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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 A-4 
 
 ■^^ 
 
 Uhr
 
 THE MONROS OF AUCHINBOWIE
 
 THE MONROS 
 
 OF AUCHINBOWIE 
 
 AND COGNATE FAMILIES 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN ALEXANDER INGLIS 
 
 EDINBURGH 
 
 PRIVATELY PRINTED BY T. AND A. CONSTABLE 
 
 PRINTERS TO HIS MAJESTY 
 
 1911
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 My object has been to trace and arrange as accurately as 
 possible the historical material relating to a branch of the 
 Monro family, which I have called for convenience the 
 ' Monros of Auchinbowie.' 
 
 As I have made a full disclosure of my authorities, and 
 have provided a copious index, I hope the book may be 
 useful to other workers in the field of genealogy. 
 
 I have included the Binning family, as they were direct 
 ancestors of Mrs. Alexander Monro (Secundus), whose younger 
 son, David, inherited the family name and traditions from 
 his cousin, William Binning, the last of his race. 
 
 The last five chapters deal with the Scotts of Bavelaw 
 and the Boyds of Kipps and of Temple. They also were 
 direct ancestors of the later Monros through the Binnings, 
 and though I have little to offer except the bare facts of 
 genealogy and land-transfer, I have included them for the 
 sake of completeness. 
 
 I must gratefully acknowledge the kindness of my friend, 
 Mr. James Steuart, W.S., who read my manuscript, and 
 made several valuable suggestions. 
 
 Bioinedieal 
 
 19U
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAP. TKOt 
 
 I. THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE MONROS ... 1 
 
 II. SIR ALEXANDER MONRO OF BEARCROFTS ... 10 
 
 m. COLONEL GEORGE MONRO OF AUCHINBOWIE AND HIS 
 
 DESCENDANTS 37 
 
 rV. JOHN MONRO, SURGEON IN EDINBURGH ... 64 
 
 V. PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) ... 57 
 
 VI. SIR DONALD MACDONALD OF SLEAT .... 78 
 
 VII. JOHN MONRO OF AUCHINBOWIE, ADVOCATE . . .83 
 
 Vni. DR. DONALD MONRO 87 
 
 IX. PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) . . 89 
 
 X. PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (TEBTIUS) . . Ill 
 
 XI. DR. JAMES CARMICHAEL-SMYTH . . . .120 
 
 XIL DAVID MONRO BINNING AND HIS DESCENDANTS . 122 
 
 XIIL THE FAMILY OF PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 {TERTIUS) 126 
 
 XIV. THE BINNINGS OF WALLYFORD . . . .134 
 
 XV. SIR WILLIAM BINNING 141 
 
 XVL CHARLES BINNING OF PILMUIR . . . .152 
 
 XVIL THE MONTGOMERYS OF BROOMLANDS . . .158 
 
 XVIIL THE SCOTTS OF BAVELA.W . ' . . . .166
 
 viii CONTENTS 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 XIX. LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG, DIED 1637 
 XX. LAURENCE SCOTT OF BAVELAW, DIED 1669 
 XXL THE BOYDS OF KIPPS .... 
 XXII. STEPHEN BOYD OF TEMPLE 
 
 INDEX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 170 
 187 
 195 
 207 
 211
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 1. auchinbowie .... 
 
 2. John Monro .... 
 
 3. Professor Alexander Monro (Primus) 
 i. Mrs. George Home of Argaty . 
 
 5. Professor Alexander Monro (Secundus) 
 
 6. Mrs. Alexander Monro (Secundus) 
 
 7. Professor Alexander Monro (Tertius) 
 
 8. Mrs. Alexander Monro (Tertius) 
 
 9. Bavelaw ..... 
 
 Nos. 2, 6, and 7 are from pictures belonging to Major George Monro, 
 No. i is from, a picture belonging to A. IF. Monro of Auchin- 
 hcywie, Nos. 3, .5, and 8 are from engravings. 
 
 47 
 54 
 57 
 84 
 89 
 107 
 
 in 
 
 119 
 174 
 
 COATS OF ARMS 
 
 1. Sir Alexander Monro . 
 
 2. Sir Donald Macdonald . 
 
 3. Professor Alexander Monro (Secundus) 
 
 4. Sir William Binning 
 
 5. George Montgomery of Broomlands . 
 a. Laurence Scott of Bavelaw 
 
 Title-page 
 
 PAGE 
 
 78 
 107 
 135 
 163 
 166 
 
 1. Monro 
 
 2. Binning 
 
 3. Scott 
 
 4. Boyd 
 
 b 
 
 PEDIGREES 
 
 8 
 
 132 
 164 
 194
 
 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE NOTES 
 
 Books of C. and S. = Books of Council and Session. 
 
 G. R. S. = General Register of Sasines. 
 
 P. R. S. = Particular Register of Sasines. 
 
 P. C. R. = Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. 
 
 R. M. S. = Registrum Magni Sigilli, Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. 
 
 R. P. S. = Register of the Privy Seal.
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE MONROS 
 
 The home of the clan Miinro is a district lying into the 
 Mackenzie country on the north shore of the Cromarty Firth. 
 The chief seat of the clan is, and has been since the beginning 
 of the twelfth century, the Castle of FouUs, and the Barons 
 of FouHs trace their descent from Hugh Munro, who died 
 about 1126. 
 
 The branch of the family which includes Sir Alexander 
 Monro of Bearcrofts and the Monros of Auchinbowie is said 
 to have sprung from John Monro of Milntown, son of Hugh 
 Munro, ninth Baron of Foulis. The Milntown family are the 
 senior cadets of the clan, and their descendants are distin- 
 guished from the other branches by the speUing of the name 
 ' Monro.' Milntown lies on the Bay of Nigg near the site of 
 the present Tarbat House. 
 
 John Monro, who lost an arm at a clan fight between the 
 Munros and the Mackintoshes at Clachnaharry in 1454, is 
 described as ' a bold, forward, daring gentleman, esteemed 
 by his sovereign and loved by his friends.' ^ He died about 
 1475, and was succeeded by his elder son, Andrew Mor 
 Monro, ' a bold, austere and gallant gentleman, esteemed 
 by his friends and a terror to his enemies.' 
 
 About the year 1500 Andrew built the castle of Mihitown 
 in spite of the opposition of his neighbours, the Rosses of 
 Balnagown. ' John Earl of Sutherland went himself in 
 person to defend them [the Monros] from Balnagown's brag- 
 
 ' Mackenzie, History of (he. Munros, pp. 265-76. 
 
 A
 
 2 EARLY HISTORY 
 
 gings . . . which kindness the Monros of Mihitown do acknow- 
 ledge to this day.' ^ The Kalendar of Fearn says : ' On the 
 12th of May 1642 the house of Milntown was neghgently 
 burnt by ane keai's [jackdaw's] nest.' Only the vaults remain. 
 
 Andrew died in 1501, and was succeeded by his son, 
 Andrew Beg Monro, the Black Baron, who lives in tradition 
 as a cruel, bloodthirsty sensualist. He greatly increased his 
 possessions in the county of Ross, his most important pur- 
 chase being in 1505, when he obtained a charter of the lands 
 of Dalcarty, Dochcarty or Dawachcarty near Dingwall.^ In 
 1512 he was appointed by James iv. to be Chief Maor of the 
 Earldom of Ross.^ 
 
 Black Andrew married * Euphemia, daughter of James 
 Dunbar of Tarbat and Ballone Castle, Easter Ross, and had 
 at least three sons. He died at Milntown before 1522, ' in 
 great extravagance and confusion,' and was buried at the 
 church of Kilmuir Easter. 
 
 George Monro of Milntown and Dalcarty, his eldest son 
 and successor, was appointed in 1556 to be Custumar^ (collector 
 of customs) of Inverness, Ross, Sutherland and Caithness, 
 and in 1560 to be Bailie and Chamberlain of the Crown lands 
 and lordships of Ross and Cromarty. He held these offices 
 tiU his death. In 1543 he acquired ^ from John Bisset, 
 Chaplain of Newmore, the lands of Newmore, about five 
 miles west of Milntown, and in 1570 disponed '' them to his 
 eldest son, Andrew. In 1559 he obtained a charter in favour 
 of himseK and his third son, Donald, from Sir Robert Melville, 
 Chaplain of Tarlogie, of the lands of Tarlogie, two miles north- 
 west of Tain. 
 
 1 Sir Robert Gordon, Earldom of Sutherland, p. 146. 
 
 " R.M.S., 1424-1513, No. 2830. 
 
 3 lb.. No. 3746. 
 
 * Macfarlanes Genealogical Collections (Scot. Hist. Soc), i. 194. 
 
 ' Exchequer Rolls, vols. xix. and xx. 
 
 « R. P. 8., fol. 14-15. 
 
 ' Old Rosshire, W. Macgill, No. 25.
 
 EARLY HISTORY 3 
 
 Greorge Monro married Janet, daughter of James Fraser 
 of Phopachy, and had at least three sons and three daughters. 
 He died at Milntown on November 1, 1576, and was buried 
 at Kihnuir Easter. Andrew, the eldest son, carried on the 
 line of Milntown, Newmore and Dalcarty, but the family 
 with which we are concerned are descended from George, one 
 of the younger sons. 
 
 George Monro was educated at Aberdeen for the ministry, 
 and became one of the leaders of the Reformed Church in 
 the north. On December 21, 1570 he was appointed by 
 James vi. to the chaplaincy of Newmore ' with provision that 
 he continue his study quhill he be able to administrat the 
 Word of God.' ^ In the following year he became Minister 
 of Suddie and Chancellor of Ross, the parish of Kinnetas 
 being also in his charge during 1574. His stipend that year 
 was £173, 6s. 8d. Scots, out of which he had to pay two readers 
 20 merks each ; ^ in 1576, when he had Suddie alone, it was 
 £125, lis. Id. From 1590 to 1593 he was Minister of Tarbat, 
 his stipend being £200.^ He retxirned to Suddie in 1594, 
 but was translated to Rosemarkie in 1597, and two years 
 later to Chanonry, holding the latter benefice till his death 
 in 1630, and retaining Suddie till 1601. 
 
 Mr. George Monro was elected to the General Assembly 
 on many occasions between 1581 and 1610. In 1581 and 
 1582 he was appointed ^ by the General Assembly to serve 
 on a deputation for the erection of presbyteries in Ross, 
 Sutherland, and Caithness. In 1586 and 1591 he was ap- 
 pointed to be commissioner of the synod of Ross with a 
 general oversight of the churches within these limits, his 
 ' fie ' being £100 per annum payable out of the emoluments 
 
 1 Scott's Fasti, iii. 274, 284. 
 
 * Wodrow Miscellany, i. 336 ; Register of Ministers (Maitland Club), p. 90. 
 3 Old Bosshire, W. MacgiU, No. 45. 
 
 * Book of the UniversaU Kirk (Bannatyne Club), ii. 530, 531, 566, 699.
 
 4 EARLY HISTORY 
 
 of the old bishopric of Ross.^ In 1588 he was appointed ^ 
 commissioner to visit Orkney, ' where the Jesuits and Papists 
 chiefly resort, and therein to plant kirks with qualified mini- 
 sters, depose and deprive such as be unqualified, whether in 
 life or doctrine, as well bishops as others of the ministry ; to 
 crave of all men, as well of high estate as others, subscription 
 to the Confession of Faith, and participation of the Lord's 
 Supper ; to try, call and conveen papists and apostates, and 
 proceed against them conform to the Acts of the Assembly ; 
 and finally to do all other things that are necessary for 
 reformation of the said bounds and reducing them to a good 
 order, establishment of the Evangel and good discipUne of 
 the Kirk.' 
 
 In March 1589-90 he was appointed by the Privy Council 
 to be one of the special clerical commissioners in the shires 
 of Inverness and Cromarty to summon the lieges and take 
 their subscriptions to the Confession of Faith and to the 
 general band ' tuicheing the mantenance and defens of the 
 said trew religiomi, his Majesteis persone and estate, and 
 withstanding of all foreyne preparationis and forceis tending 
 to the trouble thairoff.' ^ 
 
 In 1596 the General Assembly ordered ^ him and two 
 colleagues to conduct another visitation of Orkney, Zetland, 
 Caithness and Sutherland, and in 1607 he was appointed ^ 
 constant Moderator of the presbytery of Ardmeanoch or the 
 Black Isle. 
 
 As a prominent Presbyterian he had to encounter much 
 opposition in the early part of his career. On September 
 12, 1573 he complained to the Privy Comicil ^ that ' Rore, 
 broder to Colene M'Kainze of Kintale, havand continewaU 
 residence in the steopill of the Chanonry of Ross, quhilk he 
 causit big not only to oppress the cuntrie with maisterfuU 
 
 ^ Old Rosshire, No. 44. ^ Book of the Universall Kirk, ii. 724. 
 
 3 P. C. £., iv. 466. " Book of the Universall Kirk, iii. 863. 
 
 5 P. C. B., vii. 301. « P. C. R., ii. 276.
 
 EARLY HISTORY 5 
 
 reif, soirning and daylie oppressioun, bot alsua for suppress- 
 ing of the Word of God, quhilk wes ay precheit in the said 
 Kirk preceding his intery thairto— quhilk now is becum ane 
 filthie sty and den of thevis — , hes maisterfully and violenthe, 
 with ane grite force of oppressouris, cum to the tenentis 
 addebtit in pament of the said IVIr. George benefice foirsaid, 
 and hes maisterfully reft thame of all and haill the frutis 
 thairof, and sua he, having na uther refuge for obtening of 
 the said benefice, wes compeUit to denunce the saidis haill 
 tenentis rebellis and put thame to the home, as the saidis 
 letters and executioun thairof mair fuUely proportis ; and 
 forder, is compellit for feir of the said Mr. George life to remane 
 fra his vocatioun quhairunto God hes caUit him.' 
 
 Rore M'Kenzie, the respondent, failed to appear, so the 
 Regent Morton ' with avise of the Lordis of Secreit Counsall ' 
 ordered him to be put to the horn as a rebel and his goods 
 to be escheated. 
 
 This was by no means the end of Mr. George Monro's 
 troubles, for in August 1575 he had to answer before the 
 General Assembly to the charge ^ that ' he waites not on his 
 cure,' and pled in defence that ' he might not traveU at his 
 kirk for deadly feed.' The excuse was accepted. 
 
 In 1586 he was again given the protection of the Privy 
 Council,^ who bomid over certain persons not to molest him. 
 
 In 1602 he was the victim of another attack, and on 
 July 8 of that year lodged a complaint before the Privy 
 Council ^ that on April 26 nine persons came to his house 
 in the Chanonry ' by way of hamesucken,' and (1) 'be oppin 
 force and violence, with certane instrumentis and ingjoiis 
 brocht with thame for the purpois, thay brak up the durris 
 of his said hous, enterit within the same, tuik the said com- 
 plenar, and Mr. George Monro his sone, furth of thair bedis 
 sark allane [with their shirts alone], dang thame mth thair 
 
 1 Book of the Vniversall Kirk, i. 336, 342. 
 
 * P. C. E., iv. 68, 69, » P. C. E., vi. 411.
 
 6 EARLY HISTORY 
 
 neiffis [fists] and hiltis of thair suordis in dyvers pairt of thair 
 bodyis ' ; (2) they took Margaret Levingstoun, the complainer's 
 spouse, ' out of hir naked bed, reif hir sark, and schamefullie 
 and unmercifuUie, but [without] pitie or compassioun, straik 
 and dang hir in dyvers pairtis of hir body, schot hir out of 
 the hous into the close, quhair thay held hir sark allane quhill 
 scho wes almast deid throw cauld and be the straikis and 
 woundis quhilkis scho ressavit of thame ' ; (3) they spuilzied 
 [spoiled] the complainer's house of most of its plenishing. 
 
 The respondents were all put under caution not to molest 
 the complainer. 
 
 As mentioned in the above complaint, Mr. George Monro 
 had married Margaret Livingstone. He lived till about 1630. 
 
 His son George also went into the Church, and was ap- 
 pointed by James vi. in 1586 to be Chaplain of Clynie ' for 
 his support at sustenying him at the schulis.' ^ He became 
 minister of Suddie in 1614, and about the same time also 
 succeeded to his father's appointment as Chancellor of Ross.^ 
 He was nominated a member of the Court of High Commis- 
 sion in 1634,^ and a Justice of the Peace for Inverness. He 
 was the only minister in the presbytery of Chanonry to sign 
 the National League and Covenant of 1638.* 
 
 He married Mary Primrose, and died about 1642, leaving 
 three sons, George, David and Alexander (afterwards Sir 
 Alexander of Bearcrofts). His widow died at a house on the 
 Castle Hill, Edinbm-gh, in March 1670, and was buried in 
 Greyfriars Churchyard. 
 
 George, the eldest son, Uke his father and grandfather, 
 became a minister, and succeeded to their office as Chancellor 
 
 1 Scott's Fasti, iii. 274, 285. 
 
 - Laing Charters, 1779. 
 
 ^ BaiUie's Letters (Bannatyne Club), i. 426. 
 
 ' Rothes's Relation (Bannatyne Club), p. 106.
 
 EARLY HISTORY 7 
 
 of Ross. His cure of souls was at Rosemarkie. He acquired 
 the property of Pitlundie, at Kilmuir Easter or Kjiockbain 
 on the Moray Firth, by purchase from Roderick M'Kenzie 
 of Kilmuir, and obtained on July 7, 1676 a charter ^ in favour 
 of himself and his wife Barbara Forbes. They had several 
 daughters and a son John, a writer in Edinburgh, who appears 
 to have died without issue, having sold Pitlundie in 1686 to 
 Hugh Baillie, SheriflE Clerk of Ross-shire. ^ 
 
 David, the second son, was reported to the General 
 Assembly by the presbytery of DingwaU ^ in March 1651 
 for his ' malignancy ' in supporting the ' Engagement ' of 
 1647, the secret treaty entered into at Carisbrook Castle 
 between Charles I. and the Scots commissioners, whereby 
 the King undertook, as the price of the support of Scots 
 arms, to establish Presb3rterianism in England for three 
 years and to suppress the Independents and aU other sectaries. 
 The General Assembly heard David Monro's petition * express- 
 ing regret for his conduct and ' desyring to be receaved to 
 publict satisfaction for the same,' and his case was referred 
 to the presbytery of Auchterarder, who appointed him to 
 make satisfaction and sign the Solemn League and Covenant 
 at the kirk of Inchaffray, where presumably he was living. 
 This procedure had little effect on him, for in the autumn of 
 the same year he again took up arms on the Royalist side, 
 and fought at the battle of Worcester, where he was kiUed. 
 
 1 R. M. S., vol. 65, No. 70. 
 
 ^ Inquisitione^, Ross and Crotimrly, 98, 145 ; Old Rosshire, No. 900. 
 
 ^ Preshyiery Records of Inverness and DingwaU (Scot. Hist. Soc), p. 208. 
 
 * Records of the Commission of the General AsseiMy (Scot. Hist. Soc), iii. 313, 411.
 
 MONRO PEDIGREE 
 
 Sir ALEXANDER MONRO of Beabcrofts, b. 1629, d. Jan. i, 1704, 
 m. Lillias, daughter of John Eastoun of Couston. 
 I 
 
 I I 
 
 Colonel George, b. before 1666, d. Archibald, 
 
 circa 1721, m. Margaret Bruce of b. Sep. 1666, 
 
 Auchinbowie. d. circa 1697. 
 
 I 
 
 John, surgeon in Edinburgh, b. Oct. 1670, d. 1740, m. (1) Jean, 
 daughter of Captain James Forbes ; (2) Aug. 1721, 
 Margaret Crichton, widow of William Main. She d. s.p. 
 
 Alexander of Auchinbowie, 
 d. Oct. 12, 1742, m. 1719 
 Anne, daughter of Sir Robert 
 Stewart (Lord Tillicultry). 
 She d. Sep. 27, 1763. 
 
 Captain George, 
 d. June 1743. 
 
 I 
 
 Margaret, 
 b. March 1707. 
 
 Alexander (PrtmKs) of Auchinbowie, which he bought from his 
 cousin George, b. 8 Sep. 1697, d. July 10, 1767. Professor 
 of Anatomy in Edinburgh, m. Jan. 3, 1725, Isabella, third 
 daughter of Sir Donald Macdonald of Sleat, Bart. She d. 
 Dec. 10, 1774, aged 80. I 
 
 b 
 
 George of Auchinbowie, which Alexander, 
 
 he sold to his cousin Alex- writer in 
 
 ander {Primus), army sur- Edinburgh, 
 
 geon, b. 1721, d. Feb. 24, b. Aug. 1724, 
 
 1793, m. Jane M 'Cornish, d. Feb. 15, 
 
 widow of Law Robertson. 1750. 
 She d. Dec. 28, 1802. 
 I 
 
 John. 
 
 I 
 
 Cecil, 
 
 b. Dec. 16, 
 
 1719, 
 
 d. num. 
 
 Jan. 15, 1786. 
 
 Mill 
 Robert, b. July 1722. 
 Margaret, b. Aug. 1723. 
 Grissell, b. Jan. 1726. 
 Marion, b. April 1727. 
 Heugh, b. Aug. 1729. 
 All d. young. 
 
 John of Auchinbowie, advocate, 
 b. Nov. 5, 1725, d. May 24, 
 1789, m. July 8, 1757, Sophia, 
 eldest daughter of Archibald 
 Inglis of Auchindinny. She 
 was b. Feb. 17, 1741, d. April 
 21, 1775. I 
 
 I 
 
 Major George, 
 
 m. Elizabeth Aylmer, 
 
 issue two sons 
 
 and one daughter. 
 
 I 
 
 Lieut. -General Hector 
 William, m. Jan. 20, 
 1796, Philadelphia 
 Bower of Edmonds- 
 ham, issue three sons 
 and four daughters, 
 d. Jan. 3, 1821. 
 
 Jane, of Auchin- 
 bowie, d. Dec. 26, 
 1835, m. Nov. 21, 
 1785, George Home 
 of Argaty, who 
 d. Oct. 5, 1787. 
 
 Isabella, of Auchin- 
 bowie, d. Aug. 31, 
 1814, m. Feb. 23, 
 1789, Captain 
 N inian Lowis, R. N. , 
 of Plean, three sons 
 and four daughters. 
 
 Sophia, of Argaty, 
 b. Aug. 5, 1787, 
 d. May 29, 1806, 
 m.Aug. 9, 1803, 
 her cousin David 
 Monro Binning, 
 of Softlaw, q.v. 
 
 Alexander, 
 
 b. July 5, 1803, 
 
 d. Jan. 22, 1867, 
 
 m. Elizabeth, 
 
 daughter of 
 
 C. B. Scott 
 
 of Well. She 
 
 d. s.p. July 19, 
 
 1879. 
 
 James, 
 
 b. Sep. 15, 1806, 
 
 d. Nov. 3, 1870, 
 
 m. Mari.a, 
 
 daughter of 
 
 Col. Duffin, 
 
 two sons and 
 
 one daughter. 
 
 Henry, 
 
 b. Aug. 24,1810, 
 
 d. Nov. 1869, 
 
 m. (1) 
 Jane Christie, 
 one daughter ; 
 (2) Catherine 
 Power, four 
 sons and three 
 daughters. 
 
 Sir David, 
 
 b. March 27, 1813, 
 
 d. Feb. 15, 1877, 
 
 m. 1845 Dinah, 
 
 daughter of 
 
 John Seeker, 
 
 five sons and 
 
 two d.aughters. 
 
 I 
 
 William, 
 
 Major, Cameron 
 
 Highlanders, 
 
 b. Feb. 24, 1815, 
 
 d. March 2, 1881, 
 
 ni. 1843, 
 
 Elizabeth, 
 
 daughter of 
 
 Sir Robert Aber- 
 
 cromby, Bart., 
 
 three daughters. 
 
 Charles, 
 
 b. April 30, 
 
 1818, 
 
 d. 1820. 
 
 George Home Monro Binning Home of Argaty 
 and Softlaw, b. May 28, 1804, d. Jan. 10, 
 1884, m. Feb. 20, 1839, Catherine, daughter 
 of Lieut. -Colonel Joseph Burnett of Gadgirth. 
 She d. Aug. 14, 1895. Their six children 
 d. young. 
 
 Alexander Binning Monro, W.S., of Auchin- 
 bowie and Softlaw, b. May 22, 1805, d. 
 Dec. 12, 1891, m. Aug. 4, 1835, his cousin, 
 Harriet, daughter of Dr. Alex. Monro 
 {Tertius), q.v., issue four sons and two 
 daughters.
 
 MONRO PEDIGREE 
 
 I 
 
 Margaret, 
 b. May 1664, 
 d. in infancy. 
 
 Lillias. 
 
 Jean, m. 1710 William, second 
 son of Sir Williara Sempil of 
 Cathcart, d. s.p, April 1725. 
 
 Mary, b. 1676, 
 
 d. unm. 
 May 20, 1706. 
 
 Dr. Donald, 
 b. Jan. 15, 1728, 
 d. June 9, 1802, 
 m. Aug. 29, 1772, 
 Dorothea Maria 
 Heineken. 
 
 Isabella Margaret, 
 d. June 28, 1814, 
 
 m, Ool. John 
 
 Scott, H.E.I.C.S., 
 
 issue three 
 
 daughters. 
 
 Jean, Mary, Alexander (Secundus) of Craiglockhart and Cockburn, 
 
 b. June 3, 1729, b. June 20, b. May 20, 1733, d. Oct. 2, 1817. Professor of 
 
 d. May 1, 1731. 1730, Anatomy in Edinburgh, m. Sep. 25, 1762, Katha- 
 
 d. in infancy. rine, daughter of David Inglis, Treasurer of the 
 
 Bank of Scotland. She was b. Jan. 21, 1741, d. 
 
 May 11, 1803. 
 
 i 
 
 Margaret, 
 
 m, Nov. 24, 1757, 
 
 James ?hilp 
 
 of Greenlaw. 
 
 She d. s.p. 
 April 30, 1802. 
 
 Isabella, 
 
 d. Sep. 27, 1801, 
 
 m. March 13, 1787, 
 
 Lieut. -Col. Hugh 
 
 Scott of Gala, who 
 
 d. Oct. 4, 1793, 
 
 issue one son. 
 
 I 
 AWxander {Tertius), of Craiglockhart 
 and Cockburn, b. Nov. 5, 1773, d. 
 March 10, 1359, Professor of Ana- 
 tomy in Edinburgh, m. (1) Sept. 20, 
 1800, Maria Agnes Carmichael -Smyth, 
 who d. July 6, 1833 ; (2) July 15, 
 1836, Janet Hunter, who d, s.p. 
 Aug. 4, 1886. I 
 
 I 
 
 Maria, 
 
 b. Nov. 22, 
 
 1801,d. Nov. 6, 
 
 1884, m. Feb. 5, 
 
 1828, John 
 
 Inglis of 
 
 Auchindinny 
 
 and Redhall, 
 
 two sons and 
 
 three 
 
 daughters. 
 
 Catherine, 
 Nov. 4, 1804, 
 
 . s.p. April 18, 
 
 1868, 
 m. June 1, 
 1835, Sir 
 
 John James 
 Steuart of 
 
 Allanbank, 
 Bart. 
 
 I 
 Georgiana, 
 b. June 8, 
 
 1808, 
 d. June 4, 
 
 1868, 
 
 m. 1831, 
 
 GeorgeSkene 
 
 of Rubislaw, 
 
 one son and 
 
 three 
 daughters. 
 
 Harriet, 
 b. Aug. 2, 
 
 1816, 
 d. March 7, 
 1898, m. her 
 cousin Alex. 
 
 Binning 
 Monro, q.v. 
 
 Isabella, 
 
 b. Nov. 3, 
 
 1819, 
 
 d. unm. 
 
 Oct. 12, 
 
 1908. 
 
 David, assumed sur- 
 name of Binning on 
 acquiring Softlaw, b. 
 Feb.l6, 1776,d.Jan, 24, 
 
 1843, m. (1) Aug. 9, 
 1803, his cousin, Sophia 
 Home of Argaty. q.v. ; 
 (2) July 2, 1813, Isa- 
 bella, daughter of 
 Lord President Blair. 
 She d. May 22, 1879. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 Charlotte, 
 b. March 17, 1782, 
 d. April 26, 1822, 
 m. Nov. 10, 1808, 
 Louis Henry Ferrier 
 of Belsyde, advo- 
 cate, issue tire sons 
 and three 
 daughters. 
 
 Charlotte, 
 b. Feb. 14, 1821, 
 
 d. April 3, 
 
 1908, m. 1851 
 
 Rev. Henry 
 
 M. Fletcher, 
 
 three sons and 
 
 two daughters. 
 
 Robert Blair, 
 H.E.I.C.S., 
 b. May 5, 1814, 
 d. Sep. 11, 1891, 
 m. Oct. 14, 1858, 
 his cousin Kathriiie, 
 daughter of Louis 
 Henry Ferrier of 
 Belsyde. She d. 
 
 May 24, 1882. 
 
 Isabella 
 Cornelia, 
 b. Dec. 3, 
 
 1815, 
 d. unm. 
 Jan. 18, 
 
 1844.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO OF BEARCROFTS 
 
 Alexander Monro, third son of Mr. George Monro and Mary 
 Primrose, the ancestor of the Auchinbowie family, was born 
 in 1629, and with his brother David fought for Charles n. 
 aganist CromweU at the battle of Worcester (September 3, 
 1651). 1 After seeing some further service he retired with 
 the rank of Major, and took to the study of the law. 
 
 On December 21, 1657 he bought a small property in 
 Stirlingshire called Bearcrofts : ^ the seller was Duncan 
 Ker, merchant in Falkirk, but the purchase price is not 
 mentioned. 
 
 Bearcrofts lies in the parish of Grangemouth, formerly 
 Falkirk, on the flat shore of the Forth to the west of the 
 mouth of the Avon, and a mile and a half east of Grange- 
 mouth town. There was a mansion-house on the estate, 
 which also included the lands of Hawatflat and Southlands 
 and the right of salmon-fishing in the Avon water. As 
 part of the barony of Kerse, it had before the Reformation 
 belonged to the Abbey of Holyrood,^ and had been feued 
 to a family called Crawfiurd. On the suppression of the 
 monasteries the lands of the Abbey were bestowed for a 
 substantial money consideration on Sir Ludovic BeUenden, 
 and were incorporated into the barony of Broughton.^ In 
 
 1 Colhcted Works of Alexander Monro {Primus) — ^Memoir by Dr. Donald Monro. 
 
 ^ P. R. S. Stirling— May 8, 1660. 
 
 * Charters of Holyrood (Bannatyne Club), 154-56. 
 
 « R. M. S., 1580-93, No. 1304. 
 
 10
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 11 
 
 1606, oil the resignation of Sir James Bellenden, Bearcrofts 
 and other lands in the neighbourhood were erected into 
 the barony of Falkirk in favour of Alexander, first Earl of 
 Linlithgow.^ 
 
 Charles i. on his accession procured an Act revoking the 
 grants of Church lands, and the possessions of Holyrood- 
 house were then annexed to the bishopric of Edinburgh. In 
 1637 James Lord Livingstone, afterwards Earl of Callendar, 
 who had bought the barony of Falkirk from his brother 
 Alexander, second Earl of Linlithgow, obtained a Crown 
 charter ratifying a charter by the Bishop of Edinburgh of 
 whom he was to hold the lands. ^ Six years later he obtained 
 another Crown charter from which the Bishop's name had 
 disappeared. When Alexander Monro bought Bearcrofts a 
 right of midsuperiority was vested in a branch of the 
 Hamilton family, and this right he acquired in 1665 from 
 John Hamilton, eldest son of Sir James Hamilton of Grange, 
 who had served heir to his uncle. Sir John Hamilton of Bear- 
 crofts.^ Two years previously Monro had bought the 
 superiority from Lord Callendar, and on February 9, 1666 
 he got a Crown charter in favour of himself and Lillias 
 Eastoun his wife in liferent, and George their eldest son in 
 fee.* The lands were to be held of the Crown for an annual 
 payment of 10 merks. 
 
 A short digression is here necessary in order to trace 
 Mrs. Monro's ancestry. 
 
 She v/as the second of the three daughters of John Eastoun 
 of Couston ^ near Bathgate. The Eastoun or Eistomi family 
 had been settled in West Lothian for about a century. In 
 1572 a certain John Eastoun obtained from Lord Torphichen 
 
 1 R. M. S., 1593-1608, No. 1792. ^ /j.^ 1634-51, Nos. 778, 1454. 
 
 ^ Inquisitiones — Stirling, 240. * B. M. 8. 
 
 * liu^uisitiones — LinlilhgoLu, 212 ; Edinburgh 'I'estatnenls, James Eastoun, June 25, 
 1652.
 
 12 THE EASTOUNS OF COUSTON 
 
 a feu of the lands of Scottinflat, afterwards called Broom- 
 park, in Torphichen parish, and in 1594 an Alexander Eastoun 
 obtained a further feu of the neighbouring lands of Wood- 
 syde.^ Early in the seventeenth century their respective 
 successors sold both feus to John Eastoun, W.S., Mrs. 
 Monro's great-grandfather, who also in 1610 bought the 
 property of Couston from Sir Thomas Hamilton of Birming, 
 King's Advocate. Sir Thomas had acquired it two years 
 before from the Polwarths, who had possessed it for several 
 generations.^ Like Scottinflat and Woodsyde, Couston 
 was held in feu of Lord Torphichen. 
 
 John Eastoun, who had practised in Edinburgh as a 
 Writer to the Signet since about 1601, died on January 25, 
 1616, survived by his wife Margaret Cant, who seems to have 
 been of the family of Grange of St. Giles — her husband at 
 any rate refers in his testament ^ to Jolin Cant, the laird, as 
 his especial friend. He left legacies of 3000 merks to his 
 grandson, James Eastoun, 100 merks to his sister Margaret 
 and her bairns, 200 merks to his wife's niece, Jean Cant, 
 daughter of Archibald Cant in Calsie, and 100 merks to the 
 building of the kirk at Edinburgh. 
 
 John Eastoun and Margaret Cant had an only son, 
 John II., who was kidnapped as a boy. His father com- 
 plained to the Privy Council in 1612 * that on June 21 
 Cristeane Levingstoun, Lady Boghall, relict of Andro Ker 
 of Mylnerig, and her sister Elizabeth Levingstovm, goodwife 
 of Kiimaird, with their accompUces ' craftelie tranit ' young 
 John ' furth of the burgh of Edinburgh to the porte thairof, 
 quhair, haveing some horssis prepairit of purpois, thay 
 violentlie set him upoun horsbak, and perforce caryit him 
 away with thame to the place of , quhair thay 
 
 ' Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries, 1906-7, pp. 338-70. 
 
 ^ Laing Charters, Ko. 445. 
 
 ' Edinburgh Testaments, June 9, 1616. 
 
 « P. C. R., ix. 396.
 
 THE EASTOUNS OF COUSTON 13 
 
 yit keip and detene him in prison and captivitie, he being a 
 young boy remaning in his said fatheris company undir his 
 charge and educatioun. Lyke as the saidis personis intendis 
 to compell the said Johnne Eistoun yoimger to undirtak 
 some suche unlauchfuU cours and interpryse as may procure 
 not onlie his awne wraik, bot also his said fatheris havie 
 displeasour, and thairwith myndis to urge and force the said 
 Johnne Eistoun, younger, to subscryve and deliver unto 
 thame all suche bandis and utheris writtis as out of thair 
 fohe thay pleis prescryve, set doun, and present unto him.' 
 The two ladies failed to answer the summons or to produce 
 the boy, so they were denounced as rebels. 
 
 It may be that these proceedings were a violent way of 
 negotiating a marriage between young John Eastoun and 
 Euphemia Ker, whom in fact he married about this time. 
 They had two sons, John ni., Mrs. Monro's father, and James, 
 who became an advocate. John n. succeeded to the 
 properties on his father's death in 1616, and died in 
 September 1625. Euphemia Ker, who survived him for 
 over forty years, married Henry Livingstone of Gardoch, 
 in Bothkennar parish, Stirlingshire, and had a son George.^ 
 
 John in. of Couston married (contract dated March 2, 
 1633) 2 Jean, eldest daughter of Michael Elphinstone of 
 Quarrel (now Carron Hall), Stirlingshire, ninth son of 
 Alexander, fourth Lord Elphinstone.^ They had three 
 daughters, Mary, LiUias (Mrs. Monro) and Euphemia. 
 
 John Eastoun soon got into financial difi&culties, and 
 sold Couston to his brother James. He also borrowed at 
 various times from his brother on the security of Broompark 
 and Woodsyde, but their mother continued to enjoy the 
 liferent of these properties till her death in 1667. 
 
 Mr. James Eastoun of Couston, advocate, married in 1640 
 
 ' Stirling Testaments, January 1, 1668-69. 
 
 * Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries, 1906-7, p. 365. 
 
 ' Scots Peerage, iii. 539.
 
 14 THE EASTOUNS OF COUSTON 
 
 Margaret, daughter of Peter Somervell, merchant burgess 
 of Edinburgh,^ and died without issue in 1651. His widow 
 married Gabriel Rankene, merchant burgess of Edinburgh. 
 
