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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 11 officiate, which he frequently did, in the capacity of chaplain to the Club. He was a worthy, social,. well-intentioned person ; and, although by no means distinguished for his conversational talents, usually acquitted himself to good purpose. “Really and truly, gentlemen,” was a phrase with which he invariably prefaced the delivery of his opinions ; and it became so habitual to him, that, even in common conversation, it formed nearly a third part of every sentence. Mr. Lauder took an active hand in superintending the Poor-House ; and it was mainly owing to his exertions that many abuses in its management were corrected. He almost daily visited the establishment, and saw that wholesome fare was provided for the inmates. He died in 1794, leaving two daughters, one of whom married Mr. George Carphin, senior, solicitor-at-law. MR. JAMES LAWSON, the postillion, mounted on Mr. Lauder’s shoulders, was a wholesale and retail leather merchant, in company with his brother William. Their shop was in the Lawnmarket, the first above Bank Street, on the same side. As indicated in the Print, Mr. Lawson was short in stature and humpbacked. He was a clever, active sort of person, and a keen politician, but quite a cynic. He lived a bachelor, and died in his house at the foot of the West Bow, about the year 1815.’ The other leader, MR. ALEXANDER RITCHIE, kept what used to be His One of his sons carried on the His eldest called a Scotch cloth shop ; he dealt in all kinds of woollens and tartans. shop was at the head of Wardrop’s Court. business many years after his death, and died about the year 1827. son, Alexander, was a Writer to the Signet. The first of the centre pair represents MR. ANDREW HARDIE, baker, Badgon (Bajan) Hole, Lawnmarket, famed for the excellence of his mutton pies.‘ For this celebrity he was mainly indebted to the assistance of his wife, an active, managing women. Besides the common order of pies, Mrs. Hardie was in the habit of baking others of a peculiar description, formed in the shape of a smoothing- iron ; which, in addition to the usual allowance of minced mutton, contained a well-dressed pigeon, neatly planted in the centre ; and all for the small charge of threepence ! By the excellent management of his better half, Mr. Hardie wi~s in a great measure relieved from the drudgery of attending closely to business. During a considerable portion of the day, he was “free to rove” wherever he wist among his friends and neighbours; and, in consequence, no one was better versed in His brother William married a sister of Yr. Braidwood, hard- merchant. * Many of the Clubs of that social era were supplied with pies from the bakehouse of Badgon Hole. Mutton waa then cheap ; and a leg of lamb might be had for fivepence-if at any time it ro88 to sixpence it waa considered amazingly clear. The Badgon Hole, which waa simply a ZuQh dmp, got ita name fmm Wig frequented by College youngatera, the first class of whom were formerly called Bajans.
Volume 9 Page 13
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