BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 123
circumstances of the case were these. On one of his rounds to see that the
day of rest was properly respected-a self-imposed task undertaken by certain
of the citizens-he happened to meet a person in livery carrying a cage and
bird. Conceiving this to be a violation of public decorum, he remonstrated
with the footman, who retaliated in such an abusive manner as led to the forcible
seizure of the feathered songster.
Mr. Braidwood was a man of great personal strength, and well calculated to
act as a conservator of order. On another occasion, hearing a noise issuing from
a tavern in the neighbourhood of James's Court as he passed, he immediately
entered, and began to expostulate with the landlord. The latter at once acknowledged
the impropriety of entertaining such brawlers on a Sabbath morning,
but told him in a whisper that he was afraid to challenge his customers, one of
them being no less a personage than Captain Partwus of the City Guard. This
notorious individual-whose fate is well recorded in the Heart of Mid-Idhianwas
a man of loose habits, and so reckless and tyrannical that few were inclined
to come into angry collision with him. Mr. Braidwood felt no such dread.
Armed with a small sword, which he usually carried, he rushed into the apartment,
denounced the conduct of Porteous to his face, and seizing the cards with
which the party were engaged, threw them into the fire, while the Captain and
his associates-astonished and overawed-retreated with precipitation.
MR. FRANCIBSR AIDWOOtDh,e subject of our sketch, was apprenticed in
early life to a cabinet-maker. On the expiry of his indenture he repaired to
London, where he remained for a short time in order to acquire a more thorough
knowledge of his profession. He then returned to Edinburgh-set up in business
on his own account-and was for some years eminently successful. He was
elected Deacon of the Wrights in 1795, and Deacon Convener the year following.
His workshop was at one period in the Pleasance, near the head of Arthur
Street, and his furniture shop or warehouse on the Sodth Bridge. Latterly he
removed to Adam Square, and occupied the premises afterwards possessed by
Messrs. Dalgleish and Forrest.
Mr. Braidwood inherited a considerable portion of the personal prowess of
his father. In every way respectable as a citizen, he was no bigot in religion,
and participated joyously in the amusements and recreations peculiar to the
times. He was a member of the Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Club, and was
greatly celebrated as a golfer. He used to say that " fatips was merely ideal."
A contemporary member of the Society recollects having played at golf with
him on one occasion from six in the morning till fuur in the afternoon; and
while our informant admits being " quite knocked up," he states that Mr. Braidwood
did not seem in the least fatigued' So devotedly fond was he of this
ancient game, that when no longer able, by reason of age, to go round the
Mr. Braidwood was in the practice of taking beta at golf, the stipulations of which were, that
he should have two strokes at the ball with a common quurt hottZe, whhile his opponent should have
one in the usual way with hie club. . However disadvantageoua this might seem, he inqariably came
off the victor.