BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 387
the (‘Daft Captain ;” while others, affecting greater knowledge, supposed him,
like Franklin, to be engaged in making experiments on electricity-a sad
mistake, for, although he had a taste for literature, he had no fancy whatever
for scientific pursuits.
Among other odd contrivances about Pendreich Cottage was a barrel
summer-seat, erected in the garden, and which moved on a pivot. Here Mr.
Edgar used to sit frequently for hours together, perusing the pages of some
favourite author, and calmly enjoying the rural sweets of a summer evening.
While thus employed, some of the neighbouring colliers, thinking to make game
of the Captain, on one occasion came unperceived behind, and began to whirl
him rapidly round and round, in expectation that he would sally forth and
hobble after them ; but in this they were disappointed ; the Captain sat still in
perfect good humour, till they were completely tired, when they went away,
very much chagrined at the Commissioner’s philosophical patience.
In gastronomy the Captain’s knowledge was undoubted. His fame in this
particular is thus noticed by the late Lord Dreghorn, in a short poetical
effusion :-
“ 0 thou, whatever title please thine ear,
Captain, Collector, or the beau Dinneur.”
No inconsiderable portion of the Commissioner’s time was devoted to the
pleasures of the table ; and he always kept an experienced ‘( man cook,” who
had been with him while abroad, in order that his viands might be dressed
on the most approved principles, There was no scarcity of the good things of
life at Pendreich Cottage-the very trees in front of the house occasionally
groaned under the weight of accumulated legs of mutton, undergoing a process
of curing peculiar to the establishment. As his fences were much destroyed
by nocturnal depredators, in their anxiety to participate in this new production
of Pomona, the Commissioner caused the following notice to be put up:-
(( All thieves are in future to enter by the gate, which will be left open eve1.y
night for the purpose.”
While the well-stocked kitchen of the Commissioner was by no means
inaccessible to the poor of the neighbourhood, and especially to his friends the
colliers, he seldom entertained any company at the cottage. On one occasion,
Mr. Dundas, afterwards Lord Melville, accompanied by Commissioner Reid,
met the Captain on his walk before dinner, and asked him to take pot-luck with
them at Melville Castle; but the Captain was not to be prevailed on, and
continued his walk. The two gentlemen, strongly suspecting that something
attractive was to be found at Pendreich Cottage, called there in his absence,
and learned from the housekeeper that the Commissioner proposed regaling on
stewed piieons-a very favourite dish, and one which he could not think of
relinquishing for Melville Castle. The two visitors found ways and means to
pounce upon and carry off the savoury viands, leaving the astonished cook to
apologise as he best could to his master on his return. The Commissioner
could relish a joke-and was in the habit both to take and give-but in no