 He left a wUl made on June 25, 1651, at the camp at 
 Torwoodhead, Stirlingshire, where the Scots forces under the 
 personal command of Charles n. entrenched themselves in 
 readiness for Cromwell. ^ He begins with the preamble that 
 ' thair is nothing mair certain nor death and that it is mair 
 imminent to nobody nor sojoris . . . and first I declair my- 
 self clear in all the poynts of the Covenant.' He leaves his 
 three nieces his heirs portioners, ' onlie to the eldest lass I 
 leive the lands of Coustoune ; I wishe her to marie with the 
 young laird of Bathgaitt ; with the provisiones following, that 
 my mother have out of the lands of Coustoun so long as she 
 lives 300 merks zeirlie, and to my wife 500 merks zeirlie 
 dureing her lifetime.' He appointed his half-brother, George 
 Livingstone of Gardoch, to be his executor. 
 
 The match between Mary Eastoun and Thomas Hamilton 
 of Bathgate never took place, but she married William 
 Sandilands, third son of John, fourth Lord Torphichen.^ 
 Their second son, William, entailed Couston in 1704. 
 
 Lillias married Alexander Monro of Bearcrofts, and 
 Euphemia, the third sister, married Alexander Nairn of 
 Easter Greenyards near Bannockburn, brother of Robert, 
 created Lord Nairn.* She died in May 1686, leaving at 
 least two sons, Alexander and Robert. By her wUl ^ she 
 nominated her brother-in-law Alexander Monro to be one of 
 Robert's tutors, and his son George Monro was one of the 
 witnesses. 
 
 To return to Alexander Monro — he was appointed on 
 
 1 B. M. S., 1634-51, No. 1687 ; Edinburgh Marriage Register. 
 
 - Edinburgh Testaments, June 25, 1652. 
 
 ^ Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries, 1906-7, p. 374. 
 
 * Scots Peerage, vi. 393. ' Stirling Testaments, August 11, 1704.
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 15 
 
 August 8, 1660 to be Commissary of Stirlingshire, and on 
 February 26, 1662 he was admitted an advocate. The local 
 commissary courts, of which there were twenty-three through- 
 out Scotland, represented the old ecclesiastical courts, and 
 had jurisdiction in questions of marriage, divorce, affiUation 
 and testaments. The emoluments were under £100 a year, 
 but the office did not prevent its holder from practising at 
 the bar, nor from accepting other appointments. 
 
 He was appointed in 1661, 1667 and 1668 a Commissioner 
 of Supply, and in 1663 a Justice of the Peace for Stirling- 
 shire ; ^ and in 1668 he was made a burgess of the Royal 
 Burgh of Tain. 
 
 On June 21, 1666 the Privy Council^ added his name to 
 a commission of landed gentry who had been appointed 
 eighteen months before to try a certain Barbara Drummond 
 on the charge of witchcraft. The duty may well have been 
 distasteful — at any rate no trial had taken place, and in 
 spite of appeals to the Council the wretched woman had 
 been kept for two years in prison at Stirling. 
 
 The addition of Alexander Monro to the commission had 
 no effect whatever, and on January 31, 1667 the accused 
 woman made another appeal for liberty, complaining that her 
 accusers had never yet come forward to establish their case, 
 and at length in May of that year, after three years' imprison- 
 ment, she was set at liberty. 
 
 On January 20, 1669 Monro was appointed ^ by his kins- 
 man, Sir Archibald Primrose, Lord Clerk Register, to be 
 Clerk to the Commission for Plantation of Kirks and Valua- 
 tions of Teinds, of which he was in later years a member ; 
 but he was not persona grata to the President, Sir James 
 Dalrymple, for Fountainhall says : * ' It was the President's 
 
 1 Thomson's Acla, vii. 93, 506, 544. 
 
 2 P. C. R., 3rd Series, ii. 56, 172, 252, 283. 
 ' Connell on Tithes, 1830, ii. 180. 
 
 * Fountainhall, Historical Notices (Bannat3Tie Club), i. 135.
 
 16 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 cue to f ugillat ^ the Bischops, and to cut Commissar Monro 
 its clerk short of all the benefit he could.' 
 
 In November 1669 Monro was also nominated one of the 
 Clerks of Session in succession to Laurence Scott of Bavelaw, 
 and held the post till June 26, 1676, when Government reduced 
 the number of clerkships from six to three. The Lords of 
 Session selected three to continue in office on the footing 
 that they should give the other three, of whom Monro was 
 one, compensation of 3500 merks each. ' Comissar Monro 
 refused, vmles they gave him a reason of their depriving 
 him, which was refused till he raised his declarator if he had 
 a mind to doe it. He within a 4tnight after accepted it.' ^ 
 
 In Fouhs of Ravelston's Diary ^ there are frequent entries 
 of convivial meetings with Commissary Monro, but his fortxmes 
 underwent a disastrous change during the persecution that 
 followed the battle of Bothwell Bridge (1679), 'the killmg 
 times ' of ' bluidy Mackenzie.' For prominent Presbyterians 
 neither liberty nor property was safe, and the crisis was 
 reached in 1682, when one Weir or Lawrie of Blackwood was 
 condemned on a charge of treason, for having been in the 
 company of a person who had been concerned in the affair 
 of Bothwell Bridge but had never been prosecuted by 
 Government. 
 
 A scheme was then suggested by the Earl of Shaftesbury 
 for sending a Scots colony to the Carolinas, and in the autumn 
 of 1682 he invited Sir John Cochrane of Ochiltree, second son 
 of the Earl of Dundonald, and Sir George Campbell younger 
 of Cessnock to come up to London and discuss the matter. 
 They did so, and obtained the leave of the King and Council 
 to form a company with this object.* 
 
 Shaftesbury, however, had another motive in seeking to 
 
 1 Query, ' fugitate,' i.e. get rid of. 
 
 2 Journals of Sir John Lauder, Lord FountainJiall (Soot. Hist. Soc), p. 225. 
 ' Scottish History Society. 
 
 * Wodrow, History, Book rn. chap. vi. § 1, vol. ii. p. 230.
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 17 
 
 get into association with them. He was planning a great 
 Whig plot for a general rising throughout England to over- 
 throw the King and his government, and to exclude the 
 Duke of York, a Catholic, from succession to the throne. 
 He secured many supporters, said to number 20,000, and 
 the Carohna scheme suggested itself as a means whereby 
 the movement might be carried into Scotland, if the Earl 
 of Argyll could be induced to return from Holland and lead 
 an invasion. The rising in England was originally fixed for 
 November 19, but had to be abandoned for lack of prepara- 
 tion, and Shaftesbiu-y then retired to HoUand, where he died 
 soon afterwards. 
 
 The imier working of the plot, which remained undis- 
 covered, was entrusted to a Council of Six — the Duke of 
 Monmouth, the Earl of Essex, Lord RusseU, Lord Howard 
 of Escrick, Colonel Algernon Sydney, and John Hampden — 
 and they sent a certain Aaron Smith to Scotland early in 
 1683, to invite some of the prominent Presbyterians to come 
 up to London and confer with them under cover of the 
 Carolina enterprise. He was specially to see Lord MelviUe, 
 Sir John Cochrane, Robert Baillie of Jerviswood, Sir George 
 Campbell, and his father Sir Hew Campbell of Cessnock. 
 
 About this time Cochrane, Baillie, and Alexander Monro 
 obtained commissions from the Carolina company to go to 
 London and arrange for a purchase of land. Monro left 
 Edinburgh in April, and joined the other two on the way. 
 He stoutly maintained that he never met Aaron Smith until 
 he saw him at Cochrane's house in Yorkshire, and that the 
 object of his journey was the Carolina business and nothing 
 else. Thomas Sprat, Bishop of Rochester, who wrote the 
 oflEicial account of the conspiracy, rejects that plea and says : ^ 
 ' Commissary Monroe had well serv'd his Majesty in the 
 Wars as an active brave man ; but upon some Injuries he 
 pretended to have receiv'd from the Duke of Lauderdail, 
 
 ' True Account of the Horrid Conspiracy, 1685, p. 27. 
 C
 
 18 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 he grew enrag'd to such a degree, as led him into these 
 Courses.' 
 
 On arriving in London they lodged in Blackfriars, and 
 paid court to His Majesty at Windsor as part of their Carolina 
 negotiations. They found that Lord Melville had already 
 arrived, and they were joined by the Cessnocks, David 
 Montgomery of Langshaw and several others. They had 
 meetings with the Duke of Monmouth, Lord Russell and 
 Robert Ferguson, ' The Plotter ' ; and William Carstares, 
 afterwards Principal of Edinbiu-gh University, arrived from 
 Holland with a message from Argyll that he would land in 
 Scotland on condition that the English conspirators wovdd 
 send him £30,000 to buy arms and ammunition and would 
 raise 1000 dragoons. The Scots found it impossible to get 
 this large sum raised, but they got promises that £10,000 
 would be found, and Argyll agreed to act provided that the 
 rising in the two countries could be arranged to take place 
 simultaneously. 
 
 ' Commissarie Monro, Lord Melvill and the Cessnocks 
 were against medling with the Inglish, becaus they judged 
 them men that wold talk and wold not doe, but wer mor 
 inclyned to doe something by themselves if it could be done.' ^ 
 
 The promised £10,000 dwindled to £5000, and negotia- 
 tions reached a deadlock, because the Englishmen aimed 
 at setting up a Commonwealth, to which the Scots would 
 not agree. 
 
 At a meeting at Jerviswood's lodgings, at which Monro 
 was present, it was resolved to send to Scotland Mr. Robert 
 Martin, late Clerk of Justiciary, to hinder the country from 
 rising till they saw how matters went in England. Martin 
 arrived at the end of May, and had interviews with Sir 
 Patrick Hume of Polwarth, Pringle of Torwoodlee, and 
 Lord Tarras, who sent back word ' that it would not be so 
 easy a matter to get the gentry of Scotland to concur ' {i.e. 
 
 1 Howell, StaU Trials, x. 698.
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 19 
 
 in delay) ; and Hume wrote to Monro, with whom he was 
 in regular correspondence, ' that the Coimtry was readier 
 than they imagined.' 
 
 According to Lord Tarras ' Martin said that all the Scots- 
 men at London would come down soe soon as things were 
 concluded their, nameing Sir John Cochrane, Jerviswood 
 and Commissar Monro, to act or doe hier conform to the 
 resolutions their.' 
 
 In the subsequent proceedings Monro maintained that 
 he and his friends, perceiving that the oppressive conduct 
 of the Government would cause a rising, sent Martin to 
 prevent this and to get information as to the state of the 
 country. The Government, however, obtained evidence that 
 more than this was intended, and that a definite plan for an 
 insurrection had been arranged. 
 
 Fountainhall's account of the plot is as follows : ^ 
 
 ' Ther designe seims to have been, to joyne with the 
 English when they ware ripe to draw to a body, and, with 
 armes in the one hand, and a petition in the other, to compell 
 the King to quite his Brother to the mercy of a tryaU in 
 Parliament, and to receave them to be his counseUers ; 
 and ambition had so blinded ther eyes, that they had pro- 
 mised succes to themselves, and ware dividing the offices 
 of State among them, and talked of seizing Berwick, and 
 Stirling Castle, and of surprizing the Chancelor, Treasurer, 
 and the dragouns' horses wher they ware graizing ; and to 
 try whare ther ware any armes to be got ; and to let the 
 project faU to ther confident freinds, to try ther incHnations, 
 and to keep up ther cesse for a tyme ; and to know the 
 strenth of ther party by a word viz. : " Harmony," and a 
 signe, viz. : the lousing a button of ther breast and then 
 closing it again.' 
 
 According to the official account Sir Patrick Hume, 
 George Pringle of Torwoodlee, the Earl of Tarras and Murray 
 
 ^ Historical Notices (Bannatyne Club), ii. 591.
 
 20 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 of Philiphaugh were to organise matters in Scotland ; while 
 the leaders in Holland were, in addition to Argyll himself, 
 the Earl of Loudoun, Sir James Dalrymple (Lord Stair), 
 James Steuart, afterwards Lord Advocate, and Andrew 
 Fletcher of Saltoun. 
 
 Alongside of this project of insurrection was another 
 plot, also originated by Lord Shaftesbury, to assassinate 
 the King and the Duke of York. It was confined to about 
 forty of the conspirators, including none of the Scotsmen 
 except Ferguson ' the Plotter,' who after Shaftesbury's 
 departure was the leading spirit of the whole movement. 
 Various schemes had been considered, but the one which 
 came nearest to realisation was a plan to attack the royal 
 party at the Rye House in Hertfordshire on their way back 
 from Newmarket. It was twice arranged, in October 1682 
 and in March 1683, but in each case it miscarried owing to 
 a change in the King's plans. 
 
 Other proposals were under discussion, when on June 
 12, 1683 information as to both plots was given to the govern- 
 ment by one of the conspirators, Josiah Keehng. It was a 
 couple of days before the authorities took action, and some 
 of the Scotsmen had timely warning and fled to Holland, 
 but Monro made no attempt to abscond ; ^ the Campbells 
 were caught trying to escape, Carstares was taken a month 
 later in hiding at Tenterden in Kent, and eventually about 
 a dozen of the Scotsmen and many of the Englishmen were 
 secured. They were examined before the King in Privy 
 Council at Hampton Court, and for the most part were kept 
 in prison. 
 
 Monro appeared for examination on Jmie 23. He had 
 been ill most of the time he was in London,^ and he was able 
 to give a satisfactory account of himself and was released ; 
 but four days later Thomas Shephard, a wine-merchant, at 
 
 1 Howell, State. Trials, is. 853. 
 
 - Foxcroft, Supplement to BuriieCs Uisiorij, pp. 113, 118.
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 21 
 
 whose house some of the meetmgs took place, gave evidence ^ 
 that he had talked with Monro about the £10,000 promised 
 by the English conspirators, and that Monro had complained 
 that it was too little, and that the delay in paying it would 
 ruin them all. He was re-arrested on the 28th, and after 
 four months' confinement in the Marshalsea,^ he and the 
 other Scots prisoners were sent to Scotland for trial, as it 
 was doubtful whether the sentence of an English coiu-t would 
 be sufficient warrant for confiscation of their heritage. 
 
 The English ringleaders were tried and about half a dozen 
 were executed. 
 
 Fountainhall records : ^ ' On the 1 of November [1683] 
 the Scots prisoners, to the number of 12 or 13, ware em- 
 barqued on the Kitchen yacht and sent to Scotland ; wher, 
 after much tempest and tossing, they arrived on the 14 : 
 ther names ware, Sir [Hew] Campbell of Cesnock and his 
 sone, Muir of Rowallan and his sone, and Fairly of Brunts- 
 feild his son-in-law, Bailzie of Jerreswood, [Crawfurd] of 
 Crawfurdland, Alexander Munro of Bearcrofts, Murray of 
 Tippermuir, Mr. William Spence, late servant to Argile, Mr. 
 [William] Carstairs and [John] Hepburn, ministers.' 
 
 Erskine of Carnock wrote in his Jowiial : ^ ' Nov. 1683, 
 \Uh. — This day the Scots gentlemen who were prisoners in 
 London, some of them being apprehended on suspicion of 
 their having a hand in the late plot, landed at Leith. They 
 were guarded with a squad of the King's Guards, and the 
 greatest part of the town's company, and were carried to the 
 Nether Bow port in coaches, and from that walked on foot 
 to the Tolbooth, being divided among the ranks of the Foot, 
 and the horse gomg before. They were kept close prisoners 
 and divided in several rooms.' 
 
 They were imprisoned in the Tolbooth all winter, and in 
 
 1 True and Plain Account of the Discoveries in Scotland, Adv. Lib. Pamphlets, 257. 
 
 2 Sorners Tracts, viii. 406. 
 
 ^ Historical Observes, p. 108. * Scottish History Society, p. 21.
 
 22 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 March Sir Hew Campbell of Cessnock was tried for complicity 
 in the BothweU Bridge rising ; though the witnesses failed 
 to identify him, and the jury acquitted him, he was still 
 kept in prison for his share in the great plot. 
 
 The government then decided to indict Robert BaiUie 
 of Jerviswood, who, though an old man in feeble health, 
 had been very active in the conspiracy ; and also to raise 
 processes of forfeitm-e against the other prominent Scotsmen 
 implicated in it. In order to procvire the necessary evidence 
 the Comicil gave orders for Spence and Carstares to be 
 examined under torture. 
 
 On July 20, 1684 Spence was put in the boots in order 
 to induce him to reveal what he knew of the conspiracy, 
 and especially to disclose the cypher-key to Argyll's corre- 
 spondence. The torture of the boots was not suflficient to 
 wring the information from him, so ' by a hair-shirt and 
 pricking he was 5 nights keeped from sleip, till he was turned 
 halfe distracted.' ^ On August 7 ' Spence is again tortured, 
 and his thumbs crushed with pilUwincks or thumbikins : 
 After this, when they ware about to have cawed him of new 
 again in the boots, he being frighted, desired tyme, and he 
 would declare what he knew ' ; on the 22nd to avoid further 
 torture he revealed the clue to the letters. 
 
 Carstares' s turn came a few days later. On September 5 
 he suffered the thumbikins for an hour and a half without 
 confessing anything, so the Council ordered him to be tortured 
 in the boots the following morning.^ This was more than 
 he could endure, so he consented to give evidence. In 
 after-years Carstares became chief Presb3rterian adviser to 
 WUliam ni. and Principal of Edinburgh University, and the 
 thumbikins, which were never again used, were presented to 
 him as a memento of his sufferings. 
 
 As the result of Carstares' s evidence the Earl of Tarras 
 
 1 Foimtainball, Historical Notices, ii. 545, 548, 552. 
 
 ^ Wodrow, Sufferings, Book m. chap. viii. § 4, vol. ii. p. 391.
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 23 
 
 and Murray of Philiphaugh were apprehended. ^ Tarras 
 confessed his share in the plot, and threw himself on the royal 
 mercy. Murray and Commissary Monro were examined before 
 the Council on September 11, ' and standing on ther denyall, 
 they are threatned with the boots ; which makes them 
 ingenuous, and confesse ther accession. This did so dis- 
 compose and confound Alexander Monro, to discover others, 
 that he desperately offered money to the keiper of the Tol- 
 buith's man to run him throw with his sword ; and roared, 
 that he knew he behooved to doe some base thing before 
 he dyed ; and regraited that he should have denied it before 
 the King, by lying so obstinatly, and should have been in- 
 strumentall in drawing so many gentlemen upon that which 
 would stand them both ther Hves and fortunes, and he be- 
 hooved to be a drudge and witnesse against them.' ^ 
 
 A month later it was reported ' the Council begins to think 
 that Mr. Monro has put a trick on them in teUing more than 
 is true, so to invalidate his own evidence, his design being 
 only to escape torture.' ^ The previous quotation seems to 
 disprove the suggestion of a ' trick ' on his part, and in any 
 event it was of no avail to save his friends. 
 
 His depositions were signed by him on oath before the 
 Privy Council, and two days later the Council gave him 
 Uberty to see his wife, children and friends in his cell, but not 
 to communicate with the other prisoners.* 
 
 In April they had petitioned ^ ' in regaird restraint of them 
 aU in one roume during the heat of summer might be very 
 noxious and prejudiciall to ther health that therfor the 
 Secret Counsell would ather be pleased to inlarge ther prisons, 
 or put them in severaU prisons, up and doune the country, 
 wher they may have more free air.' 
 
 ' Fountainhall, Historical Observes, p. 138. ^ Historical Notices, ii. 556. 
 
 ^ Historical MSS. Commission, Seventh Report, p. 378. 
 
 * P. C. R. Decreets, September 13, 1684 ; Spirit of Calumny Examined, p. 66, Adv. 
 Lib. Pamphlets, vol. 66. ^ FountainbaU, Historical Notices, ii. 531.
 
 24 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 It appears from the warrant of September 13 that they 
 had been kept in solitary confinement through the summer, 
 and it was not till they had given their evidence, after ten 
 months' detention in the Tolbooth, that they were sent ^ to 
 various prisons, Monro being confined in Stirling Castle. A 
 fortnight later remissions were sent to them, and they were 
 set at liberty.^ 
 
 The trial of Baillie of Jerviswood for treason took place 
 in the High Court of Justiciary on December 23, 1684, and 
 ended in the smaU hours of the next morning in a verdict of 
 ' gviilty.' He was hanged at the Market Cross the same 
 afternoon, and his body was quartered. Wodrow explains 
 that the reason for this haste was that the authorities feared 
 he might die if they delayed the execution ; ^ as Fountain- 
 hall says : ^ ' the holy dayes of Zuille approaching, they 
 would not delay him till thay were ended.' His property 
 was forfeited. 
 
 The witnesses for the prosecution were Lord Tarras, 
 Commissary Monro, James Miu'ray of Philiphaugh, Hugh 
 Scot of Galashiels and William Carstares. Monro's evidence 
 was rewarded with a free pardon, signed by the King at White- 
 haU on December 29, 1684.^ 
 
 In January 1685 twenty-two persons were summoned 
 before Parliament on a charge of treason in connection with 
 the plot. Almost all except the two Cessnocks were fugitives, 
 but the trials of most of them took place at various times 
 throughout the year and decrees of forfeiture were obtained 
 in all cases. Monro was a witness, either in person or through 
 his deposition,® against Lord MelviUe, Sir John Cochrane, 
 the Cessnocks, Montgomery of Langshaw, and the heirs of 
 
 1 Fountainhall, Historical Notices, ii. 559. ^ /j,_^ y 5gi_ 
 
 * History, Book in. chap. viii. § 4 ; vol. ii. p. 398. 
 
 • Historical Notices, ii. 594. 
 
 6 Hist. MSS. Com., C. H. Stirling Home Drummond, 1885, p. 94. 
 ° Thomson's Acts, viii. App. 336, 39a, 576, 60a.
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 25 
 
 Mr. Robert Martin. It was of course a grave infraction of 
 the criminal law to admit written evidence. 
 
 The deposition is printed in the Appendix to Thomson's 
 Acts, and may be quoted in full : ^ 
 
 ' I was engaged in that Commission concerning Carolina 
 most innocently and with reluctancie, as is known to severalls 
 of the undertakers. And I declare I knew of no other designe 
 in it, bot to carry on a Scots plantation in that province, 
 which was a thing wery seriously intended by all the under- 
 takers with whom I hade occasion to speak concerning it. 
 And if his Ma"es letter to the Councill hade not authorized 
 the designe, I hade never medled in it. 
 
 ' When in my journey to London I came to Ular,^ I found 
 Jerveswood ther, who told me that he was resolved to goe to 
 London and did stay ther to get my company, hearing of 
 my coming. He told me the reason of his going that journey 
 was to shun the hazard that might follow upon the sentence 
 ag* Blackwood which he beleiued no man in the west countrey 
 could escape. And he found himself very ill stated with the 
 late Chancellar. 
 
 ' We mett w* S"" John Cochran in YorkshjTe whom I 
 askt who that Inglishman was who hade bein at his house. 
 And he affirmed to me that he knew not, bot he beleiued he 
 was some trepan to insnare him. Neither did he at any 
 time after teU me what he was. Nor did I ever hear his 
 name untiU his Royall Highness questioned me what I knew 
 concerning Mr. Smith who hade bein at S'' John Cochrans 
 house, when I was called before the King and the Councill 
 of Ingland. 
 
 ' Some time after our arrivall at London S"" John Cochran 
 begun to teU me of great discontents amongst the Inglish, 
 and that they were much concerned for Argyle. At severall 
 times he talked to that purpose and of ane association and of 
 
 1 Thomson's Acts, viii. App. 33, 34. '^ Wooler in Northumberland. 
 
 D
 
 26 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 petitions from the Counties to the King, all which past as 
 the language of that countrey. 
 
 'About the begining of May Rowallans and Cessnocks 
 elder and younger and Bruntsfeild and Crawforland and 
 Langshaw came to London. S'' John Cochran heard of it, 
 and told me he was going to visite them, and if I would goe 
 w* him I might get the news from Scotland. When we came 
 to them they told us they hade come ther to shun the hazard 
 they found themselves under by the sentence against Black- 
 wood. And in the discourse it was askt by some of them at 
 S'' Johne if he thought that by the secretaries or any other 
 way they could obtaine any releif from his Ma*'^. To which 
 S'' John answered that he thought it would be wery difficult. 
 
 ' Some weeks after My Lord Melvil, and S"^ John Cochran, 
 and Cessnocks elder and younger, and Langshaw, and 
 Mr. WiUiam Weitch, and Mr. WiUiam Carstaires and I met 
 at Jerveswoods chamber, wher ther was much discourse of 
 the danger from Blackwoods sentence. And they exprest ther 
 apprehensions that the comitrey might run together to save 
 themselves and so make a present distm-bance. And it was 
 proposed that some person should be sent to prevent it, if 
 possible, and to know the condition of the countrey and what 
 they inclined to for ther owin safety. S'' John Cochran spake 
 of money which he said the Inghsh would fvirnish to Argyle 
 to buy armes to send to Scotland, and if they would attempt 
 any thing for ther owin releif they might get assistance of 
 horse from England. Bot my Lord Melvil and Cesnok elder 
 and yo"" were altogether ag* medling w* the Inglish, and my 
 Lord MelviU said we never medled w' them bot they ruined 
 us. And I concurred w* them and exprest my dislike of 
 these dangerous courses as much as I could : and they re- 
 solued not to medle w* the Inglish, bot to send one home to 
 know the condition of the countrey, and what the people 
 were inclined to doe, and if they were Uke to run together, 
 to endeavour by all meanes to hinder it. And to let them
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 27 
 
 know what he heard of maters in England, that they might 
 be the more circumspect. 
 
 ' Mr. Robert Martin was sent, and some money was given 
 him by the company to bear his charge. He was advised 
 to goe to a gentleman in the South whom I know not, bot I 
 beleiue his name is Pringle. I doe not know if any bodie 
 did write w* him. When he returned he gave accompt that 
 such as he spoke with promised to endeavour as much as they 
 could to keep all quiet, though they thought it might be 
 difficult enuch, for a small sparke might kindle the whole 
 countrey. Likewise at his return he told me he hade met 
 w* my Lord Tarras, Polwart, and Philiphauch. 
 
 ' Shortly after I receaued a letter from Polwart which 
 was not subscribed telling me that he beleiued ther would 
 be maney in Scotland willing to shew themselues concerned 
 for ther owin safety, or to that purpose, bot I doe not exactly 
 remember the words. 
 
 ' It was before the aboue melting, as I remember, that 
 Shiphird came in wher I was dining, at which time ther was 
 no discoiu-se of any publict concern, and I hade none at all 
 w* Shiphird, for I knew him not mitiU he was gone that I 
 asked his name and came to understand that he was a midUng 
 man and hade bein a great trustie of Shaftsburries. Some 
 days after he saluted me upon the Exchange, and that day 
 in the afternoone as I was passing through the Exchange he 
 mett me about the midle of it and invited me to goe w* him 
 to a glasse of good wine which he was to get w* Mr. BaiKe. I 
 was faint and sick and would bein glade of it w' any other, 
 bot I refused him and left him abruptly. Severall days after 
 he mett me in the Strand and stopt me in the croud, and said 
 to me the money is readie, to which I answered passing away 
 from him, you are infatuat S'', and I hade never more dis- 
 course w* him then as aboue. 
 
 ' I did never know of any money intended to be sent to 
 the late Argyle by Shiphird or any other, nor did I belieue
 
 28 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 any such thing, though I heard it spoken off. Nor did I 
 know of the late Argyles correspondence w* the Inglish or 
 w* any Scotts man, only I heard the forenamed Mr. Weitch 
 say that he hade a letter from him, bot I know not what was 
 the contents of it. 
 
 *If any thing more of these maters shall recurre to my 
 memorie or can be brought to it I shall be readie to give ane 
 ingenuous accompt therof. Bot my memorie is truly so 
 sore chattered that every thing slips out of it. And I hade 
 never remembered some passages aboue receited w^out help. 
 Bot I find as much as is mater of shame and sorrow to me, 
 though I know not how I have bein insnared into them, for 
 I am sure my will never consented to any thing that I judged 
 prejudiciall to his Matie and the Government. 
 
 ' I doe remember that the Lord MelviU called me one 
 day from my lodging to goe w' him that I might salute the 
 Duke of Monmouth, who being at the Lord Russals house 
 we went ther, and after some discourse the Lord RussaU 
 spoke to Melvil about sending 10,0001'' to Argyle to buy 
 armes, at which Melvil laughed and said they might aswell 
 send ten pence, and brake of the discom-se, and w^in a litle 
 left them, and when he came away he s^ they were unhappy 
 that medled w* these people. 
 
 ' To the best of my memorie I heard S"" John Cochran 
 speak of a Manifesto to be emitted by the Inglish. 
 
 ' I heard to the best of memorie S'' John Cochran and 
 Jerveswood or one or other of them talking as if they might 
 expect Tuentie thousand men in Scotland. 
 
 ' Al"* Monro. 
 
 ' Edr [11] Sep^ 1684. This deposition given in by Comis- 
 sary Monroe was signed and sworne by him in presence of 
 
 ' Perth. Cancell'' 
 ' Drumond Queensberry 
 
 ' Geo. Mackenzie Da. Falcon ar.'
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 29 
 
 On December 2, 1685 Monro completed his humiliation 
 by taking the Test, whereupon he was readmitted an advocate. 
 Fountainhall was very indignant, and wrote in his Decisions : ^ 
 ' This gave a generaU discontent to the Advocats . . . and 
 the Lords should be more tender of the Facultie's reputation, 
 by which most of themselves have risen, unles they ware 
 commanded to doe it by superior powers.' 
 
 For the rest of King James's reign Monro remained in 
 obscurity, but as soon as the Revolution was accomplished 
 he emerged again into prominence. He joined in the stream 
 of Scotsmen who rushed up to London to welcome William 
 of Orange, and, doubtless, to solicit preferment from him. 
 In the latter purpose he must have been disappointed, for 
 the only use made of him was to get him to carry back an 
 order from the Duke of Hamilton for the disbandment of the 
 College of Justice company of volunteers, who were suspected 
 of Jacobite leanings.^ Monro himseK had been chosen 
 Lieutenant at the original embodiment of the company on 
 November 27, 1666. 
 
 The Estates appointed him on March 28, 1689 to be their 
 solicitor to despatch proclamations and orders to the places 
 where they were appointed to be published or put in execu- 
 tion.^ He was also nominated a Commissioner of Supply 
 for Stirlingshire, and was one of those charged with super- 
 intending the election of magistrates for the burgh of Stirling, 
 and with raising the county militia to resist the threatened 
 attack of ' Papists ' from Ireland and elsewhere. His appoint- 
 ment as Commissioner of Supply was renewed in 1690 and 
 1696. 
 
 Sir Patrick Hume in one of his letters to Lord MelviUe, 
 the new Secretary of State in London, says : * ' Everyone 
 
 1 Fountainhall, Historical Notices, ii. 681. 
 
 - Somers Tracts, xi. 504. 
 
 3 Thomson's Acts, ix. 23, 29a, 52, 140 ; x. 29. 
 
 * Leven and Melville Papers (Bannatyne Club), p. 100.
 
 30 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 rekons Commissary Monro for a Lord of Session. I wish 
 he were, and it is your interest that he be.' Monro was 
 not however to advance on a judicial career, but undaunted 
 by his previous experiences he once again plunged into 
 pohtics. 
 
 As soon as the Estates were duly converted into a 
 Parliament, a constitutional struggle began, the government 
 party or ' courtiers ' being opposed by the ' country party,' 
 or, as it was called by its enemies, the ' Club.' The latter 
 was in a majority and was carefully organised, Alexander 
 Monro, who was not yet in Parhament, acting as clerk. 
 Canvassing was actively carried on, and preliminary meet- 
 ings were held at Penston's tavern in the High Street, where 
 the plans of campaign for the debates were arranged.^ 
 
 The chief ostensible question at issue was a proposal 
 by the King to conduct the business of Parliament through 
 the Lords of the Articles, a committee for preparing the 
 measures to be submitted to the whole House. The opposi- 
 tion fought for a free debating Parliament as in England. 
 The constitutional struggle was complicated by personal 
 jealousies. The ' Club ' included several leading men who 
 had expected but had failed to get appointments at the 
 Revolution, so the struggle was largely one between the 
 ' Ins ' and the ' Outs.' 
 
 Lord Stair, President of the Court of Session, and his son, 
 Sir John Dahymple, the Lord Advocate, were the chief 
 objects of attack. They had been political trimmers, and 
 as Officers of State under the Stuarts they shared the responsi- 
 bility for the late oppressive administration. Lord Stair 
 was threatened with impeachment, and the fight was so bitter 
 that the ' Club's ' enemies alleged that it was engaged in 
 treasonable correspondence with the Jacobites. The allega- 
 tion may have been true of Sir James Montgomery of Skel- 
 morlie, Lord Annandale, and Lord Ross, but it was certainly 
 
 * Leven and Mdvilte Papers (Bannatyne Club), pp. 153, 245.
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 31 
 
 untrue of Monro and men like Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun 
 and Sir Patrick Hume, who had suffered so much and so 
 recently from the Stuarts. 
 
 The ' Club ' prevented any of the government measures 
 from being carried in the session of 1689, and passed five 
 resolutions to limit the royal prerogative, two of them being 
 aimed at Stair. None of these resolutions received the 
 Royal assent, as the Commissioner refused to touch them 
 with the sceptre, but next year the King gave way on the 
 question of a free Parliament. 
 
 On June 6, 1690 Alexander Monro took his seat in Parlia- 
 ment as one of the Commissioners for Stirlingshire,^ and sat 
 through eight sessions till February 1701. He was at once 
 chosen as one of the Barons to sit on the Commission for 
 Plantation of Kirks. 
 
 One of the first acts of the session of 1690 was a general 
 revocation of penalties for religious offences since 1665, and 
 a series of acts was also passed to rescind particular for- 
 feitures, including those of the leading conspirators of 1683. 
 The forfeiture of the late Robert BaiUie of Jerviswood was 
 rescinded on the narrative that ^ ' the other witnes that 
 proves anything, viz. Alexander Monroe of Beircrofts, was 
 in prisone for the same cause and had confessed and was like- 
 wayes comed in the King's mercy, and had then gotten no 
 remissione, bot was threatned with torture if he would not 
 depone, as he hes acknowledged judiciaUie before the Parlia- 
 ment.' 
 
 As Monro's property had been exempted from confiscation 
 in reward for his evidence, he did not require a rescissory 
 act, but he appealed in July 1690 for an indemnity for his 
 sufferings,^ and three years later he petitioned to be restored 
 to his office as Clerk of Parhament and Session. He was 
 
 1 Thomson's Acts, ix. 107, 132, 201. 
 
 2 lb., ix. 158. 
 
 3 lb., ix. App. 83, 91.
 
 32 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 induced to withdraw the latter claim, and Parhament there- 
 upon passed an Act recommending him to the King for 
 favourable consideration. As a result he was knighted in 
 1695 and was granted a pension of £150 sterling : the value 
 of the latter favour is somewhat discounted by the fact 
 that at his death his pension was two and a half years in 
 arrear. 
 
 In the autumn of 1690 he was engaged to prosecute Lord 
 Tarbat, afterwards first Earl of Cromartie, late Lord Clerk 
 Register, before a special commission, on the charge of 
 ' embezzling ' (falsifjdng) the minutes of Parliament ; ^ but 
 the prosecution failed. 
 
 He found time to take an active part in the local aflEairs 
 of Falkirk, where he was a heritor. ^ The re-estabhshment 
 of Presbyterianism caused a struggle there, as in many 
 parishes. The old Episcopal minister died at the beginning 
 of 1690, but his assistant claimed a presentation from the 
 Earl of Callendar, the patron, and refused to obey the order 
 of the General Assembly to desist from preaching and to 
 deliver up the keys of the church, the registers and other 
 church property. Monro was appointed in April 1691 along 
 with two other members of the new kirk session, Sir Alex- 
 ander Hope of Kerse, and Mr. Livingstone of Bantaskine, to 
 recover the property, but it was many months before they 
 succeeded and a new minister was settled. 
 
 The Privy Council passed an act in April 1692 conferring 
 the unpaid stipend of the parish upon a neighbouring minister, 
 and Monro was appointed to make a representation on behalf 
 of the kirk session with a view to getting the decision 
 reversed. 
 
 In 1692 Lady Stair died, — an event which was greeted 
 with indecent glee by the many opponents of the Dalrymple 
 family. Maidment reprints a pasquil ' Upon the long wished 
 
 1 Leven and Melville Papers (Bannatjme Club), p. 567. 
 « Annale of FalUrh, G. I. Murray, vol. ii. pp. 13, 16, 29.
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 33 
 
 for and tymely death of the R* Hon. The Lady Stair,' in 
 which the following lines occur : ^ — 
 
 ' Rejoice old clubbers, Rosse and Skelmorlie, 
 Dalrymple's faction now hath lost ane eye. 
 
 Will Baillie ^ then with Commissar Monroe 
 Rejoice, for Auntie ^ has got the fatal bloe. 
 She wiU perplex nor trouble you no more. 
 Hell's turn-keey now hath shut the fatal door.' 
 
 Monro acted as clerk to a commission, appointed by the 
 King on April 29, 1695, to inquire into the circumstances of 
 the massacre of Glencoe.^ The commission, which was 
 presided over by the Marquis of Tweeddale, Lord Chancellor, 
 and included the Lord Advocate, Lord Justice Clerk, and 
 two other judges of the Court of Session, hastened through 
 its work, and reported on June 20, severely censuring the 
 Master of Stair, Secretary of State, who was forced to retire. 
 
