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The Scottish nation; or, The surnames, famihes, hterature,
William Anderson
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Iny^emory of STEPHEN SPAULDING
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THE
SCOTTISH NATION;
OR THE
SURNAMES, FAMILIES, LITERATURE, HONOURS,
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND.
BY
WILLIAM ANDERSON,
ACTBOK 07 Un. AMD BDITOK Of WOBK8, OF LOKD fiTlU>H, StC, &Q.
VOL. L
ABE-CUB.
A. FULLARTON & CO.,
44 BOUTH BRIDGE, EDINBURGH; AND 116 NEWGATE STREET, LONDON.
1867.
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EDINBURGH:
PULLAIITON AND MACKAB, lâ– ul^TluU8, UflTQ WALK.
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PREFACE.
The work which is now presented to the world assumes, by its compre- hensively national title, that the various and diversified information it contains is so illustrative of the Scottish nation, and of the origin and constitution of modem Scottish society, as to justify the adoption for it of a designation so conspicuous. Of any other country, it is true, an ac- count of its surnames, families, and honours, would cast little or no light over the constitution of the society existing therein. Such an account would probably tell next to nothing of the earlier races out of which society was formed, because, in the case of any other nation, whatever might elsewhere be found to illustrate that part of its history, few indica- tions in the names now borne by individuals or families, or in its titles of honour, will be found to mark the tribes or institutions whence they sprung, or to be otherwise identified with the commencement of its national unity. This is a result to be found in Scotland alone ; not uniformly, indeed, nor always without admixture of doubt, but certainly in a greater degree than in any other kingdom or state.
Modem Scottish society, and Scottish nationality in its proper sense, may be said to have come into existence together. Hereditary monarchy, hereditary surnames, families, and honours, hithei-to imknown among its peoples, were their commoil instruments for consolidation, for conserva- tion, and for progress. To the Cumbrian, the Pict, the Scot, Norwegian, Dane, or Saxon, who, at various times and in various degrees, were spread over its soil, these distinctions were exceptional and comparatively un- known.
In the early part of the twelfth century, the greater part of the country now constituting Scotland was in a state little better than that of chaos, and worse than that of anarchy. A contemporary document of a solemn
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PREFACE.
character describes the southern portion (and it may be held as equally true of the northern) as having till then been occupied rather than in- liabited " by diverse tribes of diverse nations coming from diverse parts; of dissimilar language, features, and modes of living, not easily able to liold converse among themselves, practically Pagans rather than Christ- ians, living more like iiTational animals than as worthy of the name of a people,"** and even deducting from this picture for the exaggerations of a Churchman, enough remains to confirm tlie foregoing remark. The arrival of a new people of polished manners, military discipline, and Christian zeal, by giving new institutions and, for a time, a new language to this incongruous mass, created a nation and a nationality, yet without a so-called revolution or even a change of dynasty. The new race, whose presence was so beneficially felt in Scotland, came through Eng- land, yet were not of it. They were the Normans, — a people of the same original stock as many of the tribes above referred to, but refined and instructed by familiarity with the institutions of the South.
This new order of things, however, might have attained to , no per- manence, or even if permanent, to no historic significance — at least in the sense which our title assumes — had not the silent but ceaseless immi- gration of the new race continued vrithout interruption for nearly two centuries, in the course of which they identified their fortunes with those of a dynasty which, although sprung from an elder settlement of the population, was led by sympathy, education, and the necessities of their position, to cherish, enrich, and lean upon this new people for tlie preservation of their crown and prerogatives, and to cement their union by numerous family alliances. A revolution, which placed first one and then another family of the new race upon the throne of Scot- hmd, completed the solidarity of the social tlnion of races in Scotland, while it prevented fresh admixtures of foreign blood ; and lastly and chiefly the practice of bestowing hereditary surnames and honours, and of holding all lands from the Crown, which obtained generally throughout
♦ Diversae tribus, diverwinim nacionuni, ex diversis partibus affluentes, regionem prefatum habita- verunt. Sed dispari gente et dissimidi lingu4, et varia more viventes, haut facile (inter) sese consen- cientes, gentilitatem potiuB quam iidei cnltum tenuerunt. Quos infeliccs et damoate habitacionis, habitatores, more pecudum irrationabiliter degentes, digiiatus est Dorniims, . . . vii<itare. — TnquisiU&n by David Prince of Cumbria (circa 1116).
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PREFACE.
this peiiod, and found a permanent and faithful record in charters and other public deeds, many of which are still in existence, insured to Scot- land the integrity and continuity of its social annals.
The surnames traceable to immigrant Norman chiefs, or to the lands bestowed upon their retainers, constitute by far the greater portion of those peculiar and pertaining to vast numbers of individuals forming modem Scottish society. Under those derived from lands, not a few Danish and Norwegian names are to be foimd, which, in like manner as those of Celtic and Norman origin referring to personal or local distinctives, are to be re- cognised by their composition ; yet, while of this latter class, even in the remote North we find in the names Fraser, Grant, Cameron, and others, undeniable proofs, notwithstanding their present use of the Celtic tongue, I !! of a Norman or French immigration, the composition of the southern j !l population is singularly manifested when the distinctive of an individual j I ; of the more ancient lineage is there^as in the case of a Fleming or an Inglis, i 1 1 expressed by the simple name of Scott. An account of the origin or of the original holdei-s of these surnames of the forefathers of tlie present Scot- tish people, cannot fail to be highly interesting to all classes at the present day.
But, a mere explanation of the origin o{ surnames alone would lack com- pleteness unless accompanied with some account of the families by which they were borne,— of the distribution of those families over the country, — of their subdivision into new families, — and of the distinguished individ- uals who sustained their reputation and promoted their influence: and such an account it is one of the objects of this Work to supply. * The Scottish Nation' professes to present the succession, the affiliations and alliances, and the leading incidents in the history of the families whose sur- names have obtained distinction and influence throughout Scotland since the reign of Malcolm Canmore.
The ancient baronies of Scotland, associated as they were with heredi- tary jurisdictions only short of regal, had all a significancy in that country unequalled in any others where the feudal regime obtained. The holders of these honours were regarded as heads of its name as well as of their vassals ; and to promote the honour of the one as well as the welfare of
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VI PREFACE.
the other was their business and their strength. An account of these hxmours is an account of the territorial supremacy of a name and of a family, among the members of which the lands under the jurisdiction of their heads were in course of time parcelled out.
A history of Scottish titles is a necessary supplement to that of families, and a key to many of the social and political incidents in that kingdom as well as in the history and fortunes of its families. Such a history forms, therefore, another and it is hoped a valuable topic of the present Work.
Immeasurably beyond all these social facts in importance, although greatly illustrated by the lights they furnish, the biographies of its dis- tinguished natives become, when properly treated, the topic which illus- trates and shows foii-h in its strength and peculiarities * The Scottish Nation.' The poorest country in Europe, occupied by a hardy race trained to military exercises, struggling for centuries to maintain their national in- dependence, and ever contending for mastery amongst themselves, Scotland has belield her sons loving and honouring the country that gave them birth with a high and pure patriotism ; and clinging to each other with a pro- verbial partiality, yet not alone on account of their common relationship, but also for those qualities of endurance, energy, and intelligence which their common struggles and even social feuds drew forth and incorporated as it were with the national character. At a comparatively ciirly period she sent forth many of her sons to obtain distinction and honours in other lands; and when more peaceful times had arrived and milder institu- tions obtained, she saw them launch into the arts of civil life, for which their hereditary qualities, animated by the lessons of a simple but sin- cere piety, had well prepared them, and assert for themselves a fi-ont rank among the leaders of mind and intellect in Europe, in numbers alto- gether unexampled in the social development of other nations. Of such men is Scotland's pride and glory, and their lives and deeds constitute the truest account of the Scottish nation.
In its general biography the present work embraces a wider range than is contemplated in any of those specially devoted to that subject, comprising many names not to be met with in history, yet of men whose skill, genius, or labours have added to the comfort, the knowledge, or
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PREFACE. VU
the happiness of mankind. Not a few names, moreover, that have long been borne down by undeserved obloquy have been restored to their proper position ; while others, upheld by misstatement or exaggeration at an undue elevation, have been placed on a lower pedestal. In all cases the truth has been stated, without reference to party feelings or sectarian misrepresentations.
In the department of literature great attention has been bestowed upon the articles relatmg to men distinguished by their writings. By append- ing the titles and dates of their works, and sometimes when these were | j numerous, classifying the subjects treated of, easy reference is combined with great economy of space. In a word, as respects the productions of its literary characters, ' The Scottish Nation' becomes as it were a Btbli- otheca Scottica corrected and brought down to the present day.
For a work of this character it is evident that an Alphabetical arrange- mentj or what is generally although incorrectly known as the Dictionary form, is the only one compatible with clearness, order, and facility of ref- erence, and accordingly such a form has been adopted, with some peculi- arities which it is hoped will be found to improve it in these respects. In all other works of this kind, when several articles or parties of the same name came to be described, the suh-alphahetical order, or that of the initial letters has obtained. In the case of biographies, however, on this principle, the ancestor is placed often at a distance from and not unfrequently long after his descendants. Throughout long lists of similar surnames the strictly alphabetical arrangement mixes up epochs, and mars all attempts to present the connection which distinguished indi- viduals bearing them had to one another. This inconvenience, except in a few unimportant eases, has been obviated by a double arrange- ment. In narrating isolated biographies of individuals of the same sur- name the order in time is followed; they succeed each other accord- ing to the epochs in which the parties lived. Where, however, a lineal descent is traceable, the biographies are introduced and continued in a direct succession. The order of the series is here chronological, but in the order of families, and not by individuals.
To the student of Scottish history the value of the assistance furnished
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PREFACE.
by a work of the character of ^ The Scottish Nation' need not be dwelt upon. In the accounts given of every family or title of antiquity and note, numerous indirect and incidental lights are thrown upon its pages. The direct additional matter it supplies, is, however, perhaps of still more importance. In this, as well as in many other points, it will be found a more accurate and complete exhibition of the Earlier History of Scotland than any that has yet been presented to the public.
In the course of his labours the author was necessarily obliged to enter into an extensive correspondence with noblemen and gentlemen in all parts of the kingdom, and with some families out of it, and he now returns his acknowledgments to all for the kindness and promptitude with which they answered his applications, furnished valuable information, and, in many cAses, placed their family records, for the time, at his perusal. It may give some idea of the care and research bestowed upon this work when it is stated that the author was altogether nearly twelve years occupied in its composition and coiTCction.
The Autographs, Seals, Genealogical and Titular tables, and other illustrative objects, as well as the Portraits on wood and steel with which the work is so profusely embellished, have all been taken from original or other authentic sources.
! t
A National Gallery of Scottish Portraits has long been pointed out as a desideratum, and learned societies have recently brought the matter strongly before the public. In the care taken to make the Porti-ait illus- trations authentic and numerous in a degree far beyond those in any col- lection heretofore presented to the world, the Publishers anticipate that the first exhibition of a National Portrait Gallery worthy of the name will be found in the pages of ' The Scottish Nation.'
The Biographies that were required to be added during the publica- tion of the work by demise of distinguished individuals, are given in the
form of a Supplement.
W. A.
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOLUME I.
ENGEAVED PORTRAITS.
1. BxTBHS, Robert,
2. Absbobombt, Sir Ralph,
3. Allan, Sir WUliam,
4. BvTHUirB, (Beaton) Cardinal,
6. BucHAHAN, George, 6. Campbell, Thomas, 7 Chalmebs, Thomas, D.D.. LL.D.,
From a painting by Naismyth,
„ J. Hoppner, R.A,
Himself, Roman Catholic ) College at Bhiir, j Pourbus, Sir Thomas Lawrence, T. Duncan,
byF. :
Engraved by W. Holl, J. B. Bird, W. E. Sibbald,
W. Holl,
To face page Frontispiece, page 4 117
J. B. Bird, E. Finden, J. B. Bird,
288
462 578 623
ENGRAVED TABLES OF TITULAR GENEALOGIES.
I. Amcibnt Ea&looms. As arranged by the anthor and others
1. Earldom of Angns,
2. „ Athol,
3. „ Bachan, „
4. „ Caithness, „
II. Anouimt Babohages. 1. Campbell, Lord Lochow, As arranged by the author and others,
137 161 453 620
543
WOODCUTS (IN LETTERPRESS).
1. Abbrorombt, John, M.D.,
2. Abbrqbombt, Sir Ralph, birth- >
place of, f
8. Abbborombt, Sir Ralph,
4. „ „ (on) horseback), j
5. Adam, Alexander, LL.D.,
6. Albaht, Seal of Robert, )
1st duke of, j
7. Albany, Doane Castle, Resi- )
dence of 2ddake of, j
8. Albany, Earl of Buohan, )
son of 1st duke of j
9. Albany, John, 4th duke of,
10. „ „ Aatograph of,
U. Alexander L, Seal of David > I., brother of, f
12. Alexander I., Monastery \ i
built by, (on Inchcolm,) f" <
13. Alexander I., Silver Pennies >!.
14. „ Seal of,
15. „ Coldingham ) Priory rebuilt by, }
16. Alexarder II., Seal of,
17. Alexander III., Seal of.
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29. Ayton, Sir Robert, |
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30. Baillie, Robert (of Jarriswood), |
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Linton, |
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32. Baillib, Joanna, 33. Baibd, Sir David, |
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Linton, |
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48. Bisset, John, (Beauly priory i founded by,) j ' 49. Black, Josepn, M.D., 60. Blair, Hugh, D.D., |
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ess of Richmond, daughter of > |
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Walter, 3d son of the 1st Lord, ) |
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Linton, |
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55. BoTD, Robert, |
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Pinkerton's Gallery, |
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W. WUliams, |
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56. BoTD, Zachary, |
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57. Bbbadalbanb, (Taymouth ^ ^ Castle, seat of the mar- V • quis of,) Interior, ) ^ |
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a drawing taken on the spot > by J. C. Brown, j |
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Linton, |
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Anderson's Diplomate Scotiee, |
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61. „ „ Tumbemr) Castle (the birthplace of),/ 1 62. Bruce, King Robert, Seal of. |
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loonographia Scotioa, |
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70. BoBNKT, James, (Lord Monboddo,) i 71. BuBHS, John, M.D., , 72. Campbell, 1st Lord, and his TAdy , |
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a painting by Graham Gilbert, Pinkerton's Gallery, |
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
74. Cahfbbo, Comitou of Argyle, j*'««' ^aJSSI^?"'"''"^^*'"*} ^««'«^ ^^ Campbell, Archibald (Marquis "
Linton,
75.
76. Campbell, John (2d d«ke of 1
Argyle), j
77. Cabsoh, Aglionby Boss, M. A., 1
and LL.D.,
78. Cabstairs, Principal,
79. Cassillis, Countess of^
80. Clappbston, Captain Hagh,
81. Colquhouh, Ladjr,
82. Constablx, Arombald,
83. Craio, Sir Thomas,
84. Crai«, Lord,
85. Crawford, Archibald, Arms of,
86. Craufuirds of Ardmillah, 1
Arms of the j
87. Crawford, Darid, Ist earl > J
of. Seal of; f \
88. Crawford, David, 5th earl of, T
Seal and Autograph of. }
89. Crawford, David, 11th earl 1
of, Autograph of, j
90. Criohton, James (the Admirable),
91. Gromabtt, Ist earl of
a painting bj Aitkman,
„ Sir W. Gordon,
Chambers' Eminent Scotsmen, a painting in Culxean Castle, „ byGildon Manton, a poi^rait prefixed to her Life, a painting by Sir Henry Baebom, an original print, Kay's rortraito, Wilson's Prehistoric Annals,
Lord Ardmimi^y
Lord Lindsay's Lives of the > Lindsays, >
Jonm. of Antiq. Soo. of Scotland, Walpole's Boyal and NoUe Authors,
J. Adam,
Linton,
Paf*
556
561 566
599
601 607 647 666 680 688 691 700
705 708 710
718
729 73?
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SCOTTISH NATION.
ABERCORN.
ABERCROMBY.
Abbrcorx, Marquis of, is a peerage held bj the Hamilton family in its eldest surviving male heir, as directlj descended from Lord Chiud Hamilton (see vol. ii. p. 418). fourtli son of James, second earl of Arrao, regent of Scotland in the minority of Queen Maiy. He was created duke of Chatel- herault in the kingdom of France. Lord Claud was distin- guished for his zealous and steady attachment to Mary Queen of Scots, and at an early age was appointed com- mendator of the abbacy of Paisley. The extensive lands of this abbiicy were afler tlie Refonnatiun erected into a temporal lordship, and he w>is elevated to the peerage under the title of Lord Paisley. He died in 1622, aged 78. He married Margaret, only daughter of George, sixth Lord Seton, and had by her four sons, of whom James, the eldest, was created baron of Aberoom, 1603, and, in 1606, advanced to the dignity of earl of Abercom, baron of Paisley, Hamil- ton, Mountcastle, and Kilpatrick. The estate of Abercom, from which this title is derived, is in Linlithgowshire. The name is derived from Aber^ beyond, and Com, a corrup- tion of Cum, which has generally been held as equivalent to Carron. The earl of Abercom was appointed in 1601 one of the commissioners on the part of Scotland to treat of a union with England. As one of the promoters of the plan- tation of Ulster, he had a very great estate granted out of the escheated lands in that country, and was called as a peer to the paHiament of Ireland in 1613. He died in 1618, and was succeeded by his son James, who during his father*s lifetime had been created a peer of Ireland in 1616, by the title of baron of Strabane. James, the second earl, was a loyal supporter of Charles I. On the death of the second duke of Hamilton in 1651, without male issue, he became the male representative of the house of Hamilton. He was suc- ceeded by his son Geoi^, third earl, at whose death, without issue, the title devolved upon Claud, grandson of Claud second I^rd Strabane. CUud, fourth earl of Aberoom, adhered to James VH. at tlie Revolution, and after the battle of the Boyne embarked for France, but was killed on the voyage in 1690. His brother Charies, fifth eari, gave in his adhesion to King William's govemmeiit, and died in 1701 without surviving issue. The title then devolved on James, descended from Sir George Hamilton, fourth son of the first eari, and great-grandson of the first duke of Chatelherault On the occasion of the clause in the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, stipu- j iatipg for justice to the Hamilton family in regard to the I
I.
duchy of Chatelherault, Jamea, sixth earl of Abercom, pre« ferred his oUim as nearest heir male of tlie first duke, against tliat of Anne, duchess of Hamilton, the heir female. The court of France, however, came to no decision. James, eiglitli eari, was created a peer of Great Britain in 1786, by the title of Viscount Hamilton. John James Hamilton, 9th eari, was advanced to the dignity of marquis of Aberpom in 1790; and dying in 1818, was succeeded by his grandson, James, 2d marquis. The latter, on Jan. IS, 1862, was served heir male of the l»t dnke of Chatelherault The marquis of Aberoom is the chief and heir mole of the house of Hamilton.
Abbrcrombib, or Abbrcbombt, a sumame derived from a barony of that name in Fifeshire, erected in a district ori- ginally named Abercrombie, aber meaning beyond, and crott^ bie, the crook, in allusion to the bend or crook of Fifeness. The pariah, until recently called St Monance, and now Abercromby, was known by the name of Abererombis so far back as 1174. The Abercrombies of that ilk were esteemed the chiefs of the name until the seventeenth century, when that line became extinct, and Abereromby of Birkenbog, in Banfishire, became the head of the clan of Abereromby. In 1637 Alexander Abereromby of Birkenbog was created a baronet of Scotland and Nova Scotia, and distinguished himself as a royalist dur- ing the dvil wars. The baronetcy is still in the family.
Abbrcrombib, Baron, an extinct peerage, bestowed by Charies I., in 1647, on Sir James Sandilands of St Monance, or Abercrombie, in Fife, descended from James Sandilands belonging to the noble house of Torphichen. I..ord Aber- crombie married a daughter of the first earl of Sonthesk, and by her he had a son, James, second I..ord Abercrombie, who dying without issue in 1681, the title became extinct
Abercromby of Aboukir and Tullibody, Baron, a title in the .peerage of the United Kingdom, conferred in 1801 on Mary Anne, widow of the celebrated Sir Ralph Abercromby, immediately after her husband*s death at the battle of Alex- andria, with remainder to the heirs male of the deceased general. Baroness Abercromby died in 1821, and was suc- ceeded by her eldest son, George, a barrister at law, fintt baron. On his death in 1843, Colonel George Ralph Aber- cromby, his son, bom in 1800, became second baron. The latter died in 1852, when his son, George Ralph Campbell A
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ABERCROMBIE.
Abennrombjr, born in 1838, became third b;in>n. See Abek- CROMBY, Sib Ralph.
ABERCROMBIE, John, M.D., an eminent physician, and moral and religious writer, was born in Aberdeen, 12tli October, 1780. His fattier was miuLiter of the East church of that city. After having completed his literary edu- cation in liis native city, he was sent to the uni- versity of Edinburgh, to prosecute liis studies for the medical profession. The celebrated Dr. Alex- ander Monro was at that time professor of anatomy and surgeiy there, and the subject of this memoir attended his lectures.
