BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 51
It is said that when Sam was in London, on one occasion he was advised to
show himself for money, and that although he declined exhibiting himself in
his own character, he so far acted on the hint as to dress in female attire,
and advertise as ‘‘ The remarkably tall woman.” By this ingenious expedient,
Sam became so well furnished with cash that his expenditure attracted the
notice of his Colonel, who being curious to ascertain in what way he had
obtained his supplies, interrogated Sam, who candidly disclosed the fact, and in
this way the secret transpired.
Sarn was once persuaded to appear on the stage, whilst in the service of
his late Majesty, at the request of his Royal Master. This took place at the
Opera-House in the Haymarket, then occupied by the Drury Lane Company.
upon occasion of the representation of a dramatic entertainment, called “ Cymon
and Iphigenia,” and in which he acted the appropriate part of Hercules.’
Numberless anecdotes are told of M‘Donald, illustrative of his great
strengkh. On one occasion, having been challenged by two soldiers of his
own regiment on the understanding that he was to fight both at once,
Samuel agreed, but said, as he had no quarrel with them, he should wish to
shake hands with them before they began. One of the combatants instantly
held out his hand. Samuel took hold of it, but instead of giving it the friendly
shake expected, he used it as a Iever to raise its owner from the ground, when
he swung him round as he would a cat by the tail, and threw him to a great
distance. The other combatant, not admiring this preliminary process, took to
his heels. Many feats of strength similar to this are, as already mentioned,
recorded of him.
While in Edinburgh, Sam occasionally patronised Geordie Cranstoun (see
No. 19) to whose singing he took much pleasure in listening. He was nevertheless
much displeased to find himself associated with him in this Print, which
was shown him by Mr. Kay. He remarked to the engraver that he did not choose
to be classed with a beggar, and insisted that the little man’s portrait should be
expunged. Although this demand was not complied with, the next time that
Sarn called on the artist he was in his usual good humour.
Sam was six feet ten inches high, four feet round the chest, extremely strongbuilt
and muscular, but yet proportionable, unless his legs might be thought
even too large for the load they had to bear.
No. XXI.
MAJOR FISHER.
THIS gentleman, represented as giving the word of command, was an officer
in the 55th Regiment of Foot, which was in Edinburgh in 1790. Both officers
and men conducted themselves with great propriety while there.
1 Gentleman’s Magazine, voL Ixxii. p. 478.
52 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
No. XXII.
DR. JOSEPH BLACK.
DR. BLACK was born in France, on the banks of the Garonne, in 1728. His
father, Mr. John Black, was a native of Belfast, in Ireland, but his ancestors
were originally from Scotland. Mr. Black had settled in Bordeaux as a winemerchant,
where he married a daughter of Mr. Robert Gordon of Hillhead, in
Aberdeenshire, who also resided at Bordeaux, and was engaged in the same
trade. At the age of twelve, young Black was sent to his relations in Belfast
for his education, and he accordingly attended the schools of that town. In
1746 he entered the University of Glasgow, where he was very early patronised
by Mr. Robert Dick, Professor of Natural Philosophy, and speedily became the
intimate companion of his son, who, as well as his youthful friend, had already
given a decided preference to physical knowledge. During the course of the
same year in which he went to college, Dr. Cullen commenced his illustrious
career as lecturer on chemistry in the University of Glasgow, and his fame
quickly spread through the city of Glasgow. His class, besides being filled
with regular students, was attended by many gentlemen who had no idea of
prosecuting professionally the study of medicine. Dr. Cullen, whoin every situation
which he held either in Glasgow or in Edinburgh, made it a point to cultivate
an acquaintance with those who attended his lectures-uniformly treating them
with respect, but from the natural openness and generosity of his temper, never
keeping them at a distance-was accessible at all times, and took cognisance of
the progress of their studies. He became early acquainted with young Black,
and, perceiving the bent of his genius, strongly impressed upon him the propriety
of prosecuting with ardour the cultivation of that field of science upon
which he had just entered. In a short time he was advanced to be Dr. Cullen’s
assistant in the performance of experiments ; and by the extraordinary neatness
and address which he displayed in this department, he essentially contributed
to increase the eclbt of the Professor’s lectures,
He repaired to Edinburgh to finish his medical studies, and in 1751 was
enrolled as a student of medicine, Whilst there, he resided with his cousingerman,
Mr. Russell, Professor of Natural Philosophy in that University. The
usefulness of this seminary as a medical school was then only beginning to
be known, but the reputation of its teachers had already spread through
various parts of the world. During three sessions he attended all the necessary
classes, and took the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1754. On this
occasion it is customary in Edinburgh to print a thesis, in the Latin language,
on some subject connected with medical science. Dr. Black chose for his theme
“ The Acid arising from Food, and Magnesia Alba,” in which was contained
