Kay's Originals Vol. 2

All Books Kay's Originals Vol. 1 Kay's Originals Vol. 2 Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time Edinburgh Past and Present Old and New Edinburgh Vol. I Old and New Edinburgh Vol. II Old and New Edinburgh Vol. III Old and New Edinburgh Vol. IV Old and New Edinburgh Vol. V Old and New Edinburgh Vol. VI

Go to: « Kay's Originals Vol. 1 Kay's Originals Vol. 2 Title Pages Advetisement Notice to the First Edition CLXXI. Mr. John Dowie, Vintner, Libberton's Wynd CLXXII. Colin Campbell, Esq. of Kilberry, Argyleshire CLXXIII. The Lawnmarket Coach; or, A Journey Along the Mound CLXXIV. The Right Hon. Selina Countess Dowager of Huntingdon CLXXV. Jamie Duff, alias Bailie Duff CLXXVI. Major-General Alexander Mackay CLXXVII. Allan Maconochie, Lord Meadowbank CLXXVIII. General James Grant of Ballindalloch CLXXIX. The Right Hon. the Earl of Moira, commander-in-chief of the forces in Scotland CLXXX. The Commander-in-Chief addressing the Edinburgh Spearmen CLXXXI. Mr. John Wemyss, Mr. Robert Clerk, and George Pratt CLXXXII. Two booksellers. Mr. William Coke and Mr. John Guthrie CLXXXIII. William Butter, Esq., and Sir John Morrison CLXXXIV. James Alexander Haldane, Esq., Minister of the Tabernacle, Leith Walk CLXXXV. Sergeant-Major Patrick Gould, and an Edinburgh Volunteer CLXXXVI. Mr. Benjamin Bell, Surgeon CLXXXVII. "The Five Alls." CLXXXVIII. Rev. Dr. Thomas Hardie CLXXXIX. Sir James Campbell, Bart., of Ardkinglass CXC. Dr. Andrew Duncan, Sen. CXCI. Dr. Andrew Duncan in 1797 CXCII. Major Andrew Fraser, the Honourable Andrew Erskine, and Sir John Whitefoord, Bart. CXCIII. Sir John Sinclair, Bart. of Ulbster CXCIV. Lord Stonefield CXCV. John Home, Esq., of Ninewells CXCVI. Mr. William Grinly, Broker and Auctioneer CXCVII. The Hon. Alexander Leslie, Lieut.-General and Colonel of the Ninth Regiment of Foot. CXCVIII. Dr. James Hamilton, Senior CXCIX. Mr. William Mason, Secretary to the Grand Lodge CC. Rev. James Baine, A.M. CCI. Ebenezer Wilson, Brassfounder CCII. Sir Ilay Campbell, Bart. CCIII. Mr. John Campbell, Precentor CCIV. A medley of Musicians CCIV. A medley of Musicians CCV. William Wilson or "Mortar Willie" CCVI. Dr. Thomas Snell Jones, Minister of Lady Glenorchy's Chapel CCVII. William Forbes, Esq. of Callendar CCVIII. Dr. Gregory Grant CCIX. Rev. James Lapslie, Minister of Campsie CCX. O'Brien, the Irish Giant, and William Ranken, Esq. CCXI. Faithful Service Rewarded CCXII. Mr. George Williamson, King's Messenger and Admiral Macer for Scotland CCXIII. Mr. Francis Braidwood, Cabinet-Maker CCXIV. The Right Hon. the Earl of Eglinton CCXV. Rev. James Struthers, Minister of the Relief Chapel, College Street CCXVI. Rev. Mr. Struthers CCXVII. Lord Monboddo, in the Court of Session CCXVIII. Old Geordie Syme, a famous Piper in his time CCXIX. Sir John Leslie, Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh CCXX. Old John Tait, the Broom-Maker CCXXI. James Hume Rigg, Esq. of Morton, Isaac Grant, Esq. of Hilton, Achibald Macarthur Stewart, Esq. of Ascog, The Hon. Captain (afterwards General), John Leslie, and Captain William Wemyss CCXXII. Rev. Dr. Buchanan, one of the Ministers of the Canongate Church CCXXIII. Old Widow Ellis CCXXIV. The City Tron-Men; or Chimney-Sweepers CCXXV. William Cumming, Esq. CCXXVI. Rev. John Wesley, Dr. Hamilton, and the Rev. Mr. Cole CCXXVII. Sir William Honyman, Bart., of Armadale CCXXVIII. Rev. Dr. Alexander Turnbull, of Dalladies CCXXIX. Margaret Suttie, a hawker of salt CCXXX. Archibald Hamilton Rowan, Esq., of Killileagh, in Ireland, and The Hon. Simon Butler CCXXXI. Citizen M. C. Browne CCXXXII. Rev. John Walker, D.D. CCXXXIII. M. De Latour, Painter to the King of France, Member of the Royal Academy of Painting at Paris, etc. CCXXXIV. Mr. Thomas Paine, Secretary for