192 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
fortable farm-houses and other premises for his tenantry, to whom he afforded
every inducement to lay out capital, by granting long leases, and otherwise
securing to them the prospect of reaping the reward of their industq-. To such
management as this the extraordinary agricultural advancement of Scotland,
during the last half-century, is mainly owing-an advancement which the present
tenant-at-will system (extensively prevalent in certain districts of the country),
threatens seriously to impede, if not thoroughly to counteract. Sir James also
possessed the estate of Killeen, in Stirlingshire, which he obtained by marriage.
On attaining the dignity of Chief-Baron, Sir James found himself in possession
of more leisure than he could previously command ; but this relaxation
from official duties only tended to increase his labours in the cause of public
improvement. He was one of the most useful members of the Board of
Trustees for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce in Scotland
; and it may be observed with truth that a great portion of the business
of the Board latterly devolved upon him. His extreme kindliness of disposition,
readiness of access, and the universal estimation in which he was held,
led him into a multiplicity of gratuitous, but not the less salutary or important
labour. In the arrangement of private affairs among his neighbours, and
in becoming the honoured arbiter in matters of dispute, he was so frequently
engaged as materially to interfere with his own convenience ; but whether to
persons of his own rank, or to the poor, his opinions were equally and always
open.
He married Margaret, daughter and heiress
of Robert Scott of Killeen, county Stirling, who survived him, and lived till the
17th of February 1806. His eldest son, Colonel William Montgomery, died. a
few years before him. His second son, Sir James, inherited the title and estates,
and was some time Lord Advocate and Member for the county of Tweeddale.
His third son, Archibald, went to the East-Indies ; and his fourth son, Robert,
was an English barrister. His eldest daughter was married to Robert Nutter,
Esquire of Kailzie-the youngest to Major Hart of the East India Service.
The seEond daughter remained unmarried.
“ Sir Jamqs,” says a biographical notice written immediately after his death,
“was in stature a little taller than the middle size, of a remarkably slender
make ; his air, though not undignified, had more in it of winning grace than of
overawing command. His appearance in his old age was particularly interesting ;
his complexion clear and cloudless; his manner serene and cheerful. Two
pictures of him are preserved, for which he sat when above eighty years old ;
one at Stobbs House, the other at Kailzie.” Sir Jamea at one time lived in the
third flat of the Bishop’s Land, formerly occupied by Lord President Dundas.
He subsequently removed to Queensbeq House, situated near the foot of the
Canongate, the use of which he gratuitously obtained from Duke William.
Sir James died in April 1803.
