B I0 G RAP HIC AL SKETCH E S. 57
Islands ; but this situation he held only for a limited period, in consequence of
some misunderstanding. He returned to the Continenti and died there in 1795.
He married a French ladyone
of the Protestant refugees ‘-whose sister was a well-known novel writer of
the ‘‘ Minerva Press.” He had two sons, who were educated at the High School.
The eldest, George, was unfortunate. He entered the army; but, having
formed some indifferent connections, he retired from the service, and died in
Switzerland. Augustus, the youngest, became a distinguished officer of artillery.
He commanded the horse-brigade during the whole of the war in Spain, and
was repeatedly thanked in public orders by the Duke of Wellington. He was
created a Baronet and K.C.B., and died at Woolwich.
The Major resided in No. 5 George Street.
The Hon. ANDREW ERSKINE was a younger brother of the “ musical
Earl of Kellie.” He held a lieutenant’s commission in the 71st Regiment of
Foot, which corps being reduced in 1763, he exchanged from half-pay to the
24th, then stationed at Gibraltar.
Erskine had little genius or inclination for a military life ; his habits and
tastes were decidedly of a literary character. He was one of the contributors
to Donaldson’s “ Collection of Original Poems by Scottish Gentlemen.” He
is chiefly known, however, for his correspondence with Boswell (the biographer
of Johnson), printed at Edinburgh in 1763. These letters, the legitimate offspring
of “hours of idleness,” consist of a mixture of prose and verse; and
are remarkable for the spirit of extravagance which pervades them. Those of
Boswell are characteristic of the writer, and his pen might be traced in every
line ; but it would be difficult to discover in the letters of Erskine any marks
of the dull, reserved disposition which was natural to him. His manner was
unobtrusive and bashful in the extreme. He indeed occasionally alludes to
this ; and, in one of his poetical epistles to Boswell, says-
“ You kindly took me up an awhard cub,
And introduced me to the soaping club.”’
The following notice of the “French Refugees,” we find in the London Nmhg Post of
September 18, 1792 :-‘‘The subscriptions for those unfortunate people do honour to the generosity
of the nation. It is expected that iu the course of a few days it will be very considerable, as there
has been upwards of Five Thousand Pounds already subscribed. It is rather strange that the piety
of our English Bishops did not induce them to anticzpate the good iutentions‘of the lady. The
mitred brotherhood should have been the first to have felt for the forlorn sitnation of the emigrant
priests ; but their doors seem shut against the voice of distress, and their hearts appear callous to
the calls of humanity. It is the object of the managers of the subscriptions to supply those
refugees with money, who are desirous to emigrate to other countries, where their talents and
abilities may be exercised for their own emolument, and the benefit of the state. Their next objects
of relief are those who, from affluence, have been reduced to extreme poverty, and whose pride still
prevents them from solicitiug alms. To alleviate their misfortunes, every man must administer his
mite with cheerfulness ; but those French paupers who have been long before the Revolution in this
country, and are common mendicants, it is not the intention of the subscription to embrace.”
So called from their motto, which was, “Every man soap his own beard; or every man
indulge his own humour.” This club met erery “Tuesday eve,” and their favourite game was the
facetious one of snip snap snmm.
VOL. 11. I