Foreign Affairs to the American Congress CCXXXV. Captain James Burnet, the Last Captain of the City Guard CCXXXVI. Samuel McDonald, in the Uniform of the Sutherland Fencibles CCXXXVII. Mr. Charles Sinclair CCXXXVIII. Rev. David Black, Minister of Lady Yester's Church, Edinburgh CCXXXIX. Thomas Jefferson, Esq., President of the United States of America CCXL. Major-General Aytoun and The Duc D'Angouleme CCXLI. Mr. Clinch and Mrs. Yates, in the characters of the Duke and Duchess of Braganza CCXLII. Alexander McKellar; or "The Cock o' the Green." CCXLIII. Lord Polkemmet CCXLIV. James Gillespie, Esq. of Spylaw, and his brother, Mr. John Gillespie CCXLV. Rev. Dr. John Colquhoun CCXLVI. Major Charles Johnstone CCXLVII. Andrew Donaldson, Teacher of Greek and Hebrew CCXLVIII. "Petticoat Government" CCXLIX. Campbell of Sonachan laughing at the Print of "Petticoat Government" CCL. Mr. Thomas Sommers, his Majesty's Glazier for Scotland CCLI. Mr. Francis Anderson, W.S., Mr. James Hunter, and his son, Mr. George Hunter CCLII. Rev. Robert Culbertson, of the Associate Congregation, Leith CCLIII. The Right Hon. Charles Hope of Granton, when Lord Advocate of Scotland CCLIV. Right Hon. Charles Hope CCLV. The Right Hon. William Pitt CCLVI. The Right Hon. William Pitt, and Henry Dundas, afterwards Lord Melville CCLVII. Mr. and Mrs. Lee Lewes CCLVIII. Dr. Thomas Hay, City Chamberlain, and Sir James Stirling, Bart. CCLIX. Colonel Monro, a well known blue-gown beggar CCLX. Sir Henry Moncreiff Wellwood, Bart. CCLXI. Sergeant William Duff CCLXII. Lord Balmuto CCLXIII. Rev. James Hall, D.D. CCLXIV. Mr. Hamilton Bell, W.S., carrying a Vintner's Boy from Edinburgh to Musselburgh, and Mr. John Rae, Surgeon-Dentist, accompanying him in the character of Bottle-Holder CCLXV. Mr. Edward Innes, and his second, Mr. James Cooper, following after Mr. Bell CCLXVI. The Artist under Examination by Sheriff Pringle, with the pursuers, Bell and Rae, sitting behind CCLXVII. The Hon. Sir Nash Grose, one of the Judges of the Court of King's Bench CCLXVIII. Harvey Christian Combe, Esq., Lord Mayor of London CCLXIX. Sir John Marjoribanks, Bart., Lord Provost of Edinburgh, in his robes CCLXX. Rev. Charles Simeon, M.A. of Trinity Church, Cambridge CCLXXI. Archibald McArthur, piper to the late Sir Reginald Macdonald Stewart Seton, of Touch and Staffa, Bart. CCLXXII. Mirza Aboul Hassan Khan, envoy extraordinary from the King of Persia to the Court of Great Britain CCLXXIII. Mr. John Finlayson, formerly a writer in Cupar-Fife CCLXXIV. Rev. David Dickson, minister of New North Church, Edinburgh CCLXXV. Hugh Macpherson, sometime Clerk to the Perth Carriers CCLXXVI. Mr. Henry Johnston, in the Character of Hamlet CCLXXVII. Rev. John Jamieson, D.D. CCLXXVIII. Robert Craig, Esq. of Riccarton CCLXXIX. David Smythe, Lord Methven CCLXXX. General Francis Dundas, Sir Henry Jardine, Sir Robert Dundas of Beechwood, Bart., Captain Hay, the Late Earl of Eglinton, and the Misses Maxwell, etc. CCLXXXI. Rev. John McDonald of the Gaelic Chapel, Castle Wynd, Edinburgh CCLXXXII. Lord Cullen, one of the senators of the College of Justice CCLXXXIII. The Edinburgh Fish-Women CCLXXXIV. William Macdonald, officer to the Highland Society of Scotland CCLXXXV. Sir William Miller of Glenlee, Bart. CCLXXXVI. Lieut.