Kay's Originals Vol. 1

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Go to: Kay's Originals Vol. 1 Title Pages Advertisement Introductory Notice to Original Portraits, Biographical Sketches I. Mr. John Kay II. A Triumvirate. The Daft Highland Laird, John Dhu, or Dow, alias Macdonald, and Jamie Duff, an idiot. III. Francis McNab, Esq. of McNab IV. Three Giants, with a Group of Spectators V. Lord Kames. Hugo Arnot, Esq. of Balcormo, Advocate. Lord Monboddo. VI. Contemplation VII. Lord Gardenstone VIII. Hugo Arnot, Esq., Advocate, and Gingerbread Jock IX. Dr. Glen and the Daft Highland Laird X. A Sleepy Congregation XI. Dr. James Graham going along the North Bridge in a High Wind XII. Dr. James Graham lecturing in Edinburgh XIII. James Macrae, Esq. XIV. Captain Page and Captain Vicars XV. The Three Captains of the City Guard. George Pitcairn, George Robertson, Robert Pillans. XVI. Provost David Steuart and Bailie John Lothian XVII. Alexander Hunter, Esq. of Polmood, and Roger Hog, Esq. of Newliston XVIII. Francis Grose, Esq., F.A.S. of London and Perth XIX. Captain Mingay, with a porter carrying George Cranstoun in his creel XX. Samuel McDonald and George Cranstoun XXI. Major Fisher XXII. Dr. Joseph Black XXIII. Dr. Joseph Black, Lecturing XXIV. Dr. James Hutton XXV. Philosophers XXVI. Dr. John Brown XXVII. Dr. Brown in his study XXVIII. Sir James Hunter Blair, Bart., Late Lord Provost of Edinburgh XXIX. Alexander Carlyle, D.D., Inveresk XXX. The Modern Hercules XXXI. Adam Ritchie XXXII. Angelo Tremamondo, Esq., Riding Master XXXIII. Lord Rockville Dr. Adam Smith, and Commissioner Brown XXXIV. Adam Smith, LL.D. And F.R.S. of London and Edinburgh XXXV. The Sapient Septemviri. King's College, Aberdeen. XXXVI. Vincent Lunardi, in his basket, ready to ascend. XXXVII. Marriage XXXVIII. A group of Aeronauts. XXXIX. The Right Honourable Colonel Lennox. XL. Colonel Hunter. XLI. The Rev. William Robertson, D.D., author of the History of Scotland and Charles V XLII. Dr. William Robertson, D.D., in his full clerical dress XLIII. Quartermaster Taylor XLIV. Cock-fighting Match between the counties of Lanark and Haddington XLV. James Donaldson XLVI. Mr. Alexander Thomson and Miss Crawford XLVII. Retaliation; or the Cudgeller caught XLVIII. Henry Viscount Melville and The Hob. Robert Dundas of Arniston XLIX. Bailie James Dickson and Bailie James Torry L. William Doyle, Samuel Sone, and William Foster LI. Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B., giving the word of command LII. General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B., viewing the army, encamped on the plains of Egypt LIII. Lauchlan McBain LIV. Second print of Lauchlan McBain LV. Mrs. Siddons, Mr. Sutherland, Mrs. Woods, of the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh LVI. Captain George Gordon, Captain George Robertson, and John Grieve, Esq., Lord Provost of Edinburgh LVII. Rev. Hugh Blair, D.D. of the High Church, Edinburgh LVIII. The Honourable Henry Erskine, Dean of the faculty of Advocates LIX. James Bruce, Esq. of Kinnaird, and Peter Williamson LX. Courtship LXI. Mr. William Martin, Bookseller and Auctioneer in Edinburgh LXII. Mr. Thomas White LXIII. Mr. Henderson and Mr. Charteris, of the Theatre-Royal, Edinburgh LXIV. The Rev. Joseph Robertson Macgregor, First Minister of the Edinburgh Gaelic Chapel LXV. The Rev. James Lawson of Belvidere, The Job of Present Times LXVI. An Exchange of Heads. Hugo Arnot, Esq. - Mr. William Macpherson, and Roger Hog, Esq. LXVII. The Rev. John McLure, Chaplain to the Grand Lodge LXVIII. Mr. Alexander Wood, surgeon LXIX. Mr. Wood LXX. Captain Hind LXXI. Robert McQueen of Braxfield, Lord Justice-Clerk LXXII. George Pratt (The Town-Crier) LXXIII. The Rev. Dr. John Erskine, late of the Old Greyfriars' Church, Edinburgh LXXIV. Dr. Erskine LXXV. Dr. Henry Moyes, lectureer on Chemistry, etc. LXXVI. Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo, banker in Edinburgh LXXVII. Thomas Fraser (A Natural) LXXVIII. The Marquis of Huntly, afterwards Duke of Gordon LXXIX. Sir James Montgomery of Stanhope and David Stuart Moncrief, esq. of Moredun LXXX. Rev. Greville Ewing LXXXI. The Earl of Hopetoun LXXXII. Charles Hay, Esq., Advocate LXXXIII. Lord Newton on the Bench LXXXIV. The Earl of Errol and the Right Honourable Lord Haddo. LXXXV. Voltaire, the French Philosopher, and Mr. Watson, an Edinburgh Messenger LXXXVI. Mr. William Smellie, Printer and Mr. Andrew Bell, Engraver LXXXVII. The Right Honourable David Earl of Leven and Melville LXXXVIII. The Right Honourable Lord Adam Gordon LXXXIX. Right Honourable Lord Adam Gordon and His Royal Highness the Count D'Artois, afterwards Charles X XC. John Dhu XCI. Sir William Nairne, Baronet, Lord Dunsinnan XCII. Mr. Ralph Rylance XCIII. Levelling of the High Street of Edinburgh XCIV. Mr. Moss in the character of 'Caleb' XCV. Mr. Robert Meikle XCVI. Mr. Thomas Neil, Wright and Precentor XCVII. Major Campbell of the 35th Regiment XCVIII. The Royal Edinburgh Volunteers. Mr. Archibald Gilchrist XCIX. John Davidson, Esq., and Lord Henderland. George Paton, Esq. Lord Monboddo and Dr. Hutton. C. David Ross, Lord Ankerville CI. Francis Home, M.D. CII. The Right Hon. the Earl of Haddington, Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo, Bart., and Sir James Hunter Blair, Bart. CIII. Dr. William Cullen CIV. Dr. Cullen in his study CV. William Brodie, Deacon of the Incorporation of Wrights and Masons, Edinburgh CVI. George Smith and Deacon William Brodie CVII. General Buttons, An American Officer CVIII. Mr. John Wright, Lecturer on Law CIX. John Wright, Edq., Advocate CX. The Rev. William Beat, Minister of Kilrenny CXI. James Marshall, Esq., writer to the Signet CXII. Rev. John Wesley CXIII. Sir James Grant of Grant, Bart. CXIV. Dr. Alexander Monro, Secundus, Professor of Anatomy CXV. Rev. John Kemp, D.D. CXVI. The Most Noble the Marquis of Graham, and The Right Hon. the Earl of Buchan CXVII. Henry Dundas, Viscount Melville CXVIII. Andrew Nicol CXIX. Three Legal Devotees. Andrew Nicol, Mary Walker, and John Skene CXX. Four Bucks. Dr. Eiston, Signior Stabilini, Captain McKenzie, and Macnab of Macnab CXXI. Dr. Andrew Hunter CXXII. Lord Craig CXXIII. Mungo Watson, Beadle of Lady Yester's Church, etc. CXXIV. James Robertson of Kincraigie CXXV. Thomas Muir, Esq. Younger of Huntershill CXXVI. Sir Archibald Hope of Pinkie, Bart. CXXVII. Robert Blair, Esq. CXXVIII. Robert Blair, Esq., Solicitor-General CXXIX. The Hon. Robert Dundas of Arniston CXXX. Captain James Justice of Justice Hall, and a Lady in the costume of 1790 CXXXI. Andrew Dalziel, A.M., F.R.S. CXXXII. Two Shadows. Lord Kames, and Hugo Arnot, Esq. CXXXIII. Neil Ferguson, Esq., Advocate, and the Little Polish Count CXXXIV. Dr. Alexander Hamilton, Professor of Midwifery CXXXV. Rev. Rowland Hill, A.M. CXXXVI. James Gregory, M.D. CXXXVII. Dr. James Gregory, in the uniform of the Royal Edinburgh Volunteers CXXXVIII. Alexander Osborne, Esq., and Francis Ronaldson, Esq. CXXXIX. Rev. Robert Walker CXL. Sir David Rae of Eskgrove, Bart., Lord Justice-Clerk CXLI. Mr. David Downie, Goldsmith in Edinburgh - tried for High Treason along with Robert Watt in 1794 CXLII. Mr. Thomas Blair, late of the Stamp-Office, Edinburgh CXLIII. Rev. William Moodie, D.D. CXLIV. Thomas Elder, Esq. of Forneth, Late Lord Provost of Edinburgh CXLV. The Right Hon. Lord Viscount Duncan CXLVI. Admiral Duncan on the Quarter-Deck CXLVII. Lord Hailes CXLVIII. Rev. Dr. David Johnston, Minister of North Leith CXLIX. Sir James Stirling, Bart. CL. Henry Dundas, and Sir James Stirling, Bart. CLI. Lord High Chancellor Loughborough, afterwards Earl of Rosslyn CLII. John Campbell, Esq., of Blythswood CLIII. The Hon. Basil Cochrane, and James Edgar, Esq., Commissioners of the Customs CLIV. Rev. Dr. Thomas Davidson, late of the Tolbooth Church, Edinburgh CLV. Colonel Patrick Crichton CLVI. George Fergusson, Lord