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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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278 BI 0 G R A P HI C AL SI< ET CHES. alluding to his inferior office, when holding a higher one, and not unfrequently prefaced his decisions by saying, “When I was Shirra’ of Fife,” a peculiarity noticed in the celebrated Diamond-Beetle Case. He spoke with a strong Scotch accent. He was fond of his joke, and sometimes indulged in it even on the bench. On one occasion a young counsel was addressing him on some not very important point that had arisen in the division of a common, or commonty (according to law phraseology), when having made some bold averment, Balmuto exclaimed-“ That’s a lee, Jemmie.” ‘( My lord ! ” ejaculated the amazed barrister. “ Ay, ay, Jemmie : I see by your face you’re leeing.” (‘ Indeed, my lord, I am not.” “Dinna tell me that ; it’s no in your memorial (brief)- awa wi’ you ;” and, overcome with astonishment and vexation, the discomfited barrister left the bar. Balmuto thereupon chuckled with infinite delight ; and, beckoning to the clerk who attended on the occasion, he said, “Are ye no Rabbie H-’s man 1” “Yes, my lord,” ‘(Was na Jemmie -l eeing 2” “ 0 no, my lord.” “Ye’re quite sure 1” “ 0 yes.” Then just write out what you want, and I’ll sign it ; my faith, but I made Jemmie stare.” So the decision was dictated by the clerk, and duly signed by the judge, who left the bench highly diverted with the fright he had given his young friend. No. CCLXIII. REV. JAMES HALL, D.D., OF TIlE SECESSION CHURCH, EROUGHTON PLACE, EDINBURGH. THROUGHOtUhTe long period of his ministry in this city, few men enjoyed a greater degree of popularity, or were more highly and generally esteemed, than the Rev. gentleman whose Portrait is prefixed. He was born at Cathcart Mill, a few miles west of Glasgow, on the 6th January 1756.’ His ancestors were millers, and had occupied the mill for several generations. His father, James Hall, a man of education and intelligence greatly superior to his rank, was one of the original seceders from the Church of Scotland, and feued the site of the first Secession Church in Glasgow ; and his mother, Isabella Bulloch, whose paternal property lay in the vicinity of Kirkintilloch, presented the Seceders of that place with the ground on which their church is erected. DR. HALL had the misfortune to lose his father at a very early age ; but the pious deportment and acquaintance with Scripture which Characterised his 1 He had three sisters and two brothers, four of whom were older thar. himself. The Rev. Robert Hall, his younger brother, was long a minister in Kelso. His sisters were all married to clergymen of the Secession-Mary, to the Rev. John Lindsay, of Johostoue ; Helen, Rev. Jam- Illoir, of Tarboltoil ; and Isobel, to the llev. Dwid Walker, of Pollockshaws.
Volume 9 Page 369
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