 In 1696, and again in 1697, 1000 Scottish soldiers were 
 required for service in the Low Coimtries, and the Com- 
 missioners of Supply in each county were responsible for 
 raising their quota. Arbiters were also nominated to settle 
 disputes between the Commissioners and the recrviiting 
 officers as to the sufficiency of the men to be ' outreiked ' for 
 the levy. Sir Alexander Monro and Wilham Cunninghame of 
 Buchan being the persons nominated for the shire of Stirling.^ 
 
 In 1699 Monro and four other Commissioners of Supply 
 for Stirlingshire were appointed to fix the maximum price 
 for the sale of victual at the markets within the coimty.® 
 
 In the parliamentary session of 1696 Sir Alexander Monro 
 supported the government in gettmg supply voted. Adam 
 
 ^ A Book of Scottish Pasquils, p. 192. ^ Wm. Baillie of Lamington. 
 
 ^ Lady Stair. * Carslares State Papers, 237. 
 
 ' Proclamations, March 3, 1696 and December 16, 1696, Adv. Lib. Pamphlets, vol. i. 
 8 /6., March 3], 1699. 
 
 E
 
 34 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 Cockburn wrote to the Earl of Annandale : ^ ' The first year 
 past unanimously eneugh, but the second mett with great 
 opposition. In the committee Grant, CuUodin, and Whit- 
 law wrought it throw. In the parliament the Chancellor 
 pres't it and Commissare Monro second him. No men so 
 forward as thire nouveaux convertis.^ 
 
 In the session of 1698 supply was the main business. 
 Votes were required for maintaining a standing army, and the 
 opposition, led by Lord TuUibardine, fought on the question 
 of principle, and made capital out of the great scarcity pre- 
 vailing in the country and the prospect of another bad harvest. 
 The officers of state made strenuous exertions to gain sup- 
 porters, and Sir Alexander Monro was one of those to whom 
 Lord Chancellor Marchmont (Sir Patrick Hume) paid par- 
 ticular attention. The government had to play their trump 
 card, a threat from the King that any who opposed the vote 
 would lose their places and pensions. This was an argument 
 which would carry weight with Monro, and he seems to have 
 given the impression that he would support them,^ but when 
 the trial of strength came with the elections of the foiu* 
 committees of Parhament — for security, for trade, for con- 
 troverted elections, and for answering the King's letter — 
 he absented himself, and some of his associates, Culloden, 
 Torwoodlee, and Brodie, voted with the opposition. The 
 government candidates were carried, and Monro's trimming 
 brought him into great disfavour in high places, and closed 
 his pohtical career. 
 
 The next session (1700-1701) was occupied with the affairs 
 of the unfortunate Darien company, to which Monro had 
 subscribed £200. Parhament passed a series of unanimous 
 but unavailing resolutions to the effect that the company 
 was a lawful association and should be supported by the 
 Crown, that redress should be demanded for the attacks of 
 
 ^ Sir Wm. Fraser, Annandale Family Book, ii. 127. 
 a Carstares State Papers, 384, 387, 398, 401, 412.
 
 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 35 
 
 the Spaniards, and that the resolutions of the Enghsh ParUa- 
 ment adverse to the company were an unwarrantable inter- 
 meddhng with Scottish affairs. The only question was 
 whether an address to the King should be voted or an Act of 
 Parliament passed. The majority were in favour of an 
 address, but Sir Alexander Monro voted in the minority, and 
 with eighty- three others had his protest recorded.^ This 
 was his last session in ParUament. 
 
 Sir Alexander Monro died in Edinburgh on January 4, 
 1704 aged seventy-four, and was buried two days later in 
 Grejrfriars Churchyard. He was predeceased by a daughter 
 Margaret, who was baptized on May 30, 1664 and died in 
 infancy, and by his second son Archibald, who was baptized 
 on September 8, 1666 and was his father's colleague as Com- 
 missary of Stirling between 1693 and 1697. The family who 
 survived him consisted of two sons — George of Auchinbowie, 
 and John, the father of Professor Alexander Monro (Primus), 
 and three daughters — Lillias, Jean and Mary. Mary, who 
 was unmarried, died of a ' decay ' on May 20, 1706 aged 
 thirty, and was buried at Grejrfriars. Jean married in 1710 
 William Sempil, eldest surviving son of Sir WiUiam Sempil of 
 Cathcart, and died without issue at Edinburgh in April 1725.^ 
 
 By his will, dated in July 1703,^ he appointed his daughter 
 Jean his sole executrix and bequeathed her his movable 
 property (an inconsiderable quantity), recommending her 
 to be helpful to her brother John ' until he attains to the 
 benefit of his employment.' The daughters had provisions 
 of 6000 merks each, secured upon Bearcrofts, which went to 
 the eldest son. John's provisions depended upon a memor- 
 andum by his father which led to litigation among the family. 
 Though Sir Alexander was ' an accurat man and a good 
 lawyer,' this document, by which John was to get 2500 
 
 ^ Thomson's Ads, x. 246. 
 
 ^ Edinburgh Testaments, November 16, 1725. 
 
 ' Stirling Testaments, February 16, 1704.
 
 36 SIR ALEXANDER MONRO 
 
 merks and an assignation of a holding in the Darien com- 
 pany of £780 Scots, was ' maculate, scored, interUned and 
 cancelled with different ink in several parts.' The matter 
 was \altimately settled in John's favotu- after three years' 
 litigation with his brother.^ 
 
 Sir Alexander Monro registered arms : ^ or, an eagle's 
 head erased gules, holding in her beak a laurel branch vert : 
 crest, an eagle perching or : motto, Non inferiora. 
 
 ^ Morison, Dictionary, 5052 ; ArnisUm Session Papers (Adv. Lib.), ii. 7. 
 ^ See Title-page.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 COLONEL GEORGE MONRO OF AUCHINBOWIE, AND HIS 
 
 DESCENDANTS 
 
 George Monro, who succeeded to Bearcrofts, had been 
 appointed a Captain in the Cameronian Regiment at its 
 embodiment in 1689, and was a soldier of some distinction. 
 
 The regiment was raised under unique circumstances. 
 In March 1689, during the sitting of the Convention of Estates 
 which offered the Crown to William and Mary, the perse- 
 cuted followers of Richard Cameron from the west country 
 had volunteered to act as a guard for the members. ' Some 
 of them did stay a while in the city, being employed in helping 
 to keep guard and cast up trenches against the castle (which 
 at this time stood out), and others of them staid longer, and 
 kept watch every night in a room of the house where the Earl 
 of Crawford, Lord Cardross and Sir Patrick Hume of Polwart 
 lodged, to hinder any from assassinating them, which was 
 feared then.' ^ 
 
 A month later Lawrie of Blackwood and Captain WiUiam 
 Cleland, with the help of Sir Patrick Hume, got leave from 
 the Estates to levy two battalions, each to consist of ten 
 companies of sixty men. James, Earl of Angus, a lad of 
 twenty, the son of the Marquis of Douglas, was commissioned 
 Colonel, and William Cleland, who was only twenty-seven, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel. A general meeting of the United 
 Societies of Covenanters was convened for Monday, April 29, 
 at the kirk of Douglas, ^ for the purpose of enrolling recruits. 
 
 » Michael Shields, Faithful Contendings, p. 388. ' lb., p. 393 seq. 
 
 37
 
 38 COLONEL GEORGE MONRO 
 
 The previous day was spent by the ' great multitude of people ' 
 in hearing sermons from Messrs. Lining, Boyd and Shields at 
 a field meeting beside the town, and on the Monday a fierce 
 debate took place on the question : ' Whether or not at this 
 time it was a sinful association for one regiment to be in an 
 army, while there were many officers malignant and bloody 
 men, and aU under one general ? ' The majority voted in the 
 afiirmative, but the minority felt so strongly the necessity 
 of defending their country and their rehgion against the 
 tlireatened attacks of Highlanders and ' Irishes,' that they 
 drew up a series of conditions upon which they were willing 
 to serve — ' terms,' as Macaulay says, ' subversive of all 
 military discipline.' ^ 
 
 They stipulated that the officers should be ' such as have 
 not served the enemy, nor persecuted and opposed the cause, 
 nor engaged by the Declaration, Test, or other sinful oaths 
 and bonds to oppose and suppress the cause we fight for ' : 
 or if they had offended in that respect they were to ' make 
 public acknowledgement on the head of the regiment ' : the 
 officers were not to enhst men, but the men were to raise the 
 companies and select or approve their captains and officers : 
 they were not to be called upon for foreign service : they 
 were to be allowed to select their ministers of rehgion ; and 
 they were to have ' liberty to represent and remonstrate our 
 grievances sustained these years bygone and impeach accord- 
 ing to law and justice the chief instruments and abettors 
 thereof, in chxu-ch, state, army or country.' 
 
 These conditions were presented to Lieut. -Colonel Cleland 
 next day, but he very properly replied that while he would 
 not give an officer's commission to any one who was obnoxious 
 to them, most of their conditions were not in his power to 
 grant. An amended set of proposals was drawn up for pre- 
 sentation to General Mackay, Commander of the Forces in 
 Scotland, and the meeting was adjourned for a fortnight. 
 
 ^ History of England, chap. xiii.
 
 COLONEL GEORGE MONRO 39 
 
 In the interval the captains were appointed, including George 
 Monro, and they set to work to raise their companies. 
 
 At the adjourned meeting on May 13 the soldiers presented 
 to the officers a ' humble petition ' setting forth their desires 
 in even greater detail, together with a declaration to be 
 signed by all officers and men. These were presented to Sir 
 Patrick Hume, who had come from Edinburgh, but he 
 explained to the delegates that though he sympathised with 
 their wishes, a contract of this nature between officers and men 
 could not be tolerated by military discipline. However, he 
 himself drew up a modified manifesto setting forth their 
 purpose in enlisting, and next morning read it to each com- 
 pany in tm-n with an explanatory speech from Alexander 
 Shields. The articles were as follows : ^ ' (1) That all the 
 officers of the regiment shall be such as in conscience and pru- 
 dence may with cordial confidence be submitted unto and 
 followed ; such as have not served the enemy in destroying, 
 nor engaged by oaths and tests to destroy, the cause now to 
 be fought for and defended. (2) That they shall be well 
 affected, of approven fidelity, and of a sober conversation. 
 (3) They declare : That the cause they are called to appear 
 for is the service of the King's Majesty in the defence of the 
 nation, recovery and preservation of the Protestant religion ; 
 and in particular the work of reformation in Scotland in 
 opposition to Popery, prelacy and arbitrary power, in all its 
 branches and steps, until the government of church and state 
 be brought back to their lustre and integrity, established in 
 the best and purest times.' 
 
 These articles were accepted as satisfactory, and ' thus 
 was Lord Angus's regiment raised and managed.' The 
 soldiers chose Alexander Shields as their minister, and it is 
 said that each man carried a Bible in his knapsack. 
 
 Michael Shields says : ^ ' To this account I shall add this 
 one thing, viz. : That there were some objections made 
 
 ^ A. CrichtoD, Life of Colonel Blackadder, p. 72. ^ Faithful Contendings, p. 404.
 
 40 COLONEL GEORGE MONRO 
 
 against some captains which the lieutenant-Colonel choosed, 
 especially against Captain Monro, yet they were made officers 
 in the regiment.' 
 
 Monro, however, was soon to justify his appointment. 
 
 By this time Claverhouse had raised the standard of 
 revolt in the Highlands, and 400 of the Cameronians were 
 ordered to the west to guard the coast of Lome and Kint3Te 
 against invasions of Irish Jacobites.^ The rest of the regi- 
 ment, consisting of 800 men, spent the next few weeks in 
 ' clearing the braes of Stirlingshire of lowse and ill-affected 
 men who might be found in arms,' and during July they 
 garrisoned Perth to check inroads into the Lowlands. 
 
 In August, against the advice of General Mackay, they 
 were ordered by the Estates to occupy Dunkeld, a defence- 
 less post in the midst of a hostile country, and immediately 
 foimd themselves obliged to lie to their arms. They arrived 
 on the evening of Satiu-day, August 17, and next morning 
 ' they began some Retrenchments within the Marquis of 
 Athol's yard-dykes, the old breaches whereof they made up 
 with loose stones.' ^ In the afternoon 300 of the enemy 
 appeared on the hiUs, and sent in a message of defiance. 
 
 On the Monday morning the regiment was reinforced by 
 two troops of horse and three of dragoons under the com- 
 mand of Lord Cardross. At night they had intelligence of 
 a great gathering by the fiery cross, and the number of the 
 enemy had increased by the morning to more than a thousand. 
 
 Next morning (20th) ' about eight of the clock the horse, 
 foot, and dragoons made ready to march out, but a detach'd 
 party was sent before of fourty fusihers and fifteen hal- 
 bertiers, under command of Cap* George Monro and thirty 
 horse with Sir James Agnew, and twenty dragoons with the 
 Lord Cardross his own cornet ; after them followed Ensign 
 Lockhart with thirty halbertiers. The first detached party, 
 after they had marched about two miles, found before them 
 
 * lAfe of Colonel Blackadder, pp. 74, 90. ^ lb., p. 90 seq.
 
 COLONEL GEORGE MONRO 41 
 
 in a glen betwixt 200 and 300 of the rebels, who fired at a 
 great distance and shot Cornet Livingston in the leg. The 
 horse retired, and Captain Monro took up their ground, and 
 advanced, fireing upon the rebels to so good piurpose, that 
 they began to reel and break, but rallied on the face of the 
 next hill, from whence they were again beat. About that 
 time the Lieutenant CoUonel came up, and ordered Captain 
 Monro to send a serjeant with 6 men to a house on the side of 
 the wood, where he espyed some of the enemies. Upon 
 the Serjeant's approach to the place, about twenty of the 
 rebels appeared against him, but he was quickly seconded 
 by the Captain, who beat them over the hill and cleared the 
 ground of as many as appeared without the woods ; and 
 upon a command sent to him brought off his men in order. 
 Thereafter all the horse, foot and dragoons retired to the town ; 
 and that night the horse and dragoons marched to Perth, the 
 Lord Cardross, who commanded them, havmg received two 
 peremptory orders for that effect.' 
 
 The departure of the cavalry and the knowledge that 
 they must soon expect the main body of Highlanders under 
 Camion, Dundee's successor, proved too much for the soldiers' 
 nerve. ' Some of them proposed that they might also march, 
 seeing they were in an open useless place, ill provided of 
 all things, and in the midst of enemies. . . . The brave 
 Lieutenant CoUonel, and the rest of the gentlemen officers 
 amongst them, used all arguments of honour to persuade 
 them to keep their post ; and for their encouragement and 
 to assure them they would never leave them, they ordered 
 to draw out all their horses to be shot dead. The souldiers 
 then told them they needed not that pledge for their honour, 
 which they never doubted ; and seeing they found their 
 stay necessar they would run all hazards with them. 
 
 ' Wednesday ^ with the morning's light the rebels appeared, 
 standing in order, covering all the hills about, (for Cannon's 
 
 1 August 21. 
 ■ F
 
 42 COLONEL GEORGE MONRO 
 
 army joyned the Athole men the night before, and they were 
 repvite in all above 5000 men). Before seven in the morning, 
 their cannon advanced down to the face of a little hiU, close 
 upon the town, and 100 men, all armed with back, breast, 
 and head piece, marched straight to enter the town, and a 
 battalion of other foot close with them. Two troops of 
 horse marched about the town, and posted on the south west 
 part of it, betwixt the foord of the river and the church, 
 and other two troops posted in the north-east of the town 
 near the Cross. 
 
 ' The Lieutenant CoUonel had before possessed some out- 
 posts, with small parties, to whom he pointed out every step 
 for their retreat. . . . All the outposts being forc'd, the 
 rebels advanced most boldly upon the yard dykes all rovmd, 
 even upon those parts which stood less than fourty paces 
 from the river, where they crowded in multitudes, without 
 regard to the shot liberally pour'd in their faces, and struck 
 with their swords at the souldiers on the dyk, who, with their 
 pikes and halberts retinrned their blows with interest. Others 
 in great numbers possest the town houses, out of which they 
 fired within the dyks, as they did from the hills about.' 
 Within an hour Colonel Cleland was killed and the Major 
 disabled, so the command feU to Captain Monro. 
 
 ' Finding the soldiers gaUed in several places by the 
 enemies' shot from the houses, he sent out small parties of 
 pikemen with burning faggots upon the points of their pikes, 
 who fired the houses ; and where they found keys in the 
 doors, lock'd them, and burnt aU within ; which raised a 
 hideous noise from those wretches in the fire. There was 
 sixteen of them burnt in one house, and the whole houses 
 were burnt down, except three, wherem some of the regiment 
 were advantageously posted. But all the inhabitants of the 
 town, who were not with the enemy, or fled to the fields, 
 were received by the souldiers into the church. 
 
 'Notwithstanding all the gallant resistance which these
 
 COLONEL GEORGE MONRO 43 
 
 furious rebels met with, they continued their assaults in- 
 cessantly, until past eleven of the clock. . . . 
 
 ' At length, wearied with so many fruitless and expensive 
 assaults, and finding no abatement of the courage or dili- 
 gence of their adversaries, who treated them with continual 
 shot from all their posts, they gave over and fell back, and 
 run to the hills in great confusion. Whereupon they within 
 beat their drums and floairished their colours, and hollowed 
 after them with all expressions of contempt and provocations 
 to return. Their commanders assay' d to bring them back 
 to a fresh assault, as some prisoners related, but could not 
 prevail ; for they answered them, they could fight against 
 men, but it was not fit to fight any more against devils. 
 
 ' The rebels being quite gone, they within began to con- 
 sider where their greatest danger appeared in time of the 
 conflict ; and for rendring these places more secure, they 
 brought out the seats of the church, with which they made 
 pretty good defences ; especially they fortified these places 
 of the dyk which were made up with loose stones, a poor 
 defence against such desperate assailants. They also cut 
 down some trees on a little hill, where the enemy gall'd them 
 under covert. Their powder was almost spent, and their 
 bullets had been spent long before, which they supplyed by 
 the diligence of a good number of men, who were imployed 
 all the time of the action in cutting lead off the house, and 
 melting the same in little furrows in the ground, and cuttmg 
 the pieces into sluggs to serve for bullets. They agreed that 
 in case the enemy got over their dyks, they should retire to 
 the house, and if they should find themselves overpower'd 
 there, to burn it and bury themselves in the ashes. 
 
 ' In this action 15 men were killed, besides the officers 
 named, and 30 wounded. The accoimt of the enemies' 
 loss is micertain, but they are said to be above 300 slain. ^ 
 
 ' The Jacobite account written by Lochiel gives the Cameronian loss at 300, and 
 that of the Highlanders as less than 20 : Memoirs (Abbotsford Club), pp. 286, 288.
 
 44 COLONEL GEORGE MONRO 
 
 ' That handful of inexperienced men was wonderfully 
 animated to a steadfast resistance against a multitude of 
 obstinat fm-ies. But they gave the glory to God, and praised 
 him, and sung psalms after they had fitted themselves for a 
 new assault.' 
 
 Captain Monro was promoted to be Major after the battle. 
 The regiment then marched to Aberdeen, and thence back 
 to Montrose, where it remained for the winter. 
 
 On September 24, 1689 Sir Alexander Monro wrote to 
 Sir Patrick Hume expressing keen dissatisfaction with the 
 state of the regiment, probably a reflection of his son's views : ^ 
 
 ' Sir, if ye be acquauated with the Earl of Angus, I pray 
 you assure him that his regiment most necessarly break if 
 they be not delivered from Blackwood and Mr. Shiels. They 
 are worst payed of any of the forces, and they are naked, 
 and their heads are blown up with such notions as renders 
 them intoUerable. They are worse than ever they were 
 every way ; the reputation they gained wiU quickly wanish. 
 I hear the Earl is a discreet youth, and understands his 
 busines, and if he desires to have a regiment, he most quite 
 change the frame of this, for they refuse all subjection to 
 discipline. They run away and returns as they please, ther 
 owin brutish officers comphes with them in all ther dis- 
 orders ; gentlemen are disgraced in conjunction with them, 
 and no gentleman can bear Blackwood's arbitrary govern- 
 ment. If the Earl hade commissions from the King for men 
 who are worthie to be officers, he might have a good regiment 
 in eight days' time of these same souldiers or others. Bot 
 I fear I have insisted too long upon this subject, which I was 
 provok't to, reflecting upon your sone's company, which 
 was sent to Cardrosse with three more. Your sone is heir 
 and some others of the officers, who have got accompt that 
 almost all these companies are not run away but gone away 
 with a high hand, declaring they would serve no more untill 
 
 1 Hist. MSS. Com., Marchmont M8S, 1894, p. 119.
 
 COLONEL GEORGE MONRO 45 
 
 they got ther pay for August and September, and all malig- 
 nant officers were remowed from them, and these are in a 
 word all the gentlemen. 
 
 ' I saw a letter this day from Captain Campbell dated 
 from Purgatorie, wishing he had gone to keep sheep when he 
 first put himself into such company. Yet these who under- 
 stands them are perswaded that if they were quite of ther 
 beastly officers and IVIr. Shiels and Blackwood, they might 
 be very tractable souldiers, and doubtles they would be 
 brave fellows.' 
 
 Early in 1690 the regiment was reduced by ballot, and 
 George Mom-o's company. No. 5, was one of those disbanded.^ 
 He then took command of an independent company of foot, 
 100 strong, which was quartered for a time at Blair Athole 
 and afterwards at Finlarig on Loch Tay as a garrison against 
 attacks by the Highlanders. ^ He was ordered to take fifty 
 men to Fort William on December 15, 1691 just before the 
 massacre of Glencoe.^ Subsequently he served in Holland 
 as Major in Colonel George Hamilton's Regiment of Foot, 
 and was present at the siege and capture of Namxir from the 
 French in August 1695. A few months later he retired 
 owing to some peciuiiary difficulties with his Colonel.* He 
 then married and settled down in Stirhngshire, and was 
 appointed on January 29, 1698 his father's colleague and 
 successor as Commissary. He was eventually given the rank 
 of Colonel. 
 
 His wife was Margaret Bruce, second daughter of Robert 
 Bruce of Auchinbowie. This property, which lies in the 
 parish of St. Ninians about five miles south of Stirling, had 
 been in the Bruce family since 1506, when it was acquired 
 
 ^ Eyiglish Army Lists and Commission Registers, iii. 87. 
 ^ Papers Illustrative of the Highlands (Maitland Club), p. 12. 
 ^ Calendar of State Papers (Domestic), 1691-92, p. 34. 
 * Carstares State Papers, p. 266.
 
 46 THE BRUGES OF AUCHINBOWIE 
 
 from Robert Cumiiiigham of Polmaise ^ by Robert Bruce, 
 burgess of Stirling, fifth son of Alexander Bruce of Airth.^ 
 Bruce's descendant and namesake, Robert Bruce, died in 
 1694, leaving three daughters, Janet, Margaret and Jean ; 
 and Janet succeeded to the undivided property under an 
 entail executed by him.^ She married Captain William Bruce, 
 of Colonel John Buchan's regiment, eldest son of William 
 Bruce of Newtoun. On April 30, 1699 Captain Bruce killed 
 a young neighbour, Charles Elphinstone of Airth, in a quarrel 
 as they were riding home from a convivial meeting at Lord 
 Forrester's.* He fled from justice, and on September 22 
 was ' fugitated.' Ten years later he returned to stand his 
 trial, and successfully pleaded the Act of Indemnity of 1708,^ 
 which granted, as an encouragement to loyalty, a general 
 free pardon for past offences. 
 
 Meanwhile his wife found herself unable to cope with the 
 burdens on Auchinbowie, and as she had no family she sold 
 her interest in the property to her sister Margaret and Major 
 Monro her husband. She died in October 1708.^ 
 
 The disposition is dated February 21, 1702, and narrates' 
 that ' some creditors have already raised summonds and 
 intented a process of adjudication, and others will certainly 
 be provocked to doe the same, whereby the said lands and 
 estate are in hazard to be lost by me, to the great hurt and 
 prejudice of the heirs of tailzie after mentioned ; all which 
 I am not in a capacitie to prevent, being altogether destitute 
 of money or any other means to free me of or support me 
 under such a burden ; and seeing that my second lawful 
 sister Margaret Bruce and Major George Monro her husband 
 are in a far better condition for freeing and relieving the said 
 
 • R. M. S., 1424-1513, No. 2981. ^ The Pedigree Register, ii. 27. 
 ' Inquisitiones, Stirlingshire, No. 318. 
 
 * Major W. B. Armstrong, The Bruces of Airth, pp. cxx-oxxii. 
 ' 7 Anne, c. 22 ; Hume on Crimes, ii. 503. 
 
 ' Services of Heirs, 1710-19. 
 
 ' Books of C. and S. (Mackenzie), February 27, 1702.
 
 o 
 w 
 
 w 
 
 o 
 
 <1
 
 THE BRUGES OF AUCHINBOWIE 47 
 
 lands, estate and barony of Auchinbowie of the present burden 
 it lys under, and that she is the next heir after me to our said 
 dearest father, and that by granting of these presents his 
 memory and estate may be preserved . . .' ; accordingly she 
 sold them the estate, reserving a liferent annuity of £400 
 Scots, and also stipulating that the sxu"name of Bruce should 
 be preserved. This last condition was disregarded, and 
 Major Mom'o and his wife were thenceforth known as Monros 
 of Auchinbowie. 
 
 It is to be observed that at that time, and down to its 
 division in 1789, the property was twice its present size, 
 and was valued as a fifteen-merk land. The mansion-house 
 is t5rpical of the seventeenth century : it is an L-shaped 
 building, and used to have an octagonal staircase in the 
 angle. On an old sundial on the lawn the Bruce and Monro 
 arms are quartered, with the initials G.M., M.B. — George 
 Monro, Margaret Bruce. ^ 
 
 On his father's death George Monro succeeded to Bear- 
 crofts under burden of 3500 merks of debt, and subject to 
 provisions in favovu? of his three sisters amounting to 18,000 
 merks. He represented to them that these encumbrances 
 were more than the property could bear, and induced them 
 to forgo 1000 merks each ; but they stipulated that their 
 brother John was to get half the benefit of this concession. 
 George Monro soon proved the groundlessness of his argument 
 by selling the property for 70,000 merks to Margaret Hamilton, 
 widow of John Hamilton of Bangour. The sale took place 
 in January 1706, but by arrangement the price was paid 
 in instalments ranging over the next fourteen years. On 
 August 4, 1720 Lady Bangour sold the property to Patrick 
 Haldane, advocate, afterwards of Gleneagles.^ It now belongs 
 to the Marquis of Zetland. 
 
 1 Macgibbon and Ross, Castellated and Domestic Architecture, v. 227. 
 
 2 P. R. -S.— Stirling, July 24, 1719, November 15, 1723.
 
 48 COLONEL GEORGE MONRO 
 
 Sir Robert Sibbald, writing about 1710, calls Bearcrofts 
 ' a fine House with Gardens and Inclosures,' but the remains, 
 which now form part of the farm buildings, are those of a 
 very modest habitation. 
 
 George Monro was one of the Commissioners appointed 
 by the Crown in 1718 to inquire into the disorders and 
 irregularities in Glasgow University, especially in connection 
 with the rectorial elections.^ 
 
 In September 1720 Colonel Monro, who was by that time 
 a widower, disponed Auchinbowie to Alexander, his eldest 
 son, who had lately married (contract dated March 4, 1719) 
 Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Stewart of Tillicultry, a Judge 
 of the Court of Session. The Colonel stipulated to be 
 allowed to Hve at Auchinbowie with the young couple, and 
 to be given £50 a year of pocket money. He also resigned 
 his ofi&ce as Commissary, to which Alexander was appointed 
 on April 27, 1721. Colonel Monro died later in the year. 
 
 His other children were Margaret, born March 26, 1707, 
 and George, who was commissioned on August 19, 1718 
 Lieutenant in Major-General John Hill's Regiment ( 1 1th Foot) : 
 he was afterwards in Colonel Duroure's (12th) Regiment, and 
 was kiUed at the battle of Dettingen, June 16, 1743. 
 
 An early misdemeanour brought Alexander Monro under 
 the censure of St. Ninians kirk session,^ but after his mar- 
 riage he reformed. He was chosen an elder on January 20, 
 1722, and almost every year till his death he was selected 
 to represent the session at sjaiod and presbytery meetings. 
 
 In 1734 he fought the kirk session before the presbytery 
 over a proposal to erect the church steeple on part of the old 
 Auchinbowie burying ground, but he was unsuccessful, and 
 eventually accepted the site of the old steeple in exchange.^ 
 
 1 Munimenta Universitatis Glasguensis (Maitland Club), ii. 562. 
 * Kirk Session Records, October 21, 1716, November 14, 1717. 
 3 Ih., July 18, 1734.
 
 ALEXANDER MONRO OF AUCHINBOWIE 49 
 
 On February 1, 1746 the church, which was being used as a 
 powder magazine by the Highland army, was blown up, 
 but the steeple, an elegant piece of architecture, escaped 
 destruction, and still stands, though at a distance from the 
 present church. 
 
 Auchinbowie was encumbered with 22,000 merks of debt 
 when Alexander Monro got it ; his finances soon became 
 seriously embarrassed, and eventually in 1733 he granted a 
 trust deed in favour of five of his principal creditors ^ — ^his 
 brother-in-law. Sir Robert Stewart of Tillicultry, his cousin. 
 Professor Alexander Moiu-o {Primus), and three others. They 
 appointed their own factor, and managed the property during 
 the remainder of his life. 
 
 In 1738, on the death of his mother's first cousin, Grizel 
 Bruce, Alexander Moiu-o succeeded to Riddoch or Reidheugh, 
 a small property adjoining Bearcrofts. 
 
 Grizel Bruce was the daughter of William, brother of 
 Robert Bruce of Auchinbowie, and Riddoch had belonged 
 to her grandfather, James Alexander. ^ She was an eccentric 
 and impulsive woman. When a girl of nineteen she gave 
 orders for the uprooting of ninety-two trees which Sir Alex- 
 ander Monro had planted on the march between the properties, 
 and in consequence was summoned before the Justices of the 
 Peace and fined. ^ 
 
 The succession to Riddoch came to Alexander Monro as 
 the result of a cm-ious and discreditable adventure of the 
 lady's.* In 1714, when she was of the mature age of thirty- 
 seven, she made an expedition to London. ' She was no 
 temptation for her beauty, her reputation was not entire, 
 and the company with whom she consorted was none of the 
 
 1 p. E. S.— Stirling, February 28, 1733. 
 
 " Inquisitiones, Stirlingshire, No. 386. ^ Fovmtainhall, Decisions, i. 749. 
 
 * House of Lords Appeals, Robertson, 386; Hamilton-Gordon's Session Papers 
 (Adv. Lib.), 1st Ser., 2 B 39 ; 1 R 35. 
 
 G
 
 50 ALEXANDER MONRO OF AUCHINBOWIE 
 
 best.' On short acquaintance she went through a ceremony 
 of marriage with a man who held himself out to be Sir John 
 Colvile, with an income of £1500 a year, but turned out 
 next day to be one Colquhoun, an ex-sergeant of Footguards, 
 with several wives already. Alexander Mom^o, who was a 
 mere youth at the time, came up to London in March 1715: 
 he fomid lodgings for his cousin and busied himself in getting 
 the marriage annulled and procuring the conviction of 
 Colquhoun, who was burnt through the hand and imprisoned 
 as his punishment. In return for his services she promised, 
 or else he suggested, a disposition to him of Riddoch in the 
 event of her dying without children. Nothing definite was 
 done, and on May 21, while driving in a coach with him, she 
 was arrested for debt at the instance of her lawyer, and taken 
 to a ' spimging-house ' ; but whether this was a plot arranged 
 by young Monro was a matter of dispute. After two days' 
 confinement she agreed to sign a disposition as the price of 
 her liberty, but on her return to Scotland she raised an action 
 to have it set aside. The Court of Session took her view, 
 but the decision was reversed in the House of Lords, and 
 the disposition held good. Riddoch was in the barony of 
 Falkirk, but as the Earl of Linlithgow, the superior, was 
 attainted after the 1715, Grizel Bruce took the opportunity 
 of getting a charter direct from the Crown, ^ the annual 
 reddendo being eighteen shillings. 
 
 Alexander Monro died on October 12, 1742,^ and his 
 widow died in Edinburgh on September 27, 1763.^ They 
 had a large family, but aU seem to have died unmarried, 
 except George, the eldest son, an army surgeon, who in- 
 herited Auchinbowie and Riddoch. The others who grew 
 up were Alexander,* a writer in Edinburgh, born August 10, 
 1724, died unmarried February 15, 1750, John, and the eldest 
 
 1 R. M. 8., July 26, 1716. " Services of Heirs, 1740-9. 
 
 ^ Edinburgh Courant, September 28, 1763. 
 
 ' Edinburgh Testaments, Alexr. Monro (Primus), October 28, 1767.
 
 DR. GEORGE MONRO 61 
 
 girl Cecil, born December 16, 1719, died January 15, 1786.^ 
 The children who died in infancy were — Robert, born July 
 1722, Margaret, born August 1723, GrisseU, born January 
 1726, Marion, born April 1727, and Heugh, born August 1729. 
 
 On his father's death Geobge Monro made up a formal 
 title to both properties. He seems to have sold Riddoch, 
 but the management of Auchinbowie continued in the hands 
 of the trustees for the creditors, who advertised it to be let, 
 describing it as including ^ ' a large mansion house with stables, 
 barns, pigeon house, etc., aU in good condition, and the 
 garden and orchards containing about six acres stocked 
 with fruit trees of the best kinds, as also the laigh inclosures 
 consisting of arable, pasture and meadow gromids, contain- 
 ing about eighty acres . . . and the high inclosures and fir 
 park called the Bar and Barside, a good part of which is 
 arable and the rest a good pasture, containing 192 acres and 
 fenced with a dry stone dyke, 2 ells in height, all well watered 
 and lying contigue.' 
 
 In May 1744 Professor Monro and the other creditors 
 entered into an arrangement whereby the Professor took 
 over all the debts on the estate, then amounting to £5236, 
 and the trustees granted a renunciation in favour of the 
 laird, who thereupon disponed the estate to the Professor 
 under burden of his mother's annuity of 1200 merks. On 
 June 22, 1744 the Professor obtained a Crown charter ^ 
 in favoiu- of himself in liferent, and John his eldest son in 
 fee, and thus Auchinbowie passed to the younger branch of 
 the family, who are descended from Sir Alexander Monro 
 of Bearcrofts through his son John. 
 
 George Monro was appointed to the family oflSce of 
 Commissary on November 2, 1742, and held it till 1765, but 
 for most of the time he must have exercised it by deputy, 
 
 * Edinburgh Courant, January 18, 1786. 
 
 " Caledonian Mercury, April 7, 1743. ' R. M. S., vol. 98, No. 83.
 
 52 DR. GEORGE MONRO 
 
 for as early as 1750 he was Surgeon in the Earl of Panmure's 
 (25th) Regiment. He saw active service in Germany, and 
 afterwards in the war against the French in America. He 
 was placed on haH-pay in 1773, but in 1781 he was appointed 
 Physician General to the garrison in Minorca, and went 
 through the six months' siege by the French and Spaniards. 
 It was on the strength of reports by him and his colleagues 
 that General Murray finally surrendered. 
 
 On February 1, 1782 he reported : ^ ' The prevailing 
 disease, the scurvy, amongst the troops, is got to such an 
 alarming height as seems to us to admit of no remedy in our 
 present situation ; every means has been tried to palliate 
 this formidable malady, but the daily and we may say, the 
 hovu-ly falling down of the men baffles aU our endeavom"s. 
 We are sorry to add that it does not appear to us that any 
 one now in hospital will be able to do the smallest duty 
 Tinder the present circumstances.' 
 
 The General in reply asked that the men on duty should 
 be medically examined, and on February 3 Dr. Monro reported 
 that there were 560 men in hospital, 106 of whom had gone 
 down in the last two days, while 660 were still on duty. 
 ' We judge it necessary to add that those men wiU, in all 
 probability, be in a few days incapable of performing any 
 duty, from the rapid progress the scurvy makes amongst 
 them : the constant duty the men are obhged to perform, 
 the impossibihty of procuring any kind of vegetables in the 
 present situation of affairs, and the damp ioxd air those men 
 constantly breathe in the subterraneans, are cause sufficient 
 to dread the consequences.' Two days later Fort St. Philip 
 was surrendered. 
 
 Dr. George Monro married Jane, daughter of Andrew 
 M'Comish of Crieff, and rehct of Law Robertson. He died 
 at Argyle Square, Edinburgh, on February 24, 1793,^ aged 
 about seventy-two : his widow survived till December 28, 
 
 ^ Edinburgh Advertiser, April 2, 1782. * Scots Magazine, 1793, p. 102.
 
 DR. GEORGE MONRO 53 
 
 1802. They had two sons, George and Hector WiUiam : 
 the latter, a Lieutenant-General in the army and Governor 
 of Trinidad, married on January 20, 1796 Philadelphia Bower, 
 heiress of Edmondsham in Dorsetshire, and fotmded the 
 family of Monro of Edmondsham. ^ He died at Bath on 
 January 3, 1821, leaving three sons and four daughters. 
 
 George, his elder brother, is said to have served in the 
 41st Foot, and to have risen to the rank of Major. He 
 married Elizabeth Aylmer, and had two sons, (1) George 
 Aylmer, Captain in the 42nd Royal Highlanders, who married 
 on January 28, 1812 Ann Sarah, daughter of Henry White.^ 
 He was killed at Badajos later in the year. (2) Harry ; and 
 (3) a daughter Caroline, who died unmarried. Harry had 
 two sons, Alexander Aylmer and Harry George. 
 