In 1803, being then twenty-three years of age. Dr. Abercrombie began to practise as a physician in Edinburgh. He soon acquired a high reputa- tion, and became extensively known to his pro- fessional brethren through the medium of his con- tributions to the * Medical and Surgical Journal.' On the death of the celebrated Dr. Gregory in 1821, Dr. Abercrombie at once took his place as a consulting physician. He was also named physi- cian to the king for Scotland, an appointment which, though merely honorary and nominal, is usually conferi'ed on the physician of greatest eminence at the time of a vacancy. He subse- quently held, till his death, the office of phy- sician to George Heriot's Hospital. In 1828, he published a treatise on the ' Diseases of the Brain and NeiTOUs System,' and soon after an essay on those of the ^ Abdominal Organs,' both of which rank high among professional publica- tions. In 1830 he appeared as an author in a branch of literature entirely different, and one in- volving the treatment of subjects in the highest department of philosophy and metaphysical specu- lation, havin<^ published in that year his able work, in 8vo, on the 'Intellectual Powers.' In 1833 he produced a work of a similar kind, on 'The Philosophy of the Moral Feelings,' also in 8vo. In 1832, during the prevalence of the cho- lera, he had published a medical tract entitled * Suggestions on the Character and Treatment of Malignant Cholera.' In 1834 he published a pamphlet entitled 'Observations on the Moral Condition of the Lower Orders in Edinburgh.' The same year appeared an address delivered by him at the Fiftieth Anniversar}' of the Destitute
Sick Society, Edinburgh. He was also the au- thor of Essays on the ' Elemeiits of Sacred Truth,' :md on the 'Harmony of Chi-istian Faith and Character;' besides other wntings which have been comprised in a small volume entitled 'Essays and Tracts.' Of writings so well known, and so very highly esteemed, as proved by a circulation extending, as it did in some, even to an eighteenth edition, it were useless to speak in praise cither of their literary or far higher meiits. But, distin- guished as he was, both professionally and as a writer in the highest departments of philosophy, it was not exclusively to his great fame in either respect, or in both, that he owed his wide influ- ence throughout the community in which he lived. His name ever stood associated with the guidance of every important enterprise, whether religious or benevolent, — somehow he provided leisure to bestow the patronage of his attendance and his ^ deliberative wisdom on many of the institutions of Edinburgh, and, with a munificence which has been rarely equalled, ministered of his substance to the upholding of them all. He valued money so little, that he often declined to receive it, even when the offerer urged it, as most justly his own His diligence and application were so gi*eat that whoever entered his study found him intent at work. Did they see him travelling in his carriage, they could perceive he was busy there. [Obituary notice in Witness newspaper.']
In 1834 the university of Oxford conferred upon him the degi'ee of M.D., which he had long previ- ously obtained from the univereity of Edinburgh. In 1835 he was chosen by the students lord rector of Marischal college, Aberdeen. Dr. Abercrom- bie died suddenly at Edinburgh, from rupture of an artery in the region of the heart, on the 14th of November, 1844. Distinguished alike as a physician, an author, a benefactor of the poor, and a sincere Christian, his loss was univei*sally lamented. He was buried in the West church- yard, Edinburgh, where a monument with a me- dallion has been erected to his memory, the for- mer bearing the following inscription : — " In mem- ory of John Abercrombie, M.D., E<lin. and Oxon., Fellow of the Royal colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, Edinburgh, Vice-president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and first Physician to the
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ABERCROMBIE.
Qnceii in' Scotland, born xii. Oct. mdcclxxx. From a life very early devoted to the service of God, occupied in the most assidaoos labours, and distinguished not more by professional eminence than by personal worth and by successful author- ship on the principles of Christian morals and philosophy, it pleased God to translate him sud- denly to the life everlasting xiv, Nov. mdcccxliv." Annexed is a copy of the medallion, which embo- dies as true a likeness of Dr. Abercrombie as stone or wood can convey.
Tlie procession at his funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Edinburgh. It was joined by the membei-s both of the Royal College of Phy- sicians, and the Royal College of Surgeons, as well as by the Free Church presbytery of Edin- burgh and the commission of the General Assem- bly of the Free Church, and by many professional brethren from a distance. Dr. Abercrombie mar- ried in 1808 Agnes, only child of David Wardlaw, Esq., of Nctherbeath in Fifeshire, and had eight dnughtei-s, one of whom died at the age of four. Seven daughters survived him, the eldest of whom became the second wife of the Rev. John Bruce, minister of Free St. Andrew's church, Edinburgh, in whose congregation Dr. Abercrombie was an elder, and who preached his funeral sermon, which
wae afterwards published. The estate of Ncther- beath deflcended to Mi-s. Bruce.
The followittg is a list of Dr. Abercix)mbic's publications :
Difleases of the Brain uid Norvoos System, 8vo, 1828.
Diseases of the Abdoniinal Organo, 8vo, 1829.
The Intellectual Powers, 8vo, 1830.
Sui^gesdons on the Character and Treatment of Malignaiit Cholera, 8vo, 1832.
The Philosophy of the Moral Feelings, 8vo, 1833.
Observations on the Moral Condition of the Lowei Oitlors in Edinburgh, 8vo, 1834.
Address delivered at the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Desti- tute Sick Society, Edinburgh, 1835.
Mental Culture, l8mo, being the AddiTss delivered to the students of Marischal College when he was elected Lord Rec- tor of that university, 1835.
The HarmonyofScripturc Faith and Character, l8mo, 1836
Thmk on these Things, 18mo, 1839.
Messiah our Example, 18mo, 1841.
The Contest and the Armour, 18mo, 1841.
The Elements of Sacred Truth, 18mo, 1844.
Et>t>ays and Tracts, including the two lust works und some other writings on similar subjects, 8vo, 1844, 1847.
ABERCROMBIE, John, conjectured by Demp- ster, in his Hist. Eccl Scot,^ to have been a Ben- edictine monk, was the author of two energetic treatises in defence of the Church of Ronre against the principles of the Reformers, entitled * Veritatis Dcfensio,* and * Hseresis Confusio.' He flourished about the middle of the sixteenth centuiy;
ABERCROMBIE, Patrick, physician and his- torian, third son of Alexander Abercrombie of Fettemeir, Aberdeenshire, a branch of the Birk- enbog family of that name, was bom at Forfar in 1656, and took his medical degrees at St. Andrews in 1685. His elder brother, Francis Abercrombie of Fettemeir, on his marriage with Anna, Baron- ess Scmpill, was, in July 1685, created by James VII. Lord Glassford, under the singular restriction of being limited for his own life. After leaving the univei-sity, Patrick travelled on the continent, and on his return to England, embracing the Ro- man Catholic religion, he was appointed physi- cian to James VII. ; but at the Revolution was deprived of his oflSce, and for some ycai-s lived abroad. Returning to his native countiy, he af- terwards devoted himself to the study of national antiquities. In 1707 he gave to the world a trans- lation of M. Beange's rare French work, *L'llis- toire dc la Guerre d'Ecosse,* 1556, under the title of ' The Campaigns in Scotland in 1548 and 1549,' which was reprinted m the original by Mr. Smy the
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ABERCROMBY.
of Methven for the Bannatyne Club, in 1829, with a preface containing an account of Abcrcrombie^s translation. His great work, however, is *The Martial Achievements of the Scots nation, and of buch Scotsmen as have signalized themselves by the Sword,' in two volumes folio, the first pub- lished in 1711, and the second in 1715. He also wrote the 'Memoirs of the family of Abercrombie.' Dr. Abercrombie died in poor circumstances in 1716 ; some authorities say 1720, and others 1726. The following is a list of his works.
Tho Adyantages of the Act of Sepunty, compared with tlioee of the intended Union; founded on the Revolation Principles, published by Mr. Daniel De Foe. Edm. 1707, 4to.
A Vindication of the same, against Mr. De Foe. Edin. 1707, 4to.
The History of the Campaigns 1548 and 1549, between the Scots and the French on the one side, and the English and their foreign auxiliaries on the other. From the French of Reauge, with a Preface, showing the Advantages which Soot- I:ind received by the Ancient League with France, and the mutual assistance given bv each kingdom to the other. Edin. 1707, 8vo.
Hie MarUal Achievements of the Scots nation, being an Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Actions of such Scotsmen as have signalized themselves by the Sword, at home and abroad. Edin. 1711-1715. 2 vols. fol.
ABERCROMBIE, John, an eminent horticul- turist, and author of several horticultural works, was the son of a respectable gardener near Edin- burgh, where he was born about the year 1726. In his eighteenth year he went to London, and obtained employment in the royal gardens. His first work, ' The Gardener's Calendar,* was pub- lished as the production of Mr. Mawe, gardener to the duke of Leeds, who received twenty guineas for the use of his name, which was then well- known. The success of that work was so com- plete, that Abercrombie put his own name to all his future publications; among which may be mentioned, *The Universal Dictionary of Garden- ing and Botany,' 4to, * The Gardener's Vade Me- cum,' and other popular productions. lie died at Somerstown, London, in 1806, aged 80. A list of his works is subjoined.
Tlie Universal Gardener and Botanist, or a General Dio- tionaty of Gardening and Botany,* exhibiting, in Botanical Arrangement, according to the Lumamn system, every Tree, Shrub, and Herbaceous Plant that merit Culture, &c Lond. 1778, 4to.
The Garden Mushroom, its Nature and Cultivation, exnib- itiiig full and plain directions for producing this desirable plant in p<»rfection and plenty. Lond. 1779. 8vo. New edi- tion cnUrend, 1802. 12mo.
The British Fruit Garden, and Art of Pruning ; comprunng the most approved Methods of Planting and raiidng every use- ful Fruit Tree and Fruit-bearing Shrub. Lond. 1779, 8vo.
The Complete Forcing Gardener, for the thorough Practi- cal Management of the Kitchen Garden, raising all early crops in Hot-beds, and forcing early Fruit, &c. Lond. 1781, 12mo.
The Complete Wall-tree Prunor, &c Lond. 1783, 12mo.
Tlie Propagation and Botanical Arrangement of Plants and Trees, useful and ornamental. Lond. 1785, 2 vols. 12mo.
The Gardener's Pocket Dictionary, or a Systematical Ar- rangement of Trees, Herbs, Flowers, and Fruits, agreeable to the Liniuean Method, with their Latin and English names, their Uses, Propagation, Culture, &c. Lond. 178G, 8 vols. 12mo.
Doily Assistant in the Modem Practice of English Garden- ing for every Month in the Year, on an entire new plan. Lond. 1789, 12mo.
The Universal Gardener's Kalendar, and System of Practi- cal Gardening. Lond. 1789, 12mo; 1808, 8vo.
The Complete lutchen Gardener and Hot-bed Forcer, with tho thorough Practical Management of Hot -houses. Fire- walls, &c Lond. 1789, 12mo.
The Gardeher*s Vade-mecum, or Companion of General Gardening; a Descriptive Display of the Plants, Flowers, Shrubs, Trees, Fruits, and general Culture. Lond. 1789, 8vo.
The Hot-house Gardener, or the general Culture of the Pine Apple, and the Methods of forcing early Grapes, Peach- es, Nectarines, and other choice Fruits in Hot-houses, Vin- eries, Fruit -houses, Hot- walls, with Directions for raising Melons and early Strawberries, &c Plates. Lond. 1789, 8Vo
The Gardener's Pocket Journal and Annual Register, in a concise Monthly Display of all Practical Works of General Gardening throughout the year. Lond. 1791, 12mo; 1814, 12mo.
It has been already stated, in giving the origin of the name, (see page 1,) that in the 17th century, Abercromby of Bir* kenbog in Banfishire, became the chief of the name of Aber- cromby. Alexander Abercromby of Birkenbog was grand falconer in Scotland to King Charies I. In 1636 bis eldest son, Alexander, was created a baronet of Nova Scotia, and took an active part against King Charles in the dvil wars of that period. From the pedigree of the family it appears thi^ Sir Alexander Abercromby of Birkenbog, the first baronet, had two sons. The eldest, James, succeeded his father. Alexander, tlie second son, succeeded his oousm George Aber- cromby of Skeith, in the estate of Tullibody, in Clackman- nanshire, formerly a possession of the earb of Stirling. This Alexander was the grandfather of the celebrated military commander, Sir Ralph Abercromby, and the second of th** name of Abercromby who possessed Tullibody. The most eminent of this family were General Sir Ralph Abercromby ; and his two brothers, Alexander, Lord Abercromby, a judge of the court of session ; and General Sir Robert Abercromby, K.C.B.; of all three notices are hero given.
ABERCROMBY, Siu Ralph, K.B., a dis- tinguished genei-al, was the eldest son of Gcorgo Abercromby, of Tullibody, in Clackmannanshire, by Mary, daughter of Ralph Dundas, Esq. of Ma- nor. His father was born in 1705, passed advo- cate in 1728, and died June 8, 1800, at the ad-
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vanced age of ninety-five, being the oldest mem- ber of tiie college of justice. His son Ralph was bom on the 7th of October, 1734, In the old man- sion of Menstrie, then the ordinary residence of his parents, near the village of that name which lies at the southern base of the Ochil hills, on the boundary between the parish of Alloa in Clack- mannanshire, and the Perthshire part of the parish of Logie. The day of his birth has not been inserted in the session book of the pai'isli of Logie, but the following is an extract from the register of his baptism: "A. D. 1734, October 26th, Bap. Ralph, lawful son to George Abercromby, younger of Tullibody, and Mary Dundas his lady.** Menstrie house, in which he was bom, was, in the beginning of the seven- teenth century, the property and residence of Sir William Alexander, the poet, afterwards creati'd earl of Stirling. Although not now inhabited by any of the Abercromby family, it is still entire. A woodcut representation of it is here given.
After the usual coarse ot study, young Aber- cromby entered the army in 1756, as a comet in the dd regiment of dragoon guards. His commis- sion is dated 22d March of that year. In Febraary 1760 he obtained a lieutenancy in the same regi- ment; in April 1762 he was promoted to a com- pany in the 3d regiment of horse. In 1770 he became major, and in 1773, lieutenant -colonel. In 1780 he was included in the list of brevet colo-
nels, and in 1781 he was appointed colonel of the 103d, or King*8 Irish infantry. This newly raised regiment was reduced at the peace in 1783, when Colonel Abercromby was placed on half- pay. In September 1787 he became major-general, la 1788, in which year he resided in George's Square, Edinburgh, he obtained the command of the 69th regiment of foot. He was afterwards removed to the 6th regiment, from that to the 5th, and in November 1797 to the 7th regiment of dragoons
He first served in the seven years* war, and acquired great knowledge and military experience in that service, before he had an opportunity of distinguishing himself, which afterwards, when the oppoi'tunity came, enabled him to be the fin^t British general to give a check to the French in the first revolutionary war. He has often been confounded with (he General Abercrombie who commanded the troops against the French at Crown Point and llconderoga in America in 1758, but Sir Ralph at that period was only a comet of dragoons, and notwithstanding the mis- take into which some of his biographers have fal- len, it is certain that he never was in America.
In the year 1774, when lieutenant-colonel, he had been elected member of parliament for Ciack- mannanshire,which conn ty he continued to repre- sent till the next election in 1780, but never made any figure in parliament. On the commencement of the war with France in 1792, he was employed iu Flanders and Holland with the local rank of lieutenant-general, and in the campaigns of 1793 and 1794 he served under the duke of York, when he gave many proofs of his skill, vigilance, and. intrepidity. He commanded the advanced guard during the action on the heights of Cateau, April 16, 1794. On this occasion he captured 35 pieces of cannon, and took prisoner Chapny the Fi*ench general. In
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SIR RALPH.
the despatches of the duke of York his ability and courage were twice mentioned with special com- aicndation. In the succeeding October he received a wound at Nimeguen, and upon him and General Dnndas devolved the arduous duty of conducting the retreat through Holland in the severe winter which followed. It has been remarked that the talents, as well as the temper, of a commander are put to as sevei*e a test in conducting a retreat as in achieving a victory. This was well illustrated in the case of General Aberci*omby. The guards and the sick were committed to his care ; and in the disastrous march from Deveuter to Oldensaal the hardships sustained by those under his charge were such as the most consummate skill and judg- ment were almost inadequate to alleviate, while the feelings experienced by the commander him- self were painful in the extreme. Harassed in the rear by a victorious enemy, upwards of fifty thousand strong, obliged to conduct his troops with a rapidity beyond their strength, through bad roads, in the most inclement part of a winter more than usually severe, — the sick being placed in oi)cn waggons, as no othere could be procured, — and finding it impossible to procure shelter for his soldiei*s in the midst of the drifting snow and heavy falls of sleet and rain, the anguish he felt at seeing their numbers daily diminishing from the effects of cold, fatigue, and hunger, can scarcely be described. About the end of March 1796, the British army, which during the retreat had some- times to halt, face and fight the enemy, arrived at Bremen in a very reduced state, and thence em- barked for England. The judgment, patience, humanity, and perseverance shown by General Abercromby in this calamitous retreat were equal to the occasion, and received due acknowledg- ment.
In the autumn of 1795 General Abercromby was appointed to succeed Sir Charles Grey, as com- mander - in - chief of the troops employed against the French in the West Indies. Previous to his arrival, the French revolutionary army had made considerable exertions to recover their losses in that quarter. They retook the islands of Gnada- loupe and St. Lucia, made good their landing on Martinique, and hoisted the tricolour on several forts in the islands of St. Vincent, Grenada, and
Marie Galante; besides seizing the property of the rich emigrants who had fled thither from France, to the amount of 1,800 millions of livres. The expedition under General Abercromby was unfortunately prevented from sailing until after the equinox, and several transports were lost in endeavouring to clear the Channel. The remain- der of the fleet reached the West Indies in safety, and by the month of March 1796 the troops were in a condition for active duty. A detachment of the anny under Sir John Moore, was sent against the island of St. Lucia, which was speedily cap- tured, though the attack on this island was at- tended with peculiar difficulties from the intricate nature of the countiy. A new road was made for the heavy cannon, and on the 26th of May 1796, the gaiTison surrendered. St. Vincent was next subdued ; and thence the commander-in-chief pro- ceeded to Grenada, where the fierce and enteipris- ing Fedon was at the head of a body of insurgents prepared to oppose the British. After the arrival .of General Abercromby, however, hostilities were speedily bix)ught to a termination; and on the 19th of June, full possession was obtained of every post in the island, and the haughty chief Fedon, with his troops, was reduced to unconditional sub- mission. The British also became masters of the Dutch colonies on the coast of Guiana, namely Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice.
Early in the following year (1797) the general sailed, with a considerable fleet of ships of war and transports, against the Spanish island of Tri- nidad, and on the 16th of February approached the fortifications of Gaspar Grande, under cover of which a Spanish squadron, consisting of four sail of the line and a frigate, were found lying at anchor. On perceiving the approach of the Bri- tish, the Spanish fleet retired farther into the bay. General Abercromby made arrangements for at- tacking the town and ships of war early in the following moniing. Dreading the impending con- flict, the Spaniards set fire to their own ships, and rctired to a different part of the island. On the following day the British troops landed, and soon after the whole colony submitted to General Aber- cromby.
After an unsuccessftil attack on the Spanish island of Puerto Rico, the general returned to
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England the same year (1797) and waa received with every demonstration of public respect and honour. In his absence lie had been made a kniglit of the Bath and presented to the colonelcy of the Scots Greys. On his return he was ap- pointed governor of the Isle of Wight, and was afterwards invested with the lucrative govern- ments of Forts Geoi*ge and Augustus. The same year he was raised to the rank of lientenant-gen- cral, which he had hitherto held only locally.
In 1798 Sir Ralph was appointed commander- in-chief of the forces in Ireland, where the insur- rectionary spirit, inflamed by promises of assist- ance from France, was every day assuming a more serious form and threatening to break out into open rebellion. Soon after his arrival, finding that the disorderly conduct of some of the British troops had bnt too much tended to increase the spirit of insubordination and discontent that pre- vailed, he Issued a proclamation, in which he lamented and reproved the excesses and irregu- larities into which they had fallen, and which, to use his own w^ords, "had rendered them more for- midable to their friends than to their enemies," and declared his firm determination to punish, with exemplary severity, any similar outrage of which they might be guilty in future. He did not long retain his command in Ireland. The incon- veniences arising from the delegation of the high- est civil and military authority to diflbrent persons, had been felt to occasion much perplexity and confusion in the management of public affairs, at that season of agitation and alarm, and finding the service, under such circumstances, disagree- able. Sir Ralph resigned the command, and the Marquis Coniwallis, on becoming lord -lieutenant of Ireland, was appointed his successor.
