346 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,
may not now be striking, was considered very much so at the time. The tartan
in which he is represented is the Caledonian or national colour. On relinquishing
his services with the Society, Macdonald qualified himself as a messengerat-
arms ; and, with the exception of one individual, was at the time the oldest
of his calling in Edinburgh.
Mr. Macdonald was twice married. His eldest son, in whom he had the highest
hopes, was for many years in Calcutta, where he became a partner in an extensive
trading house. During a severe commercial panic, however, the firm gave
way ; and his son shortly afterwards died on his passage to Sydney, where, had
he survived, he would have been advantageously settled.
No, CCLXXXV.
SIR WILLIAM MILLER OF GLENLEE, BART.,
ONE OF THE SENATORS OF THE COLLEGE OF JUSTICE.
THIS venerable Judge is the only son of Sir Thomas Miller, Bart., Lord President
of the Court of Session, who died at his seat of Earskimming, in Ayrshire, in
1789. SIR WILLIAM was admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates in
1777. At the keenly contested election in 1780, he was returned M.P. for the
city of Edinburgh, in'opposition to Sir Laurence Dundas, and took his seat in
Parliament ; but he was unseated upon a petition, and his opponent declared
duly elected.'
On the death of Alexander Murray of Henderland, in 1795, Sir William was
promoted to the bench, and took his seat, as Lord Glenlee, a title assumed from
the name of an estate belonging to his lordship in Galloway.
His chief residence, Barskimming, on the banks of the Ayr, is one of the
most delightful that can well be imagined. Embosomed among thick woods
and nearly overhanging the rocky bed of the river, the romantic nature of the
scene has been greatly increased by artificial means. In the west country, it
hm long been an object of curiosity and admiration.
Sir William, when considerably above eighty years of age, resided in Edinburgh
during the sittings of the Court ; and it is worthy of remark that, while all
his compeers had long before forsaken the Old Town,' he still continued in
An account of this affair, which created great excitement in Edinburgh at the time, will be
a The late Lord Balgray, whose unexpected demise, in 1837, was deeply regretted, resided in
found in the first volume of this Work, page 119.
George Square during the entire period he sat on the bench.