-General Vyse, in command of the Forces of Scotland CCLXXXVII. Rev. Dr. James Peddie, of the Associate Congregation, Bristo Street CCLXXXVIII. Rev. Dr. Peddie, in 1810 CCLXXXIX. Andrew McKinlay, tried for administering unlawful oaths CCXC. James Mackcoull, alias Captain Moffat CCXCI. Beetty Dick, Town-Crier of Dalkeith CCXCII. Two Chairmen; or, "The Social Pinch." CCXCIII. James McKean, at the Bar of the High Court of Justiciary CCXCIV. Sir William Macleod-Bannatyne (Lord Bannatyne) CCXCV. Training a Councillor CCXCVI. John Steele CCXCVII. Mr. John Austin, author of a "System of Stenographic Music" CCXCVIII. Robert Kay, Esq., Architect CCXCIX. Captain Billair and his Wife, who, though a tall woman, always wore high-heeled shoes CCC. The Last Sitting of The Old Court of Session CCCI. Rev. Alexander King, of the Relief Congregation, Dalkeith CCCII. Francis Jeffrey, Esq., Advocate CCCIII. Captain Dalrymple, and Miss Macdonald of Clanronald CCCIV. The Lovers CCCV. Dr. John Brown, alias "The Devil Killer" CCCVI. Miss Burns, a celebrated beauty of last century CCCVII. A Political Set-To; or, "Freedom of Election" Illustrated CCCVIII. Mr. Pierie and Mr. Maxwell. The Ladies are in the Costume of 1785 CCCIX. Rev. George Husband Baird, D.D. CCCX. Provost Elder and Principal Baird. CCCXI. Dr. John Hope, Professor of Botany in the University of Edinburgh CCCXII. Second Division of the Court of Session CCCXIII. Jerome William Knapp LL.D., Deputy-Clerk of Arraigns CCCXIV. Three Social Friends. Mr. Robert Kay, Mr. Louis Cauvin, and Mr. David Scott CCCXV. Mrs. Smith, in the costume of 1795 CCCXVI. The Hon. William Ramsay Maule, of Panmure, afterwards Lord Panmure of Brechin and Navar CCCXVII. A. Colquhoun, Esq., of Killermont, Lord Advocate of Scotland, and A. Maconochie, Esq. (Lord Meadowbank), then Solicitor-General CCCXVIII. The Hon. Francis William Grant of Grant, Colonel of the Inverness-shire Militia CCCXIX. Rev. David Dickson, D.D. CCCXX. Twelve Advocates who plead with wigs on CCCXXI. Rev. James-Francis Grant, of St. George's Chapel, York Place, Edinburgh CCCXXII. The Craft in Danger CCCXXIII. Robert Sym, Esq., writer to the Signet CCCXXIV. Rev. Henry Grey, A.M. CCCXXV. Mr. Robert Macgachen, Accountant of Excise CCCXXVI. Twelve Advocates, who plead without wigs CCCXXVII. John Rose, Esq. of Holme CCCXXVIII. Major Skey, and the Right Hon. Lord Clive (now Earl of Powis), of the Shropshire Militia CCCXXIX. Archibald Campbell, City Officer CCCXXIX.* Archibald Constable, Esq. Appendix Notes to Vol. 2 Index to the Portraits, etc. in Vol. 2 Index to the Names Incidentally Mentioned in the Second Volume » Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time » Edinburgh Past and Present » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. I » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. II » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. III » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. IV » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. V » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. VI

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 145 ~6 6 &fr. Tait-Elected as you have lately been, by the unanimous voice of the General Commissiouers, to 6ll an important and arduous office, it is with pleasure I, as Chief Magistrate of Edinburgh, perform my official task of inducting you in that chir, as Judge of Police, for this city, and the vicinage. " 'Much legal, as well as local knowledge, just and steady principles, firmness of decision, united with moderation and mildness of manner, ought to characterise the person invested with such extensive powers as the act oonfers. I am happy in believing y m possess them all ; and they are in my mind sure pledges that you will discharge the duties of the situation, to which you have been so honourably chosen (however arduous or unpleasant they may be), with such fidelity and success, as to merit the grateful thanks of your fellow-citizens, and the approbation of the public at large. '' ' On the assistance and cordial co.operation of the Magistrates of Edinburgh, you may always most assuredly rely. Our ardent and united wish being to see this metropolis (long since held deservedly in the highest estimation for its seminaries of learning, and its courts