623. Lockhart Papers. Wodrow’s Analecta, iii. 210, et seq. Contemporary narration.
624. See antea, under February 1697.
625. Sinclair’s Statistical Acc. of Scotland, article ‘Erskine.
626. Notice from the Edinburgh Post-office, Nov. 23, 1725.
627. Caledonian Mercury, Oct. 1733, and Jan. 1734.
628. Edin. Ev. Courant.
629. Chamberlayne’s Present State of Great Britain for the years cited.
630. Scottish Journal, p. 208.
631. Wodrow’s Analecta.
632. New Stat. Acc. of Scot., vi. 157.
633. Scrap-book of Dugald Bannatyne, quoted in New Stat. Acc. of Scot., vi. 231.
634. Smollett’s Humphry Clinker.
635. Ramsay’s Works, i. 285.
636. Arnot’s History of Edinburgh, p. 366.
637. Mr Jackson had heard that Aston’s theatre was ‘in a close on the north side of the High Street, near Smith’s Land. A Mrs Millar at that time was esteemed a capital actress, and was also a very handsome woman. Mr Westcombe was the principal comedian. The scheme was supported by annual tickets, subscribed for by the favourers of the drama.’—Hist. Scot. Stage, p. 417.
638. Arnot’s Hist. Edinburgh, p. 366.
639. Analecta Scotica, ii. 211.
640. ‘Edinburgh, April 9, 1728.—Yesterday, Tony Astons, elder and younger, stage-players, were committed prisoners to the Tolbooth. ’Tis said they are charged with the crime of carrying off a young lady designed for a wife to the latter.’—Ed. Ev. Courant.
641. Private Letters, &c.
642. Wodrow’s Analecta, iii. 309.
643. Printed by James Duncan, Glasgow, 1728, pp. 168.
644. Wodrow’s Analecta, iii. 318.
645. MS. in possession of the Junior United Service Club.
646. Struan Papers, MS. The Earl of Mar, writing to Struan from Paris, January 6, 1724, says: ‘Our poor friend John Menzies has been very near walking off the stage of life; but I now hope he may still be able to act out the play of the Restoration with us, though he must not pretend to a young part.’ Among Struan’s published poems is ‘an Epitaph on his Dear Friend John Menzies;’ from which it would appear that Menzies had died abroad, and been buried in unconsecrated ground.
647. History of the Robertsons of Struan.... Poems of Robertson of Struan, Edinburgh, no date, p. 167.
648. Feb. 4, 1755. ‘At London, Edmund Burt, Esq., late agent to General Wade, chief surveyor during the making of roads through the Highlands, and author of the Letters concerning Scotland.’—Scots Mag. Obituary.
649. Burt’s Letters, ii. 189.
650. This poem exists in MS. in the library of the Junior United Service Club, London.
651. Usquebaugh, whisky.
652. Library of the Junior United Service Club, London, to which body I have to express my obligations for the permission to inspect and make extracts.
653. Letters, &c. i. 77.
654. This road was completed in October 1729. See onward.
655. Select Transactions of the Society of Improvers.
656. Works of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Dalloway’s ed., iii. 127.
657. Gentleman’s Magazine, iii. 515.
658. Cyc. of Pract. Medicine, iii. 749.
659. Analecta Scotica, ii. 322.
660. Boswelliana, privately printed by R. Monckton Milnes, Esq.
661. Edinburgh Ev. Courant.
662. Hist Acc. of the Bank of Scotland, 1728.
663. Analecta, iii. 476.
664. A Letter containing Remarks on the Historical Account of the Old Bank, by a Gentleman concerned in neither Bank. Edin., James Davidson & Co., 1728.
665. This is a statement of the pamphlet last quoted, p. 30.
666. In British Museum, 8223 C
2 (b
2).