Sir Ralph waa next nominated commander-in- chief of the forces in Scotland ; and for a short interval, the cares of his military duties were agreeably blended with the endearments of his kindi'ed and the society of his early friends. During his residence in Edinburgh at this time,' the military spirit that generally prevailed ren- dered the occurrence of reviews extremely popular among the inhabitants. The accompan3ing wood- cut represents Sir Ralph in the act of giving the word of command to the troops.
It was at this period that the I^chiel Highland- ers were inspected at Falkirk by General Vyse, one of the major-generals of the staff in Scotland, under Sir Ralph Abercromby, who was present at the inspection. Cameron, the chief of I^chicl, man-ied Sir Ralph's eldest daughter Anne. The regiment was ostensibly composed of Camerons, but there were enrolled in its ranks, not only lowlanders, but even Englishmen and Irishmen. Some laughable attempts at fraud in endeavouring to pass inspection are related, but unless actually disabled, few objections were made, although Scotsmen in general found a preference. ** Where are yon from?" said General Vyse to a strange- looking fellow, who was evidently an Irishman, although he endeavoured to make believe that he was Scotch. "From Falkirk, yir honour, this morning," was the ready answer. His language betraying him, the general demanded to know how he came over. "Sure I didn't come in a wheelbarrow ! " The rising choler of the inspect- ing officer was speedily soothed by the milder tact of Sir Ralph, who, seeing the man a fit recruit, laughed heartily, and he was passed. On this occasion Sir Ralph, during his stay in Falkirk, took up his residence with the son of his late fa-
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tlier's gardener at Tullibody, Mr. James Walker, a merchant in the town, and long known for his agricultural skill, as *^ the Stirlingshire Fanner." Sir Ralph delighted, after dinner, to recall the in- cidents of their boyhood, when he and Mr. Walk- er, with their brothers, were at school together. He had previously shown the attachment of former days to a younger brother of Mr. Walker, during the struggle for liberty between America and the mother country. These kindly and benevolent traits, it has been well remarked, easily explain why Sir Ralph Abercromby was personally so dear to all who knew him. — [Kcn/^g Edinburgh Portraits.'}
In the autumn of 1799 he was selected to take the chief command of the expedition sent out to Holland, for the purpose of restoring the prince of Orange to the stadtholdership, from which he had been driven by the French. In this expedition the British were at the outset successful. On the 27th of August the British troops disembarked near the Holder point, but were almost imme- diately attacked by General Daendells; after a contest, which lasted from day-dawn till about Ave in the afternoon, the Dutch were defeated, and retired, leaving the British in possession of a ridge of sand hills which stretched along the coast from south to north. Sir Ralph Abercromby re- solved to attack the Helder next morning, but the enemy withdrew during the night, in consequence of which thirteen ships of war and three India- men, together with the arsenal and naval maga- zine, fell into the possession of the British. Ad- miral Mitchell, who commanded the British fleet, immediately offered battle to the fleet of the Ba- tavian republic lying in the Texel, but the Dutch sailors refusing to fight against those who were combating for the rights of the prince or Orange, the whole fleet, consisting of twelve sail of the line, surrendered to the British admiral. This encouraging event, however, did not put an end to the struggle. The mass of the Dutch people held sentiments very different from those of the sailors, and they refused to receive the British as their deliverers from the yoke of France. On the morning of the 10th of September the Dutch and French forces attacked the position of the British, which extended from Petten on the German ocean
to Oude-Sluys on the Zuyder-Zee. The onset was made with the utmost bravery, but the enemy were repulsed with the loss of a thousand men. From the want of numbers, however, Sir Ralph Abercromby was unable to follow up this advan- tage, until the duke of York arrived as command- er-in-chief, with a reinforcement of Russians, Batavians, and Dutch volunteers, which augment- ed the allied army to nearly thirty-six thousand men. Sir Ralph now served as second in com- mand.
On the morning of the 19th September the army under the duke of York commenced an attack on the enemy's positions on the heights of Camper- down, which was successful. Tlie Russian troops, under General Hermann, made themselves mas- ters of Bergen, but beginning to pillage too soon, the enemy rallied, and attacked them with so much impetuosity that they were driven from the town in all directions. Tlie British were in con- sequence compelled to abandon the positions they had stormed, and to fall back upon their foimer station. Another attack was made on the 2d of October. Tlie conflict lasted the whole day, and the enemy abandoned their positions during the night. On this occasion Sir Ralph Abei*cromby had two horses shot under him. Sir John Moore was twice wounded severely, and reluctantly car- ried off* the field, while the marquis of Huntly (the last duke of Gordon) who, at the head of the 92d regiment, eminently distinguished himself, received a wound from a ball in the shoulder. The Dutch and French troops had taken up ano- ther strong position between Benerwych and the Zuyder-Zee, from which it was resolved te dis- lodge them before they could obtain reinforce ments. A day of sanguinary fighting ensued, which continued without intermission till ten o'clock at night amid deluges of rain. The French republican general, Bmne, having been reinforced with six thousand additional men, and the giound which he occupied being found to be impregnable, the duke of York resolved upon a retreat. A con- vention was accordingly concluded with General Bmne, by which the British troops were allowed to embark for England.
In June 1800 Sir Ralph was appointed to the command of the troops, then quartered in the
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island of Minorca, which had been sent oat upon a secret expedition to the Mediterranean. On the 22d of that month he arrived at Minorca, and on the 23d the troops wei-e embarked, and sailed for I^gbom. They arrived there on the 9th of Jnlj, bnt in consequence of an armistice having been concluded between the French and the Ans- trians, they did not land there ; but while part of the troops proceeded to Malta, the remainder re- \ turned to Minorca. On the 26th of July Sir Ralph arrived again at that island, where he re* roained till the SOth of August, when the troops were again embarked ; and on the 14th September the fleet, which consisted of upwards oY two hun- dred sail, under the command of Admiral Lord Keith, came to anchor off Europa point in the bay of Gibraltar. After taking in water at Teutan, the fleet, on the 3d of October, arrived off Cadiz, where it was intended to disembark the troops, and orders were accordingly issued for the purpose, but a flag of truce was sent from the shore, and some negotiations took place between the com- manders, in consequence of which the orders for landing were countermanded. After thus threat- ening Cadiz, and sailing about apparently without any distinct destination, orders were at last re- eeivcd from England, for part of the troops to pro- ceed to Portugal, and the remainder to Malta, where they arrived about the middle of Novem- ber. The latter portion afterwards formed part of the forces employed in the expedition to Egypt, with the view of driving the French out of that country. The sailing backwards and forwards of the fleet for so many months, seemingly without any definite aim, so far from being indicative of want of design or weakness in the councils of the government at home, as was believed and said at the time, was no doubt intended to deceive the French as to the real object and destination of the expedition.
From Malta the fleet, with Sir Ralph Aber- cromby and the troops on board, sailed on the 20th December, taking with them 500 Maltese recruits, designed to act as pioneers. On the 1st of January 1801, it rendezvoused in the bay of Marmorice, on the coast of Caramania, where it remained till the 23d of February, on which day, to the number of 175 sail, it weighed anchor
again ; and on the 1st of March, it came in sight of the coast of Egypt. On the following morning the fleet anchored in Aboukir bay, in the very place where, a few years before, Admiral Nelson had adde^ so signally to the naval triumphs of Great Britain.
This was undoubtedly the most glorious period of Sir Ralph Abercromby's career. " All minds,** says a contemporary historian, '* were now anxi- ously directed towards Egypt. It was a novel and interesting spectacle to contemplate the two most powerful nations of Europe contending in Africa for the possession of Asia. Not only to England and France, but the whole civilized world, the issue of this contest was of the utmost importance With respect to England, the difil- culties to be surmounted were proportioned to the magnitude of the object. Tlie vizier, with his usual irresolution, yet debated on the propriety of co-operation, while the captain bashaw, who was at Constantinople, with part of his fleet, inclined to treat with the enemy. The English taking the unpopular side, that of the government, still less was to be hoped from the countenance and support of the people, whom the French had long flattered with the idea of freedom and independence. It remained, also, to justify the breach of faith so speciously attributed to this nation in the treaty of El Arish. These were serious obstacles to the progress of the expedition in Egypt; but they were not the only obstacles. The expedition had to contend with an army habituated to the coun- try, respected at least, if not beloved, by the in- habitants, and flushed with reputation and suc- cess; an army inured to danger; aware of the importance of Egypt to their government ; deter- mined to defend the possession of it ; and encour- aged in this determination, no less by the assur- ance of speedily receiving effectual succours, than by the promise of reward, and the love of glory."
The violence of the wind, from the 1st to the 7th of March, rendered a landing impracticable ; bnt the weather becoming calmer on the 7th, that day was spent in reconnoitring the shore ; a ser- vice in which Sir Sidney Smith displayed great skill and activity.
In the meantime Bonaparte had sent naval and military reinforcements from Europe, and the
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delay ill the disembarkation of the British troops caused by the state of the weather, enabled the French to make all necessary preparations to re • ceive them. Two thousand five hundred of the latter were strongly intrenched on the sand hills near the shore, and formed, in a concave figure, opposite the British ships. The main body of the French army was stationed at and near Alexan- dria, within a few miles. At two oVlock on the morning of the 8th, the Bi-itish troops began to assemble in the boats, their fire-locks between their knees. A rocket from the admiral's ship gave the signal ; and when all was ready, the boats, con taining five thousand men, pulled in towards the shore, a distance of about five miles. The silence was broken only by the sullen dip of the oars. As soon as the boats came within reach, a most tre- mendous fire was opened upon them from fifteen pieces of artillery placed on the ridge of sand hills in front, besides the guns of Aboukir castle and the musketry of 2,500 men. These completely swept the sea, and the falling of the balls and shot is compared, by a contemporary writer, to the falling of a violent hail-storm on the water. Two boats were sunk with all on board of them. Each man had belts loaded with three days* provisions, and a cartouch-box with sixty rounds of ball car- tridge. It was nine oVlock when the rest reached land ; and the French, who had poured down in thousands to the beach, and even attacked the Bi-itish in the boats, were ready to receive them at the bayonet's point. It was now that their commander reaped the advantage of his precau- tionary discipline. While anchored in the bay of Marmorice, he had caused the troops to prac- tise all the manoeuvres of landing ; so that, disem- barkation having become familiar to them, on reaching the shore, they leaped fVom the boats, formed into line, mounted the heights, in the fkce of the enemy's Qre^ without returning a shot, charged with the bayonet the enemy stationed on the summit, put them to flight, and seized their cannon. In this service the 28d and 40th regi- ments, which first reached the shore, particularly distinguished themselves ; while the seamen, har- nessing themselves to the field artillery with ropes, drew them on shore, and replied to the incessant roar of the hostile cannon with repeated and tri-
umphant cheei-3. In vain did the enemy endea- vour to rally his troops; in vain did a body ol cavalry charge suddenly on the guards at the mo- ment of their debarkation. The French gave way at all points, maintaining, as they retreated, a scattered and inefficient fire. The boats returned to the ships for the remaining part of the army, and before noon the landing was effected. It not being deemed expedient, however, to bring on shore the camp stores; the commander-in-chief and the troops, after having advanced three miles into the country, alike slept in huts made of the date-tree branches.
The next day the troops were employed in searching for water, in which they happily sue- ' ceeded ; and the castle of Aboukir refusing to sur- render, two regiments were ordered to blockade it. On the 13th, Sir Ralph, desirous of forcing the heights near Alexandra, on which a body of French, amounting to 0,000 men, was posted, marched his aiiny to the attack.
After a severe contest, the French were com- pelled to retire to the heights of Necopolis, which formed the principal defence of Alexandria. Anx- ious to follow up the victory, by driving the enemy from his new position, Sir Ralph ordered forwai-d the resei*ve under Sir John Moore, and the second line under General Hutchinson, to attack the heights, which were found to be commanded by the guns of the fort. As they advanced into the open plain, they were exposed to a most destruc- tive fire, from which they had no shelter; and having ascertained that the heights, if taken, could not be retained, the attempt was aban- doned, and the British army retired, with consider- able loss, to the position which was soon to be the theatre of Sir Ralph's last victory; — that, namely, from which the enemy had been driven, comprising a front of more than half-a-inile in ex- tent, with their right to the sea, and their left, to the canal of Alexandria and Lake Maadie, thus cutting off all communication with the city, ex- cept by way of the desert. The loss of the Brit- ish, on that unfortunate day, in killed and wound- ed, was upwards of 1,000, and Greneral Aber- cromby himself, on this occasion, had a very narrow escape. His horse being shot under him, he became surrounded by the enemy's cavalry.
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and was rescued only by the devoted intrepiflity of the 19th regiment. After the 13th, Abonkir castle, which had hitherto been only blockaded, was besieged, and on the 18th the garrison sur- rendered. The annexed woodcut represents the general viewing the anny encamped on the plains of Egypt, a short time before his lamented death.
It is vei*}' characteristic of him, and though the glass at his eye may indicate that age had begun to affect his sight, the erectness of his figure shows tliat, notwitlistanding his long and active career, advancing years and the hard sen'iccs in which he had been engaged, had left their traces but lightly on his frame
The French commander-in-chief. General Me- nou, having arrived from Cairo, with a reinforce- ment of 9,000 men, early on the moniing of the 21st of March, was fought the decisive battle of Alexandria, in which, after a sanguinaiy and pro- tracted stniggle, the British were victorious. Gen- eral Menon being obliged to retreat with a loss of between three and four thousand men, including many officers, and three generals killed. Tlio loss of the British was also heavy, and this was the
last f^eld of the victor, for here Sir Ralph Abcr- cromby received his death -wound.
Meaning to surprise the British, the French commander attacked their position between three and four o'clock in the morning, with his whole foree, amounting to about twelve thousand men. Tlie action was commenced by a feigned attack on the left, while the main strength of the enemy was directed against the right wing of the British army. They advanced in columns, shouting " Vive
--J
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la France 1" "Vive la Hepubliqne!'' bnt they were received with steady coolness by the British troops, who, wai-ned the previous evening, by an Arab chief, of the intentions of the French gen- eral, were in battle array by three oVlock, and prepared to receive the onset of the enemy. The contest continued with varioos success nntil eight o'clock, when General Menou, finding that all his efforts were fruitless, ordered a retreat, and from the want of cavalry on the part of the British, the French effected their escape to Alexandria, in good order.
On the first alarm. Sir Ralph Abercromby, blending the coolness and experience of age with the ardour and activity of youth, repaired on horseback to the right, and exposed himself to all the dangers of the field. During the battle he rode about in all paiis, cheering and animating his men, and while it was still dark he got among the enemy, who had already broken the front line and fallen into the rear. Unable to distinguish the French soldiers fi*om his own, he was only ex- tricated from his dangerous situation by the val- our of his troops. To the first British soldier who came up to him he said, " Soldier ! if 3'ou know me, don't name me." Soon after, two French dragoons rode furiously at him, and attempted to lead him away prisoner. Sir Ralph, however, would not yield; one of his assailants made a thrust at his breast, and passed his sword with great force under the general's arm. Although severely bruised by a blow from the sword-guard. Sir Ralph, with the vigour and strength of arm for which he was distinguished, seized the French- man's weapon, and after a short struggle, wrested it from his hand, and turned to oppose his remain- ing adversary, who, at that instant, was shot dead by a corporal of the 42d, who had witnessed the danger of his commander, and ran up to his as- sistance; on which the other dragoon retired.
Although Sir Ralph, early in the action, had been wounded in the thigh by a musket ball, he treated the wound as a trifle, and continued to move about, and give his orders with his charac- teristic promptitude and clearness. On the re- treat of the enemy he fainted fVom pain and the loss of blood. His magnanimous conduct, both during the battle and after it, is thus detailed by
the late General David Stewart, of Garth, who was an eye-witness to it. After describing Sit Ralph's rencontre with the French dragoons, he continues : " Some time after the general attempt- ed to alight from his lioi-se ; a soldier of the High- landers, seeing that he had some difficulty in dismounting, assisted him, and asked if he should follow him with the hoi-se. He answered, that he would not require him any more that day. While all this was passing, no officer was near him. The first officer he met was Sir Sidney Smith ; and observing that his sword was broken, the general presented him with the tro])hy he had gained. He betrayed no symptom of personal pain, nor relaxed a moment the intense interest he took in the state of the field ; nor was it per- ceived that he was wounded, till he was joined by some of the staff, who observed the blood trick- ling down his thigh. Even during the interval from the time of his being wounded, and the last charge of cavalry, he walked with a fii-m and steady step along the line of the Highlanders and General Stuart's brigade, to the position of the guards in the centre of the line, where, from its elevated situation, he had a full view of the wnole field of battle. Here he remained, regardless of the wound, giving his orders so much in his usual manner, that the officers who came to receive them perceived nothing that indicated either pain or anxiety. These officers afterwards could not sufficiently express their astonishment, when they came to learn the state in which he was, and the pain which he must have suffered from the nature of his wound. A musket ball had entered his groin, and lodged deep in the hip joint ; the ball was even so firmly fixed in the hip joint that it required considerable force to extract it after his death. My respectable friend. Dr. Alexander Robertson, the surgeon who attended him, assured me that nothing could exceed his surprise and admiration at the calmness of his heroic patient. With a wound in such a part, connected with and bearing on every part of his body, it is a matter of surprise how he could move at all, and nothing bnt the most intense interest in the fate of his army, the issue of the battle, and the honour of the British name, could have inspired and sus- tained such resolution. As soon as the impulse
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ceased ill the assurance of victory, lie yielded to exhausted nature, acknowledged that he required some rest, and lay down on a little sand hill close to the battery."
Fi-om the field of victory he was removed on a litter, feeble and faint, on board the admiral's flag ship, *the Foudroyant,' where every effort was made by the medical gentlemen of the fleet and the aimy to extract the ball, but without effect. During a week that he lingered in great bodily suffering, he continued to exercise the same vigi- lance over the condition and prospects of his ar- my as he had manifested while at its head. His son. Lieutenant -colonel Abcrcromby, attended him from day to day, and regularly received his instructions, as if no serious accident had befallen him. lliroughout the evening of the 27th, he t)ccame more than usually restless, and complain- ed of excessive languor, and an increased degree of thirst ; next day mortification supervened, an J in the evening he expired ; thus closing his glori- ous career, on the 28th March 1801, in the 68th yiiar of his age.
In the despatches sent home with an account of his death by General (afterwards Lord) Hutchin- son, who succeeded him in the command, the lat- ter says : " We have sustained an irreparable loss ill the person of our never-suflSciently- to-be-la- mented commander-in-chief, Sir Ralph Abcr- cromby, who was mortally wounded in the action, and died on the 28th of March. I believe he was wounded early, but he concealed his situation from those about him, and continued in the field giving his orders with that coolness and perspicu- ity which had ever marked his character, till long after the action was over, when he fainted through weakness and loss of blood. Were it permitted for a soldier to regret any one who has fallen in the service of his country, I might be excused for lamenting him more than any other person ; but it is some consolation to those who tenderly loved him, that, as his life was honourable, so was his death glorious. His memory will be recorded in the annals of his country, will be sacred to every British soldier, and embalmed in the i*ccollection of a grateful posterity." His remains were con- veyed, (in compliance with his own request,) to Malta, and inteiTed in the Commandery of the
Grand Master, beneath the castle of St. Elmo. A monument was erected to his memory in St. Paul's Cathedral, parliament having voted a sum of money for the purpose. His widow was created Bai-oness Abercromby of Aboukir and Tullibody, with remainder to the hcire-male of the deceased general ; and, in support of the dignity, a pension of £2,000 a-year was granted to her, and to the two next succeeding heirs-male.
Sir Ralph Abercromby possessed, in a high de- gree, some of the l>est qualities of a general, and his coolness, decision, and intrepidity, wei-e the theme of general praise. As a country gentleman, also, his character stood very high, being described as ** the friend of the destitute poor, the patron of useful knowledge, and the promoter of education among the meanest of his cottagers." His studies were of so general a nature that it is stated In Stiriing's edition of Nimmo's History of Stirling- shire, that when called to the continent in 1793, he had been daily attending the lectures of the late Dr. Hai*dy, regius professor of church history in the university of Edinburgh.
To Sir Ralph's patronage many who would otherwise have passed their lives in obscurity, owed their being placed in situations where they had opportunities of advancement and distinction ; among the rest was the late Major-general Sir William Morison, K.C.B., one of the many able officers whom the East India Company's seiTice has produced. His father, Mr. Morison of Green- field, Clackmannanshire, was a land surveyor in Alloa in the county of Stirling, who was well known to most of the gentlemen in that neigh- bourhood, and was in particular employed by Sir Ralph Abercromby. When Sir Ralph was going abroad on foreign service, he had occasion to con- sult Mr. Morison, the father, about one of his farms, and was particularly pleased with the accu- racy and clearness of the plan and its references, which he submitted to him. On being asked who drew them up, Mr. Moiison told Sir Ralph that it was done by his son, and the general immediately said that he should like to have the whole of his estate mapped in the same manner, so that, when away from home, he might be able, by i*efercnco, to correspond about any point that occurred. Ttic maps were made by young Morison, who waited on
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Sir Ralph to explain them, and tlic veteran gen- eral, who was a gi*eat judge of character, instantly perceived the value of the self-taught youth. He made inquiries as to his views and pros|XJcts, and finding that he was anxious to go to India, he procured for him a cadetship, in the year 1800. From the outset the young man justified Sir Ralph's estimate of his abilities, and he so applied his faculties to military science, that his attain- ments raised him to a high i-ank in the Indian army, and he died 15th May 1851, a major-general in the East India Company's service, a knight commander of the Bath, and member of pailia- ment for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire.