of law) equally distinguished by purity of manners, propriety of conduct, and an uniform veneration for, and undeviating obedience to, the laws, both civil and religious, in every class and individual member of the community.' "The Judge of Police then addressed the Lord Provost and Commissioners in the following speech :- " ' I approach this seat with emotions widely different in their nature ; with extreme diffidence of my own capaoity, but with great confidence is the honourable support which I see around me. ' I am fully aware of the importance of the situation which I am now called to occupy. Much of the virtue of a nation depends upon the ezertions of the Police in preventing crimes, in suppressing them in their infancy, and even in checking them in their advanced progress, especially in the metropolis, which must always greatly influence, and, I may say, even regulate the morals of the country to which it belongs. '' 'To conduct an Establishment of Police is, therefore, an important, and reflection tells us that it must be an arduous, task. But I here declare, that no considerations of personal labour, no considerations of personal safety, shall deter me from performing, so far as my abilities reach, the duties which I conceive to be attached to the situation which I am now to hold. In the performance of these duties, I shall have occasion to punish-I could wish it were otherwise. The powers of this Court are limited, but these powers are a check sufficient to give an essential protection to virtue, in every situation, and to give a check to vice and profligacy in whatever rank of life they may be found. The statute under which I am to act, empowers rqe to punish by fine and compensation for damages, by imprigonment in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, or by commitment to Bridewell, The fines and compensation for damages are but small in amount, nor can the imprisonment in the Tolbooth, or the commitment to Bridewell, be long in duration.- But still there is extent enough to make the punishment, if properly directed, be felt in every rank ; and I consider it to be my duty, sitting here, to pronounce judgments which may be sensibly felt by all those who break through that decency and good order which contribute so essentially to the comforts of society. " ' I shall be sorry indeed to be obliged to sink those in the inferior ranks of life still lower, by inflicting punishments of a degrading nature. .And I shall regret still more to he obliged to apply the punishments which naturally belong to the inferior ranks to those in a higher class. But I am bound by the sacred oath which I have taken, to discharge my duty as my conscience dictates ; and that conscience tells me that I am not to look to p e r m , hut to crirnes. " ' In cases of U deep dye this Court cannot proceed to punishment, but it ha4 however, in such cases, to apprehend and hand over to the superior tribunals ; and there these deeper crimes will meet with the punishment which they merit. '' ' In what I have said I have referred chiefly to that branch of my duty which relates to the prevention and puuishment of offences against peace and good order. There are a variety of other branches, some of a judicial, some of a minist&Z nature. I shall not detain you with an enumeration of them. Among the latter, however, I may mention the billeting of soldiers ; and, in that department, I hope to be able to astablish an uniformity of system, which may add to the comforts of the army, and, at the same time: free the inhabitants liable to be quartered upon, from some inconveniences which The same principle must pervade the whole. VOL. IL U

