BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 19%
one daughter still survive. John, the eldest, succeeded to the titles, and married,
in 1826, Louisa Bosville, eldest daughter of the late Lord Macdonald, by whom
he has issue one son. His lordship’s remaining six brothers and one sister
are all unmarried. James, the second son, was for some time Member of
Parliament for the county of Linlithgow. The Countess-Dowager died at
Leamington 1836.
No. LXXXII.
CHARLES HAY, ESQ., ADVOCATE,
TAKEN A SHORT TIME BIWORE HIS ELEVATION TO THE BENCH.
CHARLES HAY, son of James Hay, Esq. of Cocklaw, Writer to the Signet, was
born in 1747.’ After the usual preparatory course of education, he passed
advocate in 1768, having just attained the years of majority; but, unlike most
young practitioners, Hay had so thoroughly studied the principles of the law
‘‘ that he has been frequently heard to declare he was as good a lawyer at that
time as he ever was at any after period.” He soon became distinguished by his
strong natural abilities, as well as by his extensive knowledge of the profession, ,
which embraced alike the minutest forms of the daily practice of the Court and
the highest and most subtle points of jurisprudence. As a pleader he. was
very effective. His pleadings were never ornamental, but entirely free of
“ those little arts by which a speaker often tries to turn the attention of his
boy about twelve years of age, came into the room and sat beside his mother. The King asked the
Countess how many children she had ? On being answered by her ladyship that she had ten sons
and an infant daughter, his Majesty, either struck by the number of male children, or by the
beautiful and youthful appearance of the mother, exclaimed, “ Good God ! is it possible 2” After
breakfast, Lady Alicia, then an infant, was presented to his Majesty, by whom she was affectionately
kissed Thomas and Adrian, the two youngest sons, were next led into the dining-room, and presented
by the Earl to his royal guest. The king graciously received the little boys ; and raising
Adrian’s frock, took hold of his leg, saying, “ What a stout little fellow ! ” The child, thinking the
King was admiring his frock, held it up with both his hands, and cried, “ See, see ! ” His Najesw
was amused with the notion of the child, and said, “ Is that a new frock, my little man ? ” The
other sons of Lord Hopetoun were presented to the King in the drawing-room. During his Majesty’s
short visit at Hopetoun House, the honour of knighthood was conferred on Captain Adam Fergusson
and Mr. Henry Raeburn, the celebrated painter. Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the
weather, the lawns around the princely mansion presented a scene of a most animating description.
Great preparations had been made for the reception of his Majesty, and an immense concourse of
all ranks, including a body of his lordship’s tenantry on horseback, were assembled to greet their
sovereign. The band of Royal Archers, who acted as the King’s bodyguard, were in attendance,
under the command of the Earl of Elgin. The Earl of Hopetoun was the commander-general of this
ancient body, and acted as such on the day of his Majesty’s arrival at Holymod-House. As a
memorial of that event, they entreated the Earl to sit for his picture @ the dress which be wore on
the occasion. The painting was executed by Mr. John Watson, and has been hung up in the
Archers’ Hall.
He is said to have been descended from the Hay3 of Rannes, an ancient branch of the family
of Hay.