Sir Ralph married Mary Anne, daughter of John Menzies, Esq. of Fcnitower, Perthshire, and left four sons, viz. George, passed advocate in 179-1, wiio succeeded his mother on her death in 1821, as Loi*d Abercromhy, and died in 1843 ; Sir John, a major-general, and G.C.B., who died unmar- ried in 1817 ; James, a barrister at law, returned, with Francis Jeffrey, Esq., (subsequently a lord of session,) as one of the membei's of parliament for the city of Edinburgh at the first election under the Reform act, aftei*wards Speaker of the House of Commons, created Lord Dunfermline in 1839 ; and Alexander, a colonel in the army ; with three daughters; Anne, married to Donald Cameron, Esq. of Lochicl; Maiy, died unmarried in 1825; and Catherine, wife of Thomas Buchanan, Esq., in the East India Company's service. Lord Dun- fermline, the third son, died in 1858, leaving a son, Ralph, second Lord Dunfermline. (See Dun- fermline, Lord, vol. ii. p. 105.)
ABERCROMBY, Alexander, an eminent lawyer and occasional essayist, was born October 15, 1745. He was tlie second son of George Abercromby of Tullibody, and the brother of Sir Ralph. He received his education at the univer- sity of Edinburgh, and was admitted a membei of the faculty of advocates in 1766. He distin- guished himself at the bar, and in 1780, after being sheriff of Stirlingshire, he became one of the depute-advocates. He was raised to the bench m May 1792, when he assumed the title of Lord Abercromby. In December of the same year, he was made a lord of justiciary. He was one of the originators of the * Mirror,' a periodical published
at Edinbui'gh in 1779 and following year, to which he contributed eleven papers. He also furnished nine papers to the ' Lounger,' a work of a similar kind, published in 1785 and 1786. He caught a cold, while attending his duty on the northern circuit in the spring of 1795, from which he never recovered, and died on the 17th of November of that yeai*, at Exmouth, in Devonshire, where he had gone on account of his health. A short tri- bute to his memory was written by his friend, Henry Mackenzie, for the Royal Society of Edin- burgh.— Haig and Brunton's Senators of the Col- lege of Justice.
ABERCROMBY, Sir Robert, the youngest brother of Sir Ralph Abercromby, was a general in the army, a knight of the Bath, and at one pe- riod the governor of Bombay and commander-in- chief of the forces in India. He was afterwards for thirty yeara governor of the castle of Edin- burgh. When the late Mr. Robert Haldane, the brother of Mr. James Alexander Haldane, de- tei-mined upon selling his estates, and devoting himself to the diffusion of the gospel in India, Sir Robert Abercromby, whose niece Mr. J. A. Haldane had married, purchased from him his beautiful and romantic estate of Airthrey, in Stir- lingshire, and was succeeded by his nephew, Ixird Abercromby, the son of his elder brother, Sir Ralph. Sir Robert died in 1827.
Aberdeen, earldom of, a peerage possessed by a branch of the ancient family of Gordon. In 1644, Sur John Gordon of Haddo was beheaded at Edinburgh, for his adlierence to the cause of Charles I. After the Restoration, Sir John Gordon, his eldest son, was restored to the baronetage which had been bestowed on his father m 1642, and to the estates of the family. He was succeeded by his brother George, who was lord high chancellor of Scotland in 1682, and the sjinie year was created Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Formartuic, Ba- ron Haddo, Methlic, Tarves, and Kellie. In 1814 the fourth earl of Aberdeen was created Viscount Gordon of Aberdeen, m the peerage of the United Kingdom. See Gdrdon, p. S23.
Abkrnbthy— (beyond the Nethy)— a surname derived from a barony of that name in Lower Strathcam, Perthshire, which was possessed m the reign of William I. by Ormc, the son of Hugh, who was styled Abbot of Abemethy, and whose descendants assumed the name of Abemethy. In 1288 Sir William de Abemethy, the first of the family styled of Sal- toun, and Sir Patrick de Abemethy, lay in wait for Duncan earl of Fife, one of the regents of the kingdom during the minority of Margaret of Norway, at Fotpollock, and murdered hun. William was seized by Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell and condemned to perpetual imprisonment, and Patrick fled into France and died there. [ForduH.'] His nephew, Alex ander de Abemethy, in 1308, along with Robert de Keith.
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Adam de Gordon, and other leading barons, were sureties to Edward for the good behaviour of William de Lanibjrton, bishop of St Andrews. [^Rtfmer't Fadera, tome iiL p. 82.] The same individual was appomted bj £dward warden of the country between the Forth and the mountains of Scot- land, 15th June, 1310. \^lbid. tome iii. p. 211.] His eldest daughter Margaret was man-ied to John Stewart, earl of An- ^us, who got with her the baronj of Abemethy, the superior- ity of which is still possessed by the family of Douglas, (now Hamilton,) as representatives of the earl of Angus. To the famous letter to the Pope, drawn up by the barons of Scot- land at the parliament ik Aberbrothio 6th April, 1320, appears the name of William de Abemethy, lord of Saltoun. He was the son of the first Sir William de Abemethy of Saltoun. His son, also named Sir William, appears in the list of noble persons who fought at the battle of Halidon hill, 19th July, 1333, [Haiie$^ AtmalSy voL ii. p. 307,] from which disastrous field he appears to have escaped. He had from David II. a grant of the lands of Rothiemay in Aberdeenshire. George Abemethy of Saltoun, his son, was taken prisoner at the fatal fight of Durham, 17th Oct, 1846. At the battle of Harlaw 24th July 1411, William Abemethy, son and heir to the Lord Saltoun, was one of the prmdpal leaders, and was slain. But altiiongh he is called ** the worthy Lord Saltone ** and of his death it is said in the popular ballad,
" And on the other side war lost
Into the field that dismal day, Cliicf men of worth of micide cost.
To be lamented sair for aye, Tlie lord Sallone of Rothiemay,
A man of micht and micklo wain. Great dolour was for his decay
That sae unhappily was slain ;"
yet the peerage was not conferred upon the family till 28th June, 1445, — 34 years later, — in the person of Laurence Abemethy of Saltoun and Rothiemay, created Baron Saltoun of Abemethy, and as the said William Abemethy predeceased his father, he was called '' the Lord Saltone^ only by courtesy. This Laurence Abemethy of Saltoun and Rothiemay, first Lord Saltoun, was the twelfth in descent from Orm the .bunder of the famOy. Margaret, the eldest daughter of the seventh Lord Saltoun, married Sir Alexander Fraser of Phil- orth in Aberdeenshire, and their son, Sir Alexander Fraser, became the tenth Lord Saltoun, and his descendants suc- ceeded to the title. The brother of his mother, John,' eighth Lord Saltoun, sold the estate of Rothiemay. The family of Abemethy is now represented by the Frasers of rhilorth, lords Saltoun. — See Saltoun. — The parish and village of Abemethy are of great antiquity. The latter was at one period the capital of the Pictish kings. It is named by various English writers and by Fordoun as the pbce where Malcolm Canmore concluded a peace with Wil- liam the Conqueror in 1072, delivered to bun hostages, and did homage to him for the lands wliich he held in England. But although now a mean village, ** it would appear,*' says Dr. Jamieson, ** that it was a royal residence in the reign of one of the Pictish princes who bore the name of Ncthan or Nectan. I'he Pictish chronicle has ascribed the foundation of Abeme- thy to Nethan I., in the tlurd year of his reign, corresponding with A.D. 458. The Register of St Andrews, with greater probability, gives it to Nethan 11. about the year 600." We find that while the church of Abemethy was granted by William I. in 1178, to his foundation of the abbey of Aber- brothock, Orme, abbot of Abemethy, granted the half of tlie tithes of the property of himself and his heirs to the same mstitution. The other half belonged to the Culdees, as in
ancient times Abemethy was a prindiol seat of the Culdees, who had a university at Abemethy, which in 1273 was tumcd mto a priory of canons r^ular of St Augustine. It is a burgh of barony, and has a charter from Archibald, earl of Angus, lord of Abemethy, dated November 29, 1628. The title of Lord Abemethy was conferred on the eari of Angus when created marquis of Douglas in 1633, and is now one of the inferior titles of the duke of Hamilton as representative and chief of the illustrious house of Doughis. — See Hamiltok.
ABERNETHY, John, an eminent physician of London, was born in 1763 or 1764, at Abenietliy in Perth8hire,it is believed ; although Londondeiry in Ireland is also mentioned as his birth-place. When very young, his parents removed to Lon- don, where he was apprenticed to the late Mr. (afterwards Sir) Charles Blick, surgeon of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. He was the pupil and friend of the celebrated John Hunter. In 1780, on being elected assistant-surgeon to St. Bartho- lomew's, he began to give lectures in the hospital on anatomy and surgery. On the death of Sir Charles Blick he succeeded him as surgeon to the Hospital. In 1793 he published * Surgical and Physiological Essays.' In 1804 appeared * Surgical ObsciTations,' volume first, relating t4 tumours, and two yeai-s aflerwai-ds, volume se- cond, treating principally of the digestive organs. Having been elected anatomical lecturer to the Royal College of Surgeons, he published in 1814 the subject of his first two lectures, under the title of * An Enquiry into Mr. Hunter's Theoiy of Life,' elucidatory of his old master's opinions of the vital processes. In 1809 appeared his * Sur- gical Observations on the Constitutional Origin and Treatment of Ix>cal Diseases, and on Aneu- risms,' in which are detailed his memorable cases of tying the iliac artery for aneurism ; a bold and successful operation, which at once established his reputation. He was the author of several other popular medical works. In chemistry, we owe to him in conjunction with Mr. Howard, brother of the duke of Norfolk, the discovery of the " fulmi- nating mercury," the force of which, as an explo- sive power, is greater than that of gunpowder. He died on the 20th of April, 1831, at his hou^e at Enfield. Many amusing anecdotes ai'e related of his eccentricities. He attributed most com- I)laint8 to the disordered state of the stomach, and his chief remedies were exercise and regulation of the diet. Once he prescribed a skipping rope to a
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ABTHANE.
female hypochondriac patieut of the upper ranks ; and at another time, as a cure for gout, lie advised an indolent and luxurious citizen to ^^ live upon sixpence a-day, and earn it." In spite of the bluntness of his manner, however, he was very benevolent, and often not only gratuitously visited pei-sons whose poverty prevented them from com- ing to him, but even sometimes supplied their wants from his own purse. The following is the account given of the abrupt and unceremonious but truly characteristic manner in which he ob- tained his wife. The name of the lady is not given. " While attending a lady for sevei*al weeks, he observed those admirable qualifications in her daughter, which he truly esteemed to be calculated to make the marriage state happy. Accordingly, on a Saturday, when taking leave of his patient, he addressed her to the following purport : — * You are now so well that I need not see you after Monday next, when I shall come and pay you my farewell visit. But, in the meantime, I wish you and your daughter seriously to consider the pro- posal I am now about to make. It is abrupt and unceremonious, I am aware; but the excessive occupation of my time by my professional duties affords me no leisure to accomplish what I desire by the more ordinary course of attention and soli- citation. My annual receipts amount to £ ,
and I can settle £ on my wife (mentioning
the sums) : my character is generally known to the public, 80 that you may readily ascertain what it is. I have seen in your daughter a tender and affectionate child, an assiduous and careful nurse, and a gentle and ladylike member of a family; such a person must be all that a husband could covet, and I offer my hand and fortune for hei* acceptance. On Monday, when I call, I shall expect your determination ; for I really have not time for the routine of courtship.' In this humour, the lady was wooed and won; and the union proved fortunate in every respect."— ilwitto/ Obi' tuary, 1832.
The following is a list of his works:
Surgical and Physiological Essays. Lond. 1793-7, 8vo.
Surgical Observations, containing a Classification of Tu- mours, with Casefi to illustrate the History of each Species. I^nd. 1804, 8vo.
Surgical Observations, part second, containing an Account of the Disorders of the Health in general, and of the Digestive Organs m particnlar. Observations on the Diseases of the
Urethra, and Observations relative to the Treatment of one Species of the Na;\i MatenuB. Lond. 1806, 8vo. Lond. 1816, 8vo.
Sui^cai Observations on the Constitutional Origin and Treatment of Local Diseases; and on Aneurisms. Lond. 1809, 8vo. 8d edit. 1813, 8vo.
Surgical Observations, part second, containing Observations on the Origin and Treatment of Pseudo-syphilitic Diseases, and on Diseases of the Urethra. Lond. 1810, 8vo.
Surgical Observations on Injuries of the Head, and other Miscellaneous Subjects. Lond. 1810, 8vo.
An Inquuy into the Probability and Rationality of Mr. Hunter*s Thooiy of Life, bemg the Subject of the first two Anatomical Lectures before the Royal College of Surgeons. Und. 1814, 8vo.
The Introductory Lecture for the year 1815, exhibiting some of Mr. Hunter^s Opinions respecting Diseases; delivered before Rojral College of Surgeons, I>ondoD. I^nd. 1816, 8vo.
Surgical Works, a new edit 1815, 2 vols. 8vo.
Fhysiohigical I^tnres, 1817.
Abotne, Eari of, a title possessed by the Gordon family, derived from the parish of Aboyne in Aberdeensljire. On the death of tlie lust duke of Gordon in 1836, when that dukedom became extinct, the title of earl of Aboyne merged in that of marquis of Huntly. (See Huittlt, marquis of.)
Abthane, a title which occurs in Scottish history, ana which appears peculiar to Scotland, as no trace of it has been found in any other country. It is a Thanedom or proprietor- ship of land held of the crown, and in the possession of an abbot Like a Thanedom also, it is the title of a Saxon pro prietor, that is, a proprietor under the Saxon laws, holding direct of the crown, and is therefore exactly equivalent to that of a Norman baron. Three Abthainri«s only have been as yet traced in Scotland, viz. those of Dull, Kilmichael, and Madderty; the two former in Athol, the latter in Stratheam. Mr. Skene, whose investigations supply the foregoing infor- mation, seems to have established that all these three were created between the years 1098 and 1124, — that is, between the accession of Edgar to the throne and that of David I. , that they were all held in connection with the CiUdee monks of Dunkeld ; that they must have been in possession of an abbot of that monastery ; and that the party who then held that dignity, and in whose favour they were created, was Ethelred, youngest son of Malcolm III., who consequently had obtained them firom one of his brothers, Edgar or Alex- ander, the then reigning monarchs of Scothind. The fact of the possession of these and other lands in Athol by the then reigning family of ScotUmd, is one of the many circumstances adduced by this gentleman to demonstrate the descent of Malcolm III., and after him a long line of Scottish kings, firom the ancient Maormors of Athol, one of the many facts illustrative of early Scottish history for which we are mdebted to his careful investigations and ingenious inductions. Seo Athol, Earlb of. On the death of Ethehred, these hinds again reverted to the crown. In various charters so recent as the reign of David II. they are described as the "abChancs of Dull " of '' Kilmichael,** &c The second family whoso chief obtained the earldom of Lennox appears by -an entiy m an early history of the Drummonds to have been previously the hereditary baillies of the abthainries of Dull, and on the promotion of its head to that dignity, that baillierie passed to a younger branch or cadet of it according to Celtic usage.— Skene on the Origin <ifiht Highhmdert^ vol. ii. pp. 129 — 137 152, 153.
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ADAIR.
ACHAIUS, or Achayus, or Eochy, the son of King Ethwin, or Ewen, succeeded to the crown of Scotland in 788, npon the death of Solvatins, or Selvach. Before his accession to the throne, he lived famUiarly with the nobles, and was well ac- quainted with the causes of their mutual feuds. It was, therefore, the first act of his reign to recon- cile the chiefs with one another, and check the turbulent spirit which their animosities had en- gendered. No sooner had he succeeded in thus reconciling his subjects, than he was called upon to take measures to repel an aggression of the predatory Irish. A number of banditti from Ire- land, who infested the district of Eantyre, in the west of Scotland, having been completely routed by the inhabitants, the Irish nation was highly exasperated, and resolved to revenge the injury done to them. Achaius despatched an ambassa- dor to soften their rage, but before he had time to return from his fruitless mission, an immense number of Irish plundered and laid waste the island of Isla. These depredators were all drown- ed when returning home with their spoil, and such was the terror which this calamity inspii*ed into the Irish, that they immediately sued for peace, which was generously granted them by the king of Scotland. A short time afler the conclusion of this treaty, the emperor Charlemagne sent an am- bassador to Achaius, requesting the Scots king to enter into a strict alliance with him against the English, who, in the language of the envoy, '^shamefully filled both sea and land with their piracies, and bloody invasions." After much hesi- tation and debate among the king^s counsellors, the alliance was unanimously agreed to, and Achaius sent his brother William, along with Clement, John Scotus, Raban, and Alcuin, a na- tive of the north of England, four of the most learned men then in Scotland, together with an army of four thousand men, to accompany the French ambassador to Paris, where the alliance was concluded, on terms very favourable to the Scots. In order to perpetuate the remembrance of this event, Achaius added to the arms of Scot- land a double field sowed with lilies. After as- sisting Hungus, king of the Picts, to repel an aggression of Athelstane, king of the West Sax- ons, Achaius spent the rest of his reign in com-
plete tranquillity, and died in 819, distinguished for his piety and wisdom. — Bretcster^s Edinburgh Enqfclopedia,
ADAIR, James Makittrick, physician and medical writer, was bom at Inverness in 1728, and for several years practised at Bath. He was noted for extreme irritability of temper, and among other persons with whom he had a dispute was the eccentric Philip Thicknesse, in the dedi- cation to whose memoirs is given an account of one of his last quarrels. He afterwards went to Antigua, and became physician to the command- er-in-chief and the colonial troops, and one of the judges of the court of king's bench and com- mon pleas in that island. He was the author of several medical tracts on regimen, the materia medica, &c., as also of a pamphlet against the abolition of the slave trade. He died 24th April 1801, at Ayr.
The following is a list of Dr. Adair^s works : —
Medical Cautions for the ConsideratioD of Invalids, more especially of those who resort to Bath. Lond. 1786, 8to Second edit greatly enlaiged, 1787, 8to.
a Philoeopbical and Medical Sketch of the Natural Histoiy of the Human Body and Mind, with an Essay on the Diffi- culties of attaining Medical Knowledge. Lond. 1787, 8vo.
Essays on Fashionable Diseases ; the Dangerous Effects of Hot and Crowded Rooms; the Clothing of Invalids; Lady and Gentlemen Doctors; and on Quacks and Quackery. Lond. 1789, 8vo.
Essay on a Non-Descript, or Newly Invented Disease ; its Nature, Causes, and Means of Relief, with some very impor- tant Observations on the Powerfnl and most Surprising Effects of Animal Magnetism, in the Cure of the sAid Disease. I^ond. 1790, 8vo.
Anecdotes of the Life, Adventures, and Vindication of a Medical Character, metaphorically Defunct. By Benjamin Goosequin. Lond. 1790, 8vo, with regard to his own Ufii and Character.
A Candid Inquiry into the Truth of Certain Charges of the Dangerous Consequences of the Suttonian or Cooling Regi- men under inoculation for the Small Pox ; with some remarks on a Successful Method used some years ago in Hungary, in the case of Natural Small Pox. Lond. 1790, 8vo.
Two Sermons; the first addressed to Seamen, the second to British West India Slaves, by a Physician, (Dr. A.) ; to which are subjoined, Remarks on Female Infidelity, and a Plan of Platonic Matrimony, by which that Evil may be Les- sened or totally Prevented, by F. G. 1791, 8^•o.
An Essay on Regimen. Air, 1799, 8vo.
Unanswerable Arguments against the Abolition of the Slave Trade, with a Defence of the Proprietors of the British Sugar Colonies. Lond. 1790, 8vo. •
An Essay on Diet and Regimen, as indispensable to the Recovery and Preservation of Fum Health, especially to In- dolent, Studious, Delicate, and Invalid; with appropriate Cases. Lond. 1804, 8vo.
B
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ObservationB on Regimen and Preparation under Inocula- tion, and on the Treatment of the Natural Small Pox in the West Indies; with Strictures on tho Suttoniaii Practice. Med. Com. viii. p. 211, 1782.
Hints respecting Stimulants, Astringents, Anodjnas, Cicuta, VcrmifugSf Nausativa, Fixed Air, Arsenicum Album, &c. lb. ix. p. 206.
Remarks on Alnmen Rupium, and several other Articles of the Materia Medica. lb. x. p. 283.
