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
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.
