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.
368 BI 0 Gl?, A P HI GAL S ICE T C HE S.
verted the once courtly sedan. Formerly they were in (Treat demand about the
Parliament Square, most members of the College of Justice having their stated
chairmen in attendance. Lord Monbocldo, though he invariably went home
on foot, used to employ a sedan, if it rained,.to carry his wig I
The Society of Edinburgh Chairmen was instituted in 1740.
No. CCXCIII.
JAME S M’KEAN,
AT THE BAR OF THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY.
. THIS is understood to be a striking likeness of the prisoner, as he appeared at
his trial-placed between two of the Old Town Guard-for the murder of
Euchanan the Lanark carrier.
The name of M‘KEAN is well remembered by the inhabitants of the west
of Scotland ; and the circumstances of his crime are yet fresh in the memory
of many old people of the district. . He was a shoemaker in Glasgow; and,
though poor, had maintained a reputable character up to the period of the
murder. M‘Kean was intimate with his victim, James Buchanan, the Lanark
and Glasgow carrier, and was aware that he was in the habit of carrying money
betwixt these places, On the 7th October 1796, the day on which the deed
was committed, it appears he had obtained information that Buchanan had
received a sum in charge : and immediately contemplated making himself master
of it. With this view he invited him to his house in the evening to drink tea.
The unsuspecting carrier accordingly called about six o’clock, and was ushered
into a room perfectly dark, there being neither fire nor candle, Here M‘Eean
accomplished his villanous design in the most deliberate and revolting manner.
He then thrust the body of Euchanan into a closet; and on coming out of the
room asked his daughter for a towel, which she gave him ; but, remarking that
it would not do, he took up a piece of green cloth which covered the carpet,
and again retired into the room. With this he attempted to dry up the
immense quantity of blood on the floor ; but his wife, being attracted by the
noise of chairs driven about, ran to the door, which was opened by M‘Kean.
On discovering the blood, she shrieked “Murder ;” when her guilty husband,
taking up his hat, instantly disappeared. The neighbours having caught the
alarm, and hurried to the spot, found the body in the closet, and also the instrument
of death lying upon a shelf in the room.
M‘Kean fled from Glasgow, proceeding by the Kilmarnock road ; and on the
This was a razor, tied with a rosined thread, so as to preveet it from yielding,
