BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 13
was the eldest surviving son of James Rurnett, Esq. of Monboddo, in the county
of Kincardine, where he was born in the year 17 14.
His lordship received his initiatory education chiefly at the school of Laurencekirk,
and afterwards was sent to King’s College, Aberdeen, where he distinguished
himself by his proficiency in ancient literature, the study of which, in
after life, became his ruling passion, and engrossed his attention to the entire
exclusion of the productions of modern talent.
Having been early destined for the bar, he proceeded, after completing his
literary education at Aberdeen, to Groningen, where he studied Civil Law for three
years. At the end of this period he came to Edinburgh, where he happened to
arrive on the forenoon of the day which concluded with the public murder, as it
might be called, of Captain Porteous. When about to retire to rest, his lordship’s
curiosity was excited by a noiqe and tumult in the streets, and, in place of
going to bed, he slipped to the door half-undressed, and with his nightcap on his
head. He speedily got entangled in the crowd of passers-by, and was hurried
along with them to the Grassmarket, where he became an involuntary witness of
the last act of the tragedy. This scene made so deep an impression on his lordship
that it not only deprived him of sleep during the remainder of the night,
but induced him to think of leaving the city altogether, as a place unfit for a
civilised being to live in. From this resolution, however, he was subsequently
diverted, on hearing an explanation of the whole circumstances connected with
the proceeding. His lordship frequently related this incident in after life, and
on these occasions described with much force the effect which it had upoii him.
Lord Monboddo passed his Civil Law examinations upon the 12th of February
1737, and being found duly qualified, was admitted a member of the Faculty
of Advocates. In 1767 he was appointed a Lord of Session, and assumed the
judicial designation by which he is now best known. It is a remarkable circumstance,
that the seat on the bench occupied by his lordship was enjoyed by
only three persons (himself being one) during the long period of one hundred
and ten years.
Lord Aionboddo’s patrimonial estate was small, not producing during the
greater part of his life more than SE300 a year; yet of so generous and benevolent
a disposition was he, that he would not raise his rents, nor dismiss a poor
tenant for the sake of augmentation. It was his boast to have his lands more
numerously peopled than any portion of equal extent in his neighbourhood.
When in the country, during the vacation of the Court of Session, he wore
the dress of a plain farmer, and lived on a footing of familiarity and kindness
with his tenantry that greatly endeared him to them.
His lordship’s private life was spent in the enjoyment of domestic felicity
and in the practice of all the social virtues. Though his habits were rigidly
temperate, there were few things he so much delighted in as the convivial society
of his friends. He was a zealous patron of merit, and amongst those who
experienced his friendship was the poet Burns.
Notwithstanding the amiable character of Lord Monboddo, and his many
