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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 91 1808, apparently from a conscientious desire to abandon public life before his mind should be impaired by the infirmities of age, and was succeeded by the late President Blair. Upon the 17th September following he had the honour of a baronetcy conferred upon him Although pretty far advanced in years, he was still in possession of all his mental faculties ; and was afterwards chosen to preside over two different commissions appointed to inquire into the state of the Courts of Laws in Scotland, which he conducted with his accustomed industry and talent. After his retirement from the bench, Sir Ilay resided chiefly on his paternal estate of Garscube, where he lived for many years. “ Until within a few weeks of his death” (which occurred on the 28th of March 1823, in the eighty-ninth year of his age) “he was constantly occupied with pursuits of variops kinds. He took a principal share in the business of the county of Dumbarton, and was much consulted by the magistracy of the neighbourhood, particularly in the late perilous times [1817-191. He spent much of his time in reading, and in the study of general literature ; amused himself with agriculture ; and received the visits of those numerous persons in England and Scotland with whom he had been connected in public and private life. ‘‘ In these occupations, and in the exercise of that benevolence which was a remarkable trait of his character ; possessing, until his last short illness, perfect good health, and a mind as acute as it had been in the vigour of his manhood ; loved and respected by everyone, and surrounded by his numerous descendants, whom he delighted to assemble under his patriarchal roof, he enjoyed a period of retirement from public life, which, in point of happiness and length of duration, seldom falls to the lot of public characters, and which was the deserved reward of those laborious services that will be recollected as long as the law of Scotland exists. ” Sir Ilay Campbell was married to Susan-Mary, daughter of Archibald hfurray of Cringletie, Esq., one of the Commissaries of Edinburgh, by whom he had six daughters and two sons, one of whom only survived, viz.-Sir Archibald Campbell of Succoth, Bart., who, after his retirement from t,he bench in 1824, resided chiefly at Garscube. The eldest daughter was married to John Xlacneill of Gigha; the second to Sir John Connell; the third to Francis Sitwell of Barnmoor Castle ; the fourth to Crawford Tait, Esq., W.S., of Harveston;’ and the youngest to Walter Dalziel Colquhon of Garscadden. they ought with more eagerness to look for the credit of the whole, than that the authority, the dignity, the honour, and the independence of the Court should continue to be maintained. If this be their opinion, they and I are agreed. At the same time, I flatter myself, there is not a nian among them wlo will not rest assured, that from me, and I trust from all who sit here, they shall ever meet with that countenance and protection, as professional men, and that civility and attention as gentlemen, which, while they continue to perform their duty, they have, in my opinion, an uuquestionable right to denland.’ “His lordship then said a few words in compliment to the new Lord Advocate and Solicitor-General. “Robert Dundas, Esq., and Robert Blair, Esq., were then sworn in as his Majesty’s Advocate and Solicitor for Scotland, aud took their places accordingly.” Mr. Tait’s third son, Archibald Campbell, is the present (1977) Archbishop of Canterbury.
Volume 9 Page 122
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