Hermand CLVII. Mr. John Shiells, Surgeon CLVIII. Mr. Robert Johnston, and Miss Sibilla Hutton CLIX. Mr. John Bennet, Surgeon CLX. Three Officers of the Hopetoun Fencibles. Lord Napier, Major Pilmer, and Major Clarkson. CLXI. Mr. John Adams, Master of the Royal Riding Menage CLXII. Mr. William Scott, Mr. James Sibbald, George Fairholme, Esq., and James Kerr, Esq. CLXIII. Rev. William Paul CLXIV. Byrne, the Irish Giant, Mr. Watson, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Fairholme, and Geordie Cranstoun CLXV. Allan Macdougall, Esq. of Glenlochan, Alexander Watson, Esq. of Glenturkie, and Colquhoun Grant, Esq. CLXVI. Ensign Macdougal, of the Hopetoun Fencibles CLXVII. Mr. James Rae, Dr. William Laing, and Dr. James Hay CLXVIII. George Mealmaker, author of the 'Moral and Political Catechism of Man' CLXIX. Two Turks CLXX. The City Guard House. Corporal John Dhu Notes to Vol. 1 Index to the Portraits, etc. in Vol. 1 Index to the Names Incidentally Mentioned in the First Volume » Kay's Originals Vol. 2 » Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time » Edinburgh Past and Present » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. I » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. II » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. III » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. IV » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. V » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. VI

102 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Peerage by patent dated December 21st of that year, by the title of Viscount Melville, of Melville, in the county of Edinburgh, and Baron Dunira, in the county of Perth. Neither the important services which Lord Melville had rendered his country, nor his own well-known disinterested and generous nature, could protect him from a prosecution-persecution we had nearly said-instituted ostensibly on the grounds of public justice, but which was carried on with a spirit of bitterness, that, to say the least of it, was calculated to create serious doubts as to the purity of the motives of those with whom it originated. On the 8th of April 1805, his lordship, who had previously held for a short time the appointment of First Lord of the Treasury, was accused in the House of Commons, by Mr. Whitbread, of having misapplied or misdirected certain sums of public money, with a view to his own private advantage and emolument. Articles of impeachment having been preferred, his lordship was brought to trial before his Peers in Westminster Hall, on the 29th of April 1806. The result was a triumphant acquittal (12th June following) from all the charges. In truth, the utmost extent of any blame imputable to him was, that he had placed too much confidence in some of the subordinates in his office. After his acquittal, Lord Melville was restored to his place in the Privy Council, from which he had been removed pending his trial, but he did not again take office. From this period he lived chiefly in retirement, participating only occasionally in the debates of the House of Lords. His lordship died very unexpectedly in the house of his nephew, Lord Chief Baron Dundas, in George Square, on the 29th May 181 1 ; hTing come to Edinburgh, it is believed, to attend the funeral of his old friend Lord President Blair, who had died suddenly a few days before, and was at the moment lying in the house adjoining that in which Lord Melville expired. His Lordship was distinguished in his public life by a singular capacity for business, by unwearjed diligence in the discharge of his numerous and important duties, and, as a speaker, by the force and acuteness of his reasoning. In private life his manners were affable and unaffected, his disposition amiable and affectionate. A striking instance of the kindliness of his nature is to be found in the fact, that to the latest period of his life, whenever he came to Edinburgh, he made a point