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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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374 B I OGR APH I GAL S ICE T C H E S. MR. JAMES DENHOLME, fm he was not entitled to the appellation of Laird, as applied in its literal sense, was a native of Edinburgh. His father, a member of the Incorporation of Hatters and Waukers, seems to have been rather qnsuccessful in trade, for the Laid was educated in Heriot's Hospital, and afterwards bonnd apprentice to Mr. Hamden Pridie, hat-maker. The latter appears to have been a youth of careful habits, and was at length enabled to commence hat-making, in a shop on the North Bridge, on his own account. In 1793 he was first elected Deacon of the Incorporation; and from that period, with few interruptions, continued to hold a place in the Council till 1820. He was repeatedly Coivener of the Trades ; and, possessed of much sagacity, was exceedingly useful in civic matters. In 1814 he was appointed Treasurer of Heriot's Hospital, with a salary of 5500 per annum. This office he held till his death, which occurred on the 2d of September 1822, when, in honour of his having originally been one of the boys of the Institution, as well as in respect for his good conduct while Treasurer, a handsome marble monument was erected in the chapel to his memory by the managers. Mr. Denholme married Miss Stewart, daughter of Mr. David Stewart, glover, but left no children. She survived him only a few years. "he figure represented as putting a query to the Laird is intended for KINCAID MACKENZIE, Esq., Lord Provost of Edinburgh at the time. He was a partner in the firm of William Hall and Co., wine merchants, Lawnmarket. His father held a situation in the printing establishment of Provost Alexander Kincaid, his Majesty's Printer for Scotland. Young Mackenzie, who was named after this gentleman, was usually styled '' the Provost "-a title which neither he nor those who applied it had the most distant idea of his ever realising. When a mere boy, he was taken into the counting-house of Mr. Hall ; and, by his steady conduct and application, so recommended himself that he was at length admitted to a share in the business. He subsequently married the youngest surviving daughter of Mr. Hall. Mr. Mackenzie entered the Town Council in 1808 ; the following year he was made a Bailie; afterwards Dean of Guild; and, in 1817, elected Lord Provost. On the death of Mr. Denholme he was appointed Treasurer to Heriot's Hospital, with a salary, at first of $500, afterwards augmented to $600. Mr. Mackenzie was considered a thorough man of business ; and, in cases of disput,e among commercial men, he was frequently chosen an arbitrator. Though defective in education, at least in so far as a classical acquaintance with literature was concerned, he was nevertheless a man of much mercantile information. He at one period communicated some propositions on finance and taxation to the then minister (Pitt), which met the approval of the Premier, and some correspondence on the subject took place betwixt them-a circumstance highly creditable to the intelligence of Mackenzie, and of which he was no doubt justly proud. He died on the 2d day of June 1830. His demise was very sudden.
Volume 9 Page 498
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