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.”