EIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 189
the ghost; but hlr. Smellie, still keeping ahead with a timepiece in his hand,
so coaxed and encouraged his portly friend, that he continued his exertions, and
actually gained the top of the hill within half-a-minute of the prescribed period.
The moment he achieved the victory, he threw himself, or rather fell down, and
lay for some time like an expiring porpoise-neither able to stir nor speak a
single word. While thus extended at full length, a young cockney student, who
had been amusing himself on the hill, came forward, and holding up his hands,
exclaimed, as he gazed in amazement at the Captain-“ Good heavens ! what an
immense fellow to climb such a hill ! ” When Mr. Burnet had sufficiently recovered,
Mr. Smellie and he returned victorious to their friends ; and it need
not be doubted, potations deep were drunk in honour of the feat.
Few men of his time enjoyed their bottle with greater zest than Captain
Burnet ; and at the civic feasts, with which these palmy times abounded, no one
did greater execution with the knife and fork. He seldom retired with less
than two bottles under his belt, and that too without at all deranging the order
of his “ upper story.” “ Two-and-a-half here,” was a frequent exclamation,
as he clapped his hand on his portly paunch, if he chanced to meet a quondam
ban vivant, on his way home from the festive board.
The Captain was altogether a jolly, free sort of fellow, and much fonder of
a stroll to the country on a summer Sunday, than of being pent up in a crowded
church. In a clever retrospective article in Chai,ibers’ Journal, he is alluded to
as one of the “ Turners,” so called from their habit of taking a turn (a walk) on
the Sabbath afternoon. “ About one o’clock,’’ says the paper alluded to, “ Mr.
J[ohn] L[ittle] might be seen cooling it through Straiton,’ in the midst of a slow
procession of bellied men-his hat and wig perhaps borne aloft on the end of his
stick, and a myriad of flies buzzing and humming in the shape of a pennon from
behind his shining POW. Perhaps Captain B[urnet], of the City Guard, is of
the set. He has a brother a farmer about Woodhouselee,’ and they intend to
call there and be treated to a check of lamb, or something of that kind, with a
glass of spirits and water ; for really the day is very warm. The talk is of Sir
Ralph Abercromby, and General Brune, and the Duke of York, and the Texal :
or a more interesting subject still, the last week’s proceedings of the Edinburgh
Volunteers in the Links.”
Captai6 Burnet was also one of the well-known Lawnmarket Club, described
in the Traditions as a dram-drinking, newsmongering, facetious set of citizens,
who met every morning about seven o’clock ; and after proceeding to the Post
Office to ascertain the news, generally adjourned to a public-house, and refreshed
themselves with a libation of brandy.”
In the parish of Liberton, about four miles south of Edinburgh, on the road to Penicuik,
Straiton, possessed by Mr. Jamieson, waa the property of James Johnstone, Esq., M.P. for the
Stirling district of burghs.
The writer of this haa been under a mistake.
Although this may have been the practice of the Club, it is proper to atate that Mr. Burnet
He was, however, a keen
Mr. Burnet’s brother waa a farmer at Seton.
was au exception.
politician, and much interested in’ the news of the day.
He waa not known to indulge in morning drama.
