BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 291
all his attention, and week after week he used to travel from Kinross to Edinburgh
(a distance of twenty-seven miles) to inquire about the progress of his
law-suit. Eay relates that when the Print was published in 1802, no fewer than
one hundred and sixteen subscribers were obtained among the gentlemen of the
legal profession-so well acquainted were they with the proprietor of the
middenstead.
The result of this appetite for law on the part of poor Andrew was the total
neglect of his business at Kinross. His affairs consequently went to ruin, and
the unfortunate litigant died in the jail of Cupar, in 1817, where he had been
incarcerated for debt,
No. CXIX.
THREE LEGAL DEVOTEES.
ANDREW NICOL, MARY WALKER, AND
JOHN SKENE.
THIS is allowed by some to be one of the best of Kay’s etchings. ANDREW
NICOL, whom we have noticed in the preceding page, may here be supposed
newly arrived from Kinross with the plan of his middenstead. His simple face
and genuine Lowland garb are well depicted ; and the credulous attention with
which he is listening to the Heckler is truly characteristic.
MARY WALKER, whose vacant countenance indicates insanity, was an
intolerable pest about the Parliament House. The object of her legal solicitude
was the recovery of a sum of money which she conceived to be due her by the
Magistrates of Edinburgh.
JOHN SKENE-the smart, consequential - looking personage in black,
engaged in expounding some knotty point to the Kinross litigant-was an individual
whose brains, to use the expression of Major Campbell, were pretty
considerably “ conglomerated.” He was a flax-dresser, hence his soubriquet of
the Heckler; but this plebeian avocation was with him a matter of secondary
consideration, as he conceived he was commissioned to hold two situations of
the highest importance in the country, viz.-Superintendent of the Court of
Session, and of the General Assembly. The way he found leisure to fulfil the
high duties he thus imposed on himself was not a little remarkable. He worked
nearly all night at the dressing of flax-only retiring to rest for an hour or two
towards morning. He then rose, and, having arrayed himself in the clerical
style represented in the Print, proceeded to the Parliament House, with all the
292 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
self-consequence of a parvenue peer. The Heckler believed his presence actually
necessary to the proper despatch of business, and in this way continued his
extraordinary exertions session after session. Like Bartoline Saddletree in the
Heart of Midlothian, he was a propounder of the mysteries of law ; and although
not so loquacious as the saddler of the Lawnmarket, was nearly as sane on any
other topic, excepting church matters.
The sitting of the ecclesiastical court was another important and busy season.
Over the deliberations of this reverend body he wielded the same imaginary
control ; but he invariably declared the clergy were much “ worse to keep in
order than the lawyers.”
For a madman, the Heckler wore an air of remarkable sedateness, and
counterfeited the clerical character to such perfection, that Dr. Blair is said to
have been on one occasion nearly placed in an awkward predicament by the
deception. He called on the Doctor as a reverend brother of the cloth, and
made offer of his services for a day in the pulpit, which were accepted. He
accordingly proceeded to the High Church the succeeding Sunday, where
he was fortunately detected just in time to prevent the ridiculous exhibition.
The services of the Heckler were all performed pro bono publico; but, like
most other great patriots, he began to tire of the labour and inconvenience
to which his liberal principles subjected him, and at length applied to the
Exchequer Office for remuneration. Aware of the character, his claims were
listened to by the underlings with mock gravity, and his visits were for some
time encouraged, till at last, getting tired of his importunities, he was ordered
not to trouble them in future. This rebuff was nearly productive of a tragedy;
as he next day entered the Office, armed with a loaded pistol, and threatened
to shoot Mr. Baird, one of the gentlemen of the establishment. This was
carrying the joke too far. The Heckler was instantly disarmed, and confined
as a lunatic. He lived in the Potterrow, and died many years ago.
No. CXX.
FOUR BUCKS.
DR. EISTON, SIGNIOR STARILINI,
CAPTAIN M‘KENZIE, AND MACNAB OB’ MACNAB.
THE first of these figures (to the left) is the likeness of DR. EISTON, son
of Mr. John Eiston, solicitor-at-law in Edinburgh.l While a student at the
University, young Eiston was, in the estimation of thejine young men of those
Mr. Eiston reaided in one of those houses at the foot of Allan’s Close, leading into Lady Mary
King’s Close. Mr. Eiston’s was considered a fashionable house in these days, and he used to give a
great many d i e m and evening entertainments.
