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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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NOTES TO VOL. 11. BY PROFESSOR DANIEL WILSON, AUTHOR OF ‘NEMOI1IALS OF EDINBURGH IN THE OLDEN TIME,’ ETC. ETC. Page 1, DOWIE’ST AVERN. David Martin, the fashionable portrait painter of last century, instituted a club in Johnnie Dowie’s Tavern, styled after its host “ Doway College.” Lord Kames, Lord Monboddo, and Dr. Alexander Carlyle of Inveresk, were among its members, and Sir Henry Raeburn, the pupil of Martin, frequented the same old haunt. hfr. Archibald Constable mentions in his biography that he frequently met George Paton, the antiquary, and David Herd a t John Dowie’s. There is a very characteristic portrait of Dowie, in his three-cocked hat, in the Scots Magazine. Page 33, WEST DIGGES. West Digges acted young Douglas in John Home’s famous tragedy ; and it was at his lodging in the Canongate that Dr. Carlyle attended the rehearsals of the ‘‘ DoziqZas ” in conipany with Home, Lord Elibank, Dr. Ferguson, and David Hume. Digges was a man of good birth, but had been compelled to leave the army, and is described by Dr. Carlyle as a handsome young man, with a genteel address and very agreeable manners ; but he adds, ‘‘ he was a great profligate and spendthrift, and a poltroon, I’m afraid, to the bargain.” Page 69, WHITEFOORHDO USE. Whitefoord House, Canongate, a plain building in the unpicturesque style of the eighteenth century, is interesting as one where Burns found hearty welcome. I t also has a certain local interest owing to its occupying the site of the ancient lodging of the Earls of Winton ; the Court residence of one of the most powerful of the nobles who adhered to Queen Mary. Sir Walter Scott restores it in fancy ; and there Roland Crmne goes in pursuit of Catherine Seyton, with results familiar to all readers. In Edgar’s Map of Edinburgh, 1742, the ancient mansion appears, though neglected and ruinous. Before the century closed it had been displaced by Whitefoord House. Page 88, DR. HAMILTON. Dr. Hamilton was lately popularly known by the name of “ Cocky Hamilton,” from his adherence to the otherwise obsolete cocked hat. A story was current of one of the street simpletons, Daft Jamie, if I mistake not, stopping Dr. Haniilton one evening, opposite Law’s famed coffee establishment, and pointing in succession to the Doctor, the lamplighter, who was just then lighting a neighbouring street lamp, and to the namc over the shop, he exclaimed, “ Cocky-leery-law,” by which cock-crowing he won a liberal gratuity from the Doctor.
Volume 9 Page 642
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