreation and Art of Cocking. Edinburgh, printed by James
Watson in Craig's Gloss. Sold by Mr. Robert Freebairn in the Parliament
Closs, 1705." 12mo. This tract, which is now exceedingly scarce, is dedicated
to the nobility and gentry of Scotland, who are told that "the sport of cockfighting
is improv'd to a great height; 'tis as much an art as managing of
horses for races or for the field of battle j and tho' it has been in vogue over all
Europe, yet 'twas never esteem'd nor practis'd but by the nobility and gentry.
It was kept up only by people of rank, and never sunk down to the hands of
the commonality, where the art of managing this fierce and warlike bird had