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146 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. the present system unavoidably produces.-To the various duties of my office I shall pay unremitting attention. And trusting in a conscious desire to discharge my duty in an upright manner ; trusting to the support of those around me ; and trusting, above all, in the direction and support of that Power which has been so fervently invoked, I now take that seat, to which I have been so honourably appointed, and so honourably introduced.’ “Mr. Sheriff Clerk’ then addressed the Judge of Police in a very sensible and appropriate speech, pointing out the arduous duties of his office (which his experience as Chief Magistrate of the county for twelve years enabled him with propriety to do), and expressing his satisfaction that it was filled by a gentleman of so much ability and integrity. “ The Judge of Police then returned thanks to the Commissioners, particularly to Sir William Forbes, by whose unremitting attention this institution, calculated to promote virtue and happiness, has been fostered, from the first proposal of the plan, and brought at last to its present honourable state of maturity. ‘‘ The different officers were then sworn in by the Judge of Police, -rho gave them a very proper exhortation respecting the duties of their office. “The Court of Police waa accordingly opened the same day (July 15) at the Office of Police, in Riddell’s Close, Lawnmarket, where apartments have been commodiously fitted up for the purpose.” Whether from a too exalted idea entertained of the trust reposed in him, or from a dislike on the part of the public to the new system of police-or probably from a combination of both-certain it is “ Judge Tait ” was not among the most popular of the civic rulers. Hence the satire of the artist-“An Eminent Judge of-broom-besoms ! ” Mr. Tait was, notwithst,anding, a man of talent, as well as of considerable literary attainments ;’ and his speech above quoted is highly creditable to him. “I am bound,” is his declaration, “ by the sacred oath which I have taken, to discharge my duty as my conscience dictates; and that conscience tells me that I am not to look to persons but to crimes.” That this was not mere idle declamation on the part of Mr. Tait very speedily appeared by his decisions. On the 13th of August following, two gentlemen having been brought before him, charged with giving and accepting a challenge -which they admitted-he caused them to be fined, and bound over in heavy penalties to keep the peace. At the same time, while he delivered his sentiments, in a forcible manner, on “ challenging and duelling, as crimes against the laws of the land,” he expressed his determination strictly to enforce the authority with which he was invested, for the peace of society :-“ Hereafter, if persons are brought before me, and convicted of having given or accepted a challenge, I shall consider it my duty to send such persons to the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, for a certain period by way of punishment, besides binding them over to keep the peace ; and if persons are brought before me, and convicted of having fought a duel, I shall equally consider it my duty to send them to Bridewell. Because all respect of persons must be attached to their strict observance of the laws of their country ; and those who bid defiance to the laws, in whatever situation they may otherwise be placed, are equal in that respect, and ought equally to feel the force of those laws which they contemn.” That the situation to which Mr. Tait had been appointed was no sinecure, Aftenvards one of the Barons of Exchequer. e In his early years he had cultivated the Muses. He published. two or three thin quarto volumes of poetry. Amongst his poems is an elegy on Goldsmith.

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