BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 409
believe him guilty of such an absurdity; for, with all his preciseness in
matters of duty, and his sensitive notions of etiquette, he entertained a much
greater dread of rendering himself unbecomingly conspicuous, than of any
ridicule that could possibly arise from an oversight in the punctilio of dress.
He was particularly kind
and attentive to such young persons as appeared bashful ; and, that they might
feel more at ease, lost no opportunity of engaging them in conversation.
Lord Napier married Maria-Margaret, eldest daughter of Lieut.-General Sir
William Clavering, K.B. By this marriage his lordship had nine children.
He died in 1823: and was succeeded by his eldest son, William-John eighth
Lord Napierl-a spirited and benevolent nobleman, long eminent in the south
of Scotland as an improver in store-farming, and as a benefactor of the Forest.
He died in his forty-eighth year, at Macao, in China, October 11, 1834, of a
lingering fever, brought on by anxiety in the performance of a high official duty,
as Chief Superintendent of British Trade in that empire, and which was increased
by the harsh treatment he received from the Chinese government.
In company his lordship was far from reserved,
The figure to the right of Lord Napier is an excellent likeness of
old MAJOR PILMER. He was a native of Fifeshire, and commenced his
military life as an ensign in the 21st Regiment of Foot. He had seen a great
deal of service, and served along with Lord Napier during the war in America,
where he was wounded. He retired from the army on the half-pay of a Captain,
and resided in the neighbourhood of Cupar-Fife, where he had at one period
a small estate; but which, it is believed, was entirely dissipated while he
was abroad, His appointment in the Hopetoun Fencibles, by which his
half-pay was relinquished for the full pay of a Major, was obtained through the
influence of Lord Napier.
There was something rather remarkable in the appearance of Old Pilmer.
His regimentals were none of the newest, and his boots-which the artist has
hit off with great precision-were of a curious and antique description. They
had been so often mended and re-mended, that it is questionable whether, like
Sir John Cutler's stockings, any portion of the original remained, While
stationed at Aberdeen, along with the Rutland Fencible Cavalry, the officers of
that corps used to amuse themselves occasionally at the expense of Major Pilmer
and his boots j and Pilmer at last became a standard and expressive appellation
amongst them. " You have got your PiZmers on to-day ! " was a common remark
to any one whose boots were a little the worse for wear.
The Major, who was L worthy old soldier, relished his bottle and a joke at
table, and did not feel at all out of humour at the allusions to his Pilrners.
The third figure represents MAJOR CLARKSON, another veteran. He
at one time possessed the estate of Blackburn, in Linlithgowshire. He entered
1 Captain Charles Napier, R.N., who lately distinguished himself in the service of the Queen of
3 6
Portugal, and the late Lord Napier were cousins.
