BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 241
enrolled as privates, no unfrequent occurrence to find barristers pleading in
the Parliament House, attired in warlike guise, with their gowns hastily thrown
over their red coats. A short time afterwards the corps was somewhat unceremoniously
disbanded.
MR. ARCHIBALD GILCHRIST, whose well-proportioned figure has been
so aptly selected by the artist as a specimen of the Edinburgh Volunteers, is
represented in the old or blue uniform, having been an original member of the
corps. His father, who was a native of Lanarkshire, came to Edinburgh about
the middle of last century, and commenced business as a haberdasher in a “land”
at the back of the Old City Guard. His shop, or warehouse, was one stair up,
and on the same flat with that of Mr. John Neil, also a haberdasher. These
establishments were at that time the only two of the kind of any extent in the
city. Mr. Gilchrist having assumed as partners two of his nephews of the name
of Mackinlay, the business was subsequently carried on under the designation
of Archibald Gilchrist and Co.’
Shortly after the death of his father, the firm being dissolved, Mr. Archibald
Gilchrist opened a new establishment on the South Bridge, about 1785, when
he became ‘‘ Haberdasher to the Prince of Wales ;” and in accordance with the
prosperity of the times, carried on a more fashionable and extensive business
than had previously been attempted in Edinburgh. He subsequently removed
to that shop in the High Street, at the corner of Hunter Square-which
property he purchased in 1792. Mr. Gilchrist was in every respect a
worthy citizen-eminent as a trader-and highly esteemed both in public
and private life. He was elected a member of the Town Council in 1796, held
the office of Treasurer in 1797-8, and was chosen one of the Magistrates in
1801.
In person he was remarkably handsome, and always exhibited the nicest
attention to neatness and propriety in his dress. He was social in dispositionfree
without levity ; and, although by no means given to indulgence, possessed
so much of the civic taste attributed to a past era, as to make him a very suitable
participator in the luxuries of a civic banquet. Indeed, prior to the introduction
of the present “ baw-bone ” system, the science of good eating is allowed to have
been admirably understood by the corporation. It is told of Mr. Gilchrist, that
while engaged on one occasion with his brother‘ councillors in discussing the
dishes of a well-replenished table, and observing the last cut of a superior
haunch of venison just in the act of being appropriated by the dexterous hand
of the town-clerk-‘‘ Hold,” cried he, willing to test the oflcid estimate of the
precious morsel, “ I’ll give ye half-a-crown for the plate.” ‘‘ Done,” said Mr.
Gray, at the same time making the transfer-“down with your money.” Mr.
Gilchrist at once tabled the amount, and thus had his joke and his venison.
1 Lord Provost Spittal was for many years in this establiihment. * It i R in allusion to this that the artiit has placed the Prince of Wales’ coronet at the foot of the
eqmving.
2 1
