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Kay's Originals Vol. 1

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124 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. partial to them at all.”-“How, sir,” faltered out the querist--“how should that be ‘I ”-“ Why,” replied the southron, “ because they are so much read, and so generally known, that our clergymen can’t borrow from them.” The whole company, hitherto in a state of considerable embarrassment, were quite delighted at this ingenious and well-turned compliment. Dr. Blair died in the 83d year of his age, on the 27th December 1800. He was buried in the Greyfriars’ Churchyard-the Westminster Abbey of Scotland -where a tablet to his memory, containing a highly elegant and classical Latin inscription, is affixed to the southern wall of the church. He married, in 1748, his cousin, Katherine Bannatyne, daughter of the Reverend James Bannatyne, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, by whom he had a son and daughter. The former died in infancy, and the latter when about twenty-one years of age. Mrs. Blair also died a few years previous to the demise of her husband. Dr. Blair’s usual place of residence in summer was at Restalrig-in winter in Argyle Square.‘ No. LVIII. THE HONOURABLE HENRY ERSKINE, DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF ADVOCATES. MR. ERSKINE, in consequence of holding an appointment from the Prince of Wales, generally presided at the anniversary meeting of his Royal Highness’s household in Edinburgh on the 12th of August ;’ hence the reason why Kay has placed the Prince’s coronet at the bottom of the Print. The motto, “ Seria mixta jocis,” is in allusion to the uncommon humour and vivacity which characterised his legal pleadings. The Hon. Henry Erskine was the third son of Henry David, tenth Earl of Buchan, by Apes, daughter of Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees, and was born at Edinburgh on the 1st November 1746. His patrimony was trifling, and had it not been for the exemplary kindness of his eldest brother, who took a paternal charge both of Henry and his younger brother Thomas, afterwards Lord Erskine, he would not have been able to defray the expenses attendant upon the course of study requisite to be followed in order to qualify him for the bar. In the year 1765, Mr. Erskine was admitt,ed a member of the Faculty of Advocates. He had previously prepared himself for eztempore speaking, by attending the Forum Near the present Industrial Museum. On one of these occasions, while a gentleman was singing after dinner, the Prince’s tobacconist accompanied the song with his fingers upon the waiwcoting of the room, in a very accurate manner. When the music finished, the chairman said, “He thought the Prince’fl tobacconist would make a capital King’s Counsel.” On being asked I‘ Why?” Harry replied, “Because I never heard a man make so much of a pannel.”
Volume 8 Page 180
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