Edinburgh Bookshelf

Kay's Originals Vol. 2

Search

34 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. devil out of his heart.” Here he continued until he removed to the shop in Nicolson Street, afterwards occupied by his successor Mr. Tait, with whom he entered into partnership. The business was afterwards carried on under the firm of Guthrie and Tait. Few men were more universally benevolent. Never forgetting the hardships and struggles of early life, his hand was open to the truly necessitous ; and, as far as his circumstances mould permit, he promoted, both by advice and assistance, the endeavours of the industrious poor to earn an honest livelihood. He was also a constant, and frequently a liberal, contributor to the religious and philanthropic institutions of the city. Mr. Guthrie was an Episcopalian when that form of worship was at a low ebb, but lived long enough to witness its gradual revival and increase. His primitive mode of transacting business was the effect of early habit, and could not easily be laid aside by change of circumstances. He died on the 10th May 1824. He next opened a shop at the Nether Bow. Mr. Guthrie was a very inoffensive, worthy person. He was married, but had no children. No. CLXXXIII. WILLIAN BUTTER, ESQ., AND SIR JOHN MORRISON. THE figure to the left represents MR. BUTTER in the attitude of applying a ‘‘ social pinch,” and engaged in an ‘‘ accidental crack ” with his friend Sir John Morrison. The father of Mr. Butter originally belonged to Peterhead, but came in early life to Edinburgh, where he successfully carried on the business of a might and cabinetmaker ; and at his death left his son, the subject of the Print, in possession of considerable property.’ His workshop was at the foot of Carrubber’s Close, where he also resided ; and it is yet told, as illustrative of the old man’s mechahical genius, and as a matter of wonder in those days, that he built an additional story to his dwelling-house without taking down the roof. This he accomplished-as has been frequently done more recently-by means of screws. After the death of his father, Mr. William Butter continued to carry on business in:the same premises, but on a more extensive scale. He was Carpenter to his Majesty j and, among other extensive buildings in which he was engaged, Mr. Butter senior ww a member of the Town Council in 1749 and 1750.
Volume 9 Page 43
  Shrink Shrink   Print Print