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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 329 the 26th of December 1835. Throughout life Sir Robert maintained an untainted character, and was universally respected as a most humane, benevolent, and excellent man. The full-length figure, with the military hat and veil, which he wore in ridicule of the ladies, represents the eccentric CAPTAIN HAY, or “the Daft Captain,” as he was usually styled. His father, Mr. John Hay, who had early settled there as a general merchant, was a Scotsman, and descended from a highly respectable family. He had two sons and a daughter. The eldest, Mr. John Hay, came to this country when about the age of twenty, as Prussian Consul to the port of Leith, where he also transacted business as a foreign merchant, but was never very successful. Like most Germans of any respectability, he had acquired a musical education ; and, being of industrious habits, sought to better his income by obtaining the appointment of performer on the musical bells of St. Giles’s Church, Edinburgh ; which office he enjoyed until his demise. At that period there were two musicians employed, and his coadjutor was Mr. Alexander Robertson, engyaver. We may mention, for the information of those at a distance, that in St. Giles’s there is a very complete set of musical bells, which are played upon every day between the hours of one and two o’clock,’ The second son, Captain Hay, was a bachelor ; and, after being placed upon half-pay, took up his residence in Edinburgh. At that time the principal promenade was the Meadows, where he almost daily appeared to ogle the ladies ; and being somewhat short-sighted, and not wearing glasses, he approached sometimes closer than was agreeable, staring them hard in the face. When they saw him advancing, they frequently drew down their veils ; and this giving the gallant Captain offence, he retaliated by sporting a veil, which he occasionally wore thrown up over his hat ; and if he noticed any lady who had pulled down her veil in approaching him, he was sure to return the compliment, muttering as he did so- This gentleman was born at Dantzic, in Prussia. ‘‘ I know what you mean ; I’m too ugly to be seen.” He did not always wear uniform, but more frequently appeared in plain clothes ; and we have sometimes seen him veiled with his ro&d hat on. He was seldom observed on the streets in company, and seemed to have a particular pleasure in walking alone. It was not uncommon for him to kiss his hand to ladies whom he admired in passing, and he would even take off his hat to others, but never attempted to speak to them. The Captain died in Edinburgh about the year 1804. His brother, who left behind him two SOUS and a daughter, survived him a few years. The eldest son, Mr. Frederick Hay, an eminent engraver, long settled in London, succeeded Both he and his brother spoke broken English. From one to two was the dinner hour of the citizens in former t i e s . VOL II. 2 uBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 329 the 26th of December 1835. Throughout life Sir Robert maintained an untainted character, and was universally respected as a most humane, benevolent, and excellent man. The full-length figure, with the military hat and veil, which he wore in ridicule of the ladies, represents the eccentric CAPTAIN HAY, or “the Daft Captain,” as he was usually styled. His father, Mr. John Hay, who had early settled there as a general merchant, was a Scotsman, and descended from a highly respectable family. He had two sons and a daughter. The eldest, Mr. John Hay, came to this country when about the age of twenty, as Prussian Consul to the port of Leith, where he also transacted business as a foreign merchant, but was never very successful. Like most Germans of any respectability, he had acquired a musical education ; and, being of industrious habits, sought to better his income by obtaining the appointment of performer on the musical bells of St. Giles’s Church, Edinburgh ; which office he enjoyed until his demise. At that period there were two musicians employed, and his coadjutor was Mr. Alexander Robertson, engyaver. We may mention, for the information of those at a distance, that in St. Giles’s there is a very complete set of musical bells, which are played upon every day between the hours of one and two o’clock,’ The second son, Captain Hay, was a bachelor ; and, after being placed upon half-pay, took up his residence in Edinburgh. At that time the principal promenade was the Meadows, where he almost daily appeared to ogle the ladies ; and being somewhat short-sighted, and not wearing glasses, he approached sometimes closer than was agreeable, staring them hard in the face. When they saw him advancing, they frequently drew down their veils ; and this giving the gallant Captain offence, he retaliated by sporting a veil, which he occasionally wore thrown up over his hat ; and if he noticed any lady who had pulled down her veil in approaching him, he was sure to return the compliment, muttering as he did so- This gentleman was born at Dantzic, in Prussia. ‘‘ I know what you mean ; I’m too ugly to be seen.” He did not always wear uniform, but more frequently appeared in plain clothes ; and we have sometimes seen him veiled with his ro&d hat on. He was seldom observed on the streets in company, and seemed to have a particular pleasure in walking alone. It was not uncommon for him to kiss his hand to ladies whom he admired in passing, and he would even take off his hat to others, but never attempted to speak to them. The Captain died in Edinburgh about the year 1804. His brother, who left behind him two SOUS and a daughter, survived him a few years. The eldest son, Mr. Frederick Hay, an eminent engraver, long settled in London, succeeded Both he and his brother spoke broken English. From one to two was the dinner hour of the citizens in former t i e s . VOL II. 2 u
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330 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. to the remains of his grandfather's fortune, through the death of his aunt, Miss Henrietta Hay, who died at Dantzic about the year 1835. The last Portrait in the group will-be easily recognised as the late EARL OF EGLINTON, of whom we have already given a memoir. At the period referred to by the Print, he was Colonel of the West Lowland Fencibles. The regiment wore the Highland uniform ; to which garb his lordship was extremely partial. He had served abroad in a Highland corps ; and while residing at his paternal estate of Coilsfield, not the least important personage among his retainers was the family piper, whose martial strains were poured forth on all occasions prescribed by feudal or baronial usage. The Colonel was a stern and brave soldier. It is told that,, on his return from the American war, he was much annoyed by the interrogatories of his mother, whose maternal fondness could never be satisfied wieh the narration of the toils and perils to which he had been exposed. More than usually teased on. one occasion, he goodhumouredly replied-" 'Deed, mother, to tell the truth, the greatest difficulty and annoyance I experienced, was when, in endeavouring to clear a fence, I happened to leap into a close column of very long nettles/"-no enviable situation for a man with a kilt. The ladies attired in military uniform, and whose figures are most prominent in the Promenade, were the two eldest daughters of the late Sir William Maxwell of Monreith, Bart., and nieces of the celebrated Jane Duchess of Gordon, and the almost equally well-known Lady Wallace. The MISSES MAXWELL were much admired in the fashionable world, of which they were distinguished ornaments. At that period, when every citizen was a soldier, and everything military the rage, it was the fashion for the female relatives of the noblemen and gentlemen, who bore commissions in the regulars, fencibles, and volunteers, to assume the uniforms of the respective corps to which their fathers, husbands, and brothers belonged. The two young ladies are accordingly in the uniform of the West Lowland Fencibles, of which their father, Sir William Maxwell, was Lieutenant-Colonel. One of the sisters was married to William Murray, Esq. of Polmaise, Vice-Lieutenant of the county of Stirling, and Lieutenant- Colonel Commandant of the Stirlingshire Yeomanry Cavalry; and the other to James Dupre, Esq. of Wilton Park, Buckinghamshire. Of the other figures in the Print, the artist not having left even a record of their names, no authentic information can be procured. That they are all likenesses, and were well known at the time, there can be little doubt. The costumes of the ladies convey a pretty accurate idea of the fashions prevailing at the period.
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