BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 211
No. LXXXVII.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DAVID EARL OF LEVEN
AND MELVILLE.
DAVID, sixth EARL of LEVEN and fifth of MELVILLE, was the only son
of Alexander, fifth Earl of Leven, by Mary, daughter of Colonel Erskine of
Carnock, and was born in 1722. His lordship entered the army in 1744, and
held a company in the 16th Regiment of Foot ; but he left the military service
on succeeding to the family titles and estates, by the demise of his father, in
1751. For a series of years his lordship seems to have interfered little in
public matters. In 1773 he was appointed one of the Lords of Police-an
office which he held till the abolition of that Board in 1782. In the following
year he became Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly.
In those days the “pomp and circumstance” of the Commissioner’s office
were matters of much greater moment than they are at present. The levees ’
were then numerously attended by the nobility ; and the opening procession
to the Assembly, in particular, created feelings of great excitement : the streets
were thronged with people, and the windows crowded with all the beauty and
fashion of the town, while the retinue of the Commissioner was generally
numerous and imposing. The Sunday processions to church were also very
attractive. In addition to the usual attendance of the military on such occasions,
bands of music were in requisition, which, to the great annoyance of
many a sturdy Presbyterian, struck up the moment the procession issued from
the place where his Grace held his levee, and while it proceeded towards the
High Church. The Commissioner was always preceded by the heralds, and
followed by a long train of noblemen and gentlemen, both lay and clerical,
besides ladies in full court dress.’
The Earl continued to act as Commissioner for nearly twenty years, and
took much pleasure in the annual display of official greatness. The leader
of the Assembly, during the greater part of that time, was the celebrated
Principal Robertson, on the moderate side; his opponent being his own colleague
in the Old Greyfriars’ Church, Dr. John Erskine of Carnock (cousin
to the Earl), who led what was then called the dZd party.
In 1801, the Earl (then in his 80th year) was succeeded in the Commissionership
by Lord Napier ; and it may be mentioned, as an instance of the enthu-
They were held in Fortune’s Tavern, Old Stamp-Office Close ; and when Fortune removed to . Princes Street, the levees took place in the King’s Arms Tavern, New Assembly Close, where the
public dancing assemblies were held-afterwards the site of the Commercial Bank.
The old Town Guard, who were always furnished with new unifoims for the occaaion, were
allowed the honour of precedency, by takiug the right-hand side of the procession, in preference to
the military.
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
