212 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
siastic spirit of the ex-representative of Majesty, that he came to Edinburgh in
May 1802, to attend the levee of the new Commissioner. On the 4th of June
following, being the King's birth-day, he also attended the " grand collation "
given on the occasion by the Magistrates in the Parliament House. This was
the last public appearance of his lordship. He died at his house, in Edinburgh,
five days afterwards, aged 81.
Lord Leven married, in 1747, Wilhelmina, posthumous daughter, and nineteenth
child, of William Nisbet of Dirleton. The great degree of domestic
felicity with which this union was crowned, is, perhaps, the best proof of the
Earl's rectitude of private conduct. Lady Leven was not less distinguished for
her amiable qualities of mind than she was for comeliness of person. Her wit
was lively and pleasant-her heart affectionate and liberal. She had a habitual
and fervent piety, and a regular and constant regard to divine institutions and
the offices of devotion. Uninterrupted conjugal affection and felicity, sweetened
and heightened by the exercise of parenta.1 duties, marked the union of the
Earl and Countess. The fiftieth anniversary of their marriage was celebrated
at Melville House, 29th January 1797 ; and she died there, 10th May 1798,
aged 74.
The town residence of the Earls of Leven, during the early part of last
century, was at the head of Skinner's Close. The subject of this sketch resided
many years in a house at the north-west corner of Nicolson Square, and latterly
occupied KO. 2 St. Andrew Square.
Her ladyship had a family of five sons and three daughters.
No. LXXXVIII.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD ADAM G0RDON.l '
LORD ADAM GORDON, fourth son of Alexander, second Duke of Gordon,
and grand-uncle to the late Duke, entered the 18th Regiment of Foot in 1746-
from whence he was transferred to the 3d Regiment of Foot Guards in 1755. He
accompanied this regiment in the expedition to the coast of France, under
General Bligh, in 1758 ; undertaken, in conjunction with the fleet under Lord
Howe, for the purpose of creating a diversion in favour of the allies. The
General succeeded in effecting a landing at St. Lunaire, on the 4th September,
and in destroying a few vessels at St. Briac ; but his courage soon began
to " ooze out at his finger-ends " on learning that the French camp was only a
few miles distant, and that some fresh reinforcements had lately been received.
On the 10th of the same month he summoned a council of war, when, with
only one dissentient voice (Lieutenant-colonel Clerk) a re-embarkation was
resolved upon. Lord Howe was immediately made acquainted with this determination
; but, for the safety of the fleet, the Admiral found it necessary to go
to St. Cas Bay. The troops were thus under the disagreeable necessity of
Print of Lord Adam Gordon on horseback as peculiarly striking.
A gentleman, who was intimately acquainted with the subject of this sketch, describes the