BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 43
career, towards the end of the last century, evangelical doctrine was at a very
law ebb in Scotland; and t4hrough their instrumentality, it was owing, in no small
degree, that so striking a revival has since taken place. Both brothers were
authors of theological works highly esteemed in their day. James wrote on the
Nature and Doctrine of the Atonement, and an Exposition of the Epistle to the
Galatians. Robert’s writings consist of Works on the Evidence of Divine
Revelation and Inspiration of Scripture, and an Exposition of the Epistle to the
Romans. Robert died in 1842, and James in 1851. Their lives, by Alexander
Haldane of the Inner Temple, Barrister-at-law, were published in 1852, and
the work reached a second edition,
No. CLXXXV.
SERGEANT-MAJOR PATRICH GOULD,
AND
AN EDINBURGH VOLUNTEER.
THIS is an accurate representation of the late SERGEANT -MAJOR
GOULD, in the act of teaching “the young idea how to shoot.” Gould (or
rather Guild) was a native of Alva, in Clackmannanshire, one of the little villages
located at the foot of the Ochils, where both his grandfather and father appear
to have successively held the situation of vilhge piper. His father, John Guild,
was twice married.’ Patrick, the youngest of thirteen children, was born on
the 31st of January 1749. On the death of his father, which occurred suddenly,
the widowed mother removed with her young faniily (four of whom survived)
to Glasgow, where the future Sergeant-Major was brought up as a tailor ; but
having a strong desire to be a soldier, and entertaining no great partiality for
the board, very soon after completing his apprenticeship he enlisted in the Foot
Guards, where his activity procured him promotion.
In 179 3, Gould was appointed Drill-Sergeant to the Argyleshire Fencibles,
then about to be embodied ; and the year following he was transfemed to the
First Regiment of Edinburgh Volunteers. How well the Sergeant-Major
discharged the duties of his office is in the recollection of many citizens,of
Edinburgh who profited by his instructions. He was accurate, attentive, and
active ; and as a drill none could surpass him. During his connection with the
Volunteers--a period of twenty-one years-he trained upwards of two thousand
men to military exercises. Gould added materially to his income by private
drilling, many families being in the habit of employing him to give ‘‘ the young
folks ” a proper carriage, as they termed it. His manner to a pupil was some-
Gould was related (but the precise degree of relationship is unknown, nor indeed does it matter
much) to certain persons of a name almost similar, of considerable opulence in the district where he
wag born. Latterly they fell back in the world j and some of them had charges of no very creditable
description brought against them.