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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 427 thing very striking. In 1789 he purchased a cornetcy in the 11th Dragoons, and shortly afterwards raised an independent company of Foot, which, however, was disbanded in 1791. He was first elected member of Parliament for the county of Forfar in 1796, which he continued to represent for many years. In Parliament he adopted, and consistently maintained, the principles of Fox. In 1831, a short time after the accession of the Whigs to power, the title of Panmure was revived in his person, as the reward of long and stedfast adherence to his principles. The chief residence of the family is the ancient Castle of Brechin, in Forfarshire, celebrated for its noble defence of twenty days, under the gallant Sir Thomas Maule, against the army of Edward I. It is situated in a “romantic manner on a high and abrupt bank, or rather precipice, overhanging the river, South Esk, which forms a deep pool beneath.” Part of the old walls are still standing, but the Castle was rebuilt about the beginning of the seventeenth century by Patrick, first Earl of Panmure. The title and estates were forfeited by James, the fourth Earl, who took part in the rebellion of 1715.’ The representation of the family devolved on his nephew, William, who was created an Irish Peer by the title of Earl Panmure, with remainder to his brother John. By him the forfeited family estates were re-acquired and strictly entailed. Earl William died without issue in 1782, when the estate devolved, as heir of entail, upon his grand-nephew, the subject of the present notice. Another estate in Forfarshire, that of Kellp and its ancient Castle, also belongs to the family of Maule. About the beginning of last century it was possessed by Henry Maule-a gentleman of considerable literary accomplishments. Here the Hon. Captain Ramsay (sometime a General in India), brother to his lordship, built a neat modern house in 1804, A jovial splore, termed in Scotland the “heating 0’ the house,” was held on its completion. The following verses, written for the occasion by the Duke of Gordon, were sung with the greatest applause by his noble representative, the Marquis of Huntly (the late Duke) :- “ What pleasure I feel to this house to repair, With good friends and old claret to drown every care ; Grant me strength, give me power, kind Bacchus, I pray, To swig down four bottles to honour this day, “ May the go& on this fabric each blessing bestow, Derry, down, down, etc. And happiness reign here, above and below ; May heaven on our host and hia family smile, And each comfort enjoy with his charming De Lisle.* But still have a bottle to give to a friend ; From this hall ne’er let Bacchua his thyrsis mmove, And may Venus preside in the chambers above. “ May the stock in his cellar ne’er run to an end, He died without issue. The Honourable Mrs. Ramsay.
Volume 9 Page 572
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425 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. “ There’s the Sovereign,’ Dalhousie, and Maule, they will say, And Ramsay, myself: and our friend Charlie Kay ; These six jolly fellows have found out the charm, To teach Angus lads how to make a house warm. “ ’Tis by wine, mighty wine ! we our friendship can prore ; ’Tis wine, mighty wine ! which inspires us to love : Ring the bell-call the butler-and bid him bring ben A “agnwm or two, and a large tappit hen. “ May this night be devoted to friendship and wine, No troubles to vex us, no cause to repine ; And may each jolly soul to four bottles aspire, To heat the house well, not to set it on fire. “ Then let us good claret enjoy while we live ; A toast to your mind I can promise to give : Fill up the f~z-headl,e~t us drink to the last- ‘ May the Roof-Tree of Eelly for ages stand fast.’ Derry, down, down, etc.” Of the ‘‘ Generous Sportsman’’ there are many amusing anecdotes told.‘ The Highland Chairmen of Edinburgh, some thirty years ago, were proverbial for their insatiable love of money. The excessive “greed ” of these worthies happening to become the subject of conversation among a few gentlemen on one occasion, his lordship (then Mr. Maule) took up a. bet in favour of the character of our northern countrymen, respecting the possibility of satisfying them by liberal remuneration. The wager being accepted, Mr. Maule threw himself into a sedan, and gave orders to be conveyed a short distance down the Canongate, for which, on alighting, he bestowed the handsome reward of one guinea, quite confident thereby of giving satisfaction. It was impossible for Donald altogether to suppress the smile which played upon his countenance, as he turned over the ‘’ yellow Geordie I’ in his hand : ‘‘ But could her honour no shuist gi’e the ither sixpence to get a gill?” His lordship good-humouredly supplied the “ ither sixpence,” in expectation of gaining his bet ; but another demand, on the part of Donald‘s companion, for “three bawbees of odd shange to puy snuff,” put him out of all temper, and thoroughly convinced him of the impossibility of satisfying a Highland chairman. p Walking through his plantations one day, his lordship was attracted by the sound of some one felling a tree. “What are you about there 0’’ said he to a young man whom he caught in the act of levelling a stately “monarch of the wood,” with a cart and horse at no great distance, ready to carry away the 1 Mr. Skene of Skene, Sovereign of the Beggar’s Benison, north side of the Tay. The Marquis of Huntly. A silver cup, in the shape of a fox’s head, which contains a bottle of wine, much used in Angus on certain convivial occasions. Lord Panmure has been introduced in the novel, entitled “A Winter in Edinburgh,” under the name of Hall of Glenmore. This rather clever production will amuse those readers who rememlkr Edinburgh Society of the early part of this century, as most of their old acquaintances are to be found there, shown up in the most fearless manner.
Volume 9 Page 573
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