 1 Burke, Landed Oenlry. 
 
 * Register of St. Paul's, Covent Garden (Harleian Society).
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 JOHN MONRO. SURGEON IN EDINBURGH 
 
 John Monro, father of Professor Alexander Monro (Primus), 
 was the third son of Sir Alexander Monro of Bearcrofts 
 and Lillias Eastovm, and was baptized at Edinbiirgh on 
 October 19, 1670. 
 
 He was educated in physic and surgery, being apprenticed 
 to William Borthwick, surgeon, and after 1689 to the famous 
 Dr. Christopher Irvine. He got part of his training at Leyden 
 University, which he entered on October 11, 1692.^ 
 
 On March 7, 1695 he was commissioned Surgeon in Lieut.- 
 General Sir Henry Belasyse's Regiment of Foot, in after 
 years the 6th (Warwickshire) Regiment. During that spring 
 they were in camp between Bruges and Ghent, and later in 
 the year they took part in the siege of Namur imder the 
 personal command of King William m. The regiment 
 returned to England in March 1696, and was quartered at 
 Windsor, and after being in Brussels from July to November 
 1697, it again came home, and in August 1698 was ordered 
 to Ireland, where it remained for three years. 
 
 During several successive winters John Monro got leave 
 of absence, and lived in London, and some time diiring this 
 period he married his cousin, Jean, daughter of Captain 
 James Forbes, second son of the Duncan Forbes who bought 
 the barony of Culloden in 1616. Her mother, Agnes Monro, 
 was a daughter of Mr. George Monro of Pitlundie.^ 
 
 * Album Studiosorum Academioe Lmgduni Batavim. 
 2 Lumsden, Family of Forbes, p. 87. 
 61
 
 JOHN MONRO 
 
 To face page 54.
 
 JOHN MONRO, SURGEON 55 
 
 Captain James Forbes, who died at CuUoden on April 15, 
 1672, left, besides his daughter Jean, two sons — Alexander, 
 merchant in Edinburgh, who died in 1700,^ and Charles, 
 who was Captain in the regiment commanded by the Colonel 
 HiU who became notorious on account of the massacre of 
 Glencoe. Captain Charles Forbes afterwards jomed the ill- 
 fated expedition to the Darien colony, and died there in 
 July 1699. 
 
 Professor Alexander Monro (Primus) was born in London 
 on September 8, 1697 — if not an only child, the only one 
 who survived. 
 
 In 1700 John Mom-o left the army, and settled in Edin- 
 burgh. He had to borrow 1000 merks from his sisters to 
 enable him to set up in business as a chirurgeon-apothecary, 
 but shortly afterwards he succeeded to £1100 Scots on the 
 death of his sister Mary. 
 
 He was admitted to the Incorporation of Surgeons on 
 March 11, 1703, and ' his knowledge in his profession and 
 engaging manners soon introduced him into an extensive 
 practice.' The Town Council appointed him to take charge 
 of their sick pensioners. His apothecary's shop was first 
 in Smith's new land at the head of Bailie Fyfe's Close,^ and 
 afterwards in David Kinloch's land ^ on the north side of 
 the High Street between Halkerston's Wynd and Kinloch's 
 Close. 
 
 In 1712 and 1713 he was elected Deacon of the Surgeons, 
 and in the same years was chosen Deacon Convener of the 
 Trades with a seat on the Town Council, as a ' gentleman 
 well-affected to Her Majesty's Person and Government.' 
 He also sat as one of the representatives of the City in the 
 Convention of Royal Bm-ghs during that period. On the 
 accession of George i. he gave his allegiance to the House of 
 
 1 Edinburgh Testaments, Captain Chas. Forbes and Alexr. Forbes, October 16, 1700. 
 - Edinburgh Courant, April 4, 1709. 
 ^ Edinburgh Protocols, 8 Hume 161.
 
 56 JOHN MONRO, SURGEON 
 
 Hanover, and is mentioned among those who took part in 
 the proclamation at the Cross on August 5, 1714. 
 
 All honour is due to John Monro. He conceived the 
 scheme which created the Edinburgh Medical School and 
 Royal Infirmary, and he determined that his son should be 
 the instrument for accomplishing it. He was careful to give 
 him every advantage in general and professional education 
 to fit him for his career, and while the boy was growing 
 up, he himself was busy arousing enthusiasm for the scheme 
 among his professional brethren and the mimicipal authorities, 
 and especially with the famous Provost George Drummond. 
 He lived to see the complete success of his plan, and his 
 grandson, Dr. Donald Monro, gives a pleasant picture of the 
 old man's latter days, which he spent at Carrolside, a country 
 seat near Earlston in Berwickshire bought for him by his 
 son, happy in having achieved the idea of his life and in 
 witnessing his son's renown. 
 
 His wife died some time between 1705 and 1711, and in 
 August 1721 he married again, his second wife being Margaret 
 Crichton, widow of William Main, merchant. About a year 
 later he bought a house of six rooms and a kitchen in a tene- 
 ment on the west side of Covenant Close. ^ His son after- 
 wards acquired another house on the third story of the 
 same tenement,^ and lived there till his death. John Monro 
 also acquired, in right of his second wife, a tenement of 
 houses at the head of Halkerston's Wynd, which involved his 
 son in a lengthy litigation.^ 
 
 John Monro died at Carrolside in 1740,* and his wife 
 survived him. His portrait by William Aikman hangs in 
 Surgeons' Hall, Edinburgh. 
 
 1 Edinburgh Protocols, 7 Watt 98. 
 
 ^ Edinburgh Courant, December 23, 1767. 
 
 ' Hamiltem-Oordon's Session Papers, M vol. 5, No. 23 
 
 ■• Lauder Testaments, December 2, 1740.
 
 AlEXAWnEB MONRO. M.D. 
 
 Pr«lcl*»<.rol'Aiiato(ur..Lnd Fellow of dn- (Vllcgc ulThviieiiui*. EdmUirgh.i- F.RS . 
 
 To face page 57.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MOKRO {PRIMUS) 
 
 It has been already stated that Alexander Monro, the only 
 child of John Monro and Jean Forbes, was born in London 
 on September 8, 1697, and was brought to Edinburgh when 
 he was three years old. 
 
 His father took great pains with his education, and had 
 him instructed in the Latin, Greek, and French languages, 
 philosophy, arithmetic, and book-keeping. ' After having 
 gone regularly through the usual course at the University 
 of Edinburgh, he was bound apprentice to his father, who 
 was now in extensive practice ; and no means were neglected, 
 which Edinburgh could afiford, in order to promote his im- 
 provement in physic and surgery, and to cultivate the sterling 
 talents which he discovered at a very early period.' ^ 
 
 Edinbiurgh, however, offered little opportunity at that 
 time for the systematic study of medicine. Messrs. Adam 
 Drummond and John M'Gill, who had been appointed pro- 
 fessors of Anatomy by the Incorporation of Surgeons, showed 
 the dissection of a human body once in two years, and some 
 instruction in chemistry was given by Dr. Crawford, and in 
 pharmaceutical plants by Mr. George Preston. 
 
 These advantages were quite inadequate, so at the beginning 
 of 1717, on the completion of his apprenticeship, young Monro 
 was sent to London to study anatomy under William Cheselden, 
 the famous siu-geon, who was an enthusiastic teacher and a 
 skilful demonstrator. Pupil and teacher were kindred spirits, 
 
 ' Bower, History of the University of Edinburgh, ii. 169. 
 H
 
 58 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 
 
 and a lasting friendship was formed between them. In order 
 to gain as much experience as possible Monro lodged in the 
 house of an apothecary and visited patients with him, and 
 he also attended lectures by Mr. Whiston and Mr. Hawksby 
 on experimental philosophy. He made dissections of the 
 human body and of various animals, and his career was nearly 
 cut short owing to a scratched hand being infected by the 
 suppurated Imig of a phthisical subject. Cheselden encour- 
 aged his students to form a scientific society, and Monro 
 took an active part in the discussions, and in one of his papers 
 first sketched his ' Account of the Bones in general.' Before 
 he left London he sent home to his father some of his anatom- 
 ical specimens, and received the encouraging reply that on 
 his return to Edinburgh, if he continued as he had begun, 
 Mr. Drummond would resign his share of the professorship 
 of Anatomy in his favour. 
 
 In the spring of 1718 he went to Paris, where he walked 
 the hospitals and attended a course of anatomy given by 
 Bouquet. He performed operations under the direction of 
 Thibaut, and had instruction in midwifery from Gregoire, 
 bandages from Cesau, and botany from Chomel. 
 
 On November 16, 1718 he entered as a student of Leyden 
 University in order to study under Boerhaave, the great 
 physician, who lectiured on the theory and practice of physic. 
 Many patients from Scotland came to consult Boerhaave, 
 and were put under Monro's care : the young man had 
 frequent and ready access to him, and the friendship thus 
 formed lasted for many years. 
 
 On his retiu-n to Edinbiu-gh in the autumn of 1719 young 
 Monro was examined by the Incorporation of Surgeons, and 
 was admitted a member on November 19. Mr. Drummond 
 then fulfilled his promise of resigning his professorship, and 
 Mr. M'Gill did likewise ; and they gave him a recommenda- 
 tion to the Town Council, the patrons of the University. 
 This was backed up by the Surgeons, and on January 22,
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 59 
 
 1720 the Council appointed him Professor of Anatomy with 
 a salary of £15 sterling, this modest sum being supplemented 
 by the students' fees of three guineas a head. 
 
 His ' Colledge of Anatomy in all it's parts, with the Opera- 
 tions of Surgery and Bandages ' was advertised ^ to begin on 
 the first Monday of November following, and in the meantime 
 his father privately made great exertions to attract notice 
 to the inauguration of the undertaking. The College of 
 Physicians presented to the Town Comicil a resolution in 
 favour of its encouragement,^ which the Council itself en- 
 dorsed ; ^ and the opening lecture in the old Surgeons' HaU 
 was attended by the magistrates, the Deacon and board of 
 the Surgeons, and the President and members of the CoUege 
 of Physicians. This luiexpected company so much alarmed 
 the yovmg professor that he forgot the words of his lecture, 
 which he had committed to memory ; but fortmiately he had 
 the presence of mind to begin by showing some anatomical 
 preparations and explaining them in impromptu language, 
 with successful results. He afterwards adopted the practice 
 of speaking from short notes. 
 
 His anatomical coiu'se, which lasted until the end of 
 April, was repeated for thirty-nine sessions. His lectures 
 were illustrated by dissections of the human body, and also, 
 for comparison, of the bodies of quadrupeds, birds, and fishes.'* 
 After giving the anatomy of each part he treated of its diseases, 
 especially those requiring operation. He showed the opera- 
 tions on the dead body, with the various bandages and 
 apparatus, and ended with a few lectures on physiology. 
 In the summer of 1721 and 1722 he was persuaded by his 
 father to give a course of public lectures on wounds and 
 tumours. 
 
 * Caledonian Mercury, September 22, 1720. 
 2 Minutes of R. C. P. E., August 2, 1720. 
 
 ^ Council Register, xlviii. 204. 
 
 * Sir John Struthers, Edinburgh Anatomical School, p. 23.
 
 60 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 
 
 His father had by this time secvired a further develop- 
 ment of his scheme by inducing Dr. Alston, King's Botanist 
 for Scotland, to undertake a course of lectures on materia 
 inedica, which began in the winter of 1720 and went on 
 concurrently with the anatomy course ; and in 1726 four 
 young FeUows of the College of Physicians, Drs. Sinclair, 
 Rutherford, Innes, and Plummer, who had also been study- 
 ing at Leyden under Boerhaave, were appointed by the 
 Town Comicil to lecture on chemistry and various branches 
 of medicine. 
 
 The whole scheme was framed upon the model of Leyden 
 University, and it is not surprising that Boerhaave's doctrines 
 had a great influence in Edinburgh ; in the anatomy class 
 the text-books were his Institutiones medicce and Aphorismi 
 de cognoscendis et curandis Morhis. 
 
 Between 1713 and 1718 the University had conferred the 
 degree of Doctor of Medicine upon four applicants, no examina- 
 tion being required of them. In November 1718 the Uni- 
 versity applied to the Royal College of Physicians to nominate 
 one or more of their FeUows to join with Dr. Crawford, 
 Professor of Physic, in examining a candidate. This practice 
 was adopted on about eight occasions down to November 
 1726, when the University intimated to the College ' that 
 now that there was a sufficient number of Professors of 
 Medicine to make a Facultie of Medicine, they should not 
 trouble the CoUedge any more upon that head. But were 
 thankful for what favours they had received, and desired to 
 live in good correspondence with the CoUedge.' ^ It does 
 not appear that the Professor of Anatomy was one of the 
 examiners at this date ; the degree was looked upon as 
 piu-ely medical. 
 
 Monro's original appointment as professor was only during 
 the pleasTU-e of the Town Council, but in 1722, encouraged 
 by his success, he applied for a permanent status, and although 
 
 1 Minutes of R. C. P. E., November 1, 1726.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 61 
 
 the Council had as lately as August 1719 reaffirmed the 
 principle that regentships and professorships were to be held 
 at their pleasiu-e, nevertheless they departed from it, and by 
 resolution of March 14, 1722, ' for his better encouragement 
 of new nominate Alexander Monro sole Professor of Anatomy 
 within this City and College, and that ad vitam aut culpam.'' 
 This important precedent was probably due partly to Monro's 
 own briUiance and partly to the sage advice of George 
 Drummond ; it was afterwards followed, and had the effect 
 of giving the professors a position of independence and dignity 
 which they had not hitherto enjoyed. 
 
 TiU 1725 Mom-o continued to lecture in the old Surgeons' 
 Hall on the south side of Surgeons' Square, but in that year 
 he was granted a theatre in the University buildings. The 
 change was due to special circumstances. For fifteen years 
 past there had been a popular suspicion that some of the 
 young surgeons were violating graves in order to get bodies 
 for dissection, and on May 20, 1711 the Incorporation of 
 Surgeons held a meeting to consider measures for stopping 
 this practice, and put on record their condemnation of it. 
 The great stimulus to anatomical study given by Monro's 
 lectures had the effect of reviving the alarm, and the Surgeons 
 took further steps by ordering ' that a clause should be put 
 into all indentures of apprentices against violation of the 
 churchyards.' ^ The Professor himself had to submit to 
 stringent reg\ilations in procuring subjects, and had to notify 
 each body by letter to the officials of the Incorporation. 
 These measures did not allay the excitement of the populace, 
 who towards the end of the session 1724-5 beset the HaU 
 threatening to demolish it, and the tumult was with diffi- 
 culty quelled by the magistrates. 
 
 On April 17, 1725 Professor Monro wrote to the news- 
 papers : 2 ' Whereas several Reports have of late been spread, 
 
 1 Minutes of Surgeons, January 24, 1721 ; March 2, 1725. 
 ^ Caledonian Mercury, April 20, 1725.
 
 62 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 
 
 and are believed by well meaning but too credulous People, 
 that the Surgeon Apprentices, encouraged by the Professor 
 of Anatomy, have Hfted or attempted to lift human Bodies 
 from their Graves or Places of Interrement, and that such, 
 who because of the Vigilance of the Magistrats diirst not 
 continue in their vile Practices of Pilfering and Robbing, 
 have, by personating Surgeons, endeavoured to skreen 
 themselves from Discovery, and thereby brought a Calumny 
 and Scandal on those Surgeons, as if they could be so destitute 
 of all ReUgion and Humanity, as to be guilty of that mon- 
 struously barbarous Crime of dissecting living Men and Women, 
 or of taking away their lives in order to dissect them ; I, 
 Alexander Monro, Professor of Anatomy, do therefore take 
 this Opportunity publickly to declare my just Abhorrence 
 of that vile, abominable, and most inhumane Crime of steal- 
 ing human Bodies out of their Graves, and which must 
 directly tend to the Ruin of my Profession.' He ended by 
 offering a reward of £3 sterling for the discovery of each 
 offender, and this was reinforced by the Incorporation of 
 Chirurgeon Apothecaries, who offered a reward of £10, and 
 by the magistrates, who offered £20.^ 
 
 To prevent a recurrence of these disturbances and to 
 ensure the safety of his anatomical collection Monro applied 
 to the Town Council on October 20 for a theatre within the 
 University. George Drummond had just been elected Lord 
 Provost, and at his instance the request was at once granted, 
 and Monro was formally received into the University on 
 November 3, 1725, the day on which his friend Cohn Maclauiin 
 was inducted to his professorship of Mathematics as assistant 
 to Professor Gregory. Incidentally the chair of Anatomy 
 passed from the control of the Incorporation of Surgeons. 
 
 At the end of 1726 Monro pubUshed his Anatomy of the 
 Human Bones,^ which went through eight editions in his 
 lifetime, the later ones including a treatise on the nerves. 
 
 ' Council Register, 1. 478. ^ Caledonian Mercury, January 6, 1727.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 63 
 
 It was translated into most European languages, and in 
 1759 a folio edition with ' elegant engravings ' was published 
 in Paris by M. Joseph Sue, Professor of Anatomy to the 
 Royal Schools of Surgery and to the Royal Academy of 
 Painting and Sculpture. The great reputation which Monro's 
 work attained did much to increase the fame of the new school 
 of medicine in Edinburgh. 
 
 Professor Monro and Provost Drummond are rightly 
 considered the founders of the Royal Infirmary, but this 
 institution, Uke the rest of the scheme, was originally planned 
 by the Professor's father. The magistrates had for long 
 appointed a physician and a surgeon to attend the sick poor 
 among the freemen burgesses, and the Physicians and 
 Surgeons as corporations had given gratuitous advice and 
 medicines to the rest of the poor. 
 
 In 1721 John Monro and some of his friends proposed 
 the establishment of a regular hospital, and an appeal for 
 funds was drawn up by the Professor and circulated. ^ For 
 several years the scheme languished for want of support, but 
 at the end of 1725 it was revived by Provost Drummond, 
 who formed the nucleus of a fund by obtaining assignations 
 of some shares in the moribund Fishing Company, of which 
 he was a manager.- The plan was taken up by the Royal 
 College of Physicians,^ who headed the subscription list 
 and secured the support of the ministers of the Chiu"ch of 
 Scotland, the Episcopal clergy and the public of Edinburgh. 
 In three years £2000 was subscribed: the College of Phy- 
 sicians called a meeting of subscribers, and a committee 
 was elected to carry the scheme into execution. 
 
 On August 1, 1727 the College of Physicians had passed 
 a resolution binding its members to attend the hospital 
 in rotation for a fortnight at a time, their services to be given 
 
 ' First Report of Infirmary Managers, 1730. 
 
 - Adv. Lib. Pamphlets, jlfg. 
 
 ' History of Royal Infirmary, 1778, p. 4 seq.
 
 64 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {PRIMUS) 
 
 gratuitously.^ The provision of surgical treatment and 
 medicines presented a difficulty, for overtures had been 
 made at the same time to the Incorporation of Surgeons 
 suggesting similar action on their part, but there was con- 
 siderable jealousy between the two bodies, and no answer was 
 received. Accordingly on January 13, 1729, at one of the 
 first meetings of the managers. Professor Monro volunteered 
 to imdertake the whole surgical attendance and to furnish 
 medicines at cost price. This generous oflEer was accepted, but 
 when the Surgeons heard of it, ' they entertained some dismal 
 apprehensions and consequences,' and hastily offered that 
 their members should attend in turn and that they would 
 furnish medicines gratis for two years. Professor Monro 
 expressed his wiUingness to give way if the committee pre- 
 ferred this arrangement, but they seem not to have been 
 satisfied that the offer contained a sufficiently definite obli- 
 gation, and eventually a solution was found in a personal 
 undertaking by six surgeons, including Messrs. Monro and 
 M'Gill, to make themselves responsible for the surgical 
 attendance and supply of medicines gratis, until the patients 
 should exceed a certain number. 
 
 On August 6, 1729 the first hospital was opened ^ at 
 a small house which the subscribers had rented at the 
 head of Robertson's Close, a street running south from the 
 Cowgate. 
 
 On August 25, 1736 the managers obtained a Royal 
 Charter, and appealed for funds to build a regular infirmary. 
 There was a liberal response, and two years later Robert 
 Adam, the eminent architect, was employed to draw plans 
 for a building to accommodate about 250 beds. The founda- 
 tion was laid on August 2, 1738, and Messrs. Drummond and 
 Monro were unanimously chosen by the contributors to serve 
 
 1 A Vindication of the Managers of the Royal Infirmary, 1741, p. 4 seq. ; Minutes of 
 R. C. P. E., August 5, 1729. 
 
 2 Edinburgh Hospital Reports, 1893, vol. i. p. 3.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 65 
 
 on the building committee of six, and they paid the work- 
 men with their own hands. The progress of the work excited 
 great enthusiasm : many who had not money to subscribe 
 contributed materials or labour,^ and in December 1741 
 the building was opened. 
 
 The Incorporation of Surgeons, taking umbrage at the 
 supposed slight upon them, had opened a hospital of their 
 own in July 1736,^ and refused for some years to associate 
 themselves with the scheme for the Royal Infirmary; but 
 when its success was assiired, they approached the managers 
 in May 1738 with a petition that aU members of their Incor- 
 poration might be allowed to attend in turn, ' in order to 
 preserve ane equahty amongst the Surgeons of Edinbiu-gh,' 
 and promised that on that condition they would abandon their 
 own hospital. The managers agreed to these terms, and the 
 system by which each surgeon was allowed, if he wished, to 
 attend for two months at a time continued till the beginning 
 of the nineteenth century, when it was fiercely and successfully 
 attacked by Dr. James Gregory. 
 
 The Physicians followed the opposite policy, and in 
 1751, realising the advantages of continuity in attendance, 
 they appointed two Ordinary Physicians as the permanent 
 medical staff. 
 
 The establishment of the hospital, even before the new 
 building was begun, led to another institution with which 
 Monro's name is connected, namely the Medical Society, 
 which passed through several phases, and ultimately became 
 the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 
 
 A regular register of cases was kept at the hospital, and 
 it occurred to some of the visiting physicians and siu-geons 
 that the results of their observations might be published 
 in the form of essays. They invited the co-operation of 
 other practitioners, and the Medical Society was formed 
 
 1 Letter relating to the Royal Infirmary, by ' Philasthenes,' 1739, p. 11. 
 
 ' Memorial to the Managers of the Royal Infirmary, Dr. James Gregory, 1800. 
 
 I
 
 66 PROFESSOK ALEXANDER MONRO {PRIMUS) 
 
 with Monro as secretary. During the first year the members 
 attended the meetings regularly, and papers were read and 
 discussed, but in 1732, after the publication of the first 
 volume of Medical Essays and Observations, they grew remiss 
 in their attendance, and very soon the meetings ceased 
 altogether. The Society published six volumes, which passed 
 through several editions and were translated into the French, 
 German, and Dutch languages. Monro is said to have con- 
 tributed about a quarter of the material, and his labours 
 as editor were considerable. Sir Robert Strange, the engraver, 
 says that while apprenticed to Cooper he worked at some of 
 the anatomical plates. 
 
 In 1737 a proposal was adopted to increase interest in the 
 Society by enlarging its scope so as to include aU branches 
 of natmral science.^ There were forty-five original members 
 of the ' Philosophical ' or ' Physical ' Society, as it was now 
 called, and they met at first in one of the lecture-rooms in 
 the University and afterwards in the Advocates' Library 
 on the first Thursday in each month except September and 
 October. James, foiurteenth Earl of Morton, was elected 
 President, and Monro was invited to be Secretary on the 
 medical side, but declined, and his place was taken by Pro- 
 fessor Plummer, with Colin Maclaurin as his colleague for the 
 new section.' Once more keenness at the start was succeeded 
 by lethargy, and the rebellion of 1745, followed a few months 
 later by Maclaurin's death, dealt the Society such a blow as 
 to leave it comatose for several years. In 1752 it was revived, 
 and Monro was persuaded to take the secretaryship jointly 
 with ' the very ingenious and celebrated David Hume Esq.' ^ 
 In 1754 a volume of transactions appeared under the title 
 of Essays and Observations, Physical and Literary, and it 
 was followed two years later by another volume. Monro 
 
 * Royal Society of Edinburgh, General Index of vols. 1-34, pp. 3 and 22. List of 
 original members and rules of the Philosophical Society. 
 2 Scots Magazine, 1754, p. 184.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 67 
 
 contributed two papers to the first series and four to the 
 second. 
 
 The Society seemed Ukely to languish agam, so Professor 
 Monro was chosen a Vice-President, and his son Alexander 
 (Secundus) became Secretary ; but the next volume did not 
 appear until 1771. 
 
 Moiu-o soon attained a European reputation as a teachef. 
 Principal Sir Alexander Grant says : ^ 'He was the first 
 professor of any kind who drew great attention to the Uni- 
 versity of Edinburgh from without, and gave it the beginnings 
 of its celebrity.' 
 
 The number of students in the class of anatomy increased 
 steadily ; ^ during the first year there were 57 in attendance ; 
 the average for the first decade was 67, for the second 109, 
 and for the third 147. Monro (Secundus) calculated that 
 4431 students passed through his father's hands, and they 
 were drawn from all parts of the British Isles and from the 
 Continent too. 
 
 An interesting tribute to Monro comes from the pen of 
 Oliver Goldsmith, perhaps his most famous pupil. He spent 
 two sessions in Edinburgh, 1752-3 and 1753-4, and wrote to 
 his uncle, the Rev. Thomas Contarine, on May 8, 1753 : ^ 
 
 ' Apropos, I shall give you the professors' names, and, as 
 
 ' Story of the University of Edinburgh, ii. 386. 
 
 * Bower {History of the University, ii. 179) gives the numbers, which were com- 
 municated by Monro (Tertius), as follows : — 
 
 1720 . 
 
 57 1730 
 
 
 83 
 
 1740 . 
 
 130 
 
 1760 . 
 
 . 158 
 
 1721 . 
 
 68 1731 
 
 
 82 
 
 1741 . 
 
 136 
 
 1751 . 
 
 . 144 
 
 1722 . 
 
 62 1732 
 
 
 107 
 
 1742 . 
 
 131 
 
 
 
 1723 . 
 
 68 1733 
 
 
 104 
 
 1743 . 
 
 164 
 
 
 \ 
 
 1724 . 
 
 58 1734 
 
 
 111 
 
 1744 . 
 
 150 
 
 1752-8 . 
 
 . 891 
 
 1725 . 
 
 51 1735 
 
 
 95 
 
 1745 . 
 
 76 
 
 
 
 1726 . 
 
 65 1736 
 
 
 131 
 
 1746 . 
 
 182 
 
 
 
 1727 . 
 
 81 1737 
 
 
 123 
 
 1747 . 
 
 165 
 
 
 
 1728 . 
 
 70 1738 
 
 
 119 
 
 1748 . 
 
 160 
 
 
 
 1729 . 
 
 90 1739 
 
 
 137 
 
 1749 . 
 
 182 
 
 
 
 3 Life of ( 
 
 loldsmith, John ] 
 
 "■orst 
 
 er, i. 434. 
 
 
 

 
 68 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 
 
 far as occurs to me, their characters ; and first, as most deserv- 
 ing, Mr. Monro, Professor of Anatomy. This man has brought 
 the science he teaches to as much perfection as it is capable 
 of ; and not content with barely teaching anatomy, he 
 launches out into all the branches of physic, when aU his 
 remarks are new and useful. 'Tis he, I may venture to say, 
 that draws hither such a number of students from most 
 parts of the world, even from Russia. He is not only a skilful 
 physician, but an able orator, and delivers things in their 
 nature obscure in so easy a manner, that the most unlearned 
 may understand him. . . . 
 
 ' You see then, dear sir, that Monro is the only great man 
 among them ; so that I intend to hear him another winter, 
 and go then to hear Albinus, the great professor at Leyden.' 
 
 Dr. Andrew Duncan, Professor of Physiology from 1790 
 to 1821, wrote of Monro (Primus):^ 'He studied medicine 
 with a zeal and industry seldom paralleled, perhaps never 
 exceeded. He taught it with an enthusiasm and liberaUty 
 of sentiment proportioned to the importance of the art, 
 and he neglected no opportunity of encouraging genius.' 
 
 Dr. Thomas Somerville, Minister of Jedburgh, gives the 
 following account of him as a lecturer : - ' He lectured in 
 English. His style was fluent, elegant and perspicuous, and 
 his pronunciation perhaps more correct than that of any 
 public speaker in Scotland at this time. I heard his con- 
 cluding lecture at the end of the session 1757, and I think I 
 had never before been so much captivated with the power 
 and beauty of eloquent discourse. The purpose of his address 
 was to impress on his students the moral and religious improve- 
 ment of the science of anatomy, as it displayed evidence of 
 the wisdom, power, and infinite goodness of the Creator, 
 whom, in conclusion, he entreated them with great solemnity, 
 in the words of the wise man, to " remember now in the days 
 of their youth." ' 
 
 ' Harveian Oration for 1780, p. 33. " Life and Times, pp. 19-23.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 69 
 
 In the session of 1753-4 the lectiire-room proved too 
 small, and the Professor found it necessary to divide the class 
 and repeat his lecture in the evening. He soon handed over 
 the evening class to his youngest son, Alexander (Secundus), 
 who was on July 11, 1754 admitted conjunct Professor. The 
 young man was only in his twenty-second year and his 
 education was not finished, so during the next four years 
 he could give little assistance, but he took sole charge of the 
 class at the beginning of 1757,^ while his father was suffering 
 from a dangerous fever, which confined him to bed for nearly 
 three months. In the summer of 1758 he finally returned 
 from abroad, and assisted in lecturing during the next 
 session. 
 
 Primus then gave up lecturing and confined himself to 
 giving clinical instruction at the Infirmary in conjunction 
 with Drs. CuUen and Whytt. He had been undertaking this 
 duty for the past three years since the retirement of Dr. 
 Rutherford, and continued to give instruction until his last 
 illness. 
 
 On January 1, 1756 the University of Edinburgh conferred 
 upon him the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He was admitted 
 a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians upon February 3 
 following, thereupon resigning his membership of the Incor- 
 poration of Siu-geons, and he was elected a Fellow of the 
 College on March 5 of the same year, on the same day as his 
 friend and colleague Dr. William CuUen, whose candidature 
 he warmly supported for the chair of Chemistry in 1755 and 
 for that of Physic in 1766. Monro had been elected a Fellow 
 of the Royal Society of London in 1723, on Cheselden's 
 recommendation, and he was also an honorary member of 
 the Royal Academy of Surgery in Paris. 
 
 He had a large private practice, and was consulted in all 
 kinds of cases, but he was not an operating surgeon, at least 
 not in the greater operations. His last public work was a 
 
 ^ Edinburgh Courant, Febniary 15, 1757.
 
 70 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 
 
 treatise on the success of vaccination in Scotland, issued in 
 1765 in answer to inquiries by a board of French physicians, 
 who were investigating its results. 
 
 He could be a formidable antagonist on occasion. Since 
 1758 his son Alexander had been engaged in controversy with 
 William Hunter, the eminent but pugnacious anatomist, as 
 to the originality of their respective researches into the 
 lymphatic glands ; and in 1762 Hunter contributed an 
 article to the Medical Commentaries, in which he made a 
 furious onslaught on the Monros, father and son, and charged 
 them with deliberately suppressing all reference to his dis- 
 coveries, and claiming the credit themselves. 
 
 Monro (Primus) then entered the lists by publishing An 
 Expostulatory Epistle. He begins by averring his unwiUing- 
 ness to forsake his retirement and resume controversy ; 
 ' but,' he says, ' your late Attack in your medical Commentary 
 on my Candour and Veracity, the Part of my Character 
 which I always valued most, piques me so much, that I must 
 appeal to the Public for Redress ; and possibly when the 
 Spirit is thus roused, something more than my Vindication 
 may appear.' 
 
 He then demolishes Hvmter's case piecemeal, and incident- 
 ally refers to one of his publications as a work, ' where, after 
 a pompous Introduction, which raises high Expectation of 
 Novelties, I found nothing that I had not seen in Books, 
 except several Mistakes.' 
 
 He brings his letter to an effective cUmax with a few 
 trenchant paragraphs in the grand style : ' I am affraid those 
 who read your Performance won't aUow me to call it the 
 Effects of Generosity, Charity or Reverence ; possibly you 
 mean that you feel Contempt for a Dotard whom, you say, 
 you wish to have done with, which in a charitable Construction, 
 may be to wish him in Abraham's Bosom ; for which good 
 Wish your old Master returns you Thanks, and shaU at 
 present have done with you, after giving a friendly Advice
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {PRIMUS) 71 
 
 to you and an Exhortation to the Students in Anatomy. . . . 
 A Joke may sometimes pass for Demonstration, and if it is 
 of the sarcastical kind, may please a young Audience ; but 
 remember that indulging that Sort of Humour frequently, 
 though one is ever so confident of having smooth, artful, 
 ambiguous Words always at command, will create a Grudge 
 in the Hearts of all good-natured People against the sly 
 Back-biter. You will give less Offence by speaking in plain 
 Contradiction to those you have Occasion to dispute with, 
 as you see the blunt, testy old Fellow you are now engaged 
 with has done. . . .' 
 
 He indulges in a final thrust by signing himseK ' Your 
 old Master, Alex. Monro.' 
 
 Monro {Primus) was a man of extraordinary energy, with 
 a wide range of interests outside the immediate work of his 
 profession, and he took a prominent place in Edinburgh 
 society. He was librarian to the Incorporation of Surgeons 
 from 1720 to 1727, and was also curator of the University 
 Library, where he provided a collection of medical works 
 which he catalogued with his own hand. 
 
 After Colin Maclaurin's death in 1746 he helped to pre- 
 pare for publication his Account of Sir Isaac Newtori's Dis- 
 coveries, and the memoir prefixed to it is based on an oration 
 which he dehvered before the University. They had been 
 close friends for over twenty years, and the memoir tells of 
 their last conversation a few hours before Maclaurin's death. ^ 
 
 Professor Monro was an active member of many societies. 
 His connection with the Medical and Philosophical Societies 
 has been already mentioned. He joined the Honourable 
 Society of Improvers in the Knowledge of Agriculture in 
 Scotland, the earliest forerunner of the Highland and Agri- 
 cultural Society. It was founded in 1723, and perished in 
 the confusion of the '45. 
 
 He was one of the six presidents of the Select Society, 
 
 ' Maclaurin, Account of Neivton's Discoveries, p. xi.
 
 72 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 
 
 which was started on May 23, 1754 by Allan Ramsay the 
 younger ' for literary discussion, philosophical inquiry, and 
 improvement in public speaking.' ^ It consisted at first 
 of thirty members, and met in the Advocates' Library from 
 six to nine o'clock every Wednesday from November 12 to 
 August 12. Professor Monro was an original member, as 
 were Adam Smith and David Hume, who took no part in 
 the debates, Principal Robertson, the Rev. Hugh Blair, 
 John Home, author of the Douglas, Alexander Wedderburn, 
 afterwards Lord Chancellor Loughborough, Lord Hailes and 
 Andrew Pringle (Lord Alemore). Dugald Stewart says on 
 the authority of Dr. ' Jupiter ' Carlyle : ^ ' The Society was 
 much indebted to Dr. Alexander Monro senior. Sir Alexander 
 Dick, and Mr. Patrick Murray advocate, who by their con- 
 stant attendance and readiness on every subject supported 
 the debate during the first years of its establishment, when 
 otherwise it would have gone heavily on.' 
 
 By 1759 the members had risen to 130, and included 
 all the prominent men of Edinburgh — Professor Adam 
 Fergusson, Lord Provost Drummond, three Lord Presidents 
 in Robert Dundas, Thomas Millar and Hay Campbell, Lord 
 Kames, a very active member. Lord Monboddo and many 
 other judges. 
 
 From the Select Society sprang two offshoots. On 
 March 13, 1755 the members resolved to establish ' The Edin- 
 burgh Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Sciences, 
 Manufactures and Agriculture in Scotland.' Its affairs were 
 put into the hands of nine ordinary managers, of whom Pro- 
 fessor Monro was one, and nine extraordinary managers, 
 the subscription for members being two guineas. The Edin- 
 burgh Society had a successful career, and showed its activity 
 mainly by offering premiums in its various departments 
 for public competition. 
 
 ' Scots Magazine, 1755, p. 126. 
 
 2 Principal Robertson, Works, i. 136, App. A ; Tytler, Memoirs of Kames, i. 175.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {PRIMUS) 73 
 
 The second child of the Select Society was foredoomed 
 to failure. In 1761 the members set themselves to purify 
 the Scottish dialect by propagating English idioms and pro- 
 nmiciation, and resolved to form a ' Society for promoting 
 the reading and speaking of the English language in Scot- 
 land.' ^ Sixteen ordinary and ten extraordinary directors 
 were elected, but Professor Monro's name does not appear. 
 They went so far as to engage a Mr. Leigh, ' a person well 
 qualified to teach the pronunciation of the English tongue 
 with propriety and grace,' and then the ludicrous side of 
 the enterprise struck the Edinburgh pubUc. Tlie Society 
 perished forthwith in ridicule, and with it disappeared its 
 parent, the Select Society. ^ 
 
 Professor Monro was a manager of the Orphan Hospital, 
 and of the Ministers' Widows' Fund, founded in 1743, to 
 which the professors were admitted as contributors ; he was 
 a director of the Bank of Scotland from 1757 tUl his death ; 
 and after 1744, when he bought Auchinbowie, he was a 
 Commissioner of Supply and of High Roads and a Justice of 
 the Peace for the county of Stirling. 
 