667. Analecta, iii. 302.
668. Burt’s Letters from the North of Scotland, 2d ed., i. 230.
669. Sharpe’s Introduction to Law’s Memorials, cvi.
670. Scott’s Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft, p. 328.
671. Representation by the linen-drapers at the bar of the House of Commons, Jan. 1720.
672. Letter in the Paper-office, quoted by Chalmers, Caledonia, i. 873, note.
673. Analecta, iii. 452.
674. Private Letters, &c., p. 59.
675. Edinburgh Ev. Courant.
676. Mr Wodrow relates that, about the same time, a number of ministers in England met occasionally together under the name of the Orthodox Club, and ‘frequently their conversation is gay and jocose’—‘gay and’ being here a Scotch adverb meaning considerably.
677. Private Letters, &c., p. 61.
678. State Trials, ix. 26. Arnot’s Crim. Trials, p. 190.
679. Private Letters, &c., p. 64. Mr Lindsay was soon after lord provost and member for the city, in which latter capacity he made a remarkably good speech in the House of Commons on the bill for taking away the privileges of the corporation in consequence of the Porteous Riot. See Gentleman’s Magazine, vii. 457.
680. What seems sufficient to set this matter in a clear light is the fact that, up to this time, such a thing as a sawn deal was unknown in the Spey Highlands; they could only split a tree, and chip the pieces into something like a deal; and some of the upper rooms of Castle-Grant are actually floored of wood prepared in this manner.
681. At the end of the voyage, he took the curragh upon his back, and trudged back to the point of departure. An example of this primitive kind of canoe was exhibited at the archæological museum connected with the British Association at Aberdeen, September 1859.
682. [Leslie’s] Survey of the Province of Moray, 1798, p. 267. Anderson’s British Poets, viii. 655.
683. Analecta, passim.
684. Private Letters, &c., p. 66; also newspapers of the day.
685. Wodrow’s Analecta, iv. 97.
686. See under the year 1716 for some notice of her Grace’s services to the country as a promoter of agricultural improvements.
687. Faculty Records, quoted in Analecta Scotica, ii. 170. The plate of Sallust is now shewn under a glass-case in the Advocates’ Library.
688. Biog. Memoirs of William Ged. Nichols, London, 1781. To a daughter of Ged, it was proposed that the profits of this publication, if any, should be devoted; hence it may be inferred that the family continued poor.
689. Mores’s Narrative of Block-printing, with Notes, apud Topham and Willett’s Memoir on the Origin of Printing. Newcastle, 1820.
690. Maitland’s History of Edinburgh, p. 460.
691. Arnot’s History of Edinburgh, p. 546.
692. Gentleman’s Magazine, v. 555.
693. The remaining verses of the poem are thus given in the Scots Magazine for June 1773:
694. Letter by a clansman of the deceased. Edin. Ev. Courant.
695. Culloden Papers, p. 111. Edin. Ev. Courant, Oct. 9, 1729. This chronicle adds: ‘They named the bridge where the parties met Oxbridge.’ A statement which appears somewhat inconsistent with one already made in our general account of the Highland roads.
General Stewart of Garth, in his interesting book on the Highland Regiments, makes an amusing mistake in supposing that General Wade here condescended to be entertained by a set of cearnochs, or cattle-lifters.
696. Notes to 2d ed. of Burt’s Letters. There being a distinction between natural tracks, such as formerly existed in the Highlands, and made roads, and ‘made’ being used here in a secondary and technical sense, it is not absolutely necessary to suppose, as has been supposed, that the author of this couplet was an Irish subaltern quartered at Fort William.
697. In May 1711, the ‘relict’ of Sir John Medina, limner, advertised her having for sale ‘a great many pictures of several of the nobility, gentry, and eminent lawyers of this nation,’ at her lodging, ‘the first stone land above the Tron Church, second story.’—Ed. Ev. Courant.
698. Daniel Wilson states, in his work, Edinburgh in the Olden Time, that Scougal possessed Sir James Steuart’s house in the Advocates’ Close, and there fitted up an additional floor as a picture-gallery.
