BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 295
Hunter Blair, and the authority of an act of Parliament procured ; but in consequence
of other undertakings, and the want of funds, the act was allowed to
expire, and the design fell to the ground. It remained for Sir John to effect
an object, not less useful than ornamental ; and that the progress of the work
might be facilitated, he is understood to have made a serious inroad on his own
resources, calculating no doubt on a return which we believe he did not
experience.
The freedom of the city having been voted to Lord Lynedoch,‘ “ the gallant
Graham,” who distinguished himself so much in the Peninsular War, Sir John
gave a grand dinner on Saturday, the 12th of August 1815, in honour of the
Prince Regent’s birthday, at which were present Lord Lynedoch, the Earl of
Morton, Lord Audley, Sir David Dundas, the Lord Chief Baron, the Lord Chief
Commissioner, Admiral Sir Wm. Johnstone Hope, GeneralLWynyard, Sir James
Douglas, Sir Howard Elphinstone, Right Hon. William Dundas, member for
the city, Charles Forbes, Esq., M.P., Sir H. H. MDougal, Sir John Dalrymple,
Mr. Earle, Mr. Sedgwick, and a party of nearly one hundred of the principal
inhabitants of Edinburgh,
After the cloth was removed, and the usual series of toasts had been given,
the Lord Provost proposed the health of Lord Lynedoch ; and, presenting his
lordship with the freedom of the city in a gold box, addressed him as follows :-
“Lord Lynedoch-I have the honour, in the name of the Magistrates of Edinburgh, to
congratulate your lordship on your safe return to this country, after a series of services rendered
to it, which not only reflect the greatest credit on your lordship, but do high honour to your
county.
“My Lord-In the very commencement of the French Revolution, your lordship, with
penetrating discernment, foresaw the imminent danger to which everything dear to man had
become exposed, and leaving the distinguished situation to which your birth, talents, and the
esteem you were so eminently entitled to hold in this country, you betook yourself to the profession
of arms, in which you have rendered the country services which it is out of my power to
enumerate. In the war of the Peninsula, which happily turned the fate of Europe, as a Commander-
in-Chief, and afterwards as second to the immortal Wellington, one invariable line of
victory attended your course ; and if Ireland can proudly claim Wellington as her own, Scotland
has the gmtiEcation to feel that ‘ Prmimos illi tamen oecupvit Graham hmww.’
“ My Lord, the Magistrates of Edinburgh sincerely wish-a wish in which I am sure we are
joined by the country at large-that your health may be long preserved to enjoy the high
esteem and gratitude of your countrymen, and those honours which his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent has, in the name of our revered King, so justly conferred upon your lordship.”
Lord Lynedoch, with that feeling and diffidence so characteristic of merit, in
returning thanks to the Lord Provost and Magistrates, for the honour they had
conferred upon him, expressed himself as overpowered by the overrated estimation
in which any services he had been able to render to his country had
been held, That he had had the particular good fortune to serve under that
greatest of all men, the Duke of Wellington; and to have served under his
orders, and to have commanded British troops, almost insured success. He
must, however, say, that nothing could be more gratifying to his feelings than
1 Sir Thornss Graham, G.C.B., who was elevated k, the peerage in 1814.