 He never Uved at Auchinbowie, but he altered and 
 enlarged the house for the benefit of his eldest son. 
 
 In politics he was a strong supporter of the House of 
 Hanover, and in August 1740 he was one of a deputation 
 from the Incorporation of Surgeons who presented an address 
 to the Duke of Argyll thanking him for his attachment to 
 the cause of hberty.^ 
 
 His son Donald says : ' After the unfortunate affair of 
 Prestonpans in the year 1745 he flew to the field of battle, 
 to assist the sick and wounded officers and soldiers in His 
 Majesty's service ; and after seeing their wounds dressed 
 he, by his singular activity, procured them provisions of 
 
 1 Scots Magazine, 1761, p. 440 ; 1762, p. 450. 
 
 2 Campbell, Lord Chancellors, 1847, vi. 30 (Lord Loughborough). 
 * Caledonian Mercury, August 11, 1740. 
 
 K
 
 74 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO [PRIMUS) 
 
 every sort and afterwards procured carriages for bringing 
 them to town, where he attended them with the greatest 
 assiduity and care. At the same time his humanity led him 
 to give assistance to many of the wounded rebels, who from 
 their wounds had become objects of compassion, even though 
 engaged in a cause which he did not approve of. The same 
 humanity led him, after the rebellion, to represent to govern- 
 ment the assistance he had got from some of the rebel officers 
 in procuring provisions and necessaries for the wounded 
 officers and soldiers in his Majesty's service on that occasion, 
 which contributed to procure their pardon.' He exerted 
 himself to save the life of his old pupil. Dr. Archibald 
 Cameron, who was executed at Tyburn in 1753 — the last 
 victim of the '45. 
 
 With his ability and energy he combined other quahties, 
 which go to make the character of a really great man. Bower 
 speaks of his unaffected modesty, the absence of professional 
 jealousy, and the courtesy and sympathy which endeared 
 him to his students. ^ His pupil. Dr. John Fothergill, spoke 
 of him as ' justly denominated the Father of the College ' ; ^ 
 and SmeUie says : ^ ' As he felt strongly for distress, he was 
 liberal to the poor, but as he hated ostentation, his charity 
 was always privately bestowed. . . . He was a sincere and 
 steady friend, and a most cheerful and agreeable companion, 
 censure and detraction being almost the only subjects in 
 which he could bear no part.' 
 
 His home life was conspicuously happy. His affectionate 
 care of his father has been already noted, and his son Donald 
 says of his family : ' All that a child can owe to the best of 
 fathers, a pupil to his tutor, or a man to his friend, they owed 
 to him. In their youth he not only superintended their 
 education, but was himself their master in several branches ; 
 
 ^ History of the University, ii. 191. 
 
 2 Account of John Fothergill, M.D., J. C. Lettsom, p. vii. 
 
 ' Edinburgh Review and Magazine, 1773, i. 343.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 75 
 
 and when they grew up he made them his companions and 
 friends.' 
 
 His portrait by Allan Ramsay the younger hangs in 
 Surgeons' Hall, and was engraved by Basire as a frontispiece 
 to the Collected Works which his son Alexander published 
 in 1782.^ Lavater, the physiognomist, was shown the 
 engraving without being told whom it represented, and 
 pronounced the following character, a wonderful tribute 
 to the accuracy of his science : ^ 
 
 ' A good, gentle and peaceable character, of a sanguine 
 — phlegmatic temperament. Goodness is depicted in his 
 eyes : the mouth breathes only peace ; and an amiable 
 serenity is diffused over the whole countenance. This man 
 is incapable of giving offence to any one ; and who could 
 ever suffer himself designedly to offend him ? He loves 
 tranquillity, order, and simple elegance. He takes a clear 
 view of the object he examines ; he thinks accurately ; his 
 ideas and his reasonings are always equally well followed 
 up ; his mind rejects all that is false and obscure. He gives 
 with a liberal hand, he forgives with a generous heart, and 
 takes deUght in serving his fellow-creatures. You may 
 safely depend on what he says, or what he promises. His 
 sensibility never degenerates into weakness ; he esteems 
 worth, find it where he may. He is not indifferent to the 
 pleasmres of life ; but suffers not himself to be enervated by 
 them. This is not what is usually denominated a great 
 man — [Lavater is surely wrong here !] — but he possesses a 
 much more exalted character ; he is the honour of humanity, 
 and of his rank in life. Respectable personage, I know you 
 not ; I am entirely in the dark concerning you — but you 
 shall not escape me in the great day which shall collect us 
 all together ; and your form, disengaged and purified from 
 all earthly imperfection, shaU appear to me, and strike my 
 ravished eye in the midst of mj^iads.' 
 
 1 Edinburgh Advertiser, November 22, 1782. ^ Hutchinson's Biographia Medica, ii. 151.
 
 76 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {PRIMUS) 
 
 The bust ioi the University Library bears the following 
 inscription : 
 
 Alexandri Monro Peimi 
 
 Anatomiae per annos xl 
 
 Professoris meritissimi 
 
 Florentissimae Scholae Medicinae 
 
 in hac Academia 
 
 Conditoris 
 
 Discipuli quidam jam consenescentes 
 
 Et plures Filii et Nepotis ipsius 
 
 Discipulorum Discipuli 
 
 Summi Viri Memoriam venerati 
 
 banc ejus Imaginem statuerunt 
 
 Anno post Obitum xlv. 
 
 A.D. 1812 
 
 Dr. Donald Monro prefixed to the Collected Works the 
 short memoir which has been already quoted. He describes 
 his father as ' a man of muscular make, of middle stature, 
 and possessed of great strength and activity of body ; but 
 subject for many years to a spitting of blood on catching 
 the least cold, and through his whole life to frequent 
 inflammatory fevers ; which he used to attribute to the 
 too great care his parents took of him in his youth, and to 
 their having had him regidarly blooded twice a year, which 
 in those days was looked upon as a great preservative of 
 health.' 
 
 In the year 1762 he had an attack of influenza ; soon 
 after s3'^mptoms of cancer appeared, and from May 1766 till 
 his death a year later he was confined to the house. ' This 
 long and painful disorder he suffered with the fortitude of 
 a man and the resignation of a Christian, never once repining 
 at his fate ; but conscious of having acted an upright part 
 and of having spent his life in the constant exercise of his 
 duty, he viewed death without horror, and talked of his own 
 dissolution with the same calmness and ease as if he were 
 going to sleep.'
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (PRIMUS) 77 
 
 He died at his house in Covenant Close on Jxily 10, 1767, 
 and was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard. 
 
 His wife, whom he married at Edinburgh on January 3, 
 1725, was Isabella, third daughter of Sir Donald Macdonald 
 of Sleat, fourth Baronet. She was born in 1694, and was 
 therefore three years his senior. Little or nothing is known 
 of her, except that she survived till December 10, 1774. 
 
 They had eight children, but only four grew up — three 
 sons, John, Donald, and Alexander (Secundus), who will be 
 dealt with later, and a daughter Margaret, who married on 
 November 24, 1757, James Philp of Greenlaw, advocate. 
 Judge of the High Court of Admiralty. She died without 
 issue on April 30, 1802, and her husband predeceased her on 
 May 1, 1782 aged sixty-six. Two of the other children who 
 died in infancy were Jean, born June 3, 1729, died May 1, 
 1731, and Mary, born June 26, 1730.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 SIR DONALD MACDONALD OF SLEAT 
 
 The Macdonalds of Sleat were a powerful family settled at 
 the south end of the island of Skye, and after the death in 
 1498 of John, last Lord of the Isles, the head of the family 
 became one of the three claimants for the chieftainship of 
 the clan — a dispute still unsettled. 
 
 Sir Donald, foiirth Baronet, the father of IVIrs. Alexander 
 Monro, was the eldest son of Sir Donald, third Baronet, and 
 Lady Mary Douglas, younger daughter of Robert, seventh 
 Earl of Morton. He was a prominent Jacobite, and was 
 
 78
 
 SIR DONALD MACDONALD 79 
 
 known among his countrymen as ' DomhnuU a Chogaidh ' 
 or ' Donald of the Wars.' At the Revolution, his father 
 being stiU alive, he took the field with 500 of his clansmen 
 to join Claverhouse, and conspicuous in a red coat com- 
 manded a battalion on the left of the Une at Killiecrankie. 
 He lost five near relatives in the battle, and by Order of the 
 Privy Council on January 3, 1690 ^ the rents of the Sleat 
 property were sequestrated. He succeeded to the baronetcy 
 on the death of his father on February 5, 1695. 
 
 The Grameid, a metrical account of the rising, contains 
 the following passage relating to Sir Donald, the yoimger : ^ 
 
 ' Parte alia magni Donaldi clara propago, 
 Et gentis Princeps et Regulus Aebudarum, 
 Egregius bello, et florentibus insuper annis, 
 Orbis ab extremis terrarum Slatius oris, 
 Acer in arma ruit, secumque in bella furentes 
 Aere ciet juvenes quingentos, ensibus omnes 
 Cominus armatos, rigidisque hastilibus omnes, 
 Insula quos longis transmisit Skya earinis.' 
 
 Which being translated is : 'At another point the noble 
 scion of great Donald of Sleat, chief of the clan and Lord 
 of the Isles, illustrious in war beyond his youthful years, 
 rushes eager to battle from the world's uttermost shores, 
 and with the trumpet-caU summons with him to the fight 
 500 warriors, all armed with swords hand to hand and with 
 stout spears, warriors whom the Isle of Skye has sent across 
 in their long boats.' 
 
 Drummond of Balhaldy describes Sir Donald^ as 'con- 
 ducting all his actions by the strictest rules of rehgion and 
 moraUty. He looked upon his clan as his children, and 
 upon the King as the father of his country ; and as he was 
 possessed of a very opident fortune, handed down to him 
 
 1 Adv. Lib. Pamph., vol. 22, No. 50. 
 
 " By James Philp (Scot. Hist. Soc), p. 125. 
 
 ^ Memoirs of Cameron of Lochiel (Abbotsford Club), p. 248.
 
 80 SIR DONALD MACDONALD 
 
 by a long race of very noble ancestors, so he lived in the 
 greatest affluence, but with a wise economy.' 
 
 In the early years of the eighteenth century Sir Donald 
 lived for the most part in Glasgow. During a great flood 
 on September 23, 1712 ' five fathom of his Lodging at least 
 is under Water, but I hope there will be no Fear, the House 
 being strong and 3 Story high.' ^ He was a seatholder in 
 the Laigh or Tron Kirk. 
 
 He came out again in the 1715 at the head of his clan 
 700 strong, and put himself under the command of the Earl 
 of Seaforth.2 jjg afterwards joined the Earl of Mar at Perth, 
 but before the King's troops arrived he had a stroke of 
 paralysis and was carried home to Skye in a htter. His 
 brothers James and WiUiam commanded the clan at the 
 battle of Sheriflfmuir on November 13, their men forming 
 part of the Highlanders' right flank, which dehvered the 
 first attack, and in a few minutes threw the government 
 troops into confusion. The inconclusive result of the battle, 
 combined with the news of the defeat at Preston and the 
 departure of the Old Chevaher to France, disheartened the 
 Highlanders, and at the beginning of 1716 the Macdonalds 
 returned home. Sir Donald himself retired to the island of 
 Uist when the King's troops were sent to Skye. 
 
 He was included in the Act of Attainder, ^ unless he 
 surrendered in person before June 30, 1716. He wrote to 
 Lord Cadogan in April offering his submission,* and was 
 ordered to come to Fort William, but by this time his health 
 was so bad that he could not make the journey, and asked to 
 be excused. In June he crossed from Uist to his own house 
 at Duntulm at the north end of Skye, where he stayed till the 
 middle of September, and was then carried by stages to his 
 brother's house at Knock near the south of the island, 
 
 » Scots Courant, September 26, 1712. 
 
 2 Memoirs of the 1715 hy the Master of Sinclair (Abbotsford Club), p. 254. 
 
 ^ 1 G«orge I. c. 42. '' Amiston Session Papers (folio), Adv. Lib., ii. 56.
 
 SIR DONALD MACDONALD 81 
 
 His surrender to the government was an act of lip-service 
 only, for on December 23, 1716 he was granted by the Old 
 Chevalier a patent of nobihty under the title of Lord Sleat 
 in consideration of the services of himself and his father ; 
 and on February 4, 1717 he wrote to James at Avignon : ^ 
 ' Though the views I had of happiness under your reign 
 were blasted by the necessity of your departure, yet the 
 account of your safe arrival in France gave me the greatest 
 joy. The misfortune of a continued sickness since the begin- 
 ning of that glorious effort for delivering our country forced 
 me to remain at home, exposed to the will and pleasure of a 
 power which has not hitherto showed the least inchnation to 
 mercy. But I assure your Majesty that I and my family shall 
 be ready on all occasions to serve you to the utmost of our 
 power, and I can promise the same duty and allegiance from 
 my son which has always been practised by his predecessors.' 
 
 In July 1717 Sir Donald was carried to his own castle 
 of Armadale, where he died on March 1, 1718. 
 
 He married his cousin Mary, daughter of Donald Mac- 
 donald of Castleton, and left one son — Donald, born 1697, 
 matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, November 7, 1712: 
 he succeeded to the baronetcy, which seems not to have been 
 forfeited, and died unmarried in 1720 — and four daughters 
 — (1) Mary, born 1692, died \mmarried ; (2) Margaret, born 
 1693, married Captain John Macqueen, and was the mother 
 of Mrs. George Inghs of Redhall; (3) Isabella (Mrs. Monro), 
 born 1694; (4) Janet, born 1700, married in December 1724 
 Norman Macleod, nineteenth laird of Macleod. 
 
 As Sir Donald's submission was deemed by the House 
 of Lords to be incomplete,^ his estates were forfeited, and 
 sold by the Commissioners for £21,000 to Mr. Kenneth 
 Mackenzie, advocate.^ 
 
 1 Hist. MSS. Com., ' Stuart Papers at Windsor,' iii. 343, 513. 
 
 2 House of Lords Appeals (Adv. Lib.), 1719-1724, No. 22. 
 Adv. Lib. Pamphlets, vol. 14. 
 
 L
 
 82 SIR DONALD MACDONALD 
 
 His widow and children were left portionless, but Parlia- 
 ment, on her petition, gave the King power to allow the 
 daughters' provisions to remain secured on the estates in 
 spite of the attainder.^ They amounted to about £400 
 sterling each. 
 
 Lady Macdonald afterwards married Alexander Mac- 
 donald of Boisdale, and had two sons and three daughters.^ 
 
 The arms of Macdonald of Sleat are recorded in the 
 manuscript of Stacie, who was Ross Herald from 1663 to 
 1687 ^ — first, argent, a lion rampant gules armed or; second, 
 azure, a hand proper holding a cross patee of calvary sable ; 
 third, vert, a ship ermine, her oars in saltire sahle in water 
 proper ; fourth, parted per fess wavy vert and argent a salmon 
 naiant : crest, a hand holding a dagger proper : supporters, 
 two leopards proper : motto, ' My hope is constant in thee.' 
 
 1 6 George I. c. 24 ; Register of the Privy Seal (English), vii. 421. 
 
 2 The Clan Donald, iii. 293. 
 
 ^ Stoddart, Scottish Arms, ii. 286 ; Scottish Armorial Seals, W. R. Macdonald, 
 No. 1807.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 JOHN MONRO OF AUCHINBOWIE, ADVOCATE 
 
 John Monro, eldest son of Dr. Alexander Monro (Primus), 
 was born on November 5, 1725. He received his early 
 education at Mr. MundeU's school in Edinburgh, and was 
 admitted an advocate on July 24, 1753 at the age of twenty- 
 seven. He had a fair practice,^ and on January 21, 1758 
 he was appointed Procurator Fiscal or Crown Prosecutor 
 in the High Court of Admiralty on the nomination of the 
 Judge, his brother-in-law James PhUp, and on several occa- 
 sions in 1762 during the Judge's absence he filled his place 
 on the bench. From 1760 to 1769 he was one of the group 
 of advocates who reported and published the decisions of the 
 Court of Session. He was a member of the Select Society. 
 
 On July 8, 1757 he married Sophia, daughter of the 
 deceased Archibald IngUs of Auchindinny, Midlothian, and 
 Langbyxes, Lanarkshire, the eldest of three co-heiresses, and 
 his father made over to him the estate of Auchinbowie, 
 reserving to himself an annuity of 1200 merks, which was 
 not to run until the annuity payable to Mrs. Alexander 
 Monro, his cousin's widow, had lapsed. 
 
 At first Mr. and Mrs. John Monro lived with old Mrs. 
 IngUs and her other two daughters at a small house in Milne's 
 Court on the north side of the Lawnmarket, but he soon had 
 to move the whole estabUshment to a larger house at the 
 Cross, and latterly his town house was the second flat of a 
 tenement on the south side of the Lawnmarket between 
 
 ' Morison, Dictionary of Decisions, 7289, 7612, 7637, 13435, 13530, 14272. 
 
 83
 
 84 JOHN MONRO OF AUCHINBOWIE 
 
 Gosford's Close and Libberton's Wynd.^ This house, which 
 contained eleven ' fire-rooms ' and two ' outer-rooms,' was 
 bought by his father in 1730 and was made over to him in 
 1750.^ At his death it was valued at £600 ; and at that 
 time he also owned a house in Covenant Close — no doubt 
 his father's old house — worth £250, a shop and warehouse 
 worth £360, and ' Lady Mary Carnegie's house ' worth £150.' 
 John Monro lost his wife on April 21, 1775 at the early 
 age of thirty-four. 
 
 He forced a sale of Langbyres in 1780, and a division of 
 Auchindinny in 1781, and received as his share in right of 
 his wife the mansion-house and ground round it, which he 
 at once sold for £3510 to Captain John IngUs, R.N., who 
 was married to Barbara, the youngest of the three co- 
 heiresses. 
 
 He had two daughters, Jane and Isabella, but the dates 
 of their births cannot be discovered. It is to be noticed that 
 each of the three brothers Monro — John, Donald, and 
 Alexander — had a daughter Isabella, named of course after 
 her grandmother. 
 
 He died on Sunday May 24, 1789 at the age of sixty- three, 
 and as he had made no wUl, Auchinbowie was divided be- 
 tween the two daughters after an arbitration before the 
 Sohcitor-General, Robert Blair; Jane, as the elder, taking 
 the mansion-house and the north-west half, which is now 
 divided into two farms, and Isabella the south-east half of 
 the property. The rezital of each share was calculated to be 
 £207, but as John Monro had left considerable debts, there 
 was a bond for £2000 placed on each half. 
 
 Jane Monro had married at Auchinbowie on November 
 21, 1785 George Home of Argaty, near Doune, Perthshire. 
 
 ^ Edinburgh Courant, December 23, 1767. 
 ^ Burgh-Sasines, Irvine, August 17, 1730. 
 3 Books of C. aiid S., January 17, 1791 (C. G.).
 
 MRS. GEORGE HOME OF ARGATY 
 
 (JANE MONRO OF AUCHINBOWIE) 
 
 To face page 84.
 
 THE HOMES OF ARGATY 85 
 
 She was his second wife, but her predecessor, Mary Erskine 
 RoUo, daughter of James Paterson of Bannockburn, left no 
 family. 
 
 George Home was really a Stewart, as his grandmother, 
 Mary Hoome or Home of Argaty, had married George Stewart 
 of BaUochaUan,^ and had several sons, two of whom succeeded 
 in turn to Argaty,"^ — David, who entailed the estate in 1768 
 and died without issue on November 9, 1774, and George, 
 who had settled as a doctor at Amiapohs, Maryland. Dr. 
 George Home Stewart died at Argaty on June 13, 1784 in 
 his seventy-seventh year, and was succeeded by his eldest 
 son, George, Jane Monro's husband, who dropped the sur- 
 name of Stewart. 
 
 George Home died on October 5, 1787, leaving an only 
 chUd, Sophia, born August 5 of that year. She was married 
 at Edinburgh on August 9, 1803 to her mother's first cousin, 
 David Monro Binning of Softlaw, younger son of Dr. 
 Alexander Monro (Secundus), and died at Madeira on 
 May 29, 1806 at the age of eighteen, having had two sons, 
 who wUl be mentioned later in connection with their father.^ 
 
 Jane Monro (Mrs. Home) survived her daughter for nearly 
 thirty years, and died at 16 Great Stuart Street, Edinburgh, 
 on December 26, 1835, when she must have been about 
 seventy-seven years of age.* ' Gram,' or ' Lady Home,' as 
 she was called, was an old lady of great force of character. 
 At the time of the French invasion scare she raised a troop of 
 Yeomanry among her tenants and neighboiu's, her son-in-law 
 being captain, and she marched with them to a review in 
 Edinbxirgh. 
 
 Her picture hangs at Auchinbowie. 
 
 Her sister, Isabella Monro, married at Auchinbowie 
 
 ^ Courant, December 20 and 24, 1750. 
 
 * Morison, Dictionary, 4649 ; Campbell, Session Papers (Adv. Lib.), Isv. 72. 
 
 3 Chap. xii. * Caledonian Mercury, January 7, 1836.
 
 86 THE LOWISES OF PLEAN 
 
 on February 23, 1789 Captain Ninian Lowis, R.N., of the 
 Woodcote East Indiaman, and laird of West Plean, the 
 adjoining property to the east. Mrs. Lowis died on 
 August 31, 1814 at 28 George Square, Edinbiirgh, and Captain 
 Lowis died on March 27, 1825. Their family consisted of 
 three sons and four daughters.^ 
 
 1. Robert, the eldest son, married (1) Margaret, daughter 
 of David Hunter, stockbroker, London, and sister of the 
 second Mrs. Alexander Monro (Tertius) ; (2) Helen, daughter 
 of Adam Maitland of Dundrennan and sister of Lord Dun- 
 drennan, the judge ; (3) Jane Liston. He had no family. He 
 died in 1856, and was buried at St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh. 
 
 2. John, born in 1801, was in the Bengal Civil Service, 
 and rose to a seat on the Viceroy's Council. He married in 
 1823 Louisa, daughter of John FendaU of the Bengal Civil 
 Service, and had five sons and five daughters. 
 
 3. Ninian, born in 1802, married Jane, daughter of Colonel 
 Reynolds of the Bengal Army. He and his wife and family 
 were lost at sea in 1838. 
 
 Of the daughters three died unmarried, and Anne married 
 the Rev. George Wermelskirk, with issue. 
 
 1 Mackenzie's History of the Munros, p. 318.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 DR. DONALD MONRO 
 
 Donald, second son of Alexander Monro (Primus), was born 
 at Edinburgh on January 15, 1728. He was sent with his 
 brothers to Mr. MundeU's school at Edinburgh, and then 
 entered the University to be educated for a medical career. 
 
 He took his degree as Doctor of Medicine on June 8, 
 1753, and afterwards went to settle in London. He was there 
 admitted a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians on 
 April 12, 1756, and on November 3, 1758 was elected a 
 physician to St. George's Hospital. 
 
 On December 3, 1760, during the Seven Years' War, 
 when Britain and Frederick n. of Prussia were united against 
 France, Dr. Donald Monro received a commission as 
 physician to the hospital for the British forces in Germany,^ 
 and he remained abroad till March 1763. His work received 
 special encouragement from Duke Ferdinand of Bavaria and 
 General the Marquis of Granby.^ He retired as Physician 
 General to the Army on half-pay of ten shillings a day, and 
 settled down to private practice at Jermyn Street, London. 
 
 He was admitted a FeUow of the Royal Society on May 1, 
 1766, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians speciali 
 gratia on September 30, 1771.^ He was Censor of the College 
 in 1772, 1781, 1785 and 1789, and was named an Elect on 
 July 10, 1788. He dehvered the Croonian lectures in 1774 
 and 1775, and the Harveian oration in 1775. 
 
 ' Home Office Papers, i. No. 61. ^ European Magazine, 1782, ii. 357. 
 
 ' Munk, Roll of the Royal College of Physicians, ii. 293. 
 
 87
 
 88 DR. DONALD MONRO 
 
 His principal publications were : Observations on the 
 Means of preserving the Health of Soldiers, 1780, and a treatise 
 in 4 vols, on Medical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry and 
 Materia Medica, 1788. He also contributed articles to the 
 Edinburgh Essays Physical and Literary, and wrote a memoir 
 of his father for the collected edition of the latter's works 
 pubHshed in 1782 by his brother {Secundus). 
 
 Dr. Donald Monro is said to have been ' a man of varied 
 attainments and of considerable skiU in his profession, and 
 was highly esteemed by his contemporaries.' In 1786, 
 having long been in iU-health, he resigned his office at St. 
 George's Hospital, and withdrew himseK altogether from 
 practice and in great measure from society. 
 
 He died at Argyle Street, London, on June 9, 1802 aged 
 seventy-four.^ 
 
 He had married on August 29, 1772, at St. James's Picca- 
 dilly, Dorothea Maria Heineken, a German Lady-in-waiting 
 to Queen Charlotte, who survived him. They had an only 
 child, Isabella Margaret,^ who married Colonel John Scott, 
 H.E.I.C.S., third son of John Scott of Gala, and younger 
 brother of the Colonel Hugh Scott who married her first 
 cousin Isabella, daughter of Dr. Alexander Monro {Secundus). 
 
 Colonel and Mrs. John Scott had three daughters : (1) Maria 
 Georgiana, who took the name of MakdougaU on succeeding 
 to the estate of Makerstoun, Roxburghshire, and died un- 
 married ; (2) Lisette, who married William Gregory, Professor 
 of Chemistry at Edinburgh, and left one son ; (3) Isabella, 
 who died unmarried. 
 
 Colonel John Scott died in 1822, and his wife died at the 
 Cape of Good Hope on June 28, 1814. 
 
 1 Gentleman's Magazine, 1802, p. 687 ; 1772, p. 439. 
 
 2 Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Register ' Kenyon,' fol. 560.
 
 Al.KXA' 
 
 M. !). r. R.S. IC 
 
 To face page 89.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {SECUNDUS) 
 
 Alexander Monro (Secundus), the third and youngest 
 son of Professor Alexander Monro (Primus), was born at 
 Edinburgh on May 20, 1733. He was sent with his brothers 
 to Mr. Mundell's school, where he learned the rudiments of 
 Latin and Greek, and showed early evidences of great ability. 
 Among his school-fellows were Hay Campbell, afterwards 
 Lord President of the Court of Session, and William Ramsay 
 of Barnton, the banker. 
 
 His father designed to make him his successor, and 
 realising the importance of a broad basis of education he 
 sent him to the University, when he was about twelve years 
 old, to attend the ordinary course of philosophy before 
 beginning his professional training. He studied mathe- 
 matics under the great Maclaurin and ethics under Sir John 
 Pringle, and was a great favourite of Dr. Matthew Stewart, 
 Professor of Experimental Philosophy, to whose instruction 
 he imputed the reputation which he afterwards gained as a 
 close and logical lecturer. 
 
 He had already shown a taste for anatomy, and after 
 entering on his medical course in his eighteenth year, he 
 soon became a useful assistant to his father in the dissecting 
 room. He attended the lectures of Drs. Rutherford, 
 Plummer, Alston and Sinclair. ' He possessed an insatiable 
 thirst for medical knowledge, an uncommon share of perse- 
 verance, and a very good memory, for the cultivation of 
 
 M
 
 90 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {8EGUNDUS) 
 
 which he had been very much indebted to the excellent 
 discipline of his mother,' ^ 
 
 In the session 1753-4 his father found his class too large 
 for the lecture-room, and was compelled to divide it and 
 to repeat his lecture in the evening. He soon found the task 
 too heavy, and tried the experiment of allowing his son to 
 take the evening class. As the result was most satisfactory, 
 he presented a petition to the Town Council at the close of the 
 session, asking that his son might be formally appointed his 
 colleague and successor. The prayer was granted on June 19, 
 1754, and Secundus was admitted conjunct professor on 
 July 11.2 
 
 The narrative of the Town Council minute is interesting, 
 and the opening argumentum ad crumenam is not without 
 guile. ^ 
 
 ' Anent the petition and representation given in by 
 Alexander Monro, professor of Anatomy in the University of 
 Edinburgh, setting forth, that the advantages of the schools 
 of physic to Edinburgh are now generally known ; for, besides 
 the youth being well educated, ten thousand pounds sterling 
 at least are spent yearly by the students of that science, of 
 whom there have been more than two hmidred for many 
 years past at Edinburgh. The foundation upon which the 
 other branches of physic must be built is the anatomy, which, 
 therefore, ought to be taught diligently by a master equal 
 to the task. The present professor of Anatomy is allowed to 
 have been diligent, and to have contributed to the establish- 
 ment of the medical schools, being the first who began to 
 teach regularly, has continued thirty-five years to do so, 
 and is willing to teach while he has strength. But his business 
 requiring great labour, in the course of nature he must become 
 unable to undergo it in no great number of years. In the 
 prospect of this, and with a view of supporting the character 
 
 ' Memoir, by Monro (Tertius), p. iii. ^ Edii}hurgh Cotirant, July 15, 1754. 
 
 ^ Bower, History of the University, ii. 369-72.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) 91 
 
 of the schools of physic, the petitioner thought it his duty to 
 represent to his honourable patrons, that a person fit for this 
 office ought to be otherwise a good scholar, to be fuUy master 
 of his business, by being early initiated in it, with elocution, 
 or an easy way of conveying his knowledge to others : That 
 the acquisition of so much knowledge of an extensive science 
 as a teacher ought to have, cannot be obtained without some 
 neglect of the other branches ; and, therefore, a prospect of 
 suitable advantage from that one branch must be given, to 
 induce any person to bestow more time and pains on it than 
 on others : That the professor must attribute his early 
 success at least to the assurance he had, when very young, 
 and a student, that he was soon to be put into his present 
 office, which made him apply more particularly to anatomy. 
 
 ' That the professor's youngest son has appeared to his 
 father, for some years past, to have the qualifications neces- 
 sary for a teacher ; and this winter he has given proof, by 
 not only dissecting all the course for his father, but by pre- 
 lecting in most of it : That he is already equal to the office ; 
 for testimony of which it is entreated that inquiry might be 
 made at the numerous students who were present at his 
 lectures and demonstrations. It was therefore hoped the 
 Honourable Magistrates and Council would appoint the 
 young man his father's colleague and successor in their 
 University, as not only the surest way of having the labour 
 of an old servant the longer continued, but hkewise of having 
 an absolutely necessary branch of physic weU taught. That, 
 if the desire of the petition was granted, the education of the 
 young professor should be directed, with a view to that 
 business, under the best masters in Europe. He should 
 have all his father's papers, books, instruments, and pre- 
 parations, with aU the assistance his father can give in teach- 
 ing, while he is fit for labour.' 
 
 The petition was accompanied by certificates of proficiency 
 from the professors of Latin, Greek, philosophy and mathe-
 
 92 PEOFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) 
 
 matics as well as from the medical faculty, and also by testi- 
 monials from a great number of students who had attended 
 his lectures and demonstrations. 
 
 Monro {Secundus) took his degree as Doctor of Medicine 
 on October 20, 1755 : his thesis was dedicated to his father 
 in the following terms : ^ — ' Quum nemo sit, cui plus debeam, 
 aut placere malim, quern cariorem habeam, aut aemulari 
 praetulerim, qui adulatione minus egeat, observantiam magis 
 mereatur : tibi. Pater, Praeceptor Optime, Filius, Discipulus, 
 Studiorum Aemulus, Dissertationem hancce, animi monu- 
 mentum grati, dicatum accipias precor.' 
 
 In fulfQment of his father's promise he then proceeded 
 to his studies abroad. He spent a short time in London, 
 where he attended the lectures of Dr. William Hunter ; but 
 his chief object in staying there was to make acquaintance 
 with various medical men of note. He next visited Paris, 
 and on September 17, 1757 entered Leyden University, 
 where he formed a warm friendship with the two famous 
 anatomists, Bernardus Siegfriedus Albinus and Petrus Camper. 
 
 But his foreign studies were principally prosecuted at 
 Berlin, where he worked under the celebrated Professor 
 Meckel, in whose house he lived ; and in after years he never 
 let a session pass without acknowledging his debt to him. 
 
 He spent some time in Edinburgh during the early months 
 of 1757 in order to fill the place of his father, who was con- 
 fined to the house by illness ; and he finally returned from 
 Berlin in the early summer of 1758. He was admitted a 
 licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 
 on May 2, 1758, and a Fellow on May 1, 1759. 
 
 His father delivered the opening lectures of the 1758-9 
 course, and then handed over the work to his son. The 
 yoimg professor made a dramatic beginning by attacking 
 Leeuwenhoek's theory of the blood, which his father had 
 taught. 
 
 * Dr. Andrew Duncan, Harveian Oration (1818), p. 15.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {SECUNDUS) 93 
 
 One of his original pupils, Dr. James Carmichael-Smyth, 
 whose daughter married Monro's elder son, wrote fifty years 
 later : ^ 
 
 ' The novelty of a doctrine of so much importance in 
 all physiological and pathological reasoning, with the clear 
 and luminous manner in which it was explained, operated 
 like an electric shock on the audience, and gained him a 
 degree of confidence, which I believe no young man ever 
 had at starting, but which his talents were well calculated 
 to support. The students could not help observing that he 
 was complete master of his subject ; and that he possessed 
 in an eminent degree another talent no less necessary for 
 a public teacher, — the proper mode of communicating his 
 own knowledge to others.' 
 
 Dr. Robertson of Northampton, another early pupil, 
 speaks ^ of ' that copious stream of information, medical, 
 surgical, physiological and pathological, that flowed from 
 him almost without art or effort.' He continues : ' By all 
 who heard him, the value of his lectures will be long remem- 
 bered. His eloquence was of an unusual sort : while appar- 
 ently it aimed at no display, it told most effectively: lucid, 
 impressive and earnest, it had what might be called paternal 
 simplicity and gravity, which chained the attention of his 
 youthful audience, and removed his addresses, both as to 
 manner and matter, to an immeasurable distance from the 
 more beaten track of common academic instruction. Though 
 his usual style of elocution was grave, dignified, and remark- 
 able for its calmness, there were occasional striking exceptions, 
 viz. : when topics of controversy or peculiar interest came 
 under discussion.' 
 
 Topham, an English visitor to Edinburgh in the winter 
 of 1774-5, writes : ^ ' Dr. Monro has all the advantages of a 
 great Orator, full of strength and force in his expression, 
 round and manly in his periods, emphatical and bold in his 
 
 ^ Memoir, siv. - lb., vii. ^ Tcypharns Letters, p. 210.
 
 94 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {SECUNDUS) 
 
 manner of delivery : he particularly avoids that familiarity 
 which too many of the Professors are apt to fall into in their 
 lectvires, and which seems to degrade their dignity by giving 
 them the air of common conversation.' 
 
 The only discordant note is struck by Sir Astley Cooper, 
 the famous London surgeon, who visited Edinburgh as a 
 yoimg man in 1787-8, and recorded his impressions : ^ ' Old 
 Monro grunted like a pig. He was a tolerable lecturer, 
 possessed a full knowledge of his subject, had much sagacity 
 in practice, was laudably zealous, but was much given to 
 self and to the abuse of others.' 
 
 The next sentence throws light on this criticism : Cooper 
 had produced two surgical instruments, which he claimed 
 to have invented, but the Professor showed that he had 
 already used similar ones. The originality of his discoveries 
 was a point upon which Monro was undoubtedly sensitive ; on 
 the other hand it is to be noted that in after-years Cooper 
 dedicated one of his works to Monro in laudatory terms. 
 
 As to his lecturing Tertius says : ^ ' He never used notes, 
 and indeed possessed for many years heads only of his lectures. 
 In consequence of the great extent of his memory, and his 
 intimate acquaintance with the varied subjects of which he 
 treated, and probably also from the very rapid advance- 
 ment he made, at the very outset of his career, as a physician 
 and consulting surgeon, he never had had leisure to write 
 out fuUy any one lecture. During fifteen years he lectured 
 from heads of his lectures, the arrangement of which he 
 repeatedly altered, perspicuity being his first and great 
 object of attainment. He was at length reUeved from this 
 embarrassment by purchasing from Mr. John Thorburn, 
 who became his pupil in 1775, a copy of his own lectures. . . . 
 He was totally devoid of conceit, and unhke many professors 
 who have lectured for nearly half a century, did not remain 
 satisfied with the lectures he had Avritten at the beginning 
 
 * Life of Sir Astley Cooper, B. B. Cooper, i. 171. ^ Memoir, viii.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) 95 
 
 of his career. On the contrary he was in the constant habit 
 of altering and improving them.' ^ 
 
 Bower says that he constantly employed his mechanical 
 genius in inventing and improving surgical instruments. ^ 
 
 Dr. James Gregory, his colleague as professor and as 
 practitioner, wrote : ^ ' His life was distinguished by no 
 striking event — it was chequered by no vicissitudes of good 
 and evil : it was a Ufe, from early youth to extreme old age, 
 of almost imiform and miinterrupted prosperity. Nay, he 
 seems scarce to have felt any of those difficulties and dis- 
 couragements in his splendid career, which most men of 
 literary professions, but especially physicians, experience in 
 their laborious progress to the highest honours and rewards 
 to which they can aspire ; and certainly his progress never 
 was retarded by any such adverse circumstances.' 
 
 For forty years he discharged miaided the work of the 
 professorship, which covered surgery as weU as anatomy : 
 in 1798 he secured the appointment of his son Alexander 
 (Tertius) as his colleague, and after 1800 he used to open 
 the coxurse and leave his son to finish it. 
 