Three Cases of Pthisis Pulmonalis, treated by Cuprum Vitriolatum and Conium Maculatum, two of which termi- nated favourably. Med. Com. xriL p. 473, 1792.
Case of Inflammatory Constipation of the Bowels, socoess- ^ully treated. Mem. Med. il p. 236, 1789.
Adam, a surname belonging to a family of some antiqui- ty in Scotland. Duncan Adam, son of Alexander Adnm, lived in the reign of Robert the Bruce, and had four sons, Rubert, John, Reginald, and Duncan, from whom all the Adams, Adamsons, and Adies in Scotland, are descended. IBurJx^s Landed Gerttn/.'] From the youngest son, Duncan Adam, who accompanied James, Lord Douglas, in his expe- dition to Spain on his way to the Holy Land, with the heart of King Robert, is stated to have descended, John Adau. who was slain at Floddcn in 1513. His son Charles Adam was seated at Fanno, in Forfarshire, and his descendant in the fourth degree, Archibald Adam, of Fanno, sold his patrimonial lands in the time of Charles I., and acquired those of Queensmanour in the same county. His great- grandson, John Adam, married Helen Cranstoun, of the family of Lord Cranstoun, by whom he left one son, Wu/- LiAM Adam, an eminent arehitect, who purchased several estates, particularly that of Blair, in the county of Kinross, where he built a house and village, which he named Mary- burgh. He married Mary, daughter of William Robertson, Esq. of Gladney, and, with other issue, had John Adam, his heir (the father of the Right Hon. William Adam, Lord Chief Commissioner of the Jury Court in Scotland, the sub- ject of a subsequent biography), and Robert and James Adam, the celebrated arehitects, of both of whom notices are here given : —
ADAM, Robert, a celebrated architect, was bom at Kirkaldy in 1728. He was the second son of Mr. William Adam of Maryburgh, who, like his father, was also an architect, and who designed Ilopetoun house, the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and other buildings. After studying at the uni- versity of Edinburgh, Robeit, in 1754, proceeded to the continent, and resided three years in Italy, studying his art. From the splendid monuments of antiquity which that country presents to the traveller, he imbibed that scientific style of design by which all his works are distinguished. But it was only from fragments that he was enabled to form his taste, the ravages of time and the hands of barbarian^ having united for the destruction of those noble specimens of ancient architecture, the ruins of which only remain to attest their former grandeur and magnificence. With the intention
of viewing a more complete monument of ancient splendour than any he had seen, accompanied by M. Clerisseau, a French artist, and two expert draughtsmen, in July 1757 he sailed from Venice to Spalatro in Dalmatia, to inspect the remains of the palace to which the emperor Dioclesian re- tii'ed from the cares of government. Tliey found the palace much defaced ; but as its remains still exhibited the nature of the structure, they pro- ceeded to a minute examination of its various parts. Their labours, however, were immediately interrupted by the interference of the government of Venice, from a suspicion that they wei-e mak- ing plans of the fortifications. Fortunately, Gen- eral Grsme, commander-in-chief of the Venetian forces, interposed ; and, being seconded by Count Antonio Marcovich, they were soon allowed to prosecute their designs. In 1762, on his return to England, ho was appointed architect to the king, an ofiSce which he resigned six years after- wards, on being elected M.P. for the county of Kinross. In 1764 he published, in one volume folio, a splendid work, containing seventy-one en- gravings and descriptions of the ruins of the pal- ace of Dioclesian at Spalatro, and of some othef buildings. In 1778 he and his brother James, also an eminent architect, brought out *The Works of R. and J. Adam,' in numbers, consisting of plans and elevations of buildings in England and Scotland, erected or designed, among which are the Register House and the University of Ed- inburgh, and the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, in Scotland, and Sion House, Caen -Wood, Luton Park House, and some edifices at Whitehall, in England.
Mr. Adam died 3d March, 1792, by the burst- ing of a blood-vessel, and was buried in Westmin- ster Abbey. The year before his death he de- signed no less than eight public buildings and twenty-five private ones. His genius extended itself beyond the decorations of buildings, to vari- ous branches of manufacture; and besides tho improvements which he introduced into the archi- tecture of the countiy, he displayed great skill and taste in his numerous drawings in landscape. — Annual Register, vol. xxxiv. — Scots Mag, 1803.
Of the Register House at Edinburgh it is re- marked by Telford, in his contribution on CivU
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Arcbitectnre to the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, that ^* only a part of thia masterly plan has been exe- cuted, but even this composes an apparently com- plete bnildiug. The original design as given in the works of R. and J. Adam, has in the centre a magnificent circular saloon, covered and lighted by a dome. This saloon is surrounded by small apartments, and the whole of these are enclosed by buildings in the shape of a parallelogram, by which ingenious contrivance access to all the apartments and an effective lighting of tlie whole is perfectly accomplished. Even as it is, this building, both internally and externally, reflects great credit on the architect, and from the chaste- ness of the details, it is evident that the external features have been the result of much atten- tion. A greater degree of magniflcence," he adds, *' might have been obtained by keeping the base- ment of the principal front lower, by adding to the magnitude of the order," and by a few modi- flcatlous of other details.
Among the private edifices pertaining to Scot- land connected with the name of Robert Adam, are, Hopetoun House, on the south bank of the es- tuary of the Forth, to which magnificent edifice he added the graceful wings ; Melville Castle, on the banks of the Esk near Lasswade, which was by his ingenuity rendered a magnificent and appro- priate feature In that part of the kingdom ; Cul- zean Castle, on a bold promontory on the coast of Ayrshire, where, with his usual fertility of in- vention, the same architect has rendered this seat of the marquis of Ailsa a just resemblance of a Uoman villa as described by Pliny ; and last, but not least, Gosford House in East Lothian, per- haps the most extensive and superb of modem Scottish structures, built by the earl of Wemyss from one of his designs. Of Sion House, the mansion of the duke of Northumberland, in the county of Middlesex, the chief features of novelty are in the style of Spalatra and the Pantheon at llome, but the interior arrangements are in every respect as good as can well be imagined. Luton park in Bedfordshire, the seat of the marquis of Bute, is the most original of all his works, and although not in all respects the happiest, may be considered — the facade especially— as designed in his best manner.
ADAM, James, the brother of the preceding, held, at one period, the ofl!ce of architect to his majesty George III. He was the designer ol Portland Place, one of the noblest streets in Lon* don, and died on the 17th October, 1794. From the two brothers the Adelphi Buildings in the Sti*and derive their name, being their joint work.
ADAM, William, Right Hon., nephew of the two foregoing gentlemen, lord chief commissioner of the jury court in Scotland, on its fii-st introduc- tion there for the trial of civil causes, the son of John Adam of Blair Adam, and his wife Jean, the daughter of John Ramsay, Esq., was bom 21st July 1751, O.S. He was educated at Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Oxford, and in 1773 was admitted a member of the faculty of Advocates, but never practised at the Scottish bar. In 1774 he was chosen M.P. for Gatton ; in 1780 for Stranraer, <&c. ; in 1784 for the Elgin burghs; and in 1790 for Ross-shire. At the close of Lord North's ad- ministration in 1782, in consequence of some family losses he became a bamster-at-law. In 1794 he retired from parOamcnt to devote himself to his profession. In 1802 he was appointed counsel for the East India Company, and in 1806 chancellor of the duchy of Cornwall. In the same year he was returned M.P. for Kincardineshire, and in 1807, being elected both for that county and for Kinross- shire, he preferred to sit for the former. In 1811 he again vacated his seat for his professional duties. Being now generally esteemed a sound lawyer his practice increased, and he was consulted by the prince of Wales, the duke of York, and many of the nobility. In the course of his parliamentary career, in consequence of something that occurred in a discussion during the fii*st American war, he fought a duel with the late Mi*. Fox, which hap- pily ended without bloodshed, when the lattei jocularly remai'kcd, that had his antagonist not loaded his pistol with government powder, he would have been shot. Mr. Adam genei*ally op- posed the politics of Mr. Pitt. In 1814 he sub- mitted to govcmmcnt the plan for trying civil causes by jury in Scotland. In 1815 he was made a privy councillor, and was appoint^ one of the barons of the Scottish exchequer, chiefly with the view of enabling him to introduce and estab- lish the new system of trial oy jury in civil cases.
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In 1816 an act of parliament was obtained, insti- tating a separate jury court in Scotland, in which he was appointed lord chief commissioner, with two of the judges of the court of session as his colleagnes. He accordingly relinquished his sitn- ation in the exchequer, and continued to apply his energies to the duties of the jury court, over- coming, by his patience, zeal, and urbanity, the many obstacles opposed to the success of such an institution. In 1880, when sufficiently organized, the jury court was, by another act, transferred to the court of session, and on taking his seat on the bench of the latter for the first time, addresses were presented to him from the Faculty of Advo- cates, the Society of Writers to the Signet, and the Solicitors before the Supreme Courts, thank- ing him for the important benefits which the intro- duction of trial by jury in civil cases had conferred on the country. In 1833 he retired from the bench ; and died at his house in Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, on the 17th February 1889, in tlie 89th year of his age.
After his appointment to the presidency of the )ury court, he spent a great part of his time at his paternal seat in Kinross-shire. " Here," says Jjockhart, in his Life of Scott, *^ about Midsum- mer 1816, he received a visit from his near rela- tion William Clerk, Adam Fergusson, his heredi- tary friend and especial favourite, and their life- long intimate, Scott. They remained with him for two or three days, in the course of which they were all so much delighted with their host, and he with them, that it was resolved to re-assemble the party with a few additions, at the same season of every following year. This was the origin of the Blair-Adam club, the i-egular members of which were in number nine; viz., the four ah-eady named, — the chief commissioner's son, Admiral Sir Charles Adam; his son-in-law, the late Mr. An- struther Thomson of Charleton, in Fifeshire; Mr. Thomas Thomson, the deputy register of Scot- land ; his brother, the Rev. John Thomson, mini- ster of Duddingstone, one of the first landscape painters of bis time; and the Right Hon. Sir Sam- uel Shepherd, who became chief baron of the court of exchequer in Scotland, shortly after the third anniversary of this brotherhood. They usu- ally contrived to meet on a Friday; spent the
Saturday in a ride to some scene of historical in- terest within an easy distance; enjoyed a quiet Sunday at home, — * duly attending divine worehip at the Kirk of Cleish (not CIcishbotham)' — ^gave Monday moniing to another antiquarian excuraion, and returned to Edinburgh in ♦ime for the courts of Tuesday. From 1816 to 1881 inclusive, Sir Walter was a constant attendant at these meet- ings." It was during one of these visits to Blair- Adam that the idea of * The Abbot* had first arisen in Scott's mind, and it was at his suggestion that the chief commissioner commenced a little book on the improvements which had taken place on his estate, which, under the title of * Blair-Adam, from 1783 to 1834,' was privately printed for his own family and intimate friends. " It was," says the Judge, ** on a fine Sunday, lying on the gi-assy summit of Bennarty, above its craggy brow, that Sir Walter said, looking first at the fiat expanse of Kinross-shire (on the south side of the Ochils), and then at the space which Blair-Adam fills be- tween the hill of Diiimglow (the highest of the Cleish hills) and the valley of Lochore — ' What an extraordinary thing it is, that here to the north so little appears to have been done, when there are so many proprietors to work upon it; and to the south, here is a district of country entirely made by the efibrts of one family, in three generations, and one of them amongst us in the full enjoyment of what has been done by his two predecessors and himself! Blair-Adam, as I have always heard, had a wild, uncomely, and unhospitable appear- ance, before its improvements were begun. It would be most curious to record in writing its ori- ginal state, and trace its gradual progress to its present condition.'" Lockhart adds, "upon this suggestion, enforced by the approbation of the other members present, the president of the Blair- Adam club commenced an-anging the materials for what constitutes a most instructive as well as en- tertaining history of the agricultural and arbori- cultural progress of his domains in the course of a hundred years, under his grandfather, his father (the celebrated ai*chitcct), and himself. And Sir Walter had only suggested to his friend of Kin- ross-shire what he was resolved to put into prac- tice with regard to his own improvements on Tweedside; for he began at precisely the same
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period to keep a regular joarual of all his rural transactions, under the title of ' Sylra Abbotsford- lenais.' " (See Lockhco^i Life of Scott, chapter 60.)
Mr. Adam was a personal friend of Greorge IV., and at one period held a confidential office in the royal household at Carlton House, when the latter was prince regent. He married in 1777 a daugh- ter of the tenth Lord Elphinstone, and had a fomily of several sons: viz. John, long at the head of the council in India, who died in 1825; Admiral Sir Charies, M.P., one of the lords of admiralty, and governor of Greenwich Hospital; died in 1854 ; William George, an eminent king's counsel, afterwards accountant-general in the court of Chancery, who died 16th May 1839, tlu-ee months after his father ; and the Right Hon. Gen- eral Sir Frederick, who distinguished himself in the Peninsular war, held a command at Waterloo, where he was wounded, was afterwards high com- missioner of the Ionian islands, and subsequently governor of Madras ; died 17th August 1853. A younger son died abroad.
ADAM, Alexander, an eminent scholar, and author of a standard work on * Roman Antiqui- ties,' was born at Coats of Bnrgie, in the parish of Rafford, county of Elgin, on the 24th June, 1741. (Coaie$ or Cots^ meaning a house or enclosure for sheep.) His parents, who rented a small farm, were in humble circumstances ; and, like many of his eountrymen who have afterwards raised them- selves to distinction, he received the first part of his education at the parish school. His constant application to his book induced his father to have him taught Latin. Before he was sixteen, he had borrowed, from a clergjrman in the neigh- bourhood, a copy of Livy in the small Elzevir edition, and we are told used to read it before daybreak, during the mornings of winter, by the light of splinters of bogwood dug out of an ad- joining moss, not having an opportunity of doing 80 at any other period of the day. In 1757 he endeavoured, but without success, to obtain a bursary or exhibition at King's college, Aberdeen. In 1758, a relative of his mother, the Rev. Mr. Watson, one of the ministers of the Canongate, Edinburgh, advised him to remove to that city, " provided he was prepared to endure every hard- Mp for a season ;" and hardships of a severe na-
ture he did endure, but nothing could deter him from the pursuit of knowledge. Through Mr. Watson's influence he obtained free admission to the lectures of the dificrent professors, with, of course, access to the college library; and while attending the classes, it appears that all his income was only the sum of one guinea per quarter, which he received from Mr. Alan Maconochie, afterwards Lord Meadowbank, for being his tutor. At this time he lodged in a small room at Restalrig, for which he paid fonrpence a-week. His breakfast consisted of oatmeal ponidge with small beer, and his dinner was often no more than a penny loaf and a drink of water. After about eighteen months of close study, at the early age of nineteen he was fortunate in being elected, on a compara- tive trial of candidates, head master of Watson's Hospital, where he continued to improve himself in classical knowledge, by a careful perusal of the best authors. Three years afterwards he resigned this office, on becoming private tutor to the son of Mr. Kincaid, subsequently lord provost of Edin- burgh. In April 1765 he was, by that gentleman's influence, appointed assistant to Mr. Matheson, rector of the high school, whose increasing infir- mities compelled him to reth-e, on a small annuity, paid principally from the class-fees; and on the 8th June 1768 he succeeded him as rector. He now devoted himself assiduously to the duties of his school, and to those literary and classical re- searches for which he was so peculiarly qualified. To him the high school of Edinburgh owes much of its reputation, and is entirely indebted for the introduction of Greek, which he eflfected in 1772, in spite of the opposition of the Senatus Academi- cus of the university, who, considering it an en- croachment on the Greek chair, presented a peti- tion and remonstrance against it to the town council, but without success. Having introduced into his class a new Latin grammar of his own compiling, and recommended its adoption in the other classes, instead of Ruddiman's which had been heretofore in use, a dispute arose between him and the under masters, and the matter was referred by the magistrates of Edinburgh, the pa- trons of the school, to Dr. Robertson, the historian, principal of the university, who decided in favour of Ruddiman's. The magistrates, in consequence,
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issued an order in 1786 prohibiting the nse of any other gi-ammar of the Latin language ; but tliis, and a subsequent oi*der to the same effect, Dr. Adam disregarded, and continued to use his own niles, without being further inteifered with. In 1772 he had published the work in question, under the title of * The Principles of Latin and English Grammar ;' the chief object of which was to com- bine the study of English and Latin grammar, so that they might illustrate each other, in oi-der to avoid the inconvenience to pupils of learning Latin from a Latin grammar, before they understood the language. One of the most active opponents of the new grammar was Dr. Gilbert Stuart, who was related to Rnddiman, and who inserted sev- eral squibs in the papers of the day against Adam and his work, to the au thorns great annoyance.
In 1780 the degree of LL.D. was confen*ed upon Mr Adam by the college of Edinburgh, chiefly at the suggestion of Principal Robertson ; and before his death, he had the satisfaction of seeing his grammar adopted in his own seminary. Among the more celebrated of his pupils was Sir Walter Scott, who joined the rector^s class at the high school in 1782. It was from Dr. Adam, he says, that he fii-st learned the value of the knowledge he had till then considered only as a burdensome task. As he gained some distinction by his poetical versions from Horace and Virgil, the rector took much notice of Scott, and when he began afterwards to be celebrated in the literary world. Dr. Adam never failed to remind him of his obligations to him. "The good old Doctor," says Sir Walter, " plumed himself upon the success of his scholars in life, all of which he never failed (and often justly) to claim as the creation, or at least the fmits, of his early instructions. He remembered the fate of every boy at his school, during the fifty years he had superintended it, and always traced their success or misfortunes, entirely to their attention or negligence when under his care.'* One of the nnder-masters at the high school, a person of the name of William Nicol, the hero of Burns^ famous drinking song of " O Willie brew*d a peck 0* mant,'* is said to have been encouraged by the magistrates of Edinburgh to insult the person and authority of Dr. Adam, at the time 4>f the famous dispute with him about his grammai*.
" This man," says Sir Walter Scott, " was an ex- cellent classical scholar, and an admirable convivial humorist (which latter quality recommended him to the friendship of Bums); but woithless, drunken, and inhumanly cruel to the boys under his charge He can'ied his feud against the rector within an inch of assassination, for he waylaid, and knocked him down in the dark," one night in the High School Wynd. The i-ector's scholars, at the in- stigation of the future author of Waverley, took a schoolboy's revenge. Exasperated at the outrage, the next time that Nicol went to teach the rec- tor's class, they resolved on humbling him. " The task," says Mr. James Mitchell, Sir Walter's tutor at this time, ^^ which the class had prescribed to them was that passage in the ^neid of Virgil, where the queen of Carthage intenx)gates the couit as to the stranger that had come to her ha- bitation—
* Qnis oovus hie bospes suocessit sedibus nostris?*
Master Walter having taken a piece of paper, in- scribed upon it these words, substituting vanus for novusy and pinned it to the tail of the master's coat, and turned him into ridicule by raising the laugh of the whole scliool against him." [LockharCs Life of Scott,']
Dr. Adam's principal work was the * Roman Antiquities,' or, an account of the manners and customs of the Romans, published in 1791, which was translated into various foreign languages, and which is now used as a class-book in many of the English schools. For this work he got £600. In 179-1 appeared his * Summary of Greography and History,' in one thick volume of 900 pages, having increased to this size from a small treatise on the same subject, printed, for the use of his pupils, in 1784. The least popular of his works is the * Clas- sical Biography,' published in 1800; and the last of his laborious and useful compilations was an abridged Latin Dictionary, entitled ^ Lexicon Lin- guae Latinas Compendiamm,' 8vo., which was published in 1805, and intended for the use of schools. Dr. Adam's books are valuable auxilia ries to the student, from the mass of useful and classical information which they contain. He had commenced a largei* dictionary than the one pub< lished, but did not live to complete it.
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Having been seized in the high school with an apoplectic attack, he was conducted home, and put to bed, where he langaished for five days, and, as death was approaching, fancying himself, during the. wanderings of his mind, with his pupils, he said, " But it grows dark, boys, you may go!" and al- most immediately expired, on the 18th of Decem- ber, 1809, at the age of 68. Possessed of an ardent and independent mind, and liberal in the extreme in politics, he took a great interest in the progress of the French Revolution, believing it to be the cause of liberty, and even went so far as to introduce political matters into his school, for which he was much censured at the time, and that by many of his friends; but after the first excite- ment had passed away, he soon regained the re- spect even of those who had been most embittered against him. He was universally regretted, and the magistrates of Edinbm'gh honoured his mem- ory by a public funeral. His portiuit by Rae- burn, taken shortly before his death at the desire of some of his old pupils, was placed in the libra- ry of the high school. Annexed is a woodcut of it.
