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Kay's Originals Vol. 1

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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.
Volume 8 Page 540
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