418 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
No. CLXV.
ALLAN MACDOUGALL, ESQ. OF GLENLOCHAN,
ALEXANDER WATSON, ESQ. OF GLENTURKIE,
AND
COLQUHOUN GRANT, ESQ.
THESE gentlemen were intimate friends, and of one profession-Writers to
the Signet. They are here represented in the prosecution of one of their many
walks in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, where, at some snug house of entertainment,
they were regularly, at least once a week, in the habit of enjoying a
social dinner together.
ALLAN MACDOUGALL-the fir& of the trio-possessed the estate of
Glenlochan, in Argyleshire. Philipsfield, near Leith, now belonging to a gentleman
of the name of Boyd, was also his property. He resided at one period
at the Nether Eow, and latterly in Tweeddale's Court, He married a sister of
the late Lord Tweeddale, but had no family. Mr. Macdougall enjoyed an
excellent business, and was Agent for the Commissioners of the Annexed Estates
of Scotland. He was some time in partnership with hfr. George Andrew, who
held the appointment of Clerk to the Pipe, in conjunction with Alexander
Murray, afterwards Lord Henderland.
The centre figure, ALEXANDER WATSON of Glenturkie, has already been
noticed in the preceding Print.
COLQUHOUN GRANT (the last and most prominent person of the group)
and Mr. Watson were inseparable companions. Both gentlemen lived in
" single blessedness ;" and, having few attractions at home, they were in the
habit of dining daily together in the house of hfr. Thomas Sommers, vintner,
Jackson's Close. There they were furnished with a plain warm dinner at the
moderate charge of '' twa placks apiece ;" and so very frugal were they, that
half a bottle of claret betwixt them-and no more-was their stated allowance.
In those days there were no pint bottles, consequently they were under the
necessity of corking up the remaining portion of liquor for next day's repast.
These were what they called their 'L business delje.lint?s." Their dinners in the
country were of a different description ; and the glass was permitted to circulate
freely.