** His features," says his biogi*apher, *^ were regular and manly, and he was above the middle Rize." He was twice manied, and left a widow,
two daughters, and a son. One of his daughters married a Dr. Prout, and at one time i-esided in SackviUe Street, London. His son. Dr. Adam, for many years resided in Edinburgh. — Henderson'^ Life of Dr. Adam; Edin, Monthly Mag. 1810. The following is a list of his works:
The PrindplM of Latin and English Onunmar. Edin. 1772, 8vo. 7th Edit improved, 1809, 12mo.
A Summary of Geograpby and History, both Ancient and Modem, designed chieflj to unite the Study of Classical Learning with that of General Knowledge. Edin. 1784, 8vo. 1794, 8vo. 1809, 8vo.
Roman Antiquities, or an Account of the Manners and Customs of the Romans, their Government, Laws, Religion, &c Edin. 1791, 8vo. 2d edit enlaiged. 1792, 8vo. 1807, 8vo.
Geographical Index, oontiuning the Latin Names of the principal Countries, Cities, Rivers, and Mountains, mentioned in the Greek and Roman Classics, with the Modem Names subjoined; also, the Latin Names of the Inhabitants, being a Summary of the Ancient and Modem Geography. Edin. 1796, 8vo.
Classical Biography; exhibiting alphabetically the proper Names, with a short Account of the several Deities, Heroes, &c mentioned in the ancient Classic Authors; and a more particular Description of the most Distmguished Characters among the Romans, the whole being interspersed with Occa- sional Explanations of Words and Phrases, designed chiefljr to contribute to the Illustration of the Latin Classics. Edin. 1800, 8vo.
Dictionary of the Latin Tongue. Edin. 1805, 8vo. 2d edit greatiy improved and enlarged. Edin. 1815, 8vo.
ADAM, BoBERT, the Rev., B.A. anthor oi
* The Religious World Displayed,* was bora in the parish of Udiiy, Aberdeenshire, of poor but re- spectable parents, about the year 1770. He was educated and took his degree of M. A. at Aber- deen. He was afterwards sent, by some persons interested in his welfare, to St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, where he took the degree of bachelor of arts. Subsequently he was ordained deacon and priest by Dr. Beilby Portens, bishop of London. About the year 1801 he was appointed assistant to Dr. Aberaethy Drummond of Hawthornden, titular bishop of Glasgow, whom he succeeded as minister of Blackfriars* Wynd episcopal chapel, Edinburgh. He was also chaplain to the eai*l of Kellie. In 1809 he published an elaborate and comprehensive work in three volumes, entitled
* The Religious World Displayed, or a View of the Four Grand Systems of Religion, Judaism, Pagan- ism, Christianity, and Mahomedanism, and of the Various Denominations, Sects, and Paities in the Christian World ; to which is subjoined, a View
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of Deism and Atheism ;' wliich he inscribed to the memory of Bishop Drammond, formerly senior minister of his congregation. He was subsequently appointed to a church in the Danish island of St. Croix, where he was much annoyed by the Dan- ish authorities, and ultimately ordered to leave the island. His conduct met with the full approbation of our own government, and he proceeded to Den- mark to procure redress, which it appears he never obtained. After his return from Copenhagen to London, he accompanied the newly appointed bishop of Barbadoes to the West Indies in 1825, and was appointed interim pastor of the island of Tobago, where he died on the 2d July 1826.
ADAM, ScoTUs, one of the doctors of the Sor- bonne, and a canon regular of the order of Pre- monstratcnses, flourished in the twelfth century. He was bom in Scotland, and* educated in the monastery of Lindisfame, or Holy Island, in the county of Durham. He afterwards went to Paris and taught school divinity in the Sorbonne. In his latter years he became one of " the monks of Melrose." He afterwards retired to the Abbey of Durham, where he wrote the Lives of St. Co- lambanus, and of some other monks of the sixth century, and also of David I. king of Scotland. He died in 1195. His works were printed at Antwerp in folio, in 1659 — Biog, Die,
ADAMSON, Henry, a poet of the seventeenth centtyy, was the son of James Adamson, dean of guild in Perth in 1600, the year of the Gowrie conspiracy, and provost of that city in 1610 and 1611. He was educated for the churcli, and is tttated to have been a good classical scholar. He wrote some Latin poems which are described as being far above mediocrity. In 1688 he published a poem, in 4to, entitled ' Muses Threnodie, or Mirthful Mournings on the Death of Mr.Gall, with a descrip- tion of Perth, and an account of the Gowry conspi- racy,' &c. He was honoured with the approbation of Drummond of Hawthomden, and appears, from the complimentary vei-ses prefixed to his poems, to have been much respected for his talents and worth. It was at the request of Drummond that Adamson published his ' Muses Threnodie,' after having resisted the solicitations of his friends to print it. The letter which the poet of Hawthom- den wrote to him on the occasion, is dated Edin-
burgh, 12th July 1637. It was inserted in the introductory address to the reader, prefixed to the first edition, and contains the following passage: ^^ Happie hath Perth been in such a citizen, not so other townes of this klugdome, by want of so diligent a searcher and preserver of their fame fi-om oblivion. Some Muses, neither to them- selves nor to others, do good, nor delighting nor instructing. Tours inform both, and longer to conceal them, will be, to wrong your Perth of her due honours, who deserveth no less of you than that she should be thus blazoned and registrate to posterity, and to defraud yourself of a monument which, after you have left this transitory world, shall keep your name and memory to after times This shall be preserved by the towne of Perth, fof her own sake first, and after for yours; for to her it hath been no little glory that she hath brought forth such a citizen, so eminent in love to her, so dear to the Muses." Adamson died unmarried in 1689. A new edition of his poem was published in 1774, with illustrative notes, by James Cant, in 2 vols. 12mo. The book is now scarce. — Campbelti Introduction to the History of Poetry in Scotland,
ADAMSON, Patrick, an eminent prelate and Latin poet, was bom at Perth, Mareh 15, 1537. His parents are said to have been poor, but he received a sufiSclcntly liberal education, first at the gram- mar sdiool of his native town, and afterwards at the unlvei-sity of St. Andrews, where he studied philosophy, and took his degree of master of arts. His name first appears in the diaries and church records of the period, not as Adamson, but under the varieties of Coustaine, Cousting, Constan, Con- stant, and Constantino. [See Bannatyne^s Journal^ p. 823; James MehiUe's Diary, pp. 25 and 42; Calderwood, vol. ii. p. 46; and The Booke oj the UniversaU Kirk of Scotland, pp. 2 and 28.] His biographers state that on quitting the univer- sity he became a schoolmaster at a village in Fife^ but on the meeting of the first General Assembly, in December 1560, he was, under the name of Pa- trick Constan, among those who were appointed in St. Andrews, ** for ministering and teaching." [Calderwoody vol. ii. p. 46.] Under the same name he was, in 1568, minister of Ceres, in Fife, and was appointed a commissioner *^ to plant kirks from Dee to Ethan." ^Ihid. p. 245.] In the sev
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enth Creneral Assembly, held at Edinburgh in Jnne 1564, he preferred a reqaest to be allowed to pass to France and other countries, ^' for aug menting of his knowledge for a time;** but the Assembly unanimously refused his application, and ordained that he should not leave his congre- gation, ^* without speciall licence of the haill kirk.*^ [Booke of the Umversaa Kirk of Scotland, p. 23.] £arly in 1566, on the invitation of Sir James Mak • gill of Rankeillor, clerk-register, he accompanied his eldest son, as tutor, to France, where the latter was going to study the civil law, on which occasion he appears to have demitted himself of the office of the ministry. On the 19th of June of that year, Mai*y queen of Scots was delivered of a prince, after- wards James the Sixth, on which occasion Con- stant or Adaroson, then at Paris, wrote a Latin poem, styling the ix>yal infant ** Prince of Scotland, England, France, and Ireland,** which so offended the French government that he was imprisoned for six months. Queen Mary herself, and several of the nobility, interceded for his liberation. On regaining his freedom he proceeded with his pupil to the universities of Poitiers and Padua, where he applied himself to the study of the civil and canon laws. On their return from Italy, they visited Greneva; and here, from his intercourse with Beza, he imbibed the Calvinistic doctrines of theology. Some time before theur return to Scotland they revisited Paris. As well-known Protestants, however, they found it dangerous to remain in the capital, and retii'ed to Bourges, where Constant concealed himself for seven months in an inn, the master of which, an old man 70 years of age, was, for harbouring heretics, thrown from the roof of his own house and killed on the spot. In this sepulchre, as he called it, he employed his time in composing a Latin poetical version of the Book of Job, and in writing in the same language a piece called the Tragedy of He- rod— the latter of which has never been published. Before leaving Fi-ance he was bold enough to pub- lish a Latin translation of the Confession of Faith, for which he obtained gi*eat credit.
At what period Constant returned to Scotland does not appear, but it must have been previous to 5th March 1571, for the Assembly which met at Edinburgh at that time earnestly desired him, {
in consideration of the lack of ministers, to re enter the ministry. He craved time till next As- sembly, which met on 6th August thereafter, to which he sent a written answer, complying with their request. He had previously mamed the daughter of a lawyer.
On the election of Mr. John Douglas, rector of the university of St. Andrews, to the archbishop- ric of that diocese, on the 8th of February 1572, Constant is mentioned as having preached a ser- mon, and John Knox the discourse before the installation. [Barmatyne.'] On this occasion he was not, as afterwai-ds alleged by his enemies, a candidate for that see. Most of his biographers represent him to have been in France at the period of the massacre of St. Bartholomew, which occurred on the 24th August of this year (1572), but he had certainly retumod to Scotland mora than a year befora that event, and no mention is made of a second visit to that country. Constant appears at this time to have enjoyed the friendship of Andrew Melville and of many of the ministers of Edin- burgh. He had been appointed minister of Pais- ley, and through his influence with the regent Morton the valuable living of Grovan, near Glas- gow, was in the year 1575 annexed to the univer- sity of that city, " the only good thing,** says the spitefU James Melville, " he or Morton were ever known to have done.** {Diary , p. 42.] In the same year he was named one of the commissioners of the General Assembly, for settling the polity and jurisdiction of the church, which, at that period of ecclesiastical transition, was episcopalian in its spirit and form, although the supreme authority in spiritual matters was placed in the General Assembly. About this time he appears to have dropped the name of Constant, as he is ever after- wards called Adamson by contemporary writers.
In the course of 1576 Adamson was nominated, with John Row and David Lindsay, to report the proceedings of the commissioners to the re- gent Morton, who appointed him one of his chap- lains. In the same year, on the death of Douglas, archbishop of St. Andrews, Adamson, on the pre- sentation and recommendation of Morton, was advanced to the vacant archbishopric. His eleva- tion to the archiepiscopal see became the origin of all his misfortunes. The General Assembly, having
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j^nerally acceded to the new views which Melville Introduced from Geneva as to the Presbyterian form of government for the church, sought to im- pose limitations on his powers, which were con- trary to the previous usage of the church and to the laws of the kingdom; to which ix^trictions, how- ever, Adamson fi*om the outset and even before his installation declai-ed, when questioned by that court, that he would not submit. From the period of his instalment, therefore, he was engaged, for several years, in almost perpetual altercation with the General Assembly. ** Adamson, " says Bishop Keith, " did not receive, for what we know, any ecclesiastical consecration." This, however, is incorrect. From the acts of the General Assembly threatening proceedings against his inaugumtoi-s, the chapter of St. Andrews, we infer that he was installed by a form of consecration similar to that of his predecessor; which, as formally settled by the General Assembly with reference to that cere- mony, was the same as tliat of the superintendents, and of which Bannatyne details the foimnla, (p. 821).
In the General Assembly, whicli met at Edin- Durgh in April, 1577, Adamson was cited to answer before some commissioners who had been appointed to examine him ; and, in the interim, it was or- dered that he should be discharged from exercis- ing his episcopal functions *^ till he should be ad- mitted by the Assembly." [CalderwooiTs History^ vol. iii. p. 379.] The same year he published a translation of the Catechism of Calvin in Latin verse, for the use of die young prince (James VI.), which was much commended in England, France, and the Netherlands, where he was already well known by his translation of the Confession of Faith. In 1578 he was induced to submit himself to the General Assembly, but this did not long secure his tranquillity ; for in the year following he was exposed to .fresh troubles. In the record of the 88th General Assembly, which met at Stir- ling, 11 June 1578, as printed in *The Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotland,' there are five pages blank, supposed, as marked in an old hand on the copy transcribed, ** to be pairt of that which was torn out by Adamson B. of St. Andrews." Some after blanks are also pointed out. [B. of UniversaU Kirk, pp. 180, 183, 208, 207, 338, foot-
notes.] This, however, is as likely to have been done by another. The Greneral Assembly which met at Edinburgh 7th July 1579, summoned him to answer to five several charges, three of which were for voting in parliament without a commission from the Assembly, for giving collation of the vi- carage of Bolton, and for opposing the policy oi the church in his place in parliament. Finding it expedient to retire for a time to the castle of St. Andrews, where he lived, as James Melville ex- presses it, *^ like a tod in his hole," be was, in the year 1582, attacked with a grievous chronic dis- temper, from which, as he could get no relief from his physicians, he had recourse to a simple reme- dy, administered by an old woman named Alisop Peai'son, which completely cured him. His ene- mies now accused him of dealing with a witch, and applying to an emissaiy of the devil for means whereby to save his life. The old woman herself was committed to the castle of St. Andrews for execution, but by the connivance of the archbish- op she contrived to make her escape. Four years tliereafter, however, she was again apprehended, and burnt for witchcraft.
In the year 1583, King James visited St. An- drews, when Aixihbishop Adamson preadied before him with great approbation. In his sermon, he inveighed, as Calderwood expresses it, against the Presbyterian clergy, the lords reformere, and all their proceedings. [Calderwood^s Histary^ vol. iii. p. 716.] Tlie doctrines which the archbishop avowed on this occasion recommended him to the favour of the king, who sent him as his ambassa- dor to the court of Queen Elizabeth, where his object was twofold, namely, to recommend the king his mastei* to the nobility and gentry of Eng- land, and to obtain support to the tottering cause of episcopacy in Scotland. His eloquent sermons and address attracted such numerous auditories, and excited such a high idea of the young king, that Queen Elizabeth's jealousy was kindled, and she prohibited him from preaching while he re- mained in England. In 1584 he was recalled, and on his return to Edinburgh, he exerted him- self strenuously in support of King James' views in favour of episcopacy. He sat in the parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of August of that year, and concurred in several laws which wero
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enacted for esUblisbing the kiug's supremacy in ecclesiastical matters. In the following year be was appointed to rindicate these acts of parlia- ment, and his apology is inserted in Holinshed^s English Chronicle. Mr. James Melville gives a full copy of what he styles "a Bull which the archbishop of St. Andi-ews got of the king as su- preme governor of the kirk, whereby he has power and authority to use his arcbiepiscopal office with- in the ku-k and his diocese." [Diary, p. 182.]
In April 158G, the provincial synod of Fife met at St. Andrews, when Mr. James Melville, as mo- derator of the previous meeting, preached the opening sermon, in the course of which he de- nounced the archbishop to his face, and demanded Ihat he should be cut off, for having devised and procured the passing of the late acts of parliament in 1584, which were subversive of the Presbyte- rian discipline. In his defence Adamson said that the acts were none of his devising, although they had his support as good and lawful statutes. He then declined the jurisdiction of the court, and appealed from it to the king and parliament, but nevertheless was formally excommunicated by the synod. In return, he next day ordered Mr. Samuel Cunningham, one of his servants, to pro- nounce the arcbiepiscopal excommunication against Andrew Melville, James Melville, and others, with Andrew Hunter, minister of Cambee, who had denounced the anathema of the synod against the archbishop. The proceedings of the synod being manifestly informal, the General Assembly, which met at Edinburgh in the following month, annulled the sentence of excommunication against him, and reponed him to the same position which he had held before the meeting of the provincial synod of Fife. The Melvilles being summoned before the king for their conduct in this harsh and vindictive transaction, were ordered to confine themselves, Andrew to his native place during the klng^s will, and James to his college. {MehiUe^s Diary ^ p. 165.] The archbishop, besides his usual rlerical duties, was required to teach public lessons in I^tin within the Old college, and the whole uni- versity commanded to attend the same. \Ibid. p. 166.] As archbishop of St. Andrews he was €x officio chancellor of the university.
About the end of June 1587, M. Du Bartas, the
famous French poet, being in Scotland as ambas- sador from the king of Navarre, afterwards Henry lY. of France, accompanied King James to St. Andrews. His mi^esty, desirous of hearing a lecture from Mr. Andrew Melville, principal of St. Mai7*8 college, gave him an hour's notice of his wish. Melville endeavoured to excuse himself, but his majesty insisting, he delivered an extem- pore discourse, upon the govemmeut of the church of Christ, when he refuted the whole acts of par- liament which had been passed against the pres- byterian discipline. On the following day an en- tertainment was given by the arclibishop to the king and the French envoy, when Adamson took occasion to pronounce a lecture, to counteract tliat of Melville, his principal topics being the pre- eminence of bishops and the supremacy of kings. Melville was present and took notes, and had no sooner returned to his college than he caused the bell to be rung, and an intimation to be conveyed to the king that he intended to deliver another lecture after an interval of two hours. On this occasion, besides the king, Du Bartas and Adam- son were present. Avoiding all formal reference to the previous speech of the archbishop, Melville dexterously quoted from popish books, which ho had brought with him, all his leading positions and arguments in favour of episcopacy. When he had shown them to be plain popery, he pro- ceeded to refute them with such force of reason that Adamson remained silent, although he had pre- viously requested permission from the king to de- fend his own doctrines. The king, however, spoke for him, and after making some learned and scholastic distinctions, be concluded with commanding them all to respect and obey the archbishop. The whole of this narrative, how- ever, rests upon the authority of James Melville, which, besides being that of a prejudiced oppon- ent, is unfortunately in other matters relative to Adamson found to be opposed to facts recorded in the proceedings of the Church.
By the act of annexation passed in 1587 the see of St. Andrews, with all the other church bene- fices in the kingdom, was annexed to the crown. The revenues of the archbishopric were thereafter bestowed on the duke of Lennox, by James VI., excepting only a small pittance, reserved for the
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ARCHBISHOP.
gubsisteuce of Archbishop Adamson. In the fol- lowing year he was exposed to a fresh prosecu- tion by the church, having been summoned for having, contrary to an inhibition of the presbytery of Edinburgh, married the Catholic earl of Hnntly to the king^s cousin, the sister of the duke of Len- nox, without requiring the earl to subscribe the Confession of Faith, although he had already sub- scribed certain articles which were requii-ed of him previous to the proclamation of the bans. Adam- son on this occasion appeared by his procurator, Mr. Thomas Wilson, (very likely his son-in-law,) who produced a testimonial of his sickness, sub- scribed by the doctor who attended him and two bailies, but the memorial was not admitted as suf- ficient. The pi-esby tery of St. Andrews proceeded against him in absence, deprived him of all office in the church, and threatened him with excom- munication. The Assembly ratified the sentence of the presbytery, and for this and other alleged cnmes he was deposed and again excommunicated. In the beginning of 1589 he published the La- mentations of Jeremiah, in Latin verse, which he dedicated to the king in an address, complaining of the harsh treatment he had received. The same year he also published a Latin poetical translation of the Apocalypse, and addressed a a>py of Latin verses to his majesty, deploring his distress. The unfoitunate prelate had at one period stood so high in the royal favour that James had condescended to compose a sonnet in commenda- tion of his paraphrase of the Book of Job ; but times were altered, and the king paid no attention to his appeals. In his need Adamson is said to have addressed a letter to his former opponent, Mr. Andrew Melville, with whom he at one pe- riod lived on terms of good neighbourhood, but opposite views in church government had long not only driven them asunder, but rendered them bit- ter antagonists. On receipt of his letter contain- ing the sad disclosure of his destitute situation, Melville hastened to pay the archbishop a visit, and besides procuring contributions on his behalf ft-om his brethren of the presbytery of St. Andrews, continued for several months to support him from his own private purse. Reduced by poverty and disease, the unfortunate prelate, in the year 1591, •uent to the Presbytery of St. Andi-ews a paper
expressive of his i*egret at the com*se he had pur- sued, and desiring to be restored into the church. This is not the same paper which afterwards ap- peared under the title of *Tlie Recantation of Maister Patrick Adamsone,* and which was pub- lished as a pamphlet in 1598. Some of the Epis- copal writers are disposed to deny the genuine- ness of the latter, and it is to be regretted that the proofs of its genuineness are not more com- plete. Adamson died on the 19th Februai-y 1592, and his death was speedily followed by the resto- ration of the presbyterian form of church govern- ment in Scotland. A collection of his Latin poeti- cal translations from the Scriptures was published in a quarto volume in London in 1619, with his Life by his son-in-law, Thomas Wilson, an advo- cate, under the title of Poemata Sacra, Several of his other poems are to be found iu the Dditia Poetarum Scotorum^ tome i., and in the Poetarum Scotorum Mus<b SacrtBy tome ii.