699. The document is fully printed in the Edin. Annual Register for 1816.
700. Caledonian Mercury.
701. Analecta, iv. 86, 162.
702. Minutely narrated in Burnet.
703. Caledonian Mercury, April 6, 1724.
704. Sir D. Brewster’s Life of Sir Isaac Newton, 1855, i. 57
705. Edin. Ev. Courant.
706. Stewart’s Highland Regiments, i. 49.
707. Dom. Annals, under March 1, 1701.
708. French, commère, a godmother.
709. An Essay on the Means of Inclosing Scotland, 1729, p. 229.
710. Records of the Bank, quoted in Chalmers’s Caledonia, i. 873, note.
711. Edin. Ev. Courant.
712. Wodrow’s Analecta.
713. Domestic Ann. Scot., ii. 495.
714. See under June 24, 1736.
715. It is rather curious that, in a subscription for the relief of the sufferers by a fire in the Lawnmarket of Edinburgh, in 1725, ‘Colonel Francis Charteris, £4, 4s.’ is the only contribution from a private individual. Uncharitable onlookers would probably consider this as intended for an insurance against another fire on the part of the subscriber.
716. Private Letters, &c., p. 80.
717. Gentleman’s Magazine, ii. 674.
718. Caledonian Mercury.
719. Cal. Mercury, August 8, 1732.
720. Chalmers’s Life of Ruddiman, p. 136.
721. Caledonian Mercury, May and July 1733.
722. Caledonian Mercury, February 14, 1734.
723. Historical Register for 1721, p. 253.
724. July 21, 1744, died at his seat of Orangefield, in the shire of Ayr, James Macrae, Esq., late governor of Fort George.
725. The son, Captain James Macrae, was a person of most unhappy history, having shot an innocent gentleman in a duel, and obliged, in consequence, to leave his native country.
726. Caledonian Mercury, July and August 1733.
728. A riding of the stang, attended with tragical results, happened in March 1736. George Porteous, smith at Edmondstone, having severely beaten and abused his wife, was subjected to the ignominy by his neighbours; which so highly ‘affronted’ him, that he went and hanged himself.—Caledonian Mercury.
729. Caledonian Mercury, passim.
730. Edinburgh newspapers, passim.
731. James VII.’s First Parliament, chap. 12.
732. [Sinclair’s] Stat. Acc. Scot., xviii. 362.
733. Wodrow Pamphlets, vol. 275.
734. From Mein’s original paper, apparently prepared for publication, 1735. MS. in possession of Society of Antiquaries.
735. Act of Town Council, August 29, 1740. Robert Mein died in 1776, at the age of ninety-three.
736. Amongst the papers of General Wade, in the possession of the Junior United Service Club, is a letter addressed to him by a lady who felt interested in behalf of Porteous. It is here transcribed, with all its peculiarities of spelling, &c., as an illustration of the exceptive feeling above adverted to, and also as a curious memorial of the literary gifts then belonging to ladies of the upper classes. The writer appears to have been one of the daughters of George Allardice of Allardice, by his wife, Lady Anne Ogilvy, daughter of the fourth Earl of Findlater:
‘I dute not Dear general waid but by this time yon may have heard the fattel sentence of the poor unhappy capt porteous how in six weeks time most dye if he riceve not speedy help from above, by the asistance of men of generosity and mercy such as you realy are it is the opinion of all thos of the better sort he has been hardly deelt by, being cond’mned but by a very slender proof, and tho he was much provokted by the mob and had the provest and magestrets order to fire which th’y now sheamfuly deney nor had he the leeberty to prove it tho even in his own defence, but the generous major powl will assure you of the trouth, and yet tho the capt had thos crule orders it is proven my [by] commiserer wesly mr Drumond doctor horton and severel other gentel men of undouted crided he realy did not make use of them, that there eyes were fixed on him all the while and have declar’d upon oth he deed not fire, true it is he presented his firelock in hopes to frighten the mob when ane unlucky felow at the same time and just by the capt fired which lead the two witness into the fatel mistake that has condmn’d him the unfortenat pannal both befor and after the dismal sentence protested befor god and the judges he was entierly inesent puting all thes circomstances to gether the miserable state he now is in most draw your generous pity on his side ther’for dr general waid continwa your uswal mercy and plead for him and as our sex are neturly compassinot and being now in the power of the quin, so generous a pleader as you may easely persuad, considring it is a thing of great concquenc to the whol army which yourself better knou then I can inform the duke of buccleugh, marques of Lowding [Lothian] Lord morton geneal myls all the commissioners and chiff baron are to join ther intrest with yours in this affair, by your own generous soul I beg again Dear sir you will do whats in your power to save him, thos that think right go not through this poor short life just for themselves which your good actions shou you oft consider, and as many just now put a sincer trust in your generous mercy I am sure they will not be disapointed throgh aney neglect of yours let this letter be taken notes of amongst the nomber you will reseve from your frinds in Scotland in behalf of the unfortunat capt which will intierly oblidg
‘you would be sory for the unexresable los I have had of the kindest mother, and two sisters I am now at Mrs Lind’s where it would be no smal satesfaction to hear by a Line or two I am not forgot by you drect for me at Mr Linds hous in Edenburg your letter will come safe if you are so good as to writ Mr Lind his Lady and I send our best complements to you, he along with Lord aberdour and mr wyevel how has also wrot to his sister mrs pursal go hand in hand togither makeing all the intrest they can for the poor capt and meet with great sucess they join in wishing you the same not fearing your intrest the generals Lady how is his great friend were this day to speak to the Justes clarck but I have not since seen her, so that every on of compassion and mercy are equely bussey forgive this trouble and send ous hop’
