386 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Mr. Edgar had‘been in his youth a Captain of Marines, and had seen much
of foreign countries. Prior to his appointment as a Commissioner, he held the
situation of Collector of Customs at Leith. Before he met the accident by
which he was rendered lame, though rather hard-featured, he was decidedly
handsome. He. walked erect, without stiffness, and with considerable rapidity.
His enunciat,ion was remarkably distinct, and his phraseology correct. He was
an excellent classical scholar ;1 and, in fine, a thorough gentleman of the old school.
Although quite a man of the world, he possessed a degree of practical philosophy
which enabled him not only to relish the varied enjoyments of life, but
to bear its ills with tranquillity. Where regret was unavailing, he frequently
made jest of the most serious disasters. One of his limbs was shorter than the
other, in consequence of having had his thigh-bone broken at Leith races, by
an accident arising from the carelessness of the postillion. “ D-n th‘e fellow !”
said the Captain, “ he has spoiled one of the handsomest legs in Christendom.”
On his way home, after the occurrence, perceiving he had to pass it friend on
the road, he moved himself slightly forward in the carriage, at the same time
staring and making strange contortions, as if in the last extremity. “ Ah, poor
Edgar ! ” said his friend to every acquaintance he met, “ we shall never see him
more-he was just expiring as I got a peep into the carriage ! ”
He spent a
gay life while in town ; associating with the best company, and frequenting the
public places, particularly the concerts in St. CeciIia’s Hall, in the Cowgate.
Before dinner, he usually took a few rounds at golf in the Links, always playing
by himself; and, on fine evenings, he might be seen seated, in full dress, in the
most crowded part of the Meadows, then a fashionable promenade.
In the summer months he preferred the retirement of Pendreich Cottage at
Lasswade. Here his amusements were singularly characteristic ; and all his
domestic arrangements were admirably in keeping with his peculiarities. His
invariable practice in the morning, on getting out of bed, was to walk down,
encumbered with little save a towel, to bathe in the river; after which he
returned to his toilette, and then sat down with a keen appetite to breakfast.
Prior to his lameness, Mr. Edgar was a devoted lover of field-sports ; and with
the gun few sportsmen could bag as many birds. As it was he still kept a few
dogs; and, in one of his fields, had a target erected, that he might enjoy an
occasional shot without the fatigue of pursuing game. He had an eagle too,
which he tamed, and took much pleasure in feeding.
Another favourite amusement was the school-boy practice of flying a kite.
By some, who naturally conceived such a pastime to be childish, he was called
Mr. Edgar and the celebrated Adam Smith, who waa alao a commissioner, used, when at the
board, to amuse themselves by reciting passagea from the ancient Greek authors. Neither of the
two gentlemen were men of business, though, in justice to the latter, it may be mentioned, that,
from an anxious desire to be useful, when h t appointed to the Customs, he put himself under the
instruction of Mr. Reid, then Inspector-General ; but his mind continually turned to his favourite
theories ; and, after vain efforts, he was obliged to give up the attempt. There could hardly be a
more conscientious, kind-hearted man than Adam Smith. With the wisdom of a savant, he had
all the simplicity of a child.
Mr. Edgar’s housc was in Teviot Row, adjoining the Meadows.