Adamson^s character has been much traduced by contemporary writers, but by none more so than by Robeii; Semple, a minor poet of that day, who wrote a gross and scurrilous work professing to be his life, which he styled ' A Legend of the Biscliop of St. Audrois* Life.' It is thought that this ^ legend' had an effect on the king's mind unfa- vourable to Adamson, but he fell more into dis- grace with his majesty after having been ^^ put to the horn," in 1587, and "denounced rebel," for withholding their stipends from several ministers in his diocese, and " for not furnishing of two gal- lons of wine to the communion."
The following address to his departing soul, written by Adamson in Latin poetiy, in which he so much excelled, is, says Dr. Irving, " as much superior to that of Adrian as Christianity is supe- rior to Paganism :"
0 aDimm ! assidais vits jactata procellis, Esilii, perttesa gravis, nunc lubrica, teinpus R«gna tibi, et mxmdi inTisaa oontemnere sordett : Quippe parens renim caeoo te oorpore olemens Evocat, et verbi cracifixi gratia, ooeli Pandit iter, patrioque beatam limine sistet Progenies Jovis, quo te ooelestis origo Invitat, felix perge, SBtemnmque quiesce. Exuviie camis, oognato in pnlTere vocem Angelicam ezpectent, sonitu quo patro cadnvet Exiliet redirivum, et tottim me tibi reddet
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Ecoe beaU dies ! noe agni dexter* ligno FulgeDtes cnuns, et radiantes sangoine vivo Exdpiei: qnain finna ilHc, qaam cerU oapeeset Gaudia, felioes inter novns inoola dves! AlmeDetu! Densalme! et non eflfttbile numen ! Ad te tmuin et tnnom, moribando pectore anhelo.
Besides the poems and translations already men- tioned, Archbishop Adamson wrote many things which were never published, among which may be mentioned Six books on the Hebrew Republic, various translations of the Prophets into Latin verse, Prelections on St. Paul's Epistles to Timo- thy, various apologetical and funeral oi-ations, and a very candid history of his own times: The following is a list of hb published works:
Catechisnras Latino Carmine Bedditus, et in libroi quatuor digestns. Edin. 1581, 12mo.
Poemata Sacra, cam aHis Opnscnlia, et cam Vita qua; a T. Voloaeno. Lond. 1619, 4to.
De Sacro Pastoris Mnnere Tractatos: cam Vita Aactoris per Th. Voluscnum. Lond. 1619, 4to. 8vo.
Refotatio Libelli de Begimine Eccleais Sooticans. Lond. 1620, 8ro.
Adamsoni Vita et Palinodia. 1620, 4to.
Genethliaoon Jaoobi VI. Regis SootisB, Ang1i» i. Carmine. Amst. 1637, 8vo. Inter Poet Scot vol. L p. 18.
Recantation of Mr. Patrick Adamson, sometime Archbishop of St Andrews in Sootlande. To which is added, his Life in Utin. 1598, 8vo.
Sermons. 1628, 8to.
Agxitiv, the name of an ancient famUj m Wigtonshire, tho head of which was constable of the castle of Loohnaw, and hereditary sheriff of that coonty. See Lociuf aw.
AID AN, the greatest of all the kings of the Scots of Dalriad, a kingdom which formed what is now Argyleshire, was the son of Gabran, or Gav- ran, and succeeded to the throne in 575, on the death of his cousin, Conal I. Ho reigned twenty- four years, according to the celebrated Duan, a Gaelic poem supposed to have been written by the court-bard of Malcolm the third; or thirty-four by the old lists. Duncan the son of Conal seems to have contested the kingdom with him, but he was defeated and slain in battle at a place called Loro in Kintyre. Pinkerton thinks that the Duan dates the commencement of his reign fh)m his unction as king, which Columba long deferred, having a preference for Aidants brother Eogenan or Eugain. The Duan calls him " Aidan of the extended ter- ritories," and he certainly carried the Dalriadic power to a height from which it ever after declined, till Kenneth IT. ascended the PicUsh throne, in
AIDAN.
836, and united the Picte and the Scots. In 579 the battle of Cue agiunst Aidan is mentioned in the annals of Ulster, and in 581 the battle of Ma- nan, (OTlaherty says, the Isle of Mann,) in which he was victor. He also conquered in the battle of Miathorum, or Lethrigh, in 589. In the following year he was at the famous council of Drumkeat in the diocese of Derry in Ulster, consisting of kings, peers, and clergy, summoned by Aid, king of Ire- land, in which council Aidan procured the remis- sion of all homage due by the kings of Dab-iad to those of Ireland. In 594 Aidan's brother Eugain died. In 603, Aidan, who Is styled by Bede, ** the king of the Scots who inhabited Britain,'* marched against Ethelfrid, king of Northumbria, *^ with an immense and strong army," but was conquered, and fled with a few. ^' Forasmuch as," says Bede, ^* in the most famous place which is called Degsa- stone, almost all his ai-my was cut to pieces: In which fight also Theobold, brother of Ethelfrid, with all that army which he himself commanded, was killed." The place where this disastrous bat- tle was fought is now unknown, but it is conjec- tured by Bishop Gibson to have been Dalston near Carlisle, or as Bishop NicoUon supposes, Dawston near Jedburgh. Aidan died in 605, in Kintyre, at an advanced age, and was buried at Kilcheran, where no king was ever buried before. If the date of his death be coirect, he reigned just thirty years. He was succeeded by his son Achy, or Achaius, or Eochoid-buidhe (Eochy the yellow) who reigned for seventeen years. Another son, Conan, was drowned in 622. He had several younger sons. His brother Brandubiiis was king of Leinster. — See PinkertorCi Enquiry^ vol. 2. page 113, and Ritson's Annals of the Caiedonianiy Picts, and Scots, vol. 2, page 39.
AIDAN, bishop of Lindisfame, or Holy Island, in the seventh century, was originally a monk in the monastery of lona, and is said by some to have been a native of Ireland. By his zeal, a large poilion of the northern pait of England was converted to Christianity. In 634, when Oswald became king of the Angll of Northumberland, he sent to Scotland for a missionary, to instruct his subjects in the doctrines and duties of Christianity. Aidan was accordingly consecrated a bishop, and sent to the cx)urt of Oswald, and by his advice.
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30
AILSA.
the episcopal see was removed fi*om York, where it had been fixed by Gregory the Great, to Lin- disfame, a peninsnla adjoining the Northumbrian coast, by a narrow isthmns, called also Holy Island, because it was chiefly inhabited by monks. Here Aidan exercised an extensive jurisdiction, and preached the gospel with great success ; de- riving encouragement and assistance in his labour from the condescending services of the king him- self. On Oswald being killed in battle, Aidan continued to govern the church of Northumber- land under his successors, Oswin and Oswy, who reigned jointly. The following extraordinary in- stance of the bishop*s liberality to the poor is re- lated. Having received a present from King Os- win of a fine horse and rich housings, he met with a beggar, and dismounting, gave him the horse thus caparisoned. When the king expressed some displeasure at this singular act of humanity, and the slight put upon his favour, Aidan quaintly but forcibly asked, " Which do you value most, the son of a mare, or the son of God?'* — the king fell upon his knees and entreated the bishop's forgive- ness. The death of Oswin so much affected him, that he survived him only twelve days, and died m August 1651. He was buried in the church of Liiidisfarne.
AiKMAN, a sumaine, being the same as Oakman. An oak tree was carried in the arms of persons of this surname, and the family of Aikman of Cairney bad for crest an oak tree proper.
AIKMAN, William, an eminent painter, the son of William Aikman of Cairaey, advocate, by Margaret, third sister of Sir John Clerk, of Penny- cuik. Baronet, was born 24th October 1682. He was intended by his father for the law, but the bent of his own mind early led him to painting as a profession. In 1707, after selling off his pater- nal estate, he went to Rome, where he spent three years in studying the great masters, and returned to his native country in 1712, having also visited Constantinople and Smyrna. At first his man- ner was cold, but it afterwards became soft and easy. Ho was particularly happy in giving grace- ful airs and genteel likenesses to the ladies whose portraits he painted. In 1723, being patronized by John, duke of Argyle, he was induced to settle as a portrait -painter in London, where he further
improved his coloming by the study of Sir Godfrey Kneller*s works. His taste and genius introduced him to the acquaintance and friendship of the duke of Devonshire, the earl of Burlington, Sir Robert Walpole, Sir Godfi-ey Kneller, and others. For the earl of Burlington, he painted a large picture of the royal family, which his death prevented him from finishing. It is now in possession of the duke of Devonshire. Aikman manied Marion, daughter of Mr. Lawson of Caimmuir, county of Peebles, by whom he had an only son, John. He died 4th June, O. S. 1731, in his 49th year. His remains, with those of his son, who predeceased him about six months, were removed to Edinburgh, and interred together in the Greyfriars' churcli- yard. An epitaph, by his friend Mallet the poet, was inscribed on his tomb. Several of his portraits are in the possession of the dukes of Hamilton, Argyle, Devonshire, and others. He numbered among his friends Allan Ramsay, who wrote a pastoral farewell to him on his departure for Lon- don, Somerville^ the author of the Chase, and Thomson, the author of the Seasons, who, as well as his friend Mallet, wrote elegiac verses on his death. Mallet's epitaph has been long effaced. Thomson's poem on his death closes with the fol lowing lines:
" A friend, when dead, is but removed from sight, Sunk in the lustre of eternal night; And when the parting storms of life arc o*er, May yet rejoin us on a happier shore. As those we lo\'e decay, we die in part, String after string is severed from the heart, Till loosenM life, at last but breathmg clay, Without one pang is glad to fall away. Unhappy he who latest feels the blow Whose eyes have wept o*er eveiy ftiend laid low, Dnigg*d lingering on from partial death to death,
* Till dying, all he can resign Is breath.**
Aikman was also intimate with Pope, Swift, Arbuthnot, Gay, and most of the wits of Queen Anne's days. His style l)ears a close resemblance to that of Kneller. In the duke of Tuscany*s col- lection of the portraits of paintere done by their own hands, will be found that of Aikman, in the ducal gallery at Florence. — Cunningham's Lives of Painters,
AiLSA, marquis of, a title borne by the ancient family ot Kennedy, earls of Cassillis, conferred in 1831, and taken from
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81
AIRLIE.
the ** craggj ocean pTramkl,** AQaa Cniig, in the month of the frith of Clyde, which is the property of that family. See Cassilus, earl of, and Kennedy.
AINSLIE, RoBEBT, writer to the signet, the friend and correspondent of Robert Bums, was bom 13th January 1766. He was the eldest son of Mr. Ainslie of Damchester, residing at Berry- well, near Dunse, the land agent for Lord Douglas in Berwickshire. He served his apprenticeship with Mr. Samuel Mitchelson, in Carrubber's close, Edinburgh, who was a great musical amateur, and in whose house occurred the famous *^ Haggis scene *' described by Smollett in Humphrey Clink- er. In the spring of 1787, when he had just com- pleted his twentieth year. Bums being at that time in Edinburgh, he was fortunate enough to make his acquaintance, and in May of that year, he and the poet went upon an excursion together into Berwickshire and Teviotdale, when he intro - dnced Bums at his father*s. house, and the recep- tion he received from the family is pleasantly re- ferred to, in his gifted companion's memoranda on this tour. In 1789 Ainslie passed writer to the signet. He afterwards visited Bums at EUisland, when the poet gave him a manuscript copy of Tctm O'SkcMteTy which he presented to Sir Walter Scott. He married a lady named Cunningham, the daugh- ter of a colonel in the Scots Brigade in the Dutch service, by whom he had a numerous family, of whom only two daughters survived him. He had two brothers, and one sister, the latter of whom, whose beauty was highly spoken of by Bums, died before him. One of his brothers, Douglas, suc- ceeded his father as land agent; and the other. Sir Whitelaw Ainslie, is known as the author of an elaborate book on the Materia Medica of India, where he for many years held the situation of medi- cal superintendent of the southem division of India, for which work he was knighted by William IV. Mr. Ainslie died on the 11th April 1838. He was the author of two religious little works, * A Father's Gift to his Children,' and ' Reasons for the Hope that is in Us,' the latter comprising many of the evidences for the trath of Christianity. He was also a contributor to the Edinburgh Magazine, and others of the periodicals, for forty years previous to his death. His disposition was kind and bene- volent, his manners affable and frank, and his
conversation cheerful and abounding in anecdote. Many of Bums' letters to him will be found in the poet's printed correspondence. — Obituary at thi time, — Personal recollections,
AntiJB, earl of, a title posaened by a family of the name of Ogiivy, lineally descended from Gilbert, third son of the first thane of Angas, who fboght at the battle of the Standard in 1188, and obtained from William the Lion the Unds of Powrie, Ogilvy, and Kyneithin, when, as was onstomary in those days, he assumed the name of Ogilry from his barony.
In 1892 Sir Walter Ogilvy of Wester Powrie and Anchter- house, sherifi' of Angos, was sUin with sixty of his foltowera, at Gasklone near Blairgowrie, in endearooring to repel an in- oorsion of the clan Donnochy, or sons of Doncan (the clan now called Bobertson) who had burst down upon the low country fixHn the Grampian mountains.
Among the slain at the battle of Harlaw in 1411, was his eldest son, "the brare lord Ogilvy, of Angus sheriff-prindpal** See OoiLVY, surname of.
Sir Walter Ogilvy, knight, the second son, was in 1425 constituted lord high treasurer of Scotland. In 1480, he became master of the royal household. In the following year he was appointed a commissioner fw renewing the truce with England. In 1484 he attended the princess Margaret into France, on her marriage with the dauphin. By an order from the king he erected the tower or fortalice of Eroly or Airly in Forfarshire, into a royal castle. He married Isabel de Durward, heiress of lintrathen, by whom he acquired that barony. He died in 1440, leaving two sons. From Su: Walter, the younger, sprang the earls of Findlater and Seafield, and tho lords of Banff; see Banff, Futdlater, and Seafirld.
The elder son. Sir John Ogilvy, knight, of Lintrathen, was succeeded by his eldest son Sir James Ogilvy of Airiie, am- bassador from Scotland to Denmark in 1491. By James IV. he was created, 28th April of that year, a peer of pariiament by the title of lord Ogilvy of Airiie. James, the seventh lord Ogilvy, for his loyalty and faithful services to Charles I., was on the 2d April. 1689, created earl of Airiie, Altth, and Lix- TRATHEN. He distinguished himself in the campaigns of the marquis of Montrose, in particular at the battle of Kilsyth in 1646. Nimmo, in his history of Stirlingshire, states, that at the commencement of that engagement, a thousand High- landers in Montrose^s army, without waiting for orders, marched np the hill to attack the enemy. Though displeased with their rashness, Montrose despatched a strong detachment to their assistance, under the command of the eari of Airiie, whose arrival not only preserved this resolute corps from be- ing overpowered by a superior force, but obliged the Coyenant- en to retreat This was the most complete victory Montrose ever gained. The loss on his side was small, only seven or eight persons having been slain, three of whom were Ogilvies, relations of the family of Airiie.
James, the second earl, was taken prisoner at Philiphangh, and sentenced to death, but escaped from the castle of St Andrews, the night before the day of his intended execution, in the clothes of his sister.
David the third earl had two sons; the eldest, James, lord Ogilvy, having engaged in the rel)e11ion of 1715, was attainted of high treason. He was afterwards pardoned, but, dying without issue, he was succeeded by his brother, John, fourth earl. His son David, lord Ogilvy, joined Prince Charies Edward Stuart, at Edinburgh, m 1746, with ax hun- dred men, chiefly of his own name and family. He also was attainted of high treason, but escaped to France, where Iw
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32
AITON.
had the oommaDd of a Scotch regiment in the service of the French king, called Ogilvj^s regiment. Having obtained a free pardon, he retomed to Scotland in 1783, and died in 1803.
The title was for some time in abejanoe. Walter Ogilvy, Ksq. of Airlie, Lord Ogilvj*8 son, styled tlie seventh earl, as- sumed the title in 1812, hnt it was not restored till May 1836, when his son David was confirmed in it by act of par- liament
Airlie castle, "the bonnie house of Airlie** of Scottish song, once the chief residence of the family, was destroyed, with Forthnr, another of their seats, by the marqnis of Ar- gyle, in consequence of an order of the committee of estates, in 1640. The phice had been regarded as almost impregna- ble by nature, and had already, under Lord Ogilvy, eldest son of the proprietor, successfully resisted an attack m'ade by the earls of Montrose and Kinghom, but on the approach of Argyle in 1641, with 5,000 men, the garrison fled, leaving the fortress an easy prey to the Covenanters, who set it on fire, and reduced it to ashes ; Argyle himself, according to tradition, having taken a hammer and assisted in the demo- lition of the doorways and hewing of the stone work, till he waft completely fatigued. The modem house of Airlie, erect- ed upon the ruins of the old castle, is a beautiful mansion, most picturesquely situated upon a peninsnlated rode, at the point where the river Melgam forms a junction with the Isla. A fragment of the old castle remains, consisting of an old strong gateway and part of a tower.
AiSTH, a dormant earldom in the peerage of Scotland, for- merly possessed by a branch of the noble family of Graham, conferred in 1633 on William, seventh earl of Menteith, de- scended firom Sir Patrick Graham of Kincardine, the brother of Sir John the Graham, the faithful companion and "right hand " of Wallace, who was slain at the battle of FaUdrk. Sir Patrick had previously fallen at Dunbar. The grandson of the latter. Sir David Graham, styled in a royal charter, witnessed by him in 1360, of Old Montrose, was the ancestor of the dukes of Montrose of the name of Graham. See Mon- trose, dukes of, and Graham, surname of. His only son. Sir Patrick Graham, styled Domimu de DundafTet Kincardine, acted a distinguished part In the reigns of David Bruce and Robert IL The eldest son of the ktter, by a second mar- riage. Sir Patrick Graham of Elieston and Kilpont, married Eupheme, the sole heiress of Prince David Stewart, eari of Stratheam, and acquired that title. He was killed near Criefl' in 1413, by the steward of Stratheam, Sir John Drummond, of Concraig. His son Malise was by James I. in Sept. 1427 created earl of Menteith or MonteiUi in h'eu of Stratheam. His descendant and representative William, seventh earl of this line, having attempted to resume the earidom of Strath- eam, was by Charles I. deprived both of it and the earldom of Menteith ; but to compensate him for the loss, he created him earl of Auth, as ahtsady mentioned, with precedence equal to what he had enjoyed as earl of Menteith, in which earldom he was afterwax^ reinstated. Kilpont was the ba- ronial title of the family. It seems to have been selected as marking their descent from the stem of Kincardine, subse- quently Montrose. The tower of Airth, in Stirlingshire, is famous for an assault made upon it by Sir \^^lliam Walhuse, when held by an English garrison, whom he put to the sword. The square tower which makes a part of the present house of Airth, upon tho west, is said to be the same in which that bloody exploit was performed. [Mmtiu)** HtMtory of SHr- Hngihire—Siirlmg'i edition^ 1817, page 170.] The title of eari of Airth has been dormant since the death of William, second ear. of Airth and Menteith in 1694. It was claimed by
I Robert Barclay Allardyce, Esq. of Urle and Allardyce, whu died m 1856. See Menteith.
AUKEN, John, for some time editor of Con- stable's Miscellany, was bom on 25th March 1798, in the Tillage of Camelon, Stirlingshire. His first situation was in the East Lothian bank, and soon after he was sent to the banking office of Mr. Park, Selkirk, brother of Mungo Park the traveller, where he remained for several years. He was afterwards appointed teller in the East Lothian bank, where he had formerly been. He sub- sequently removed to Edinburgh, and became a bookseller. Having early displayed a predilection for literature, he now resolved to follow the bent of bis mind, and commenced editing ' The Cabi- net,* an elegant selection of pieces in prose and verse, three volumes of which were published. The taste and judgment evinced in this publica- tion recommended him to Mr. Archibald Consta- ble, as the fittest peraon to undertake the editor- ship of his Miscellany ; and though for a time the failure of Messrs. Constable and Company postponed the publication, when the work at last appeared, it was under Mr. Aitken^s manage- ment. On the death of Mr. Constable, he, in con- junction with Mr. Heniy Constable and Messrs. Hurst, Chance, and Company, Ix)ndon, purchased the work, and continued editor till 1881, when some new arrangements rendered his retirement necessary. He afterwards became a printer on his own account, with some prospect of success ; but having caught cold, which produced erysipelas in the head, he died on the 15th of February 1888, in the 89th year of his age, leaving a widow and four children. Mr. Aitken wrote a few pieces of poetry of uncommon beauty and sensibility ; of these, perhaps the most touching is the address to his children, prefixed to the third series of the Cabinet. — Obituary at the time.
ArroN, — for the origm of the name of Alton, see Ayton.
