BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 337
who were spoken favourably of by the Rev. George William Auriol Hay Drummond,
in his “Town Eclogue.” (Edinburgh, 1804. 8vo.)
“ Let justice veil her venerable head,
When dulness sits aloft in robes of red !
Though with delight we upright Cockburn see,
With courteous Cullen, deep-read Woodhouselee :
In the Chief Baron’s bland, ingenuous face,
Read all the worth and talent of hia race.”
In his boyish days, Lord Cullen was an excellent mimic, and often, in later
years, took pleasure in mentioning the exploits which his talent in this way
enabled him to perform. His father, Professor Cullen, used to keep his loose
money in a desk-drawer in his study, from which he was in the habit of supplying
Mrs. Cullen with whatever sums she might be in want of, usually handing
over the notes without being at the trouble of looking round. Observing this,
and when pressed by any juvenile contingency, the youthful mimic, imitating
the somewhat querulous voice of his mother, found the means of drawing upon
the old man more frequently than the latter would have been inclined to submit
to. As the demands in this way multiplied the Doctor began to grumble.
“ What ! were you not here already P” said he with some warmth to his good
lady, as she one day requested a few pounds. “No, indeed, I was not, my
dear,” was her reply. “Don’t tell me that,” rejoined the Professor, evidently
chafed at what he considered a false assertion ; while the lady, unable to account
for the late unkindness of her husband, indignantly resented the imputation of
her veracity. The misunderstanding might have been carried far enough, but
for the discovery which the awakened vigilance of the Doctor enabled him to
make on the next occasion. Casting his eyes round, he was astonished to find
the mystery cleared up in the culpability of his son.
Long after he had
assumed the toga, he continued his imitations, and was very successful in catching
the peculiarities of many of the leading members of the College of Justice.
His attainments in this way having reached the ears of the then Lord President,
he was invited by the legal dignitary to a dinner party, where, after the cloth
was removed, he exhibited a succession of imitations of the most eminent
practising barristers. His lordship was highly delighted, and hinted that he
need not limit himself to the bar ; but that he might, without offence, make
free with the bench. Cullen, in the excitement of the moment, took the hint
thus given, and quickly the whole race of “ paper lords ” passed rapidly before
the eyes of the astonished President, who applauded the actor warmly for his
astonishing powers of mimicry. “But,” said his lordship, “ why am I excepted 1
I cannot really allow this.” Cullen would not for worlds take off his h o s t
the latter insisted, and in an evil moment the guest yielded-and the Lord
President of the Court of Session was given to the life. “hose present roared
Another anecdote of his imitative talent may be given.
1 Fbbert Dundaa of Arniston, of whom a biographical sketch has already appeared.
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