388 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
case was his philosophy so likely to break down, as on such an occurrence
as this,
Presuming on a slight acquaintance, two or three farmers of the neighbourhood
called one day, just in the nick of time to sit down to dinner, in expectation
of receiving a familiar welcome. The Commissioner was not to be done.
He received them in such a high-bred style of formality, that his unwelcome
visitors felt completely nonplussed, and were glad to escape from his presence.
Having thus bowed, his intruders, first out of countenance, then out of doors,
he sat down solus to enjoy his refection.
At a very advanced period of life, and after enduring much pain, he submitted
to the operation of lithotomy, which he bore with his wonted fortitude.
This was performed by the well-known Sandy Wood, who, with the kindest
anxiety remained in the house many hours afterwards, swearing he would
shoot the servants through the head if they made the smallest noise, or even
approached the patient's room. His great fear was that the Captain might
fever, which, happily, he did not. Soon afterwards, Mr. Reid called ; and the
Captain, though extremely weak, drew out the stone from his pillow, and
holding it up in triumph-" Here !" said he, " here is the scoundrel that has
been torturing me for years."
Mr. Edgar recovered his health, and lived to enjoy his harmless recreations
for several years afterwards. He died in 1799, much regretted, especially
about Lasswade, where his singularities were best known.
No. CLIV.
REV. DR THOMAS DAVIDSON,
LATE OF THE TOLBOOTH CHURCH, EDINBURGH.
THIS gentleman's own name was Randall, Davidson having been assumed by
him on his accession to his uncle's' property of Muirhouse, situated in the
parish of Cramond, and shire of Edinburgh. He was the son of the Bey.
Thomas Randall, minister of Inchture (afterwards one of the ministers of Stirling),
whose father and grandfather were also clergymen of the Church of Scotland.
MR. DAVIDSOwNa s born at Inchture in 1747, and passed through the
academical classes at the College of Glasgow. He afterwards studied for a
short time at the University of Leyden, where his attention was more particularly
devoted to Biblical criticism.
i
William Davidson, for many years a considerable merchant in Rotterdam. He bought the
property of Muirhouse in 1776 from Robert Watson, whose ancestor, an Edinburgh trader, had
acquired the estate towards the end of the seventeenth century.