737. Caledonian Mercury.
738. Statutes at large, vi. 51.
739. In November 1737, the poet is found advertising an assembly (dancing-party) ‘in the New Hall in Carrubber’s Close;’ subscription-tickets, two for a guinea, to serve throughout the winter season.—Cal. Merc.
740. Caledonian Mercury.
741. Newspapers of the time.
742. Caledonian Mercury.
743. Daily Post, Aug. 17, 1738, quoted in Household Words, 1850.
744. His name was William Smellie. The fact is stated in his Memoirs by Robert Kerr, Edinburgh, 1811.
745. Scots Magazine, January 1739.
746. Scottish Journal, p. 313.
747. Houghton’s Collections on Husbandry and Trade, 1694.
748. Arnot’s History of Edinburgh, 4to, p. 201.
749. Robertson’s Rural Recollections, 1829.
750. ‘The man has not been dead many years who first introduced from Ireland the culture of the potato into the peninsula of Cantyre; he lived near Campbelton. From him the city of Glasgow obtained a regular supply for many years; and from him also the natives of the Western Highlands and Isles obtained the first plants, from which have been derived those abundant supplies on which the people there now principally subsist.’—Anderson’s Recreations, vol. ii. (1800) p. 382.
751. ‘This singular individual died at Edinburgh [January 24, 1788]. In 1784, he sunk £140 with the managers of the Canongate Poor’s House, for a weekly subsistence of 7s., and afterwards made several small donations to that institution. His coffin, for which he paid two guineas, with “1703,” the year of his birth, inscribed on it, hung in his house for nine years previous to his death; and it also had affixed to it the undertaker’s written obligation to screw him down with his own hands gratis. The managers of the Poor’s House were likewise taken bound to carry his body with a hearse and four coaches to Restalrig Churchyard, which was accordingly done. Besides all this, he caused his grave-stone to be temporarily erected in a conspicuous spot of the Canongate Churchyard, having the following quaint inscription:
752. Scots Magazine, Oct. 1740. Act of Town Council, Dec. 19, 1740.
753. Scots Magazine, July 1741.
754. Moncrieff’s Life of John Erskine, D.D., p. 110.
755. Scots Magazine, July 1742.
756. Scots Magazine, Oct. 1712. New Statistical Acc. Scot., art. ‘Lochbroom,’ where many curious anecdotes of Robertson, called Ministeir laidir, ‘the Strong Minister,’ are detailed.
757. Lays of the Deer Forest, by the Messrs Stuart.
758. Edin. Ev. Courant, Nov. 15, 1743.
759. Spalding Club Miscellany, ii. 87.
760. Old Statist. Acc. of Scot., xv. 379.
761. Domestic Ann. of Scot., ii. 392.
762. Memorabilia of Glasgow, p. 502.
763. Newspaper advertisement.
764. Jones’s Glasgow Directory, quoted in Stuart’s Notices of Glasgow in Former Times.