AITON, William, styled the Scottish Linnsus, was bom in 1781, at a village near Hamilton. Going to England in 1754, he was employed as an assistant in the Physic gardens at Chelsea, under Philip Miller, the superintendent, on whose recom- mendation he was in 1759 appointed head gar- dener to the Royal botanical garden at Kew, and became a great favourite with George HI. In
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1783 he obtained also the appointment of super- intendent of the pleasure-grounds at Kew. He introduced a number of improvements into the Rojal gardens, and formed there one of the best collections of rare exotic plants then known, a catalogue of which, with the title, Hortus Kewensis, was published in 1789 in 3 vols. 8vo, containing an enumeration of between five and six thousand species, with thirteen plates. He died in 1793, of a schirrus in the liver, and his son, William Townsend Alton, was nominated by the king him- self his successor. Mr. Alton's publications are .
Hortos Kewenns: or a Catalogne of the Plants cnltivated in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, illustrated with £n- granngs. Lond. 1789, 8 vols. 8vo.
New Edition enlaxged. Lond. 1810-13, 5 vols. 8vo.
An Epitome of 2d. edit. Lond. 1814, 8vo.
Albaxt, duke of, a title formerly given to a prince of the blood-royal of Scotland, — Albany, Albion, or Albinn, being the ancient Gaelic name of North Britain, and until the time of Caesar the original appellation of the whole island. The Scottish Highlanders denominate themselves * Gael Al- binn,* or Albinnidi, or Albainach. The name Albany is evi- dently derived from the Pictish word Albtmy " the superior height,** and is now applied to the extensive mountainous dis- trict comprising Appin and Glenorchy in Argyleshirc, Athol and Breadalbane in Perthshire, and a part of Lochaber in Invemess-sfaire. The title of duke of Albany was first con- ferred on the regent Robert, earl of Fife, son of Robert XL
' Since the Union, it has always been borne by the king's sec- ond son, by creation, and was last held, as a secondary title, by the late duke of York, son of George III. The history of Scotland mentions four dukes of Albany who made a
' ' figure ni their time; whom, in consequence of their relation to the royal family of Scotland, we maert here, rather than under the family name of Stuart
ALBANY, Robert, first duke of, the thurd son of Robert n. the first of the Stuarts, by his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Adam Mure of Rowallan in Ayrshire. He was born in 1339. He obtained the earldom of Menteith by his mar- riage with Margaret, countess of Menteith, and afterwards in 1371 that of Fife, on the i*esignatiou of that earldom into the king's hands in his favour by Isobel, countess of Fife, the widow of his eld- est brother Walter, who had died young, without issue. He was accordingly thereafter styled earl of Fife and Menteith. In the years 1371 and 1372, he presided at the courts of redress for settling differences on the marches. In 1383 he was appointed great chamberlain of Scotland, which office he resigned in 1408, in favour of his son
John, earl of Bnchan. In 1385, accompanied by the earl of Douglas, and John de Vieune, admii-a. of France, who was then in Scotland, and a body of French auxiliaries, he marched with an army of 30,000 men towards Roxburgh, at that time in the hands of the English. Proceeding into Eng- land they took the castle of Wark in Northumber- land, and ravaged the country from Berwick to Newcastle ; but on the approach of the duke of Lancaster, they resolved to return to Scotland. On their way back, they sat down before Rox- burgh, but were obliged soon to raise the siege. On the invasion of Scotland by the English, the earls of Fife and Douglas, and Archibald lord of Galloway, made an incursion on the west borders, as far as Cockermouth, spoiling the rich country between the Fells of Cumberland and the sea, and returned with several prisoners and abundance of plunder. The talents of the earl of Fife, it is stated, were so highly prized, that the principal youth of Scotland flocked eagerly to his standard. In the summer of 1388, when Douglas invaded England on the ea<^t, and fell at Otterboume, the earl of Fife, with his brother the earl of Stratheam, entered that kingdom on the west, and after pass- ing towards Carlisle, returned by Solway, without sustaining any loss.
In 1389, in consequence of the advanced age of the king his father, and the bodily infii-mity of his elder brother, the earl of Carrick, afterwards Ro- bert III., who had been rendered lame in eariy youth by the kick of a horse, the earl of Kfe was, by the three estates of the realm, appointed gov- ernor of the kingdom. Desirous of signalizing the commencement of his administration, he raised an army, and advanced against the earl of Not- tingham, marshal of England, warden of the east marches, who, after the battle of Otterboume, had boasted that he hoped to conquer the Scots, even though opposed by a force double his own num- bers. On the approach of the regent and the new earl of Douglas, however, instead of giving battle, he posted his men in a secure and inaccessible place, and refused to stand the hazard of a. fight; and the Scots army, after waiting half-a-day, with banners displayed in sight of the foe, returned home, wasting and destroying the country. A truce was agi-eed to the same year, 1389. In 0
I
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April of the following year his father died, and his elder brother John succeeded to the throne, when he took the name of Robert II L, that of John being considered inauspicious. The new khig, besides being lame, was of a quiet disposition and had no strength of mind, and the management of public affairs was continued in the hands of the earl of Fife. His nephew, however, Prince David, carl of Carriek, conceiving that, as heir-apparent to the crown, he was entitled, in preference to his uncle, to be at the head of the administration, had the addi*ess to compel his retirement from the office of governor, and to get himself named regent in his place, under the condition that he should act by the advice of a council, of whom his uncle was the principal. In March 1398 Albany and his nephew Prince David had a meeting at a place called Haudenstank, with John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and other English commissioners, for settling mutual differences; and it is supposed that, on this occasion, Lancaster, from his superior title of duke, claimed some precedence not relislied by the prince and his uncle ; for this year the first introduction of the ducal title into Scotland took place, tlie earl of Carriek, the king^s son, being ci*eated duke of Rothesay, and the eai'l of Fife, the king^s brother, duke of Albany. According to For- dun, these titles were confeiTcd in a solemn council held at Scone, April 28, 1398. In 1400, when Henry IV. of England invaded Scotland, Albany assem- bled an army to oppose that monai*ch. Henry took Haddington and Leith, and laid siege to the castle of Edinburgh, at which time William Napier of Wrightshouses was constable of the castle. With the aid of Archibald, earl of Douglas, and the duke of Rothesay, at this time governor of the khig- dom, he maintained that important fortress against the whole English army, which was numerous and well appointed. In accordance with the chivalrous eustom of the times, Rothesay, who was not want- ing in courage, though frequently charged with im- prudence, sent King Henry a knightly challenge to meet him where he pleased, with a hundi*cd nobles on each side, and so to determine the quarrel, but the English king was not disposed to give him this advantage, and sent back an equivocating verbal reply. He then sat down with his numerous host before the castle, till cold and rain, and the want of
provisions, as the inhabitants had, as usual in those days, taken care to remove every thing that the invaders could lay their hands on from their reach, compelled him to raise the siege and hastily re- cross the Border, without his visit being produc- tive of much injury either in his progress or retreat. On his part the duke of Albany, whose ambition was equal to his ability, desirous of having the gov- ernment to himself, permitted the enemy to with- draw without molestation, and obtained much praise from them for his clemency to all who sur- rendered.
Two years afterwai'ds occurred the tragic death of the duke of Rothesay, which left a dark cloud of suspicion on his uncle*s name, and the mys- teiy attendant on which has never been satisfac- torily cleared up. The circumstances of his death ai'e rotated by Boece, who attaches the guilt of murder distinctly to Albany, but the love of the maiTellous which is so prominent in this writer as to make even Tytler call him the most apocryphal of Scottish historians, may be supposed to have led him to give a high colouring to his narrative, which the subsequent unpopulai-ity of Albany and the dis- favour into which his memory fell with the Scot- tish court, would not diminish. After mentioning the death of the young duke's mother. Queen An- nabella Drummond, his narrative thus proceeds : ^* Be quhais deith, succedit grot displeseir to hir son, David, duk of Rothesay; for, during hir life, he. wes haldin in virtews and honest occupatioun, eftir hir deith, he began to rage in all maner of inso- lence; and fulyeit virginis, matronis, and nunnis, be his unbridillit lust. At last. King Robert, in- formit of his young and insolent maneris, send letteris to his brothir, the duk of Albany, to inter- tene his said son, the duk of Rothesay, and to Icir [learn] him honest and civill maneris. The duk of Albany, glaid of thir writtingis, tuk the duk of Rothesay betwixt Dunde and Sanct Androis, and bix>cht him to Falkland, and inclusit [enclosed] him in the tour thairof, but [without] ony meit or drink. It is said, ane woman, havand commisera- tioun on this duk, leit meill fall down throw the loftis of the tom*e ; be qullkis, his life wes certane day is savit. This woman, fra it wes knawin, wes put to deith. On the same maner, ane othir wo- man gaif him milk of hh- paup, throw ane lang
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reid ; and wes slane with gret craelte, fra i% wes knawin. Than wes the duk destitnte of all mor- tall snpplie ; and brocht, finalie, to sa miserable and hungry-appetite, that he eit, nocht allanerlie [not only] the filth of the toure quhare he wes, bot his awin fingaris; to his great marterdome. His body wes beryit in Lnndoris, and kithit mira- klis mony yeris eftir; qabil [till], at last King James the First began to punls his slayerls ; and fra that time forth, the miradis ceissit.*' The melancholy death of the dake of Rothesay forms one of the most -effective incidents in Sir Walter Scott's popular novel of 'The Fair Maid of Perth,' in which the characters of the young prince, of his weak-minded father Robert the Third, and of his uncle the regent duke of Albany, are drawn with great faithfulness and power.
It would appear that the duke of Rothesay, who was of a wild and thoughtless disposition, and little qualified for a charge so important as that of regent of the kingdom, had alienated the affections of all whom he ought to have courted and conciliated. He had in early life been affi- anced to his own CQusin, the beautiful Euphemia dc Lindsay, sister of Sir William de Lindsay of Rossie and of David earl of Crawford, — he slighted her for Elizabeth Dunbar, sister of the earl of March and Dunbar, to whom he was solemnly contracted, — and her again for Marjory Douglas daughter of the brave but unfortunate Archibald earl of Douglas sumamed the Tmeman^ — ^whom he ultimately maiTied. The consequence was the deadly enmity of the earl of March and Sir Wil- liam Rossie, the latter — in absence of the earl of Crawford in Spain — the representative of the house of Lindsay. More recently he had ofiended his father-in-law, the earl of Douglas, by personal affironts and neglect of his daughter, and by his shameful debaucheries and vicious courses with other women. He had disgusted and insulted one of his own immediate followers. Sir William Ra- morgny, a man of highly polished manners, but of a revengeful heart. He conceived a strong desire to effect the overthrow of Albany, which he was at no pains to conceal, and was guilty of repeated excesses which rendered his being placed nnder some restraint a matter of neces- sity.
On his suspension from the office of governor, it was suggested by Sir William Lindsay and Ra- morgny to the prince, in order to facilitate his cap- ture, that he should ride to St. Andi'ews — the bishop of which had just died, — and keep the castle for the king's interest. He set off with a small train, but was intercepted by them, and conveyed a prisoner to the castle. Albany, and his father-in-law Douglas, then at Culross, presently an-ived, and after holding a council of the regency, it was de- cided to transport the unfortunate prince to Falk- land, where he was placed nnder the custody of two individuals called Wright and Selkuk. The rest of the story we have given in the woi'ds of Boece. The tale contains matter that is fabulous and untrue as well as revolting and improbable. All the parties named by the tradition as the mur- derers in chief we know to have died a natural death, except the gallant Douglas, who fell at the battle of Vemenil. If the remains of the prince could have wrought miracles at all, there was no truth therefore in the reason assigned why the faculty had ceased. After a life so dissipated, it is not improbable that the account given by Bower, the continuator of Fordnn, may have had foundation, namely, that the young prince really died of dysentery, and to this view of the case the filthy details of Boece would rather seem to give some countenance. It is singular that Wyn- toun, the earliest naiTator of the event, says no- thing whatever of the alleged murder. At the time of his death, he was in his 29th yeafi having been born in 1373. — See Rothesay, duke of.
The mysterious death of the heir to the crown having excited great attention, a parliament met at Edinburgh on the 16th May after, to investigate the matter, when Albany and the earl of Douglas acknowledged having imprisoned tiieduke of Rothe- say, but denied being guilty of his death, attribut- ing it to divine providence. These statements appear to have induced the parliament to de- clare him innocent of the murder, while at the same time he sought to make himself legally se- cure by taking out a remission under the great seal for the imprisonment, both for himself and for Douglas. This remission, which is in Latin, was first printed by Lord Hailes, but it does not follow from the concluding remark of his comment, as
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Pinkerton says, that ho considered the prince as having been murdered; namely, "The duke of Albany and the earl of Douglas obtained a remis- sion in terms as ample as if they had actually murdered the heir apparent/' On the capital of the pillar of the old chapel of St. Giles' cathedral at Edinburgh are still to be seen sculptured the arms of Robert duke of Albany, and those of Archibald, fourth earl of Douglas, the father-in- law of Rothesay, the former on the south and the latter on the north side, and the author .of ^ Me- morials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time ' infers from this fact that this chapel had been founded and endowed by them, as an expiatory offering for the murder of the duke of Rothesay, and its chaplain probably appointed to say masses for their victim's soul. IWilson's Memorials ofEdtn- burgh, vol. ii. page 168.] The friendship which subsisted between Albany and Douglas seems a more likely reason why their arms should have been thus placed together, than any thing in con- nection with the death of the young and wilful prince, that could be imputed to either of them.
Soon after the death of Rothesay, Albany, in order to turn the attention of the nation into another channel, gave his consent for the renewal of hostile operations against England. Two Scot- tish armies were successively marched across the Borders, but both were defeated and dispersed, the first at the battle of Nesbit Moor, fought on the 22d June 1402, and the other at Homeldon hill, on the 14th September of that year, when the celebrated Hotspur gained the victory. In the latter the leaders of the Scots, Murdoch earl of Fife, eldest son of the regent Albany, with the earl of Douglas, his friend and supposed accom- plice in the death of Rothesay, and eighty knights, and a crowd of esquires and pages, were taken prisoners, while not only among those slain but m the list of the captives, were many of that party which supported the king and his young son Prince James, against the encroaching power of Albany, whom they believed to be the murderer of his nephew the duke of Rothesay. Soon after the- battle of Homeldon, the Percies, who by this time had become dissatisfied with the monarch whom they had placed upon the English thi*one, began to organise that famous rebellion which terminated
with the defeat and death of Hotspur in the battle of Shrewsbury, in which they wei*e aided by their prisoner the earl of Douglas. As a pi*etext for assembling an army they pretended an invasion of Scotland, and the duke of Albany, influenced probably by the example and advice of Douglas, and hoping that the kingdom would benefit by their services, readily gave in to their designs At the head of a large aimy Peix^y advanced across the Border, but had only marched a few miles into Scotland, when he commanded his forces to halt before the insignifieant border-tower of Cocklaws, but the officer commanding the tower having entered into an agi*eement to capitulate in six weeks if not relieved, the whole English army retired. On receiving information of this, Albany assembled the principal of the nobility, and hav- ing explained to them the circumstances, advised an immediate expedition into England. The Scottish barons, who had been amazed at Al- bany's former lukewarmness and inactivity, when the capital had been invaded by Henry IV. in person and the principal castle of the kingdom was in danger of falling into his hands, were now overwhelmed with astonishment at the sudden blaze of bravery which seemed to animate his breast when a paltry Border fortress was threat- ened by the English. "All were of opinion," says Bower, " without a single dissentient voice, that, upon so trivial an occasion it would be ab- surd to peril the welfare of the kingdom ; but Al- bany starting up, and pointing to his page, who held his horse at a little distance; *You, my lords,' said he, ^ may sit still at home; but I vow to God and St. Fillan that I shall be at Cocklaws on the appointed day, though no one but Pate Klnbuck, the boy yonder, should accompany me.' " The wai'like resolution of the governor was hailed with gi-eat joy. "Never," says the historian, " did men more joyfully proceed to a feast, than they to collect their vassals." At the head of an immense army, Albany advanced to the Borders, but on his mnreh, a messenger from England brought the intelligence of the result of the battle of Shrewsbury and the termination of the rebel lion in England. This, however, did not deter him from pushing on to Cocklaws, and suiTOund- ing the fortalice with his troops, and after causing
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it to be proclumed by a herald that the Fercies had been utterly defeated, and so relieved the fortress, ho returned, without entering England, with his army, which he immediately disbanded.
In the meantime, the afflicted monarch, Robert HI., resolved to send his second son James, then in his eleventh year, to France for gieater security ; but the vessel in which he sailed hav- ing been driven by a storm on the coast of Eng- land, was taken by an English cruiser, and the youthful prince, although there was a truce at the time between the two kingdoms, was ungenerously detained a prisoner by Henry TV. for nineteen years.
Robert ITT. died of a broken heart, 4th April, 1406, and the duke of Albany, in the absence of James, was, by a parliament which met at Ferth, confirmed in the regency. He was then ap- proaching his seventieth year, but vigorous, poli- tic, and ambitious as ever. During his regency occurred the famous battle of Harlaw, which was fought in 1411, between his nephew Alexan- der, eaii of Mar, and Donald lord of the Isles, the cause of which was ostensibly the earldom of Ross, to which the lord of the Isles laid claim in right of his wife, but there can be no doubt that this claim and his subsequent invasion of the district of Ross, formed merely a pretext, which was intended to conceal his ulterior views on the tfirone itself. It appears that the male line of the possessors of this earldom had become extinct, and the succession had devolved upon a female, Euphemia Ross, the wife of Sir Walter Lesley, by whom she had a son, Alexander, who succeeded as earl of Ross, and a daughter, Margaret, married to Donald of the Isles. The countess of Ross, on the death of her husband, mamed Alexander earl of Bnchan, fourth son of King Robert II. Her son by her first marriage, Alexander earl of Ross, man-ied Lady Isabel Stewart, eldest daughter of the regent Albany, and the only issue of this mar- riage was a daughter, also named Euphemia, countess of Ross, at her father's death. This lady became a nun, and committed the government of her earldom to Albany, with the intention, as it is conjectured, of resigning it in favour of her un- cle, John Stewart, earl of Buchan, the second son of the regent. As the countess Euphemia, by be-
coming a nun, was regarded as dead in law, her next heir was her aunt Margaret, the only sister of the deceased Alexander, eari of Ross, and the wife of Donald lord of the Isles. That diieftain accordingly asserted her right to the earldom, and demanded to be put in possession of it. The claim and the demand were both rejected by the regent, "whose principal object," says Skene, "appears to have been to prevent the accession of so exten- sive a district to the territories of the lord of the Isles, already too powerful for the security of the government, and whose conduct was more actu- ated by principles of expediency than of justice." [History of the Highlanders^ vol. ii. p. 72.] Re- solved to maintain his claims by force of arms, and show his scorn of the authority of the regent, Donald formed an alliance with Henry IV. of Eng- land, and at the head of ten thousand men, which ho had raised in the Hebrides and in the earldom of Ross itself, suddenly invaded the district in dispute, by the inhabitants of which he was not opposed, and speedily obtained possession of the earldom. On his arrival at Dingwall, however, he was encountered by Angus Dow Mackay of Farr, or Black Angus, as he was called, at the head of a large body of men from Sutherland. After a fierce attack the Mackays were completely routed, and their leader taken prisoner, while An- gus* brother Roderick was killed. Donald took possession of the castle of Dingwall, and seized the island of Skye, contiguous to his own extensive territories. Flushed with success, he now re- solved, in accordance with )^ secret design of overturning the government, to carry into execu- tion a threat he had often made to bura the town of Aberdeen. He ordered the army to assemble at Inverness, and gathering as he proceeded all the men capable of bearing arms to his standai'd, he swept through Moray without opposition, and penetrated into Aberdeenshire. In Strathbogie, and in the district of Garioch, which belonged to the enrl of Mar, he committed great excesses. To arrest his progress, the earl of Mar, the ne- phew of the regent, and Sir Alexander Ogilvy, the sheriff of Angus, hastily raised as many forces as they could collect in the counties north of the Tay, consisting of most of the retainers of the an- cient families of these counties, the Ogilvies, tho
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Lyons, the Maules, the Carnegies, the Lindsays, the Leslies, the Hurrays, tlie Straitens, the Ir- vings, the Arbnthnots, the Leiths, the Bnmets, and othera, led by their respective chiefs. The two armies met at the village of Harlaw, in the parish of Chapel of Gai'ioch, upwards of fifteen miles from Aberdeen. Although the earl of Mar's army was inferior in point of numbers to that of the lord of the Isles, it was composed of low- land gentlemen, better armed and disciplined than the wild and disorderly hordes that followed Donald, who was assisted by Mackintosh and Maclean, and other Highland chiefs, all bearing the most deadly hatred to their Saxon foes. This memorable battle was fought on the 24th July, 1411, "upon the issue of which," says Skene, ** seemed to depend the question of whether the Gaelic or Teutonic part of the population of Scot- land were in future to have the supremacy." IHistaty of ilie HighlcmderSy vol. ii. page 73.] The disastrous result of this battle was one of the greatest misfortunes which had ever happened to the numerous respectable families in Angus and the Meams. The earl