BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 143
Martin, however, waa certainly more “ at hame” in some instances than he
was either in French, Latin, Greek, or Hebrew. On one occasion, at the time
Manfredo was performing in Edinburgh, Martin, in the course of his night’e
labour, came across the ‘‘ Life of Robinson Crusoe.” Holding up the volume,
and pointing to the picture of Robinson’s man Friday, he exclaims, Weel,
gentlemen, what will ye gie me for my MaeFredo /-worth a dieen 0’ the Italian
land-louper.” Manfredo, who happened to be present, became exceedingly
moth at this allusion to him. Call nzs
de land-loupeur I ’) Nothing disconcerted by this unexpected attack, Martin,
again holding up the picture replied-“ I’ll refer to the company if my Man-
Fredo is no worth a dizen 0’ him !” The Italian fumed and fretted, but, amidst
the’general laughter, was obliged to retire.
In these days “ rockings” in the country, and parties in the town, were very
frequent. On such occasions the auctioneer was wont to be extremely merry,
and seldom failed to recite in his best style “The Edinburgh Buck,” by Robert
Fergusson. He used also to sing tolerably well the ballad of “Duncan
Gray.” This seldom failed to be forthcoming-more particularly when a teaparty
surrounded his own fireside. In this there was perhaps a little touch of
domestic pride-at least the second Mrs. Martin always thought so. During
courtship some trifling misunderstanding had taken place-
“Vat do you say about Manfredo!
“ Maggie coost her head fu’ heigh,
Look’d asklent and unco skeigh,
Gart poor Duncan staud abeigh.”
But Martin, like the famed Duncan, cooled, and discontinued: his visits for
some time, till Katherine “grew sick as he grew heal,” and at last condescended
to let the bookseller know her surprise why he had discontinued his visits.
Martin, who had been like his favourite, ‘‘ a lad 0’ grace,”-
‘‘ Could na’ think to be her death ;
Swelling pity smoor’d his wrath.”
So he accordingly resumed his visits and Kattie became his d e , being ‘‘ crouse
an’ canty baith ;” but she never could endure the song of I‘ Duncan Gray.”
Of Mr. Martin’s social habits, perhaps the best proof is the fact of his having
been a member of the “Cape Club.”’ His diploma of knighthood is as
follows :-
The Cape Club comprised amongst its numerous membem many men of talents and of private
worth. Fergusson (who alludes to the Club in his poem of “Add Reekie”), waa a member ; as
were Mr. Thomaa Sommers, his friend and biographer ; Wood, the Scottish Roscius aa he WBS called ;
and Runciman, the painter. The Club derived ita name from the following circumstance :-“A
person who lived in the suburbs of Calton waa in the custom of spending an hour’ or two every
evening with one or two city friends ; and being sometimes detained till after the regular period
when the Netherbow-Port waa shut, it occasionally happened that he had either to remain in the
city all night, or WBS under the necessity of bribing the porter who attended the gate. This difticult
pass, partly on account of the rectangular corner which he turned immediately on getting out of the
Port, 88 he went homewards down Leith Wynd, and partly, perhaps (if the reader will pardon a very