 Quite early in his career an agitation for a separate chair 
 of Surgery began to gain ground, and was supported by the 
 Incorporation of Surgeons.* It was felt that the subject 
 could not be adequately treated as a mere appendage to 
 anatomy, especially as Monro himseK was bound as a member 
 of the College of Physicians to confine himself to medical 
 practice.^ In point of fact he regularly performed minor 
 operations, but unlike his father undertook no clinical 
 lectures, which would bring him into touch with recent 
 surgery. 
 
 Mr. James Rae, who was appointed by the Managers in 
 
 ^ Memoir, cli. - History of the University of Edinburgh, ii. 373. ^ Memoir, ix. 
 ' Additional Hints respecting the Improvement of Medical Education in Edinburgh, 
 John Thomson, 1826. 
 
 ' Scottish Universities Commission, Evidence, published 1837, p. 274.
 
 96 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) 
 
 1766 to be one of the four ' substitute ' or assistant surgeons 
 of the Infirmary, began a course of lectures at Surgeons' 
 Hall on systematic surgery, and three years later, at the 
 request of the students, backed by the Incorporation, he 
 obtained the leave of the Infirmary Managers to give a 
 clinical course. He conducted both classes for several 
 years, and in May 1777 induced the Royal College of Surgeons 
 (as the Incorporation had by this time become) to frame a 
 petition to the Crown for the creation of a professorship of 
 Surgery in the University, and to suggest himself as a suit- 
 able nominee.^ 
 
 Secundus had felt the coming storm, and had taken 
 measures in defence. The Surgeons promptly got an answer 
 from Lord Advocate Henry Dundas to the effect ' that it 
 is not in his power to interfere in behalf of this appUcation, 
 as he has many months since received a letter from the 
 Principal and medical Professors of the University requesting 
 that, if an application should be made for the creation of a 
 professorship of Surgery in Edinburgh, he would represent 
 to His Majesty's ministers that, in the opinion of the Uni- 
 versity, and particularly of the medical part, the creation of 
 such a professorship was useless, and would be very improper.' 
 
 In opposing this necessary reform it does not appear that 
 Monro was actuated by any higher motive than a jealous 
 regard for his own dignity, but his personal influence gave 
 him the victory. He carried the war into the enemy's 
 country by applying to the Town Council for a new com- 
 mission expressly bearing him to be Professor of Surgery as 
 well as of Anatomy ; this having only been implied in his 
 former commission. The magistrates ' being highly sensible 
 of the great merit of Dr. Monro and the singular use he has 
 been of to this University ' unanimously granted his request 
 on July 16, 1777, but they admitted the principle of the 
 reformers' case by inserting a clause which reserved right to 
 
 ^ Edinburgh Anatomical Scliool, Sir John Struthers, pp. 86, 87.
 
 PKOFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) 97 
 
 them to appoint a separate professor of Surgery after his 
 death. 
 
 Monro was thus secured against official rivals for the 
 rest of his career, but he could not prevent private teachers 
 from attracting large classes. In 1779 Mr. John Aitken 
 began to lecture on anatomy and surgery among other sub- 
 jects,^ but his first rival of importance was John Bell, who 
 started lecturing in 1787 on surgery and midwifery under 
 the auspices of the Royal College of Surgeons, and soon 
 attracted large numbers. His work was continued from 1800 
 to 1804 by his brother, afterwards Sir Charles Bell. Dr. 
 John Barclay also taught anatomy from 1797 tiU 1825, and 
 after Bell's departure was well attended. 
 
 Almost the only other difficulties with which Monro had 
 to contend were the constant problem of procuring bodies 
 for dissection, and the circulation in 1773 of a disgusting 
 report that he was in the habit of returning to a vintner the 
 spirits in which his specimens had been preserved. The 
 latter difficulty was removed by a letter to the newspapers ; ^ 
 the former was much more serious, and continued through- 
 out his career. 
 
 By Act of Parliament ^ it had been since 1752 a regular 
 part of the death sentence on a criminal in Scotland ' that 
 his body be handed over to Dr. Monro for dissection ' ; and 
 bodies thus obtained were the only ' subjects ' which even 
 the Professor of Anatomy might legally have in his posses- 
 sion for the necessary purposes of his professorship. At no 
 time did this supply meet even the Professor's own require- 
 ments for demonstrations at his lectures ; still less was it 
 sufficient for the needs of the students, for whom systematic 
 dissections were the very foundation of their education ; and 
 as teachers multiplied and classes grew in numbers the 
 problem became increasingly difficult. 
 
 ^ Edinburgh Advertiser, April 27, 1779. 
 
 ^ Edinburgh Courant, November 6, 1773. ^ 25 Greo. n. cap. 37.
 
 98 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {SECUNDU8) 
 
 The association of dissection with crime thus brought it 
 into popular odium, and made pubHc institutions and private 
 persons, having lawful possession of bodies, unwilUng to part 
 with them for this purpose, even if it had not been illegal for 
 them to do so. Not merely was it illegal in itself to buy 
 or sell a body even for scientific purposes, but where there 
 was any suspicion of crime, the possessor of the body was 
 presumed to have been concerned in the crime. 
 
 Under these circumstances there was no option for teachers 
 and students of anatomy but to have clandestine resort to 
 the ' resurrection-men,' criminals of the lowest type, who 
 carried on a regular trade of exhuming bodies with the 
 connivance of the graveyard authorities. The high price 
 paid for ' subjects,' averaging about £10, also called into 
 existence a brisk import trade mainly from London and 
 Ireland, the bodies being smuggled into Edinburgh under 
 various devices to elude the revenue authorities. 
 
 Sir Astley Cooper said in his evidence before the Select 
 Committee of 1828 with reference to these revolting 
 practices : ' It is distressing to men of education and 
 character to be compelled to resort, for their means of teach- 
 ing, to a constant infraction of the laws, and to be made 
 dependent for their professional existence on the mercenary 
 caprices of the most abandoned class in the community.' ^ 
 
 The popular attitude towards anatomy is reflected in 
 Burns's lines : 
 
 ' Critics ! appali'd I venture on the name, 
 Those cut-throat bandits in the paths of fame, 
 Bloody dissectors, worse than ten Monros ; 
 He hacks to teach, they mangle to expose.' ^ 
 
 The lectures seem to have been semi-public : Lord 
 Brougham and Lord Campbell both mention having attended 
 them ; and the story is told of a smaU boy who had made 
 
 1 Report, p. 18. ^ y^g pogfg Progress, 1789.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {SECUNDUS) 99 
 
 his way in while the body of an old woman was being dis- 
 sected, and suddenly cried out : ' Ey, it 's granny ; I ken 
 her by her taes.' 
 
 In spite of competition the attendance of regular students 
 steadily increased. In a document deposited in a bottle 
 below the fomidation stone of the new anatomical theatre 
 the Professor stated that from 1759 to 1790 8369 students 
 had attended his lectures/ and gave the yearly averages 
 for the decennial periods as foUows : 1761-70 194, 1771-80 
 287, 1781-90 342. For 1791-1800 the average was 313. 
 The high- water mark was reached in 1783, when the class 
 numbered 436 ; the following year it was 403, but it never 
 again exceeded 400. 
 
 In October 1807 he drew up a memorandum ^ stating that 
 13,404 students had passed through his hands, of whom 
 5831, or nearly two-fifths, came from England, Ireland, or 
 foreign countries. 
 
 The Professor's salary was raised from £15 to £50 in 1798, 
 the additional £35 being charged upon the City's ale and beer 
 tax : the students' fees remained at three guineas. 
 
 In 1764 he had obtained leave to buUd a new theatre at 
 a cost of £300, which he himself advanced on an obhgation 
 by the Town Council to repay the money by instalments.^ 
 With the exception of the library it was at that time the only 
 room in the University that had ' any degree of academical 
 decency.' 
 
 By 1783 the class had increased so much that he had to 
 get a gallery erected.* A few years later the new Uni- 
 versity buUdings in Nicolson Street were begun, and on 
 March 31, 1790 Professor Monro laid the foundation stone 
 
 1 Medical Commentaries, xv. 40. 
 
 2 Annals of the Parish of Colinton, Dr. Thos. Murray, p. 136. 
 
 3 Dalzel, History of Edinburgh University, ii. 434 ; Edinburgh Advertiser, September 
 11, 1764; Scots Magazine, 1764, p. 518. 
 
 * Scots Magazine, 1783, p. 714.
 
 100 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) 
 
 of the anatomical school and rooms, which were opened 
 by him at the beginning of the winter session of 1792. 
 
 Monro's wTi tings were numerous : most of the early ones 
 were contributions to the Essays and Observations, Physical 
 and Literary, or controversial pamphlets. He was a hard 
 hitter, especially if he detected any slight upon his profes- 
 sional reputation, as witness his controversies with Dr. 
 William Hunter. Another instance may be cited. 
 
 A certain Scottish nobleman fell iU in 1795, and was 
 attended by Dr. John Goodsir of Largo, father of the pro- 
 fessor who succeeded Monro (Tertius) in the chair of Anatomy. 
 Dr. Goodsir for his own satisfaction wrote a full report of the 
 case to Professor Monro, who confirmed the diagnosis and 
 treatment. The patient's health improved, and he then 
 went up to London, where he was taken Ul again and con- 
 sulted Sir Walter Farquhar and Sir George Baker, who told 
 him that he had not suffered at aU from the complaint for 
 which Dr. Goodsir had treated him. His lordship communi- 
 cated this opinion to Dr. Goodsir, who then disclosed the 
 fact that he was backed by Dr. Monro's advice, and Monro 
 himself took up the cudgels. He wrote to the noble patient 
 maintaining that the London physicians were not in a position 
 to judge of his previous illness, as they had not seen him at 
 the time, and he finishes the letter thus : 
 
 ' It is plain that their assertion could have no proper 
 foundation, unless you were to suppose, as they affect to do, 
 that they must possess a superiority of skUl proportion'd 
 to the size of the city they live in. If they reaUy acted the 
 part I have heard they did, I cannot help regretting that it 
 is not in the power of the King to bestow Candour along with 
 a Title.' 1 
 
 In 1783 Monro published his Observations on the Struc- 
 ture and Functions of the Nervous System. This Avas a folio 
 volume illustrated with fifty-five copper-plate engravings. 
 
 ' Correspondence in possession of Emeritus- Professor John Cluene. 
 
 i
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) 101 
 
 It was dedicated to Lord Advocate Dundas, and was pub- 
 lished at two guineas by William Creech, who claimed that 
 it was the most splendid work that had ever been produced 
 from the Scottish press. ^ It is the description in this book 
 of the communication between the lateral ventricles of the 
 brain that has made the ' foramen Monroi ' familiar to every 
 student of medicine. 
 
 Professor Monro published in 1785 The Structure and 
 Physiology of Fishes explained and compared with those of Man 
 and other Animals, and in 1788 A Description of the Bursce 
 Mucosae of the Human Body. These works were also in foho, 
 and were illustrated with fine engravings. His last impor- 
 tant publication was a quarto volume, issued in 1797, and 
 consisting of three treatises on The Brain, the Eye, and the 
 Ear. 
 
 His work as professor did not prevent him from conduct- 
 ing a very large practice as a physician ; and he was often 
 consulted in surgical cases. The opinions which he gave to 
 his patients were expressed in simple and direct language — 
 a habit which distinguished him and Benjamin Bell from the 
 other practitioners of the time.^ He was a great believer in 
 vaccination, and Avrote in 1801 : ^ ' It is certainly little less 
 than criminal to expose helpless children to the attack of 
 so terrible and fatal a malady as the smallpox, when it may 
 be readily avoided.' 
 
 Dr. James Gregory says that he long and most deservedly 
 enjoyed the highest eminence which any man of the medical 
 profession ever attained in Scotland, and that for nearly 
 half a century as a practical physician he was unquestionably 
 at the head of his profession in Edinburgh and in Scotland : * 
 and Principal Sir Alexander Grant says : ^ ' Though he 
 belonged to an era of great men in the University, and 
 
 I Edinburgh Advertiser, April 22, 1783. ^ /^yg of Benjamin Bell, B. Bell, p. 113. 
 
 ^ Scots Magazine, 1801, p. 583. * Memoir, is. 
 
 ' Story of the University of Edinburgh, ii. 388.
 
 102 PROFESSOK ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) 
 
 had as colleagues in the Medical Faculty CuUen, Black, the 
 Gregorys, the Rutherfords, the Homes, John and Charles 
 Hope, and Dr. Duncan senior, he was acknowledged by all 
 as their head.' 
 
 His eminence was fully recognised abroad, and he was 
 admitted a member of many learned societies, including the 
 Academies of Paris, Madrid, Berlin and Moscow. 
 
 In the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh he was 
 elected Censor in 1770 and 1771, Secretary from 1772 to 1778, 
 President from 1779 to 1781, and Vice-President in 1782 
 and 1783. 
 
 He took the office of secretary jointly with David Hume 
 in the Philosophical Society at its second resuscitation about 
 1760, and after Hume went to France in 1763 he acted as 
 sole secretary for twenty years. The Society languished, 
 although its meetings were never altogether discontinued, 
 until in 1768 Henry Home, Lord Karnes, was elected president 
 and succeeded in stimulating renewed activity, one of the 
 results of which was a third volume of Essays and Observations, 
 published in 1771.^ Monro as secretary was the responsible 
 editor, and contributed three articles. At length in 1783 
 the Society, adopting a proposal of Principal Robertson, 
 obtained incorporation by Royal Charter under the title 
 of ' The Royal Society of Edinbm-gh.' Mom-o was elected 
 to the original Council, and was one of the presidents of the 
 physical section in 1790 : he wrote three papers for volume iii. 
 of the Transactions. 
 
 On April 20, 1771 he was elected an honorary member 
 of the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh,^ which was 
 fomided in 1734 by students, and incorporated by Royal 
 Charter in 1778 — a distinct institution from the older Medical 
 Society which Monro (Primus) helped to found in 1731. 
 
 On June 24, 1794 Professor Monro was asked by the 
 
 1 Tytler, Memoirs oj Karnes, i. 184. 
 
 - History of the Royal Medical Society, 1820.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {SECUNDUS) 103 
 
 Physical Society, another students' association, of which he 
 was an honorary member, to lay the foundation stone of their 
 hall in Richmond Street, Hunter's Park.^ The Society was 
 instituted in 1771, and had been recently incorporated by 
 the Magistrates : in 1782 it was amalgamated with the 
 Chirurgo-Medical Society, and in 1788 it received a Royal 
 Charter. It was one of the features of the Society that half 
 of the debates were conducted in Latin, so as to prepare the 
 members for their graduation trials. 
 
 In 1785 Professor Monro gave some anatomical specimens 
 to the Royal Society,^ towards a collection which was being 
 formed in the College museum and was in 1852 taken over 
 by Government as part of the National Museum of Natural 
 History in Chambers Street. In 1800 he presented to the 
 University his private collection with a descriptive catalogue, 
 in compliance with a promise made so long before as December 
 19, 1764.^ This was a valuable property at a time when it 
 was very difficult to obtain subjects, and Sir Charles Bell 
 alleged that Monro was so jealous of his museum that a sight 
 of it could only be obtained by stratagem.* 
 
 The Professor took his share in the pubUc life of his native 
 place ; for instance he was one of the commissioners appointed 
 by the Act of 1771 ^ ' for cleansing, lighting and watching the 
 South Side of the City of Edinburgh,' the earliest burgh police 
 statute introduced into Scotland. 
 
 Notwithstanding his manifold exertions he remained fresh 
 and active until he was well over seventy. After delivering 
 the opening lecture of the 1808 course he resigned his chair, 
 gave up private practice, and spent the remaining nine years 
 of his life in retirement. 
 
 1 Edinburgh Advertiser, June 25, 1784. 
 
 2 Edinburgh Courant, August 6, 1785. 
 
 ^ Dalzel, History of the University, ii. 434. 
 
 * Pichot, Life of Sir Charles Bell, p. 221. 
 
 * 11 George m. cap. 36.
 
 104 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) 
 
 As to his character his son says : ^ ' He was extremely 
 economical in the arrangement of his time, and allotted to 
 each horn- its particidar business ; and he worked very nearly 
 as hard towards the decline as at the outset of life. . . . 
 Dr. Monro was of a very cheerful turn of mind, and fond of 
 society, to the hilarity of which he most essentially con- 
 tributed by the numerous anecdotes, which he took great 
 deUght in communicating. 
 
 ' He lived at a time when the literature of Scotland had 
 been raised to a high pitch of eminence by his contemporaries, 
 with all of whom he lived in habits of intimacy.' 
 
 Dr. Andrew Duncan, addressing the Harveian Society, a 
 club formed to unite experimental inquiry with conviviality, 
 said : 2 ' No man could enjoy to a higher degree, or more suc- 
 cessfully lead others to enjoy, innocent mirth over a social 
 glass. This has often been demonstrated to most of you in 
 the room in which we now meet. . . . Without transgressing 
 the bounds of the most strict sobriety, he afforded us demon- 
 strative evidence of the exhilarating power of wine.' 
 
 His chief pleasures were the theatre and his garden. He 
 was a constant attendant at the play, both comedy and 
 tragedy. When Foote and his company were playing The 
 Devil wpon Two Sticks, he lent his own red gown to Weston, 
 who was taking the part of ' Dr. Last.' He once attended 
 professionally on Mrs. Siddons, for whom he had a profound 
 admiration, and he often told his friends that he was as much 
 gratified and flattered by having her for his patient, as from 
 giving advice to the first nobility of the realm. His most 
 famous patient was Dr. Johnson, on whose behalf Boswell 
 consulted him by letter in March 1784.^ Dr. Monro sent a 
 prescription, and added : ' I most sincerely join you in sym- 
 pathizing with that very worthy and ingenious character, 
 
 1 Memoir, oli, clii. 
 
 2 Harveian Oration for 1818, pp. 30-4. 
 
 3 Boswell's Johnson, ed. Birkbeck Hill, 1887, iv. 263-4.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {SECUNDUS) 105 
 
 from whom his country has derived much instruction and 
 entertainment.' 
 
 His love of gardening he indulged by buying in 1773 the 
 property of Craiglockhart, which lies in Colinton parish on 
 the east side of the Water of Leith just below Redhall. It 
 extended to 271 English acres held blench of the Crown, 
 and was let at the time for £166, 13s. 4d. The advertisement 
 sets forth : ^ ' The situation is remarkably pleasant, lying on 
 a gentle ascent commanding a most elegant and extensive 
 prospect of the Firth, beautifully broken and varied by the 
 intervention of an infinity of pleasing objects, which form a 
 situation singularly inviting for building.' 
 
 Craiglockhart derives its name from Stephen Lockhart, 
 who lived about the middle of the twelfth centiu-y and was 
 an ancestor of the Lee family. Later it belonged to James 
 Sandilands, progenitor of the Torphichens, and in the fifteenth 
 century it was acquired by the Kincaids of that ilk, a Stirhng- 
 shire family, who held it for seven generations. In 1609 it 
 was bought by George Foulis of Ravelston, second son of 
 James Foulis of Colinton and Anna Heriot of Lymphoy. 
 James Foulis, who continued the business of his imcle 
 Thomas Heriot the goldsmith, made over Craiglockhart to his 
 brother of Colinton, but fifty years later, when the Cohnton 
 fortunes were on the wane, it was sold to Sir John Gilmour 
 of Craigmillar, Lord President of the Court of Session. It 
 then passed through the hands of Lord President Lockhart, 
 who was assassinated in 1685, and in 1691 was acquired by 
 George Porteous, Herald Painter to the King. His son sold 
 it to John ParkhiU, merchant in Edinburgh, from whose son 
 Dr. Monro bought it.^ 
 
 ^O' 
 
 The Doctor kept about twenty acres in his own hands, 
 and let the farm, which extended to one himdred and thirty 
 
 > Edinburgh Courant, March 29, 1773. 
 - From notes kindly furnished by Mr. James Steuart, W.S. 
 
 O
 
 106 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {SECUNDU8) 
 
 Scots acres of arable land and fifty of pasture, to a IVIr. Scott, 
 whose family remained there for several generations. ^ 
 
 Dr. Duncan, a brother gardener, often visited the place, 
 and says : ^ ' While he planted and beautified some charm- 
 ingly romantic hills, which afforded him such deUghtful 
 prospects of wood and water, hiU and dale, city and cottage, 
 as have seldom been equalled, he enclosed in the midst of his 
 plantations several acres with a proper garden-wall. And 
 he dedicated to the more delicate plants every protection 
 which glass, to a considerable extent, and weU constructed 
 flues, could afford. By means of these, he could entertain 
 his friends with the most delicious fruits of every chmate, 
 particularly with melons and grapes, which could not be 
 excelled in any quarter of the world. 
 
 'He had there indeed no splendid house in which that 
 entertainment could be given to them. But he fitted up a 
 rural cottage, consisting only of two commodious apartments, 
 adjoining to the house of his head gardener, in whose kitchen 
 a dinner could be dressed for a few select friends. He had 
 no bedchamber there, for he was determined, while he con- 
 tinued in business, never to sleep out of his house in Edin- 
 bixrgh when he could easily avoid it.' 
 
 Craiglockhart carried a vote for the county, and in the 
 confidential Whig report on the voters in 1788, Dr. Monro is 
 noted as being ' very independent.' ^ In 1794, during the 
 French invasion scare, he was on the Committee of Defence 
 for Midlothian, and in 1798 he subscribed £300 to the War 
 Fund. 
 
 His earliest town house was the third story of Carmichael's 
 Land fronting the Lawnmarket next to Buchanan's Coxirt ; 
 it consisted of eight fire rooms and a kitchen, ' perfectly 
 free of smoak.' * In 1766 he moved to a new house on the 
 
 1 Edinburgh Courant, August 8, 1778. ' Harveian Oration for 1818, p. 35. 
 
 3 Political State of Scotland in 1788. 
 
 * Edinburgh Courant, November 22, 1766 ; AprO 20, 1768.
 
 MRS. ALEXANDER MONRO {Secnndus) 
 
 (KATHARINE INGLIS) 
 
 To face page 107.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {SECUNDUS) 107 
 
 west side of Nicolson Street, of which Lord Cockburn 
 speaks : ^ ' How often did we stand {circa 1789) to admire 
 the blue and yellow beds of crocuses rising through the clean 
 earth in the first days of sprmg in the garden of old Dr. Monro 
 (the second), whose house stood in a small field entering from 
 Nicolson Street, within less than a hundred yards south of the 
 College.' One of Craig's maps shows it on the site now covered 
 by the Empire Theatre, with the grounds running back halfway 
 to Potterrow."^ From 1801 till his death Dr. Monro hved in 
 St. Andrew Square, first at No. 32 and after 1810 at No. 30. 
 
 In 1783 he bought, probably 
 as an investment, the property 
 of Cockburn, two miles north of 
 Duns in Berwickshire. There 
 was no mansion-house, and the 
 property consisted of farms, 
 which extended to 1200 acres, 
 and at one time brought in a 
 rental of £1100 a year.^ 
 
 In 1780 he registered a coat 
 of arms, being the Bearcrofts 
 arms with a difference* — or, an 
 eagle's head erased gules : in its 
 beak a branch of laurel proper, 
 in the dexter chief point a sinister 
 hand erected, couped at the 
 wrist, of the second, all within a 
 bordure engrailed azure. 
 
 Dr. Monro married on September 25, 1762 Katharine, 
 younger daughter of David Inglis, Treasiirer of the Bank 
 of Scotland, and had two sons — Alexander (Tertius) and 
 
 1 Memorials, p. 6. 
 
 2 James Craig, ' Plan for the Improvement of the CSty of Edinburgh, 1786.' 
 ^ Edinburgh Courant, December 2, 1782 ; June 21, 1783. 
 
 * Balfour Paul, Ordinary of Scottish Arms, No. 3304.
 
 108 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {SECUNDUS) 
 
 David — and two daughters — Isabella and Charlotte — who 
 all lived to grow up, another son, the eldest of the family, 
 dying in infancy. David Inglis (1702-67) was a younger 
 son of John Inglis of Auchindinny, Writer to the Signet, 
 and his wife was Katharine, daughter of Charles Binning of 
 Pilmuir, advocate.^ 
 
 Mrs. Monro died on May 11, 1803 aged sixty-two. Her 
 portrait by Raeburn is in possession of Major George Monro, 
 and her miniature belongs to Mrs. Ferrier of Belsyde. 
 
 Isabella, the elder daughter, married on March 13, 1787 
 Hugh Scott of Gala, Selkirkshire, Captain in the 26th 
 (Cameronian) Regiment, afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel. He 
 died at Grenada on October 4, 1795 leaving a son, John, 
 born August 7, 1790. Mrs. Scott, who was a good musician, 
 died at Slateford House on September 27, 1801. 
 
 Charlotte, the younger daughter, who was born on March 
 17, 1782, married on November 10, 1808 Louis Henry Ferrier of 
 Belsyde, Linlithgowshire, advocate. He had been a Lieutenant 
 in the 94th Regiment (Scots Brigade), and was Lieutenant- 
 Colonel in the Linlithgowshire Yeomanry. He was appointed 
 Collector of the Customs at Quebec, and died on January 28, 
 1833 aged fifty-six. His wife predeceased him on April 26, 1822. 
 They had a family of five sons and three daughters. 
 
 The Memoir of Secundus by his son concludes : ^ ' Dr. 
 Monro was a kind husband and indulgent parent : and his 
 good offices were not limited to his own family and relations. 
 He was always ready to assist the poor with his piu-se and 
 professional skill ; was a subscriber to aU charitable institu- 
 tions ; and took an active share in the management of the 
 Royal Infirmary. 
 
 ' In person. Dr. Monro Secundus was about the middle 
 
 ^ See Chapters xiv.-xvi. on the Binning family. " P. cliii.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) 109 
 
 stature, and of vigorous and athletic form. His shoulders 
 were high and his neck short ; his head was large, and his 
 forehead full. His featiu-es were strongly marked. He had 
 a prominent nose, projecting eyebrows, light blue eyes, rather 
 a large mouth, and a countenance expressive of much inteUi- 
 gence and study. 
 
 ' During his long life several portraits were taken of him. 
 That of Mr. Kay, who has represented him walking along 
 the North Bridge in a black dress and cocked hat, conveys 
 a very distinct impression of his face and figure.^ A portrait 
 of him, when a young man, was also taken by Mr. Seton, 
 which has been esteemed a good likeness. The late Sir 
 Henry Raeburn painted the portrait ^ from which Mr. J. 
 Heath engraved the annexed portrait, which is, in my mind, 
 a strong likeness.' There is also a bust of him by an imknown 
 sculptor in the National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. 
 
 ' When my Father had reached his eightieth year, he used 
 to become very drowsy after dinner. He had also occasional 
 headache and slight bleeding at the nose. These symptoms 
 were the preludes to an apoplectic seiztu-e, from which, by 
 the unceasing attention of his friends Dr. Rutherford and 
 Mr. Bryce, he somewhat recovered. But the malady was not 
 eradicated ; his weakness gradually increased ; and after 
 the lapse of four years he died without suffermg on the 2nd 
 of October 1817 in the eighty-fifth year of his age.' 
 
 He and his wife are buried at Greyfriars Chiu-chyard. 
 
 A comparison between Primus and Secundus is almost 
 inevitable, as their lives present so many points of similarity. 
 From boyhood each was marked out for his career by his 
 father, each fulfilled in the amplest degree the promise of 
 his youth, held for many years a position of pre-eminence 
 in the University and the profession, and Uved to see his 
 son qualified to take up his work. To Primus belongs the 
 
 ' It was done in 1790. - Belonging to Major George Moaro.
 
 no PKOFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (SECUNDUS) 
 
 credit of beiiig the pioneer of a great and lasting work ; to 
 Secundus belongs the credit of not being in the least over- 
 shadowed by his father's fame, but of actually surpassmg 
 him as a scientist. It is unnecessary, even if it were 
 possible, to decide which of the two was the greater man ; 
 it is enough to affirm that what was said of Secundus was 
 equally true of Primus — he left behind him ' magnum et 
 venerabile no men,'
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER l\rONRO {Teriius) 
 
 To face -page 111.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (TERTIU8) 
 
 Alexander Mokro (Tertius) was born at Edinburgh on 
 November 5, 1773. He was educated at the High School 
 under the famous Dr. Adam, and had as schoolfellows Lords 
 Brougham, Jeffrey and Cockburn, and Sir Walter Scott. 
 He was then sent to the University, and graduated as Doctor 
 of Medicine on September 12, 1797. He became a Ucentiate 
 of the Royal CoUege of Physicians on November 5, and a 
 Fellow on November 30, 1797. 
 
 On September 24, 1798 his father petitioned the Town 
 Council to appoint the young man his colleague and successor, 
 taking as his model the petition which his own father had 
 presented forty-four years before. 
 
 He sets forth : ^ ' Dr. Monro is very sensible that in conse- 
 quence of his own early appointment as assistant to his father, 
 he devoted himself much more to the study and practice of 
 anatomy, and of coiu-se became much better quahfied to teach, 
 than he should have been without such a prospect before him. 
 As yet his zeal for the improvement of this branch and his 
 assiduity in teaching it are unabated ; but he daily becomes 
 more and more sensible of the advantages the students would 
 derive from his having conjoined with him a colleague more 
 capable of undertaking the laborious parts of his course, 
 and of prosecuting inquiries and performing experiments for 
 the further improvement of the science. He therefore 
 humbly petitions the Honble. Patrons of the University that 
 they wiU be pleased to nominate as colleague and successor 
 
 ^ Struthers, Edinburgh Anatomical School, p. 34. 
 
 Ill
 
 112 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {TERTIUS) 
 
 to him his eldest son Alexander, who is now nearly twenty- 
 five years of age, and who, after having attended for eight 
 years past his courses of lectures, and, during that period, 
 all the other medical classes repeatedly, and having received 
 last year from this University the degree of Doctor of Medi- 
 cine, has since that had the advantage of attending the 
 anatomical and other medical classes in London, and the 
 practice of the London Hospitals. If the Honble. Patrons 
 are pleased to appoint his son, it is his intention to return 
 to London and afterwards prosecute the practice and study 
 of anatomy in the most celebrated Universities of Europe, 
 in order that nothing may be wanting to place the teaching 
 of this branch on the most extensive and respectable footing. 
 Before presenting this petition to his Honble. Patrons, Dr. 
 Monro thought it a duty he owed to them as well as to his 
 colleagues in the medical department to show his petition to 
 them for their opinion, as their interests were deeply con- 
 cerned, and that they had had the best opportunity of observ- 
 ing the diligence and knowing the qualifications of his son, 
 and he has the satisfaction to find that they unanimously 
 approve of his petition and join in the prayer of it.' 
 
 Although the CouncU had as recently as the previous 
 March resolved that no professor should be elected until a 
 vacancy occurred, they treated this as an exceptional occa- 
 sion, and unanimously granted the petition on November 
 14, 1798 ; and they made no reservation in the commission 
 of their right to separate anatomy from surgery — a fact which 
 afterwards came to be of importance. 
 
 Monro (Tertius) completed his studies in London, where 
 he worked at surgery under Wilson, and in Paris, where he 
 stayed a short time ; and in 1800 he took up his duties as 
 assistant to his father. From 1802 he conducted most of 
 the course, and after the introductory lecture of 1808, the 
 last delivered by Secimdus, he had sole charge of the class 
 until his own retirement in 1846.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {TERTIUS) 113 
 
 It soon became apparent that Monro {Tertius) did not 
 adequately fiU the great position which his father and grand- 
 father had created. He had undoubted abihty, though his 
 bent was towards physiology rather than anatomy, but he 
 was indolent, and had many eccentricities of appearance 
 and manner. The resvdt was that his teaching was perfunctory, 
 and the discipline of his class deplorable. 
 
 The Scots Magazine of 1826 puts the matter mildly : ^ 
 
 ' The Professor follows the text-book of Dr. Monro his 
 grandfather — a work which for clearness of expression and 
 elegance of style, coupled with wonderful minuteness and 
 accuracy of description, can be scarcely surpassed. But it 
 admits of some doubt, whether more recent pubhcations 
 might not now be substituted even by the Professor himself, 
 with safety and advantage. 
 
 ' Dr. Monro inherits a very considerable degree of the 
 talent of his family, and acquits himself in the anatomical 
 chair with some eclat. But it appears to be rather a dis- 
 advantage than otherwise to his pupils that he yields with 
 so much facility to the thought of the moment, and diverges 
 from his subject upon somewhat shght occasions. His 
 manner is interesting for a httle from the interspersion of 
 extraneous matter ; but by-and-by it becomes tiresome, 
 when he seems ever ready to fly off at a tangent ; and his 
 course of lectures unfortunately has thus somewhat the 
 appearance of defective arrangement.' 
 
 A propos of his delivering his grandfather's lectures, the 
 story is told that he woiild read a passage ' When I was in 
 Leyden in the year 1718,' etc. 
 
 Sir Robert Christison, who was successively Professor of 
 Medical Jurisprudence and of Materia Medica, gives his 
 recollections of the class as follows : ^ ' Monro (Tertius) 
 was far from being a popular lecturer. In aU he did and 
 
 1 P. 450. 
 
 ^ Life of Sir Robert Christison, 1885, i. 68 ; Eighty Tears Ago, R. D. Gibney, p. 24. 
 
 P
 
 114 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {TERTIUS) 
 
 said his manner betrayed an unimpassioned indifference, as 
 if it were all one to him whether his teaching was acceptable 
 and accepted or not. . . . Yet he lacked neither ability nor 
 accomphshments. But apathy in a teacher cannot stir up 
 enthusiasm in the student. A lecturer who seldom shows 
 himseK in his dissecting-room wiU scarcely be looked up to 
 as an anatomist. A professor careless about dress must lay 
 his account with being made the subject of many a student's 
 joke. It is no wonder that with such weaknesses he lost 
 command of his class, which in his latter years became the 
 frequent scene of disturbance and uproar. Nevertheless 
 Monro gave a very clear, precise, complete course of anatomy 
 when I attended him [1815] ; and certainly I learned anatomy 
 well under him.' 
 
 It is not surprising that extra-mural teachers arose and 
 flourished, and that the Professor's classes dwindled. During 
 his first decade the average was 262 ; twenty years later it 
 had dropped to 220, while the number of matriculated medical 
 students had more than doubled, though it is fair to say that 
 matriculation was only enforced strictly after 1809. 
 
 Like his father he gave no clinical instruction, but he 
 started a class of Practical Anatomy in 1803. 
 
 In 1812 the Town Council, in answer to a representation 
 by the Senatus, raised the class fees for his lectiu-es from 
 three to four guineas ; six shillings was also paid by each 
 student towards the maintenance of a doorkeeper, the clean- 
 ing and firing of the lectm-e-room, and the expense of getting 
 bodies and spirits for preserving them. 
 
 His career as a professor was a constant struggle to main- 
 tain his position, not so much against the competition of other 
 teachers of anatomy as against the growing demand for the 
 separate teaching of sm-gery. After 1800 the official teaching 
 of surgery passed to him from his father, and the agitation 
 began anew. In 1803 a professorship of Clinical Surgery 
 was estabhshed in spite of opposition from Secundus, and
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (TERTIUS) 115 
 
 next year the College of Surgeons instituted a chair of 
 Systematic Surgery, which was continued until the Univer- 
 sity obtained its chair. In 1806 a professorship of Military 
 Surgery was founded in the University. 
 
 The great abilities and influence of Secundus being no 
 longer in the scale, the last argument against this necessary 
 reform was gone, but Tertius held his ground amid a war 
 of pamphleteering, until the appointment in 1826 of the 
 Scottish Universities' Commission, which considered the 
 teaching of surgery and pathology in its general siorvey of the 
 situation. The Town Council took the initiative in February 
 1827 by appointing a committee, which reported in the 
 following September : ^ ' (1) That anatomy and surgery each 
 afford ample employment for a separate professor, and that 
 the conjunction of these two important branches must be 
 injurious to the usefulness of the teacher, the interests of 
 the student, and to the advancement of medical science. 
 (2) That different qualifications are necessary for the successful 
 teaching of these respective branches, more especially of surgery, 
 the principles and practice of which can only be successfully 
 taught by one engaged in its exercise as a practitioner.' 
 
 The committee expressed doubt whether the Town 
 Council could effect the separation at its own hand, as there 
 was no reservation in the Professor's commission, and they 
 appointed a deputation to confer with him. At their meet- 
 ing Monro stated his opinion that the two subjects were 
 so intimately connected that it would be improper to disjoin 
 them, and that he had planned his course on the principle 
 of combining their study, giving surgery a prominent place 
 in his lectures and demonstrations, for which purpose he 
 had collected an extensive and costly set of instruments : 
 moreover he considered that it would materially injiu-e his 
 character and interest as a professor if he consented to any 
 separation of the two subjects. 
 
 '■ Appendix to Report (1837), p. 119.
 
 116 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (TERTIUS) 
 
 He was asked to reduce his opinions to writing, but he 
 wrote refusing to do so, and said : ^ ' You will see from the 
 commissions recorded in the Council books that I hold an 
 unqualified commission ad vitam aut culpam as Professor of 
 Surgery as well as of Anatomy. Since my appointment I 
 have given lectures on both these branches, and the number 
 of my pupils has considerably increased for the last ten years. 
 [This seems hardly accurate.] No one, I apprehend, can 
 be entitled to interfere with, or dispose of the professor- 
 ship, which I hold for life under the commission which I 
 had the honour to receive from the town-council, without 
 my authority or consent ; and as such consent has never 
 yet been asked, it appears to be premature to enter upon 
 the discussion of the question brought forward in the 
 report.' 
 
