BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 421
When all danger had at last happily passed aw‘ay, Mr. Grant settled in
Edinburgh as a Writer to the Signet, and succeeded well in business. He knew
not only how to make money, but how to take care of it, and ultimately amassed
a very considerable fortune. As illustrative of his character and the general
wariness of his habits of business, we quote the following story from the
Edinburgh Literary Journal :-
“ Mr. Ross of Pitcalnie, representative of the ancient and noble family of Ross,’ h d , like Colquhoun
Grant, been out in the forty-five, and consequently lived on terms of intimate friendship with
that gentleman. Pitcalnie, however, had rat,her devoted himself to the dissipation than the aequisition
of a fortune ; and, while Mr. Grant lived as a wealthy writer, he enjoyed little better than the
character of a broken laird. This nnfortunate Jacobite was one day in great distress for want of the
sum of forty pounds, which he could not prevail upon any of his friends to lend him, all of them
being aware of his execrable character as a debtor. At length he informed some of his companions
that he believed he should get what he wanted from Colquhonn Grant ; and he instantly proposed to
make the attempt. All who heard him scoffed at the idea of his squeezing a subsidy from so closefisted
a man ; and some even offered to lay bets against its possibility. Mr. Ross accepted the bets,
and lost no time in applying to his old brother-in-arms, whom he found immured in his chambers,
half-a-dozen flights of steps up Gavinloch’s Land, in the Lawnmarket. The conversation commenced
with the regular commonplaces ; and for a long time Pitcalnie gave no hint that he was suing in
forma pauperis. At length he slightly hinted the necessity under which he lay for a trifle of money,
and made bold to ask if Mr. Grant could help him in a professional way. ‘ What a pity, Pitcalnie,’
replied the writer, ‘you did not apply yesterday ! I sent all the loose money I had to the bank
just this forenoon. ‘ Oh, no matter,’ said Pitcalnie,
and continued the conversation, as if no such request had been preferred. By and by, after some
more topics of an ordinary sort had been discussed, he at length introduced the old subject of the
forty-five, upon which both were alike well prepared to speak. A thousand delightful recollections
then rushed upon the minds of the two friends, and, in the rising tide of ancient feeling, all distinction
of borrower or lender was soon lost. Pitcalnie watched the time when Grant was fully mellowed
by the conversation, to bring in a few compliments upon his (Grant’s) oxm particular achievements.
He expatiated upon the bravery which his friend had shown at Preston, where he was the first man to
go up to the cannon ; ou which account he made out that the whole victory, so influential to the
Prince’s affairs, was owing to no other than Colquhoun Grant, now Writer to the Signet, Gavinloch’s
Land, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh. He aho adverted to the boldness Mr. Grant had displayed in
chasing a band of recreant draguons from the field of battle up to the very gates of Edinburgh Castle ;
and farther, upon the dexterity which he subsequently displayed in making his escape from the
town.. ‘Bide a wee,’ said Mr. Grant, at this stage of the conversation, ‘till I gang ben the house.’
He immediately returned with the sum Pitcalnie wanted, which he said he now recollected having
left over for some time in the shuttle of his private desk. Pitcalnie took the money, continued the
conversation for some time longer, and then took an opportunity of departing. When he came back
to his friends, every one eagerly asked-‘ What success 2 ’ ‘Why there’s the money,’ said he. ‘ Where are my bets ! ’ ‘ How, in the name of wonder, did you
get it out of him 1 Pitcalnie explained the plan he had taken
with his friend, adding, with an expressive wink, ‘ This forty’s made out of the battle of Preston ;
but stay a wee, lads ; I’ve Falkirk i’ my pouch yet-by my faith I wadna gie it for auchty.’ ”
It is for the present quite beyond redemption.’
‘ Incredible ! ’ every one exclaimed.
Did you cast glamour in his een ?’
Mr. Grant used to pride himself on the purity and facility with which he
could read and speak the English language. How far he was justified in so
doing may be inferred from the following anecdote :-He had occasion to be in ,
London as agent in an appeal before the House of Lords ; and an opportunity
occurring for the public display of his elocution and correctness of pronunciation,
in consequence of a certain paper requiring to be read, Mr. Grant craved and
, 1 This assertion seems to be very qnest.ionable. The representation of the Ross famiIy was in the
Lords Ross-the last of whom died upon the 19th of August 1754, when the title became extinct.
