BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 279
confined for some trifling instance of improper conduct, an attempt was made
by a few of his comrades to effect a rescue ; but they failed in the endeavour,
and the ringleader was taken prisoner. A court-martial having been immediately
held, the prisoners were remanded back to the guard-room ; but on the way the
escort was attacked by fifty or sixty of the soldiers, with fixed bayonets, and
the prisoners rescued. By great exertions on the part of the Lieut.-Colonel and
officers, most of the parties were afterwards secured, when they expressed deep
regret for their improper conduct, and peaceably submitted to their fate. Sir
James was not with the regiment at this period, and arrived too late to interfere
with propriety and effect. At a general court-martial, held at Musselburgh
soon after, five of the mutineers were found guilty-four were adjudged to
suffer death, and one to receive corporal punishment. The melancholy spectacle
of the military execution took place in consequence at the Links of Gullane, on
the 19th July 1795, in presence of all the regular and volunteer troops in the
neighbourhood. When the prisoners had been marched to the scene, the sentence
was restricted to two individuals, who suffered accordingly. The Strathspey
Fencibles,along with most of the other similar regiments, was disbanded in
1799.
Sir James was one of the original office-bearers of the Highland Society of
Edinburgh, instituted in 1784; and continued to be one of the most zealous
members of that society. In 1794 he was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of the
county of Inverness-which office he filled till he was compelled to resign, in
consequence of ill health, in 1809, when his son was nominated his successor.
In 1795 he was preferred as Cashier to the Excise, when his seat in Parliament
became vacated, in consequence of which Mr. M'Dougal Grant succeeded him
in the representation of Banffshire.
After a lingering illness, Sir James died at Castle Grant, on the 18th
February 1811, deeply regretted. He married, in 1763, Jane, only child of
Alexander Duff of Hatton, Esq., by whom he had seven sons and six daughters,
The eldest, Lewis Alexander Grant, succeeded to the estates and earldom of
Seafield on the death of his cousin, James Earl of Findlater' and Seafield, in
1811. The second son, Colonel Francis Grant, was some time member of Parliament
for Nairn. '
The earldom of Findlate?, which was destined to heirs male, was claimed by S i William
Ogilvie, Bart., but he failed to substantiate his right to it.
280 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
No. CXIV.
DR. ALEXANDER MONRO, SECUNDUS,
PROFESSOR OF ANATONY.
THE father of this celebrated anatomist was the first efficient professor of the
science in the Uoiversity of Edinburgh, and may be considered as the founder
of the medical school which has been subsequently so justly famed.’ He
was a descendant of the Munros of Milntoun, and grandson of Sir Alexander
Monro of Beerscroft-a strenuous opponent of Oliver Cromwell.
MONROse, mndus, was born in Edinburgh in 17 32 ; and, although the youngest
son, his father early designed that he should be his successor, and no exertion
was spared to initiate him in the practice as well as the theory of his profession.
That his whole time and attention might be devoted to the science,
his father-presuming on the strength of thirty years’ devotion to the medical
chair, and emboldened by the fame which the seminary had acquired under his
professorship-ventured to memorialise the Town Council on the subject of
appointing his son assistant and successor. Among other motives which urged
the professor to this step, it is stated in the memorial that the acquisition of so
much knowledge of an extensive science as a teacher ought to have cannot be
obtained without some neglect of the other branches ; and, therefore, a prospect
of suitable advantage from that one branch must be given, to induce any person
to bestow more time and pains on it than on others.
’ The memorial thus proceeds :-“That the professor’s youngest son has
appeared to his father, for some years past, to have the qualifications necessary
for a teacher ; and this winter he has given proof, not only dissecting all the
course of his father, but prelecting in most of it. That he is already equal to
the office ; for testimony of which, it is entreated that inquiry may be made at
the numerous students who were present at his lectures and demonstrations.”
It was farther stated that, if “the patrons agreed to the proposition, the education
of the young professor should be directed, with a view to that business, under
the best masters in Europe. He should have all his father’s papers, books,
instruments, and preparations, with all the assistance his father can give in
teaching, while he is fit for labour.”
This document throws great light upon the history of the young anatomist,
and of the profitable manner in which he had spent his time. It contains also
a plain but sensible statement of his father’s sentiments concerning his proficiency.
Dr. Mom, primus, waa the author of n 6‘ System of bsteology ” which has never been
attempted to be rivalled.