 In his oral evidence before the Commission and in his 
 observations on the scheme proposed by the Commissioners 
 he repeated these arguments and added a few more.^ He 
 stated that he gave ninety-three lectures on anatomy and 
 seventy on surgery, and that if surgery and pathology were 
 disjoined he would be deprived of his most attractive sub- 
 jects, and anatomy would be reduced to comparative insignifi- 
 cance. It would be difficult to occupy a six months' course 
 with anatomy alone, and it would be impossible to get a 
 sufficient supply of bodies for dissection. The proposed 
 change would cost the students additional fees, and would 
 resvdt in a reduplication of anatomical teaching, as the 
 Professor of Surgery would have to refer to the anatomy 
 of the various parts. 
 
 In October 1830 the Commission presented their report, 
 which contains the following passage : ^ 
 
 ' Upon the necessity of a separate professor of Surgery 
 
 1 Appendix to Report (1837), p. 120. 
 
 2 Evidence, pp. 271, 299; Appendix, p. 269. 
 
 3 Report (1831), p. 60.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (TERTIUS) 117 
 
 we believe that there is but one opinion entertained by 
 all medical men, inchiding the professors. The Professor 
 of Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh entertains, it 
 is true, different views upon this subject ; but the opinions 
 which we have formed upon the concurrent testimony of 
 aU the witnesses have not been shaken by the representa- 
 tions which he has made to us.' 
 
 The chair of Systematic Surgery was founded in the 
 following year. Monro still maintained that he was an 
 authorised teacher of surgery in the Edinburgh Medical 
 School, if not in the University, but in 1838 the College of 
 Surgeons silenced this contention by refusing to recognise 
 any teacher for more than one subject.^ 
 
 Reference has already been made^ to the great difficulty 
 of obtaining bodies for dissection : the matter reached a 
 crisis about 1828, when a Select Committee conducted an 
 inquiry, which revealed the magnitude of the evil and the 
 nefarious practices to which it gave rise. The Committee 
 was chiefly concerned with the state of matters in London, 
 though Monro sent in a memorial representing the views of 
 the Royal College of Physicians,^ but just at that time 
 Edinburgh produced a series of crimes which vividly im- 
 pressed the popular imagination. Two scoundrels, named 
 Burke and Hare, were convicted of having actually murdered 
 several victims in order to sell their bodies for dissection. 
 The anatomist involved in this transaction was Dr. Robert 
 Knox, who became extremely unpopular ; not that any 
 great moral blame attached to him, as it had long been the 
 practice for all the teachers to get ' subjects ' from the ' body- 
 snatchers ' without any questions asked. The case showed 
 the urgent need for a change in the law, and in 1832 an Act * 
 
 ' Struthers, Edinburgh Anatomical School, p. 89. 
 ^ Supra, p. 97. 
 
 ^ Appendix to Report of Committee on Anatomy, p. 124. 
 * 2 and 3 WiU. iv., cap. 75.
 
 118 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (TERTIUS) 
 
 was passed putting schools of anatomy under government 
 inspection, and permitting recognised teachers and students 
 to obtain bodies from the persons having lawful custody of 
 them, provided the relatives did not object. This made 
 hospitals and similar institutions available as sources of 
 supply, and the difficulty was solved. 
 
 Monro (Tertius) resigned his chair in 1846, and severed 
 the long connection of the family with the professorship of 
 Anatomy — a connection which had lasted one hundred and 
 twenty-six years. 
 
 He was a voluminous writer, his chief works being 
 Outlines of the Anatomy of the Human Body in four volumes 
 (1811), and Elements of Anatomy in two volumes (1825) ; 
 but they have not proved of permanent value. 
 
 He practised as a physician, and performed minor opera- 
 tions, but he never attained the position in the profession 
 which his father had held. He was, however, Secretary 
 of the Royal CoUege of Physicians from 1809 to 1819, and 
 President in 1827 and 1828. He was also on the Council 
 of the Wernerian Natural History Society, of which he 
 became a member in 1811. He was elected a Fellow of the 
 Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1798, and at his death was 
 father of the Society. 
 
 His first house was 15 Nicolson Square, but on his mother's 
 death he went to live with his father in St. Andrew Square. 
 When his father died he moved to 121 George Street, and 
 remained there tiU 1832, when he settled at Craiglockhart, 
 where he had built a mansion-house. 
 
 He inherited his father's taste for gardening. He was 
 also a good judge of pictures, and made a small collection 
 of his own, chiefly of the Dutch school. He was an excellent 
 classical scholar, and spoke Latin well. 
 
 His portrait by an unknown artist hangs in the Surgeons' 
 Hall, Edinburgh ; another portrait of him as a yoimg man 
 by Raeburn, and a small water-colour by Kenneth Macleay
 
 
 MRS. ALEXANDER MONRO (Terihis) 
 
 (MARIA AGNES CARMICHAEL-SMTTH) 
 
 To/ace page 119.
 
 PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO {TERTIUS) 119 
 
 belong to Major George Monro ; a caricature of him appears 
 in Crombie's Modern Athenians. 
 
 He enjoyed good health and spirits down to his death, 
 which occurred at Craiglockhart on March 10, 1859 in his 
 eighty-sixth year.^ He was buried in the Dean Cemetery. 
 
 He was twice married. On September 20, 1800 he was 
 married at St, George's, Bloomsbury, to Maria Agnes, elder 
 daughter of Dr. James Carmichael- Smyth, F.R.S., and 
 had twelve children. Mrs. Monro was born on November 9, 
 1776, and died on July 6, 1833. To avoid the risk of 
 ' resurrection ' she was buried in the grounds at Craig- 
 lockhart, but her eldest son afterwards had her remains 
 removed to the Dean Cemetery. 
 
 Professor Monro's second wife, whom he married at 
 Carlowrie, Linlithgowshire, on July 15, 1836, was Jessie, or 
 Janet, daughter of David Hunter, stockbroker, of Montague 
 Street, London, and younger sister of Mrs. Robert Lowis 
 of Plean. Mrs. Monro had no family : she survived her 
 husband, and died at Bath on August 4, 1886 aged eighty- two. 
 
 1 Scotsman, March 18, 1859.
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 DR. JAMES CARMICHAEL-SMYTH 
 
 Dr. James Carmichael-Smyth was descended on his father's 
 side from the Carmichaels of Balmedie.^ He was born on 
 February 23, 1742, the only son of Dr. Thomas Carmichael, 
 and Margaret, eldest daughter and heiress of Dr. James 
 Smyth of Atherney or Aithernie in Fife, and took the name 
 of Smyth in accordance with his grandfather's wiU. 
 
 Dr. Carmichael-Smyth was an original pupil of Monro 
 (Secundus), and took his degree as M.D. of Edinburgh on 
 October 29, 1764. He was President of the Royal Medical 
 Society 1764-5. After getting further experience in France, 
 Italy and Holland, he settled in London in 1768, and became 
 a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians there on 
 June 25, 1770.^ In 1775 he was appointed a physician to 
 the Middlesex Hospital, and was elected a FeUow of the 
 Royal Society on May 13, 1779. He lived in Charlotte 
 Street, Bloomsb\ary. 
 
 In 1780 he was appointed by Government to take charge 
 of the prison and hospital at Winchester, where an epidemic 
 of tjrphus fever was raging, and he employed nitrous acid as a 
 disinfectant with great success. As a reward for his services 
 he was appointed Physician-Extraordinary to the King and 
 ParUament voted him £1200. The motion was opposed 
 in the House of Commons as 'a Scotch job, supported by 
 aU the Scotch members.' ^ 
 
 * Scots Peerage, ed. Balfour Paul, art. ' Hyndford,' contributed by E. G. M. 
 Carmichael. " Munk, Roll of the Royal College of Physicians, ii. 383. 
 
 ' Edinburgh Advertiser, May 29, 1781.
 
 DR. JAMES CARMICHAEL-SMYTH 121 
 
 In February 1802 he applied to Parliament for further 
 recognition of the value of his discovery, which had been 
 generally adopted, his petition being presented by William 
 Wilberforce, the slavery abolitionist.^ The credit of the 
 discovery was hotly contested on behalf of Dr. James John- 
 stone of Worcester and by the French on behalf of M. Guyton- 
 Morveau, but Dr. Carmichael-Smyth's claim was upheld, 
 and he was voted £5000.^ 
 
 The College of Physicians admitted him a Fellow on 
 June 25, 1788 ; and he was Censor in 1788, 1793 and 1801, 
 Harveian orator in 1793, and an Elect in 1802. He then 
 retired from practice, and lived first at East Acton, and 
 afterwards at Sunbury, where he died on Jime 18, 1821. 
 
 In 1775 he contracted a runaway match with Mary, 
 only daughter of Thomas Holyland of Bromley and Mary 
 Elton of Nether Hall, Ledbury, Herefordshire. They were 
 married at Gretna Green on November 9, the bride being 
 only fifteen years old. She must have been a lovely girl, 
 to judge from her portrait by Romney, who painted her 
 and her husband in 1788 for a fee of fifty guineas. She 
 died suddenly on May 24, 1806, while dining at Gatton, 
 Sunbury, S\u*rey, the house of Sir Mark Wood, Bart. Her 
 age was forty-six, and she had had eight sons and two 
 daughters, Mrs. Monro being the eldest of the family. 
 
 1 Gentleman's Magazine, 1802, i. 262; ii. 671. 
 
 ^ History of the Johnstones, C. L. Johnstone, pp. 266-8. 
 
 Q
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 DAVID MONRO BINNING AND HIS DESCENDANTS 
 
 David, the younger son of Dr. Alexander Monro (Secundus), 
 was born at Edinburgh on February 16, 1776. He took 
 the additional surname of Binning in 1796 on acquiring the 
 property of Wester Softlaw near Kelso, which was bought 
 and settled on him according to the testamentary directions 
 of his distant cousin WiUiam Binning.^ He was admitted 
 an advocate on June 9, 1798, but did not practise. 
 
 He died at Inverleith House, Edinbiu-gh, on January 24, 
 1843 aged sixty-six, and is buried in Greyfriars Churchyard. 
 
 He was twice married. His first wife, whom he married 
 on August 9, 1803, was his cousin, Sophia Home of Argaty, 
 who died at Madeira on May 29, 1806, leaving two sons, 
 George Home and Alexander. A picture of the two boys 
 was painted by Raeburn in 1811. 
 
 I. George Home, who was born on May 28, 1804, succeeded 
 to Argaty on his mother's death and to Softlaw on his father's 
 death. He took with Argaty the surname of Home, and 
 became George Home Monro Binning Home. He was 
 admitted an advocate on February 1, 1828. He married 
 on February 20, 1839, Catherine, daughter of Lt.-Col, Joseph 
 Burnett of Gadgirth, Ayrshire, and had six children ; two 
 died in infancy, and the other four were : 
 
 (1) Sophia Margaret, born May 29, 1841, died at Paris 
 March 24, 1860. 
 
 ^ For the Binnings, see Chapters xiv.-xvi. 
 
 122
 
 THE BINNING HOMES OF ARGATY 123 
 
 (2) David George, born February 13, 1843, died at Paris 
 
 June 26, 1859. 
 
 (3) Catherine Agnes Jane, born April 13, 1844, died at 
 
 29 George Square, Edinburgh, February 28, 1865. 
 
 (4) George Joseph, born May 22, 1845, died at Argaty, 
 
 October 31, 1846. 
 
 George Home Monro Binning Home died on January 10, 
 1884, aged seventy-nine. His widow survived till August 14, 
 1895, and Argaty then went to Dr. George Home Monro, son 
 of his nephew, Alexander Monro. 
 
 II. Alexander, second son of David Monro Binning and 
 Sophia Home, was born on May 22, 1805. He was admitted 
 a Writer to the Signet on March 5, 1829, but did not practise. 
 He succeeded to Auchinbowie in 1835 on his grandmother's 
 death, and adopted the surname Binning Monro. He took 
 Softlaw as heir of entail on the death of his brother. 
 
 He married on August 4, 1835 his first cousin, Harriet, 
 fourth daughter of Dr. Alexander Monro (Tertius). He died 
 at Oxford on December 12, 1891, aged eighty-six, and his 
 widow died on March 7, 1898, aged eighty-one. 
 Their family consisted of : 
 
 (1) David, born November 16, 1836, died unmarried 
 August 22, 1905.^ He was educated at Glasgow 
 University, and afterwards at Balliol CoUege, Oxford, 
 where he was a scholar. He obtained a 1st Class 
 in both Classical and Mathematical Moderations in 
 1856, and in the Final Classical Schools in 1858. 
 He won the Ireland Scholarship in 1858, and the 
 Chancellor's Prize for a Latin Essay in 1859. The 
 latter year he was elected a FeUow of Oriel, and 
 became Provost in 1882. He was Vice-Chancellor of 
 the University from 1901 to 1904. His reputation 
 as a scholar, particularly as a writer on Homer, was 
 
 ^ Memoir, J. Cook Wilson.
 
 124 THE BINNING MONROS OF AUCHINBOWIE 
 
 world-wide. He succeeded his father in Auchiabowie 
 and Softlaw. 
 
 (2) Alexander, born April 12, 1838. He emigrated to 
 
 New Zealand, and married (I) March 18, 1862 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Paymaster Charles Edward 
 CottereU, R.N., with issue : 
 
 (i) George Home, born November 29, 1865, M.B., 
 CM. Edinbiirgh 1890, M.D. 1901, succeeded to 
 Argaty on the death of his granduncle's widow, 
 August 14, 1895, and assumed the surname 
 Monro-Home. 
 
 (ii) Alexander Edward, born May 16, 1867, B.A. 
 Cambridge (11th Wrangler) 1889. 
 
 (iii) Herbert David, born December 28, 1869, 
 married Mrs. Clarke, with issue two sons and 
 one daughter. 
 
 (iv) Henry Charles, born September 6, 1874. 
 
 (v) Elizabeth Maria, married 1893 H. P. Turner, 
 eldest son of Major Tm-ner, Patea, N.Z,, with 
 issue one son, George Noel. 
 
 (vi) Harriet Sophia. 
 
 (vii) Marion, died in infancy 1872. 
 He married (II) 1895 Annie Frances, daughter of 
 
 Rev. F. W. Peel. On his brother's death he suc- 
 ceeded to Softlaw as heir of entail, and assumed 
 
 the surname Binning Monro. 
 
 (3) George Home, of VaUeyfield, near Blenheim, New 
 
 Zealand, born November 28, 1840, died June 25, 
 1885, married January 27, 1873 Isabella Selina, 
 yoimgest daughter of WiUiam Wrothsley Baldwin 
 of Stede HiU, Harrietsham, Kent, and by her (who 
 married, secondly, 1888 John Dow Busby of Taradale, 
 Napier, N.Z.) had issue : 
 
 (i) Alexander William, born March 14, 1875, sue-
 
 DAVID MONRO BINNING 125 
 
 ceeded to Auchinbowie on the death of his 
 uncle David, married October 29, 1910 Geral- 
 dine Marion, eldest daughter of M. Murray- 
 Johnson, 
 (ii) Charles George, born July 8, 1878, married 1905 
 Catherine Alice NichoUs, with issue one son and 
 two daughters. 
 
 (iii) George Home, born November 16, 1879, married 
 1910 Agnes Katharine Goulter. 
 
 (iv) Eliza Harriet, 
 (v) Katharine Jane. 
 
 (4) Charles Carmichael, born December 1, 1851. 
 
 (5) Maria Agnes, married 1874 Colonel Thomas Peach 
 
 Waterman, late Bengal Staff Corps, who died 1877 
 without issue. 
 
 (6) Jane Sophia, died unmarried 1887. 
 
 David Monro Binning married (secondly) on July 2, 
 
 1813, Isabella, second daughter of Lord President Robert 
 Blair of Avontoun, and had two children — Robert Blair, 
 and Isabella Cornelia — the latter was born on December 3, 
 1815, and died unmarried on January 18, 1844. 
 
 Mrs. David Monro Binning died on May 22, 1879, aged 
 eighty-nine, and is buried with her husband at Greyfriars, 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 III. Robert Blair Monro Binning was born on May 5, 
 
 1814, and went into the Madras Civil Service. He married 
 on October 14, 1858 his first cousin Kathrine, eldest daughter 
 of Louis Henry Ferrier of Belsyde and Charlotte Monro. 
 They had no family. Mr. Robert Binning died on September 
 11, 1891, aged seventy-seven; his wife predeceased him on 
 May 24, 1882, aged seventy-one.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE FAMILY OF PROFESSOR ALEXANDER MONRO (TERTIUS) 
 
 The twelve children of Monro (Tertius) were : 
 
 I. Alexander, of Craiglockhart and Cockburn, born July 
 5, 1803, Captain in the Rifle Brigade, married Elizabeth, 
 second daughter of Charles Balfour Scott of Woll, Roxburgh- 
 shire. Captain Monro sold the Craiglockhart estate, reserving 
 the mansion-house. He died at Clifton on January 22, 1867 
 without issue : his widow died on July 19, 1879 aged fifty-six. 
 
 II. James, born September 15, 1806, succeeded his brother 
 in Craiglockhart and Cockburn, Surgeon-Major in the Cold- 
 stream Guards, married August 18, 1857, Maria, daughter 
 of Colonel Duffin of the Bengal Army. He died on November 
 3, 1870, and his widow died on March 9, 1900. Their family 
 consisted of : 
 
 (1) Alexander, born May 20, 1859, died unmarried October 
 
 16, 1879 at Devacolam, Travancore, India, as the 
 result of an accident. 
 
 (2) James, born April 11, 1868, died unmarried November 
 
 8, 1901 at Colombo. His father's trustees sold 
 Craiglockhart House and Cockburn, the former being 
 bought in 1890 by Mr. (afterwards Sir) Alexander 
 Oliver Riddell. 
 
 (3) Agnes Maria, married July 25, 1901 Marcel Cuenod, 
 
 with issue a daughter Vivian, born April 14, 1902. 
 
 III. Henry, of Crawford, Victoria, born August 24, 1810, 
 died November 1869, married (1) Jane Christie, with issue 
 
 126
 
 FAMILY OF ALEXANDER MONRO (TERTIUS) 127 
 
 Maria, who married Dr. Grier and died 1894 ; (2) Catherine, 
 daughter of Alexander Power of Clonmult, co. Cork. She 
 died 1889 aged sixty, having had issue : 
 
 (1) Alexander, born 1847, M.A., B.C.L., Oxford (Scholar 
 
 of Oriel), entered the Indian Civil Service 1879, served 
 in the Indian Educational Service, retired 1904, CLE., 
 twice Mayor of Godalming, married 1879 Evelyn 
 Agnes, daughter of Arthur Dingwall, with issue two 
 sons and two daughters. 
 
 (2) David Carmichael, born 1849, married 1880 Ehzabeth 
 
 Josephine, daughter of Andrew Murray of Murrays- 
 hall, with issue two sons and three daughters. 
 
 (3) Henry, born 1851, died 1875. 
 
 (4) James, died in infancy. 
 
 (5) George Nowlan, born October 2, 1857, Major in the 
 
 Worcestershire Regiment, retired 1904. Bought 
 Auchinbowie in 1910 from his cousin Alexander 
 William Monro, married February 24, 1906 Tempe, 
 daughter of Sir Frederick Falkiner, Recorder of 
 DubUn, and widow of General WilUam Forrest, C.B., 
 with issue, Alexander George Falkiner, born March 1, 
 1908. 
 
 (6) Charles Carmichael, born June 15, 1860, served in the 
 
 Royal West Siu-rey Regiment, C.B., Brigadier-General 
 commanding 13th Brigade in Ireland, 1907-11, Major- 
 General 1910. 
 
 (7) Isabella, married 1876 Captain George Vernon Colman 
 
 Napier, 3rd Hussars, afterwards Colonel commanding 
 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards. He died 1890, leaving 
 issue two sons. 
 
 (8) Harriet Ehzabeth, married 1889 John Troutbeck, 
 
 Coroner for Westminster, with issue two sons and one 
 daughter. 
 
 (9) Amy Charlotte.
 
 128 FAMILY OF ALEXANDER MONRO (TERTIUS) 
 
 IV. Sir David, born March 27, 1813, assisted his father 
 as a physician in Edinbxu-gh, emigrated to New Zealand 
 in 1841. He married in May 1845 Dinah, daughter of John 
 Seeker of Widford, Oxfordshire, and died on February 15, 
 1877 at Newstead near Nelson. His widow died on June 10, 
 1882. 
 
 The Dictionary of National Biography gives the following 
 account of him : ' When the first General Assembly was 
 convened 24 May 1854, he was returned as a member of it, 
 and was chosen to second the address to the governor. He 
 was Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1861 and 
 1862, and was knighted. At the general election in 1866 
 he was elected member for Cheviot and was again Speaker 
 untU 1870, when he retired from this post. He was then 
 much incensed at the failure of William Fox, leader of the 
 House, to propose any vote of thanks for his services ; and 
 in order to attack him he obtained a seat, but lost it on 
 petition. Thereupon the House of Representatives adopted 
 an address praying that some mark of favour might be 
 shown him for his long services ; but Fox still refused to 
 recommend so outspoken an opponent for a seat in the 
 Legislative Council. Monro was then elected to the House 
 for Waikonati and opposed Fox's government.' 
 
 His family consisted of: 
 
 (1) Alexander, born March 1846, died July 17, 1905, 
 
 married 1885 Frances Severn, with issue four sons 
 and one daughter. 
 
 (2) David, born July 1847, died unmarried July 1869. 
 
 (3) James Stuart, born March 1850, died May 1850. 
 
 (4) Charles John, born April 1851, married 1885 Helena 
 
 Beatrice, daughter of Donald Macdonald, with issue 
 three sons and two daughters. 
 
 (5) Henry James Carmichael, born December 1860, died 
 
 February 1866.
 
 FAMILY OF ALEXANDER MONRO (TERTIUS) 129 
 
 (6) Maria Greorgiana, married 1886 Sir James Hector, 
 
 M.D., F.R.S., K.C.M.G., who died November 1907, 
 having had issue six sons and three daughters. 
 
 (7) Constance Charlotte, born November 1853, died 
 
 April 1, 1910, married 1876 Philip Gerald Dillon, 
 who died 1890, leaving one son and four daughters. 
 
 V. WiUiam, born February 24, 1815, Major 79th (Cameron) 
 Highlanders, married in 1843 Elizabeth, eldest daughter of 
 Sir Robert Abercromby, fifth Baronet. Major Monro died 
 on March 2, 1881 ; his widow died on August 4, 1893. Their 
 family consisted of : 
 
 (1) Maria Ehzabeth Janet, married Thomas Stanley 
 
 Rogerson, who died May 2, 1910, having had issue 
 one son (who died young) and three daughters. 
 
 (2) Sophia Frances Margaret, died unmarried February 20, 
 
 1902. 
 
 (3) Charlotte Mary Douglas, married December 8, 1875 
 
 her first cousin Sir James Colquhoun of Luss, fifth 
 Baronet, who died March 13, 1907. Lady Colquhoun 
 died January 9, 1902, leaving two daughters. 
 
 VI. Charles, born April 30, 1818, died at the age of twenty 
 months. 
 
 VII. Maria, born November 22, 1801, married February 5, 
 1828 John Inglis of Langbyres, Auchindinny and Redhall, 
 advocate, who died March 23, 1847. Mrs. Inglis died 
 November 6, 1884, leaving issue two sons and three daughters. 
 
 VIII. Catherine, born November 4, 1804, married June 1, 
 1835 as his second wife. Sir John James Steuart of Allanbank 
 Berwickshire, fifth and last Baronet. '^ She died without 
 
 * CoUness Collections (Maitland Club), p. 391 ; Autobiography of George, Eighth Duke 
 of Argyll, i. U4. 
 
 B
 
 130 FAMILY OF ALEXANDER MONRO {TERTIUS) 
 
 issue April 18, 1868, and her husband predeceased her on 
 January 29, 1849 aged sixty-nine. Her bust by Sir John 
 Steele is in the Scottish National GaUery. 
 
 IX, Georgiana, born June 8, 1808, married in 1831 
 George Skene of Rubislaw, Aberdeenshire, Professor of Civil 
 and Scots Law in Glasgow University. She died on June 4, 
 1868. He died on January 2, 1875 aged sixty-seven. Their 
 family consisted of: 
 
 (1) James Francis, advocate, born 1833, died unmarried 
 
 September 22, 1861. 
 
 (2) Maria Isabella, died unmarried May 1902. 
 
 (3) Jane Georgiana, born April 29, 1839, died June 14, 
 
 1871, married June 16, 1864 George Michael Fraser- 
 Tytler of Keith Marischal, East Lothian, son of 
 James Tytler of Woodhouselee. He died on January 
 3, 1905, aged eighty- two. Their family was : 
 
 (i) Alexander James Eraser, born Jime 11, 1865, 
 
 died January 13, 1869. 
 (ii) Blanche Georgiana, born September 4, 1866, 
 
 died April 26, 1871. 
 (iii) George WiUiam, born May 12, 1868, died 
 
 June 11, 1868. 
 (iv) Maurice WiUiam, who assumed the surname 
 
 of Skene-Tytler, born June 18, 1869, married 
 
 September 17, 1902 Carohne Charlotte, elder 
 
 daughter of Lieut. -Colonel Henry Lonsdale 
 
 HaUeweU, C.M.G. 
 (v) Georgiana Mabel Kate, married April 22, 1897 
 
 Ernest Henry Greene, barrister-at-law, Dublin. 
 
 (4) Katherine Elizabeth, married June 20, 1861 George 
 
 ChanceUor, W.S., who died April 4, 1875.
 
 FAMILY OF ALEXANDER MONRO (TERTIUS) 131 
 
 X. Harriet, born August 2, 1816, married August 4, 1835 ^ 
 her cousin, Alexander Binning Monro, W.S., of Auchinbowie, 
 and died March 7, 1898 leaving issue. 
 
 XL Isabella, born November 3, 1819, died unmarried 
 October 12, 1908. 
 
 XII. Charlotte, born February 14, 1821, died AprQ 3, 
 1908, married October 14, 1851 Rev. Henry Mordaunt 
 Fletcher, with issue : 
 
 (1) Rev. Miles Douglas, Vicar of Brize-Norton, Oxford- 
 
 shire, born January 22, 1853, married October 20, 
 1891 Ethel, daughter of Lieut. -Colonel W. H. Worthy 
 Bennett, with issue five sons and one daughter. 
 
 (2) Archibald Henry John, born November 26, 1856, 
 
 married September 2, 1884 Florence Emiha, daughter 
 of Rev. Anthony Bunting, with issue two sons and 
 one daughter. 
 
 (3) Rev. George Charles, Vicar of Newchurch-in-Pendle, 
 
 Bxirnley, Lancashire, born October 17, 1859. 
 
 (4) Charlotte Maria. 
 
 (5) EUzabeth Grace. 
 
 1 Supra, p. 123.
 
 BINNING PEDIGREE 
 
 THOMAS BINNING, got charter of Carlowriehaugh 1671, d. Feb. 17, 1606, 
 m. Catharine, daughter of William LiTingstone of Ecclesmacfaan. 
 
 James, of Carlowriehaugh, b. 1580, d. Feb. 22, 1663, 
 m. (1), 1618, Marion, daughter of Addinstone of 
 Addinstone, who d. March 1636 ; (2) April 26, 
 1636, Euphemia, daughter of Baillie of Jervis- 
 ton, who d. April 1670. 
 
 William. 
 
 James, of Carlowriehaugh, 
 advocate, d. 1681, m. 1670, 
 Margaret Burnet, who d. 
 1695. 
 
 Thomas, 
 d. S.2'- 
 
 Robert 
 d. s.j}. 
 
 John, 
 merchant in 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 Catherine, 
 
 m. March 1650, 
 
 Laurence Scott of 
 
 Bavelaw, two sons 
 
 and six daughters. 
 
 Margaret, m. (1) William Ross of 
 Swau.ston, one daughter ; (2) 
 John Craig, second son of Sir 
 Thomas Craig of Ricoarton, 
 one daughter. 
 
 James, 
 
 writer in 
 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 Euptam, Laurence, b. Nov. 1665, d. May 1708, Catherine, b, Feb. 1667, m. Feb. 13. 
 b. Jan. 1664, m. Sept. 24, 1697, Margaret, daughter 1697, William Baird, second son of 
 d. Nov. 1665. of Sir David Hume (Lord Crossrig). Sir Robert Baird of Saughton, four 
 
 sons and seven daughters. 
 
 John, 
 
 Elizabeth, 
 
 Jean, 
 
 William, advocate, 
 
 Jo 
 
 hu, 
 
 Laurence, 
 
 Ann, 
 
 d. young, 
 
 d, unm. 
 
 d. unm. 
 
 sold Wallyford, 
 
 d. s.p. 
 
 d. 5.^. 
 
 d. unm. 
 
 in 1699. 
 
 Feb. 4, 
 1746. 
 
 
 d. unm. 
 Feb. 2,1791, 
 
 
 
 Jan. 29, 
 1786. 
 
 
 
 
 aged 81. 
 
 
 

 
 BINNING PEDIGREE 
 
 Thomas, tailor burgess 
 of Edinburgh. 
 
 Agnes. 
 
 Sir William, b. March 11, 1637, d. Jan. 8, 1711, Loi-d Provost of Edin- 
 burgh 1675-7, bought Wallyford 1675, knighted Jan. 1677, m. 
 (1) Dec. 1662, Elizabeth, daughter of Laurence Scott of Bavelaw. 
 She d. Dec. 1693, aged 59 ; (2) April 1701, Mary Livingstone of 
 Saltcoats, widow of James Menzies of Coulterallers. She d. s.p. 
 
 Thomas. 
 
 Sarah, m. Alexander Brand 
 of Kedhall. 
 
 James, 
 b. July 
 
 1669, 
 d. Oct. 
 
 1689. 
 
 William of Wallyford, b. July 1669, 
 m. 1709, Isobel, daughter of John 
 Dundas of Duddingston. 
 
 Hew, Charles, b. Nov. 1674, d. Sep. 15, 1758, Richard, 
 
 b. Oct. Solicitor-General 1721-5, bought Pil- d. June 
 
 1670, muir 1722, m. July 1706, Margaret, 1696. 
 
 d. young. daughter of Hew Montgomery of 
 
 Broomlands. 
 
 Jean, 
 b. Oct. 11, 
 
 1709, 
 d. June 1, 
 
 1710. 
 
 Katharine, b. May 9, 
 1711, d. Dec. 14, 1769, 
 m. June 5, 1738, 
 David Inglis, Trea- 
 surer of the Bank of 
 Scotland, who d. Jan.l3, 
 1767, aged 66. 
 
 Barbara, 
 b. June 
 
 1712, 
 d. Feb. 9, 
 
 1713. 
 
 Isobel, 
 d. unm. 
 July 28, 
 
 1806. 
 
 
 Elizabeth, 
 
 m. July 1744, 
 
 Andrew 
 
 Buchanan, 
 
 of Drumpellier, 
 
 d. s.p. 1782. 
 
 
 William, advocate, 
 b. Aug. 27, 1716, 
 d. Aug. 1751, 
 m. Match 1750, 
 Elizabeth, daugh- 
 ter of Archibald 
 Stewart of Tor- 
 rance. 
 
 Margaret, 
 
 b. Dec. 12, 
 
 1717. 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Margaret, 
 
 b. Sept. 10, 1739, 
 
 d. unm. Feb. 27, 
 
 1800. 
 
 Katharine, b. Jan. 21, 
 1741, d. May 11, 1803, 
 ra. Sept. 25, 1762, 
 Prop. Alexander 
 
 b. 
 
 Charles, 
 March 29, 
 1751, 
 d. 1754. 
 
 Monro {Secundus).
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE BINNINGS OF WALLYFORD 
 
 NiSBET states ^ with some probability that the Binnings are 
 French by extraction, and that the name was originally 
 Benigne (Latin Benignus = gracious). With greater rash- 
 ness he traces the descent of the Wallyford family from a 
 peasant named WiUiam Bunnock, who is said to have con- 
 trived a stratagem to capture Linlithgow Castle, which was 
 held by an English garrison under Peter Lubard in the year 
 1308, during Robert the Bruce's War of Independence. The 
 story depends for its authority upon John Barbour's Bruce, 
 a poem written about 1370, and was perpetuated by Sir 
 Walter Scott in his Tales of a Gh-and father. 
 
 Bumaock was employed by the garrison to bring in hay, 
 and his plan was to conceal eight armed men in his cart, 
 while he himself walked ' ydilly ' alongside : others were 
 posted in ambush near the gate. The poem narrates : ^ 
 
 ' And quhen it wes set evinly 
 Betuix the chekys of the yet [the gate-posts] 
 Swa that men mycht it spar na gat, [fasten in no way] 
 He oryit, " theif, call all, call all ! " 
 And than he le5rfc the gadwand [whip] fall, 
 And he wit in twa the soym in hy. [the trace in haste] 
 Bunnok with that dehuerly [quickly] 
 Raucht tUl the portar sic ane rout, [dealt such a blow] 
 That blude and harnys [brains] bath com out, 
 
 1 Heraldry, i. 100, 429. 
 
 2 The Bruce (Scottish Text Society), i. 244 (Book x. lines 137-250). 
 
 134
 
 THE BINNINGS 
 
 135 
 
 And thai that war within the wayn 
 
 Lap out belif, [quickly] and soyn has slajTi 
 
 Men of the castell that war by. 
 
 Than in a quhill begouth [began] the cry, 
 
 And thai that neir enbuschit war 
 
 Lap out, and com with swerdis bar, 
 
 And tuk the castell all but payn, [without a struggle] 
 
 And thame that tharin wes has slayn.' 
 
 Tradition rounded off the story by making Robert the 
 Bruce reward Bunnock with a grant of the lands of East 
 Binning near Ecclesmachan in 
 Linlithgowshire, and Scott, fol- 
 lowing Hart who pubhshed an 
 edition in 1616, calls the hero 
 Binnock or Binning. On the 
 strength of this exploit the arms 
 granted in 1675 to Sir WiUiam 
 Binning of Wallyford and James 
 his half-brother were : ^ — argent, 
 on a bend engrailed sable a 
 waggon or : crest, a demi horse 
 furnished for a waggon. Sir 
 WiUiam, as a cadet, had a bor- 
 dure sable round the coat, and 
 took the motto, Christo duce 
 feliciter. James's motto was 
 Virtute doloque. 
 
 Unfortunately this picturesque incident gets no corrobora- 
 tion from the serious historians of the period, — in fact Lin- 
 lithgow Castle is found in the hands of the EngUsh after the 
 date assigned to its capture. There is no record of Robert 
 the Bruce bestowing East Binning upon Bunnock, and there 
 is no chain of links connecting the WaUyford family with 
 the supposed grantee. A manuscript history of the family 
 
 1 Nisbet, Heraldry, i. 100.
 
 136 THE BINNINGS 
 
 was written by William Binning, advocate, about the year 
 1780, and is followed by Burke,^ but the first six generations 
 of the pedigree there given are mere names, and some- 
 times not even that. William de Benyng, great-grandson 
 of the eponymous hero, is the first of the descendants to 
 be provided with a name ; then follows a succession of 
 fathers and sons, called respectively David, William, David, 
 Thomas. 
 
 This genealogy is not plausible, nor does it square with 
 the scattered references to the lairds of Easter Binning in 
 the public records. In 1429 William de Benyn granted a 
 nineteen years' lease of his lands of Estir Benyng,^ and 
 Nisbet says ^ that he saw in Wallyford's charter chest a 
 charter by James i. (1406-38) of the lands of East Binning 
 in favour of David de Binning on the resignation of William 
 his father. The existence of this charter in possession of 
 the Wallyford family is at least a presumption that they 
 were the direct descendants of the Binnings of Easter Binning, 
 but it is impossible to trace the family further back, and the 
 attempt to link them to Bunnock, if such a person ever 
 existed, just illustrates the eternal tendency of genealogists 
 to start their pedigrees from some heroic personage, in 
 defiance of all rules of historical evidence. 
 
 According to the records John Byiuiyng is the laird from 
 1484 till 1503,* though by that time he was in financial diffi- 
 culties and had burdened the mansion-house and part of the 
 lands for 200 merks. In 1505 Thomas Binning took sasine,^ 
 and at various times within the next twenty years he dis- 
 poned certain portions to Robert Bruce of Wester Binning.^ 
 He died before 1526. In 1532 EUzabeth Binning made up 
 
 * Landed Gentry, Supplement, 1848, p. 168. 
 
 2 E. M. S., 1424-1513, No. 192. ^ Heraldry, i. 429. 
 
 « R. P. S., i. 609 ; Acta Dom. Concilii,* 101, 290 ; R. M. S., 1424-1513, No. 2737. 
 
 ' Exchequer Rolls, xii. 717. 
 
 * Earls of Haddington, Sir Wm. Fraser, ii. 247.
 
 THE BINNINGS 137 
 
 a title,^ having redeemed part at any rate of Easter Bin- 
 ning, which she then sold to William Hamilton in Pardovan.^ 
 She was soon afterwards succeeded by David, presumably 
 her uncle, who was the last laird of the name, and may 
 have been, as the pedigree states, the father of Thomas 
 Binning of Carlowriehaugh, with whom continuous history 
 begins. 
 
