BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 229
The ‘I severe and lengthened disease” under which Mr. Moss had been labouring,
terminated in his death on the 11 th of January 18 17. The following notice
of this event occurs in the newspapers of the period :-
“ Died, at Edinburgh, Mr. Moss, after a lingering disease of nearly three
years’ duration, the pains of which he bore with exemplary fortitude, Mr. Moss
was long the great dramatic favourite of the Edinburgh public ; and many still
recollect the excellence with which he portrayed Lingo, and many characters
of the same stamp.”
No. xcv.
NR. ROBERT MEIKLE.
THIS gentleman maintained a very respectable professional character in Edinburgh
as a writer, and was Assistant-Clerk in the Court of Session. He is
said to have been extremely attentive. to business, and was much esteemed by
his friends for the possession of many of those ‘‘ social qualities” which, in the
Bacchanalian spirit of last century, were as much a passport to good society as
temperance and decorum are in the present. We need scarcely add that he was
a most zealous member of the honourable fraternity of free-masons, and seldom
failed to join his brethren on the annual festival of the good Saint Andrew.
A ridiculous incident, arising out of his ‘‘ social qualities,” is preserved of
the “ Grand Clerk,” and a bottle friend, the “ Grand Secretary.” They had
been enjoying themselves in Douglas’s tavern, Anchor Close-a favourite resort
at that period--over a goodly dose of “ nut brown ale,” with a due proportion
of Glenlivet, by way of stimulant ; when, staggering forth about ten o’clock at
night, both perfectly “ glorious,” the one carelessly remarked to the other,-
“ Robbie, ye’re fou’.” Robbie, misunderstanding his friend, replied, “ Confound
you, sir! wha’s a sow B ’-at the same time aiming a terrible blow at his
unconscious companion ; but the blow falling short, the “ Grand Clerk” tumbled
into the gutter, and was ultimately carried home in a state much more easily
conceived than described.
Such scenes were by no means of rare occurrence in those “ golden days ; ”
and what would now destroy the respectability of any professional gentleman,
did not then at all affect his reputation. MR. MEIKLE filled the situation of
Clerk to the Grand Lodge for fifteen years, with great credit to himself and
benefit to the society; and was afterwards chosen Secretary in 1796. This
latter office he held only fifteen months, in consequence of his death, which
happened on the 18th of February 1797.
He was succeeded in the
clerkship by Mr. Thomas Sommers, glazier ; and, on this gentleman’s death, in
1799, the office was devolved upon Mr. James Bartram, brewer, who took his
place in the grand centenary procession on St. Andrew’sday, 1836.
Mr. Meikle was married, and had a family.