of visiting all the old ladies with whom he had been acquainted in his early days, patiently and perseveringly climbing, for this purpose, some of the most formidable turnpike-stairs in the Old Town. In his person he w-as tall and well-formed, while his countenance was expressive of high intellectual endowments. The city of Edinburgh contains two public monuments to Lord Melville's memory. The one, a marble statue by Chantrey, which stands in the large hall of the Parliament House; the other a handsome column, one hundred and thirty-five feet high, situated in the centre of St. Andrew's Square. This noble pillar is surmounted by a statue of his lordship, fifteen feet in height. Lord Melville married first, Elizabeth, daughter of David Rannie, Esq., of

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 103 Melville Castle, and by her had one son (the succeeding Viscount) and three daughters. This marriage baving been dissolved in 17 93, he married, secondly, Jane, sister to Janies Hope, third Earl of Hopetoun, but by her (who remarried, in 18 14, Thomas Lord Wallace) he had no issue. The second figure represents the Right Hon. ROBERT DUNDAS of Arniston, Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer, in conversation with his uncle, who was also his father-in-law. I&. Dundas was eldest son of the second Lord President Dundas, and was born on the 6th of June 17558. He was educated for the legal profession, and became a member of the Faculty of Advocates in the year 1779 ; immediately after which he was appointed Procurator for the Church of Scotland. On the promotion of Sir Islay Campbell to the office of Lord Advocate, Mr. Dundas, then a very young man, succeeded him as Solicitor-General ; and on the elevation of the former to the Presidency, the latter was appointed to supply his place as Lord Advocate, being then only in the 31st year of his age. This office he held for twelve years, dnring which time he sat in Parliament as member for the county of Edinburgh. On the resignation of Chief Baron Montgomery, in the year 1801, he was appointed his successor. His lordship held this office till within a short time of his death, which happened at Arniston on the 17th June 1819, in the sixty-second year of his age.’ The excellences which marked the character of his lordship were many, and all of the most amiable and endearing kind. In manner, he was mild and affable ; in disposition humane and generous ; and in principle, singularly tolerant and liberal--cjualities which gained him universal esteem. As presiding judge of the Court of Exchequer, he on every occasion evinced a desire to soften the rigour of the law when a legitimate opportunity presented itself for doing so. If it appeared to his lordship that an offender had erred unknowingly, or from inadvertency, he invariably interposed his good offices to mitigate the sentence. By the constitution of this court it was assumed that the king could not be subjected in expenses : thus when a party was acquitted -no unfrequent occurrence-he had to bear his own costs, which were always very considerable-but the Lord Chief Baron, whenever he thought that the party had been unjustly accused, invariably recommended to Government that he should be repaid what he had expended, and his recommendations were uniformly attended to. “ It was in private life, however,” says his biographer, “ and within the circle of his own family and friends, that the virtues of this excellent man were chiefly conspicuous, and that his loss was most severely felt. Of him it may be said, as was most emphatically remarked of one of his brethren on the bench, he died leaving no good man his enemy, and attended with that sincere regret which only those can hope for who have occupied the like important stations, and acquitted themselves as well.” 1 At this period his lordship resided in St. John’s Street, Canongate.

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