BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 367
factured, to “ gust the gabs ” of the young villagers, by whom it was held in
high estimation. She continued in office for several years, and was in turn
succeeded by a little woman, commonly distinguished by the somewhat appropriate
appellative of Eel1 Greasy. She. died a number of years ago-the
last of the race of Dalkeith clap and hand-bell ringers. The drum having
been deemed by the Magistrates of that rising town as infinitely more dignified,
was then adopted, and still continues in nse. The change, however, is much
regretted by the inhabitants, as the charge for calling was formerly only a
penny, whereas the drum costs at least eighteenpence for performing the same
labour.
No. CCXCII.
TWO CHAIRMEN;
“THE 8OCIAL PINCH.”
IN this Etching is represented the east corner of the Parliament Square, with
a partial view of the Parliament House, as it existed prior to the late extensive
alterations. The two Chairmen, both of whom died about the beginning of
this century, were well remembered, by the old frequenters of the Square.
DONALDK ENxmY-seated on the pole of the sedan, and presenting his “mull ”
-was a native of Perthshire. He was married, but had no children-owing
to which circumstance, we presume, Donald and his helpmate were not always
on the most amicable terms, and their quarrels at length terminated in a
separation. His wife, who survived to old age, was lately an inmate of the
Charity Workhouse. DONALDE LACKth, e other figure, came from Ross-shire,
and was a bachelor.
The Chairmen of Edinburgh, chiefly Highlanders, were at one time a
numerous and well-employed body, and some of them were known to amass
large sums of money.’ The introduction of hackney-coaches, however-together
with a considerable change in the habits of fashionable life-have wholly sub-
1 Donald M‘Glashan, chair-master, who died within a few years of the publication of this print,
left very considerable property, chiefly in houses, situated in Milne’s Square. He had at one
time about twelve men employed in carrying sedan-chairs, parcels and letters, and in attending
strangers in their perambulations through the city. Latterly, it is said, he found a source of no inconsiderable
gain in lending small sums of money to young men of rank by whom he was employed,
and whose remittances happened to run short. No charge for interest was made, but favours of
this kind were always liberally repaid. He was interred in the Greyfriars’ Churchyard, where his
place of burial is enclosed, and distinguished by a stone bearing the following inscription:-
Erected by Donald M‘Glashan (1825), Chair-master in Edinburgh, as a place of interment for the
use of his heirs in mession.