 The lands passed to the Bruces of Wester Binning, who 
 about the year 1600 sold the whole lands of Binning, East, 
 West, and Middle, to Lord Advocate Sir Thomas Hamilton, 
 afterwards first Earl of Haddington.^ In 1606 the free barony 
 of Binning was erected by the King, and still gives the title 
 to the Earl's eldest son. 
 
 Thomas Binning was a retainer of Lord Torphichen,* 
 and was rewarded for his services with a feu of the lands 
 and dwelling-house of Carlowriehaugh near Kirkliston in 
 LinUthgowshire. The charter was granted on September 
 4, 1571, and was confirmed by King James vi. on January 
 9, 1573.5 The feu-duty was £3 Scots. 
 
 Thomas Binning married Catharine, daughter of William 
 Livingstone of EgUsmachan, Inglismauchans or Ecclesmachan 
 (as it is variously spelt), near Bathgate in Linlithgowshire, 
 and Margaret Crawford his wife. William Livingstone had 
 evidently sided with Queen Mary's party in the Civil War, 
 and on May 6, 1572 his allegiance to King James was accepted 
 by the Privy Council.® 
 
 Thomas Binning seems not to have lived at Carlowrie- 
 haugh, but continued at Torphichen, where he died on 
 February 17, 1606, survived by his widow, and by three sons 
 — James, his successor, WiUiam and Thomas— and a daughter 
 
 1 Exchequer Rolls, xvi. 546. « R. M. S., 1546-80, No. 1446. 
 
 ' Earls of Haddington, Sir Wm. Fraser, i. 160. 
 
 « P. C. R., xiv. 327. ^ R. M. S., 1546-80, No. 2107. 
 
 « P. C. R., u. 728. 
 
 S
 
 138 THE BINNINGS 
 
 Agnes. His will, which was made four days before his 
 death, was signed for him by the Minister of the Evangel 
 at Torphichen, as he could not write, and is a pathetic docu- 
 ment.^ He appeals to his wife, who has right to all his 
 movable goods, ' which are verie meine, for God's caus, for 
 the love she bears me and hir motherhe affectioune to hir 
 awin bairnes to content hirself with ane p', and to set apairt 
 ane other portioun for behoof of my saids bairns, but speciallie 
 of Agnes my dochter, who now is come to ane woman, that 
 she may by that moyen [means] be provided when God shall 
 after occasion.' He appoints his wife and his son James 
 to be his executors, and James and Robert Livingstone, her 
 brothers, with his son James to be tutors and overseers to the 
 younger children, and he leaves a legacy of £20 to his sister 
 Elspeth. 
 
 Thomas, one of the yomiger sons, became a tailor burgess 
 of Edinburgh, and had a son Thomas and a daughter Sarah, 
 who married Alexander Brand of Redhall. 
 
 Jambs Binning, who was a merchant in Edinburgh, got 
 a charter of confirmation of Carlo wriehaugh on March 25, 
 1635,2 ][J^^ j^e ig there described as ' indweller in Fuird of 
 Cranstoun Riddell,' which is mentioned in the report on 
 Cranston parish as ' a pendicle quhilk the said James had 
 of umqie M'Gill of Cranstoun Riddell and yit hes for twelfif 
 schilingis be yeir.' ^ Cranston is in Midlothian on the western 
 slope of the Lammermoors. 
 
 James Binning was twice married. On September 20, 1618 
 he married Marion, daughter of Addinstone of Addinstone, 
 and had by her three sons — James, Thomas and Robert — 
 and two daughters, Catherine and Margaret.* She died in 
 
 * Edinburgh Testaments, January 31, 1611. 
 2 R. M. S., 1634-51, No. 299. 
 
 2 Reports on Parishes (Maitland Club), p. 51. 
 
 * Edinburgh Testaments, November 18, 1635.
 
 THE BINNINGS 139 
 
 March 1635, and on April 26, 1636 he married Euphemia, 
 daughter of BaiUie of Jerviston, and had an only son, 
 WilHam, afterwards Sir William Binning of Wallyford. The 
 second Mrs. Binning died at her house in Niddry's W3md, and 
 was buried at Grej^riars on April 27, 1670. The Baillies of 
 Jerviston were cadets of the BaiUies of Carphin, from which 
 place Jerviston is only three-quarters of a mile distant to the 
 north-west. '^ 
 
 James Binning died on February 22, 1663. His monument 
 in old Cranston churchyard designed him as ' ex veteri 
 Binninorum familia legitime oriandus.' ^ The stone has now 
 disappeared or become obliterated. Of his first family, 
 nothing is known of Robert and Thomas, except that they 
 died without issue. Catherine was the second wife of 
 Laurence Scott of Bavelaw,^ and Margaret was twice married, 
 first to William Ross of Swanston, and secondly to John 
 Craig, son of Sir Thomas Craig of Riccarton, King's Advocate. 
 She had one daughter by each husband — both named Catha- 
 rine. Catharine Ross married Henry Hamilton, son of the 
 first Lord Belhaven, and Catharine Craig married Mr. Andrew 
 Lumsden, Bishop of Edinburgh. 
 
 James, the eldest son of James Bimiing of Carlowriehaugh, 
 became an advocate, and in June 1674 was ' outed ' for seven 
 months along with about fifty of his brethren for claiming 
 the right to appeal cases from the Court of Session to the 
 King in Parhament.* He was admitted a burgess and guild 
 brother of Edinburgh on February 2, 1676, probably as an 
 acknowledgment of his independence. He seems to have 
 sold CarlowTiehaugh, and he died in 1681. He married 
 Margaret Burnet (contract dated December 21, 1670), and 
 
 1 MacGibbon and Ross, Castellated and Domestic Architecture, iii. 475. 
 
 ^ Maidment, Analecla, ii. 38. 
 
 •* Inquisitiones Generates, 8160, 8051, 8052. 
 
 * Calendar of State Papers {Domestic), 1673-75, p. 544.
 
 140 THE BINNINGS 
 
 had two sons:i (i) John, a merchant i^ Edinburgh, who 
 
 left an only son John, who died as a child m 1699 and 
 
 (2) James, a writer, who left no issue. The representation 
 
 of the family thus devolved upon his half-brother, Sir 
 
 William. 
 
 1 Edinburgh Testaments, AprU 16, 1700, and December 26, 1702.
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 SIR WILLIAM BINNING 
 
 William BiNNma was born on March 11, 1637, when his 
 father was fifty-seven and his mother fifty years of age. He 
 was apprenticed on January 10, 1655 to Alexander Brand, 
 merchant, afterwards of RedhaU,^ whose wife was Sarah, 
 daughter of Thomas Binning, William's micle. On April 
 27, 1664 he was admitted a burgess and guild brother of 
 Edinbiu-gh in right of his wife Elizabeth Scott, whose father, 
 Laxu-ence Scott of Bavelaw, was a burgess, and he became a 
 wealthy and successful merchant. His business was primarily 
 that of a hnen manufacturer, but he was also a financier 
 and a contractor with Government. When Holjrrood was 
 being rebuilt in Charles n.'s time, he was paid £2212, 16s. 
 Scots for ' 29 dozain of great Geasts [joists] furnished and 
 deljrv^ered in by him to the works at the PaUace, March 3, 
 1679.' 2 
 
 He had trading relations with foreign parts, and visited 
 Paris and HoUand on business or legal quests.^ During the 
 two wars with the Netherlands he helped to fit out privateers 
 in company with Sir Robert Baird of Saughton and Sir Robert 
 Barclay of Perceton. 
 
 One of his factories was Paul's Work at the foot of Leith 
 Wynd, originally an institution foimded in 1479 by Thomas 
 Spence, Bishop of Aberdeen, for the discipline of idle vaga- 
 
 1 State Papers {Domestic), Add. 1660-70, p. 475 ; Edinburgh Marriage Register. 
 
 2 The King's Master Masons, R. S. Mylne, p. 200. 
 ' Fountainhall, Decisions, i. 478, 646. 
 
 141
 
 142 SIR WILLIAM BINNING 
 
 bonds. It was rebuilt in 1619, when it was established as a 
 woollen factory, where poor boys chosen by the magistrates 
 were educated and taught the trade. Durmg the CivU War 
 it was used as a hospital for General Leslie's army. 
 
 In 1683 Sir WiUiam Binning and his partners took a sub- 
 lease of it, changed it from a wooUen into a linen factory, and 
 ignoring the charitable design conducted it as a business 
 undertaking. The City authorities raised an action to get 
 the lease cancelled, but after a number of oscUlating decisions 
 in the Court of Session they failed. ^ 
 
 The subsequent history of Paul's Work was that in the 
 eighteenth century it became a brideweU or house of correc- 
 tion, and from 1805 it was used for the BaUantyne Press, 
 where Sir Walter Scott's works were printed.^ The site is 
 now covered by the goods sheds of the North British 
 Railway. 
 
 At Michaelmas 1666 WiUiam Binning was elected to the 
 Town Council, and in 1668 he became City Treasurer and 
 held the post for three years. He was then a BaUie for a 
 year, and for the next two years a Councillor. At Michael- 
 mas 1675 he was elected Lord Provost, and held office for 
 two years. In 1677 and 1678 he was again elected a 
 CoimciUor, his last appearance at the Council being on 
 September 30, 1679. In January 1677, while Lord Provost, 
 he was knighted by the Earl of Rothes, Chancellor of Scot- 
 land, on a warrant signed by Charles n, at Whitehall on 
 January 8.^ 
 
 At the very outset of his term of office he protested against 
 having to give precedence to the Bishop of Edinburgh at a 
 visitation of the College, and the protest was supported by 
 the unanimous vote of the Council.* 
 
 1 Morison, Dictionary, p. 9107 ; Fountainhall, Decisions, i. 637, 666, 709 ; ii. 17. 
 
 ^ The Ballanlyne Press, p. 17. 
 
 ^ Calendar of Slate Papers (Domestic), 1676-77, p. 499. 
 
 * Edinburgh Council Registers, xxviii. 115.
 
 SIR WILLIAM BINNING 143 
 
 A more notable incident was a riot, which took place in 
 1677, and is thus described by Lauder of Fountainhall : ^ 
 
 ' 29 May 1677. This being the day both of His Majesty's 
 birth and happy Restoration, the Magistrats of Edinburgh, 
 thinking theirby to gain the reputation of loyalty and to 
 make a parade and muster during the tyme of their adminis- 
 tration, resolved to make a solemne and publict weapon- 
 shawing of the merchand and trades youths, casten in two 
 companies, and of the train'd bands of the towne consisting 
 of sixteen companies.' They were reminded that in 1666 a 
 similar ' weapon-shawing ' had led to rioting and extra- 
 vagance, so they resolved to limit it to the merchants and 
 delay the trades till another time. The latter in great indig- 
 nation attacked the merchants at a preliminary parade, and 
 a serious uproar resulted. Provost Binning, after consulta- 
 tion with the Privy Coimcil and other authorities, sent for 
 the King's troop of thirty horse, who charged the mob and 
 shot some of them fatally. 
 
 The trades refused to give way, and claimed their right 
 to appear in the procession : ' wheirupon the Magistrats 
 being frighted complyed so far with their insolencies . . . 
 that they pittifuUy past from all their former acts and pro- 
 clamations, and consented the trades youths should muster 
 hkewayes.' 
 
 The Privy Council were of opinion that the whole cere- 
 mony should be abandoned, ' but the Magistrats, knowing 
 that to discharge it was a downright reflection on their con- 
 duct, delt with great earnestnesse with my Lord Chancelor 
 and other members (whom they treated and feasted) to give 
 way to it, and offer'd to engage their whoUe estate if their 
 should be the leist disorder committed.' 
 
 On the actual day rioting was with great difficulty pre- 
 vented. 
 
 As Lord Provost it was Binning's duty to give Admiralty 
 
 ' Historical Notices (Bannatyne Club), i. 151,
 
 144 SIR WILLIAM BINNING 
 
 passes in the south of Scotland to ships going abroad, and 
 when his successor, Francis Kinloch, came into office, he 
 petitioned the Privy Council to be allowed to continue the 
 duty, ' since he was knowen, and the present Provest was 
 not versant in such affairs, and the CounceU granted it, tho' 
 their owne former act bore they should be subscryved by the 
 Provest for the tyme being ; but this was a bafle to Francis 
 Kinloch in the very entry of his office.' ^ 
 
 Binning's later years were disfigtu'ed by several notorious 
 acts of bribery and corruption, Avhich were a scandal even 
 in a generation not squeamish about public morahty ; 
 perhaps the Avorst feature of his conduct was that he tried 
 to cheat his associates. Peculation was the natural result 
 of municipal training : the Provost's remuneration was 
 made up of gratuities paid by those who obtained lucrative 
 offices, or feus and tacks of lands, houses, shops, or other 
 branches of the city's revenue. It was not tiU 1718 that 
 the practice was abolished, and a salary of £300 was voted. ^ 
 
 In August 1682 the Brewers of Edinburgh made a com- 
 plaint to the Privy Coimcil against Sir John Young, Sir 
 William ' Binnie,' Sir James Dick, Robert Miln of Barnton 
 and Magnus Prince, who farmed the excise and ale taxes in 
 Edinburgh and the Lothians. The grounds of complaint were 
 that they oppressed and overvalued the Brewers, that they 
 forced the Brewers to buy bear (barley) from them at 
 exorbitant rates, and that they procured their tack by 
 attempting to bribe the Treasurer Depute, Lord Halton 
 (afterwards Earl of Lauderdale), who was one of the Com- 
 missioners of Excise, with a gift of 14,000 merks. 
 
 The accused were found guilty and ordered to forfeit the 
 14,000 merks ; ^ ' and in regard the said Sir William Binnie and 
 Robert Miln's parts by the probation appeared to be hellish 
 
 1 Fountainhall, Historical Notices, i. 177. 
 
 2 Historical Sketch of the Municipal Constitution of Edinburgh, 1826, p. xxxvi. 
 ' Fountainhall, Decisions, i. 189.
 
 SIR WILLIAM BINNING 145 
 
 and foul, and that they prevaricated hi their depositions, 
 and that they confess they received that sum from the 
 rest to be given as a bribe to the Treasurer Depute, and that 
 he refused to accept of it, and yet they keeped it up, and 
 concealed the same as if it had been received, and made the 
 rest believe that Halton had taken it, tUl after the intenting 
 of the process, and that they had in a high measure abused 
 and traduced the said Treasurer Depute in his fame, honour, 
 and reputation being a Privy Councillor and Officer of State : 
 therefore the Secret CouncU for their personal crime fined 
 the said Sir William Binnie in 9000 merks, and the said 
 Robert Mihi (whose house in Leith had been burnt a night 
 or two before) in 3000 merks, and this over and above the 
 said 14,000 merks whereof they were to pay their shares.' 
 
 Sir WiUiam Binning, in partnership with Sir Robert 
 Dickson and Sir Thomas Kennedy, also farmed the customs 
 and foreign excise for five years from 1693 at £20,300 per 
 annum, and he and his friends again got into trouble for 
 taking the opposite view of bribery in relation to this con- 
 tract.^ They objected to a charge of £2000 for wines to be 
 given as gratuities to the officers of state, and Dickson 
 appealed to the King's protection. So far from getting 
 sympathy, he was promptly charged with traducing these 
 high officials, those charges being a customary and recog- 
 nised form of extortion, and he had to pxirge his offence by 
 asking pardon on his knees. 
 
 The moral of this incident for Binning and his friends 
 was that the exposvire of bribery in others was as bad a crime 
 as bribery itself. 
 
 He managed to combine both offences in another notorious 
 transaction. 2 In 1693, along with Alexander Brand of Brands- 
 field and Sir Thomas Kennedy, he contracted to supply 
 
 1 Edinburgh Merchants and Merchandise in Old Times, Robert Chambers {Adv. Lib. 
 Pamphlets, rs^ffs)- 
 
 * Chambers, Domestic Annals of Scotland, iii. 176. 
 
 T
 
 146 SIR WILLIAM BINNING 
 
 the Government with 6000 stands of firelocks at £1 each. 
 Brand went abroad to buy them, and wrote that 26s. was 
 the lowest price at which they could be sold so as to yield 
 a profit. In order to induce the Privy Council to give the 
 extra price Kennedy and Binning contracted with Brand 
 that they would offer a bribe of two hmidred and fifty 
 guineas to the Earls of Linlithgow and Breadalbane. 
 
 In point of fact no such sums were paid to the two noble- 
 men, ' they being persons of that honour and integrity that 
 they were not capable to be imposed on that way.' Never- 
 theless Kennedy and Binning disclosed the contract in a 
 subsequent action in the Court of Admiralty, ' to the great 
 slander and reproach of the said two noble persons.' For the 
 combined offences of contriving bribery and defaming these 
 noble personages they were fined — Kennedy £800, Binning 
 £300, and Brand £500, and were committed to prison till 
 payment was made. 
 
 Lord Polwarth, afterwards Earl of Marchmont, wrote 
 on March 25, 1697 to Lord TuUibardine, who had asked him 
 to use his influence on behalf of the culprits : ^ ' As to the 
 bribery business, I wrote fully before, and have nothing to 
 add. Sir WiUiam B. is, as all think, the least guilty of the 
 three ; yet his guilt is too deep ; he is my kinsman, but the 
 person is unhappy of my kin, that is guilty of any baseness ; 
 for I have no countenance either to plead for any such, or 
 to bid another do it.' 
 
 Six years later Binning actually sued Brand for his third 
 of the £1500 profit on the firelocks.^ Brand replied that 
 such a dishonest contract ought not to be enforced, and that 
 Sir William Binning and Sir Thomas Kennedy were ' infamous 
 cheats, not worthy to be conversed with, and who ought to 
 be ashamed to show their faces in public again.' The taunt 
 received additional point from the fact that Binning and 
 
 ' The Marchmont Papers, Rose, iii. 132. 
 * Fountainhall, Decisions, ii. 191,
 
 SIR WILLIAM BINNING 147 
 
 Brand had married half-sisters, the daughters of Laurence 
 Scott of Bavelaw. 
 
 The Court held that, as Brand was equally guilty, these 
 ' reflecting indiscreet expressions ' went beyond the hmits 
 of fair pleading, so they protected Binning' s reputation by 
 fining Brand 900 merks, ' to be applied to pious uses,' and 
 committing him to prison till he paid the fine and craved 
 pardon of both the bench and the aggrieved parties. 
 
 The result of the action was that Brand had to pay Binning 
 £416, 13s. 4d., and an appeal to the House of Lords failed.^ 
 
 In 1675 Sir William Binning bought the estate of Wally- 
 ford, extending to eleven oxengates of land forming part of 
 the estate of Inveresk, within the lordship and regality of 
 Musselburgh. It lies on the eastern boundary of Midlothian 
 about haK a mile from the sea. The lands had originally 
 been a grant to the Abbey of Dimfermline by Malcolm 
 Canmore (1057-1093), and were included in its possessions 
 down to the Reformation. The coal workings at Wallyford 
 are mentioned in the Abbey rent roU of 1561,^ but a little 
 later they passed to James Richardson of Smeaton, and 
 for some years previous to Sir William Bimiing's purchase 
 Wallyford had been possessed by the Paips or Popes,^ a 
 family of lawyers. 
 
 In 1587 King James vi. bestowed the regahty of Mussel- 
 burgh upon his Chancellor, Sir John Maitland,* ancestor 
 of the Duke of Lauderdale from whom Binning got a charter 
 in 1677. Soon after that Lauderdale sold the superiority 
 of most of the lands of Inveresk to Sir Robert Dickson of 
 Carberry, and on September 23, 1702, on Carberry resigning 
 the superiority of Wallyford, Sir William Binning was granted 
 a Crown charter of the lands with the teinds and with heritable 
 
 ' House of Lords' Journals, xix. 135. 
 ^ Regisirum de Dmijermdyn (Bannatyne Club), 446. 
 
 •• Laing Charters, 2546 ; Fountainhall, Journals (Scot. Hist. Soc), \>. 190 ; P. C. R., 
 3rd Series, u. 551. « R. M. S., 1580-93, Ko. 1305.
 
 148 SIR WILLIAM BINNING 
 
 jurisdiction over all offences except the four pleas of the 
 Crown. 
 
 The mansion-house, which was destroyed by fire about 
 1890, was a good example of seventeenth century work ; 
 a plain, E-shaped buildii:ig with a fine Renaissance doorway 
 bearing the date 1672, which was no doubt the year when 
 the house was finished. ^ 
 
 The Binnings' town house was the fifth story above the 
 street in Parhament Close, ^ which ran from the High Street 
 to the Cowgate to the east of the Parhament House. The 
 whole close was burnt down in February 1700, and the family 
 moved to a house in the Canongate, which by a piece of iU 
 fortvme was burnt down too in 1708.^ 
 
 Sir William Bimiing was a Commissioner of Supply for 
 Midlothian in 1678, 1685, 1689, 1690 and 1696, and for both 
 Midlothian and East Lothian in 1704 ; * he was appointed a 
 J. P. for Midlothian in 1708, and m 1672 he was one of the 
 nine burgess representatives on the Commission for Plantation 
 of Kirks. He was a seat-holder in the Tron Kirk.^ 
 
 His politics may be inferred from the fact that in July 
 1681 he was on the great assize which convicted on a process 
 of error the jiu-y which had previously acquitted certain 
 prisoners charged with complicity in the murder of Arch- 
 bishop Sharp and the BothweU Bridge rising ; ^ and in 
 February 1683 he was on the jury that convicted Lawrie or 
 Weir of Blackwood, factor on the Douglas estates, for treason 
 in befriending the Covenanters in Lanarkshire. He was 
 also one of the jury that in 1693 convicted Charles Lord 
 
 ^ MacGibbon and Ross, Caslellaled and Domestic Architecture, iv. 64. 
 2 Memorials of Edinburgh, Sir Daniel Wilson, 1891, i. 267. 
 
 ^ ' Mags, of Musselburgh v. WaUyford ' (Session Papers, Town Clerk's Office, Mussel- 
 burgh). 
 
 * Thomson's Acts, viii. 79 (a), 223 (6), 464 (o) ; ix. 69 (a), 137 (a) ; xi. 139 (o), 140 (o) ; 
 Adv. Lib. Pamphlets, vol. 22, No. 143. 
 
 5 The Tron Kirk; Rev. D. Butler, p. 235. 
 
 * Howell, State Trials, xi. 91, 95 ; ix. 1040.
 
 FAMILY OF SIR WILLIAM BINNING 149 
 
 Fraser of high treason, for being present at the Cross of 
 Fraserburgh the previous year when King James and the 
 pretended Prince of Wales were proclaimed, and for drinking 
 their healths. The prisoner was fined £200 sterling.^ 
 
 He seems to have been in great request as a juror, for 
 in June 1693 he was summoned for the trial of Kenneth, 
 Earl of Seaforth, for treason, and in February 1697 he was 
 chancellor of the assize who convicted Sir Godfrey M'CuUoch 
 of murdering his neighbour, William Gordon, a claimant 
 to his estate of Cardoness in Galloway.^ M'CuUoch was 
 executed at the Cross of Edinburgh. 
 
 Sir William Binning died on January 8, 1711 aged seventy- 
 three, and was buried at Greyfriars. He was twice married. 
 His first wife, whom he married in December 1662, and by 
 whom he had a large family, was Elizabeth, daughter of 
 Laurence Scott of Bavelaw.^ She died in December 1698 
 aged fifty-nine. 
 
 His second wife, whom he married in April 1701, was 
 Mary Livingstone, widow of James Menzies of Coulterallers 
 in Lanarkshire, by whom she had had a son and a daughter. 
 She survived her second husband, but had no family by him. 
 After his death she succeeded to the estate of her brother 
 George Livingstone of Saltcoats near Gullane in East Lothian.^ 
 
 Sir WiUiam Binning' s family by his first wife consisted of 
 Eupham, born January 1664, died November 1665 ; Laurence, 
 born November 1665; Catherine, born February 1667; James 
 and William, ' twaines,' born July 1669, James dying October 
 1689; Hew, born October 1670 and died young; Charles, 
 father of Mrs. David Inglis and grandfather of Mrs. Alexander 
 Monro {Secundus), born November 1674 ; and Richard, who 
 died Jime 1696. 
 
 ^ Arnot, Criminal Trials, p. 76. 
 
 2 History of Galloway, Wm. Mackenzie, ii. App. p. 54. 
 
 ^ See Chaps. xyiii.-xs. * Services of Heirs, 1700-09.
 
 150 FAMILY OF SIR WILLIAM BINNING 
 
 Catherine, Sir WiUiam Binning's second daughter, married 
 on February 13, 1697 WiUiam Baird, second son of Sir 
 Robert Baird of Saughton, and had four sons and seven 
 daughters. One of the sons, WiUiam, succeeded as heir to 
 his cousin, Sir John Baird of Newb3rth, and was the father 
 of Sir David, the hero of Seringapatam. 
 
 Laurence, the eldest son, was educated at Edinburgh 
 University and graduated M.A. in 1686. FoUowing his 
 father's example he speculated in farming the Edinburgh 
 excise duties on ale for the two years 1706-8.^ They were 
 knocked down to him at a public roup for £57,200 per annum. 
 He died of a high fever on May 17, 1708, and was buried in 
 ' Bavelaw's Ground ' in Greyfriars Churchyard. He had 
 married on September 24, 1697 Margaret, daughter of Sir 
 David Hume of Crossrig, one of the Lords of Session, and 
 had two daughters, Elizabeth, who died on February 4, 1746, 
 and Jean : they are mentioned in a list of leading Whig ladies 
 in Edinburgh society in 1745. 
 
 After Sir WiUiam's death, the property, which was destined 
 to heirs male, went to his son WiUiam, the ' twaine,' who 
 was also a graduate of Edinburgh (M.A. 1688). He married 
 (contract dated March 25, 1709) Isobel, daughter of John 
 Dmidas of Duddingston near South Queensferry, and had 
 three sons, WiUiam, John, and Laurence, and a daughter Ami, 
 who died on January 29, 1786. They were aU immarried. 
 
 WiUiam the younger, who succeeded his father about 
 1735, was admitted an advocate on December 20, 1740 and 
 had a good practice, his most celebrated case being the trial 
 of Lord Provost Stewart, for whom he was junior counsel. 
 
 He sold WaUyford to James Finlay about the year 1755. 
 
 He was for many years a director of the Bank of Scotland, 
 and an original manager of the Society, founded in 1773, 
 for the Rehef of the Honest and Industrious Poor. 
 
 * Advocates' Lib. Pamplilets, vol. 24, No. 165.
 
 FAMILY OF SIR WILLIAM BINNING 151 
 
 He died at his house in Argyle Square, Edinburgh ^ on 
 February 2, 1791, aged eighty-one, leaving a trust deed, by 
 which he disponed all his means — some £13,700 — to Dr. 
 Alexander Monro (Secundus), with directions to him to buy 
 heritage and entail it on his second son David, on condition 
 that he assumed the surname and arms of Binning, in accord- 
 ance with a wish expressed by his grandfather Sir William. 
 In the event of the failure of David, the next heirs of entail 
 were to be Alexander Monro (Tertius) and his family, and 
 then the second, third, and fourth sons of William Baird of 
 Newbyth, William Binning's cousins. 
 
 Accordingly in November 1794 Dr. Monro bought the 
 property of Wester Softlaw close to Kelso, obtained a Crown 
 charter,^ and executed the deed of entail in July 1796^ on 
 his son David coming of age. 
 
 Wester Softlaw, which extended to about 500 acres and 
 included a mansion-house and garden,* had formed part of 
 the barony of Cavers possessed by the Carre family.^ John 
 Carre sold it in 1779 to John Proctor,^ from whom Dr. Monro 
 bought it. 
 
 ' Edinburgh Courant, February 3, 1791. 
 2 O. R. S., March 17, 1796. 
 » Seg. of Entails, July 9, 1796. 
 
 * Edinburgh Courant, January 19, 1778. 
 » R. M. S., December 1, 1671. 
 
 * Books of C. and S., December 16, 1794.
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 CHAELES BINNING OF PILMUIR 
 
 Charles BmNnsra, fifth son of Sir William Binning, was born in 
 November 1674, and was admitted an advocate on January 29, 
 1698. In January 1721 he was appointed Solicitor-General 
 in conjunction with the Hon. John Sinclair, advocate,^ in 
 Sir Robert Walpole's administration, but he never had a 
 seat in ParUament. The Duke of Roxburghe was Secretary 
 of State for Scotland, and Robert Dundas, afterwards the 
 first Lord President of the name, was Lord Advocate. 
 
 The governing group, which also included the Lord 
 Justice Clerk, Erskine of Grange, and was commonly known 
 as ' The Squadrone,' did not retain its influence long, but was 
 abruptly overthrown in May 1725.^ The Government was 
 highly unpopular in Scotland owing to two acts ; one the 
 introduction of the malt tax, and the other the proposal 
 for the disarmament of the Highlands, a measure suggested 
 by General Wade to prevent a repetition of the rising of 1715. 
 The Lord Advocate was discovered to be abetting the oppon- 
 ents of the malt tax,^ and the Secretary of State fell under 
 a like suspicion, so Walpole dismissed the whole ' Squadrone,' 
 including Charles Binning, and formed a coaUtion with the 
 Duke of Argyll, who was for many years the most powerful 
 man in Scotland. 
 
 Binning never again held a Crown appointment, but 
 he remained an active member of the Faculty of Advocates 
 
 * Edinburgh Courant, January 23, 1721. ^ Lockhart Papers, ii. 156. 
 
 ' Wodrow, Analecta (Maitland Club), iii. 209 ; Caledonian Mercury, June 3, 1725. 
 
 162
 
 CHARLES BINNING OP PILMUIR 153 
 
 during his sixty years at the bar, and was continuously 
 for a long period on the Dean's and Treasurer's Councils. 
 
 In November 1755 it was necessary for the Faculty to 
 appoint a Vice-Dean, as the Dean, Robert Dundas, afterwards 
 the second Lord President, was often absent in London on 
 his parhamentary duties ; and Charles Binning, then eighty- 
 one years of age, was unanimously chosen.^ He was re- 
 elected each year until 1758, and presided at most of the 
 Facility meetings down to August 1757. 
 
 In January 1722 he bought from Andrew Ker of Moriston 
 the ' five-pound lands ' of Pilmuir, Blackchester, Muirhouse 
 of Halkerland, Little Laurenceland and Scottscroft, lying 
 in the parish of Lauder, together with the lands of CoUielaw, 
 Bowerhouse, and Howden or WiselawmUl in the parish of 
 ChanneLldrk,^ the price paid being £51,733 Scots. Both 
 properties were in the bailiery of Lauderdale and county of 
 Berwick. Pilmuir is about two miles north-west of Lauder, 
 and Colhelaw a Uttle further to the north, on the hills forming 
 the west side of the glen. 
 
 Pilmuir with its pertinents had formed part of the posses- 
 sions of the Pringles or Hoppringles of Smailholm and 
 Galashiels, from the middle of the fifteenth century down 
 to 1632,^ when Sir James Pringle sold it to John, eighth 
 Lord Hay of Yester, afterwards first Earl of Tweeddale. 
 The first conventicle held in Lauderdale took place at PUmuir 
 in 1674,* by which time the property had been acquired by 
 the Kers of Moriston,^ a powerful Presbyterian family. 
 
 CoUielaw and Bowerhouse had belonged to the Borth- 
 wicks as far back as 1473, when WiUiam, second Lord 
 Borthwick granted them to his son Thomas,^ but they passed 
 
 1 Faculty Minutes, Advocates' Library. 
 
 2 Books of C. and S. (Dalrymple), May 1, 1723. 
 
 ^ R. M. S., 1424-1513, No. 968 ; 1620-33, No. 2060. 
 ' Lauder and Lauderdale, A. Thomson, p. 168. 
 ^ Inquisiiiones, Berwick, No. 426. 
 8 R. M. S., 1424-1513, No. 1130. 
 U
 
 154 CHARLES BINNING OF PILMUIR 
 
 out of that family at the end of the following century owing 
 to the extravagance of James, the eighth Baron, who ' said 
 all,' 1 and died in December 1599. On May 15, 1601 George 
 Heriot of CoUielaw served heir to his brother Peter Heriot 
 in Leith.^ In 1631 one Andrew Law is described as ' heritor 
 of the lands of Bourhouses,' and also possesses two-thirds 
 of CoUielaw, but two years later these lands had aU passed 
 to the Kers of Moriston. In October 1633 Anna Heriot, 
 daughter of the deceased Robert Heriot of Trabroime, is 
 served heir to the remaining third of CoUielaw in succession 
 to James Heriot of Trabroune her great-grandfather.^ In 
 1691 Brown of Coalston is said to be proprietor, but ulti- 
 mately it also passed to the Kers, from whom Charles Binning 
 acquired the whole. 
 
 The MiU of Nether Howden or WiselawmiU was held by 
 the Carres of Cavers for many generations as vassals first of 
 the Abbey of Kelso * and afterwards of the King.^ The 
 Kers of Roxburgh held it from 1607 till 1647, when John 
 Aitchison, advocate, and James his son got the hferent and 
 fee respectively, and they were succeeded by one WUham 
 Hunter, who in 1722 disponed the arable lands to Charles 
 Binning. 
 
 Charles Binning also bought ' the four merk lands of 
 the Kirklands of Lauder called Over Shielfield and teinds of 
 the samen,' which had originally belonged to the Abbey of 
 Dryburgh, and at the Reformation had been included in 
 the temporal lordship of Cardross in favour of John Earl of 
 Mar,^ whose relatives, the Erskines, had been from time 
 immemorial Commendators of the Abbey. David, second 
 Lord Cardross, was the son of Henry Erskine, second son 
 
 ^ Colville's Letters (Bannatyne Club), 352. 
 
 ^ History of Channelkirk, Rev. Arch. Allan, pp. 489-91, 583 ; Inquisitiones, Berwick, 
 No. 22. 
 
 ' Inquisitiones, Berwick, No. 192. * History of Channelkirk, p. 611. 
 
 s lb., 1593-1608, No. 1462. » B. M. S., 1609-20, No. 301.
 
 CHARLES BINNING OF PILMUIR 155 
 
 of Lord Mar, and served heir to his grandfather in 1637, 
 Over Shielfield being specially mentioned.^ While the 
 Erskines kept the superiority, the property passed through 
 several hands. ^ In 1638 John Home, merchant in Edinburgh, 
 served heir to his father, also John Home, in the four merk 
 land of Over Shielfield, and by 1687 it had passed to the 
 Kers of Moriston, who sold it to Charles Binning. 
 
 On February 27, 1722 Charles Binning got a charter of 
 novodaraus under the Great Seal erecting all his lands into 
 the barony of Pilmuir, which carried a vote for the county 
 of Berwick. It extended to about 2000 imperial acres. 
 
 On May 28, 1724 he granted a feu charter to James Fair- 
 grieve ^ conveying the lands of CoUielaw, with tower, fortaUce, 
 manor-place and haill pertinents, extending to 412 Scots 
 acres (about 500 imperial), together with the teinds, the feu- 
 duty being £21 sterling.^ On July 29, 1757 Fairgrieve 
 conveyed these lands to George Adinstoun of Carcant. 
 
 In 1743 Charles Binning also feued to one John Thomson 
 the lands of Nether Bowerhouse with the teinds for a feu- 
 duty of £10, 5s. 6d., again reserving the superiority, and 
 also the dominium utile of Over Bowerhouse. 
 
 From 1713 tUl his death he lived in a town house which 
 he bought in 1721 from the creditors of his wife's uncle, John 
 Montgomery of Wrae, W.S.^ It was the second story of a 
 stone tenement called Fisher's Land on the south side of the 
 Lawnmarket at the ' Spread Eagle,' a little above Old Bank 
 Close. 
 
 Charles Binning was evidently a man of wide interests 
 and activities. He was a member of the Hon. Society of 
 Improvers in Agriculture, and of the Copartnery of Free- 
 men Bm-gesses for estabhshing a Fishing Company, and he 
 
 1 Inquisitiones, Berwick, No. 221. ^ History of Channelkirk, p. 617. 
 
 » lb., pp. 492, 583. « Edinburgh Advertiser, April 3, 1770. 
 
 ^ Edinburgh Protocols, 4 Home, 157, 5 Watt, March 21, 1721 ; Scots Courant, July 16, 
 1716 ; Edinburgh Courant, November 16, 1758.
 
 156 CHARLES BINNING OF PILMUIR 
 
 was for many years a director of the Bank of Scotland. He 
 was appointed by the Faculty of Advocates one of the 
 managers of the Charity Workhouse, and he was an original 
 trustee of George Watson's Hospital.^ He helped to frame 
 the original scheme of trust in 1724 and the revised statutes 
 issued in 1740. 
 
 He married in July 1706 Margaret, daughter of Hew 
 Montgomery of Broomlands,^ and had one son, William, born 
 August 27, 1716, and six daughters — Jean, born October 11, 
 1709, died June 1, 1710; Katharine, born May 9, 1711; 
 Barbara, born June 1712, died February 9, 1713; Isobel, 
 Elizabeth, and Margaret, who was born December 12, 1717. 
 
 Charles Bimaing died at Broomlands on September 15, 
 1758.^ Of the daughters three only survived him — (1) 
 Katharine (mother of Mrs. Alexander Monro, Secundus), who 
 married on June 5, 1738 David IngUs, afterwards Treastu-er 
 of the Bank of Scotland, and died December 14, 1769 ; 
 (2) Isobel, who died unmarried on July 28, 1806 ; * and (3) 
 EUzabeth, who married in July 1744 as his second wife Andrew 
 Buchanan of DrumpeUier, merchant, who had been Provost of 
 Glasgow 1740-1. She died at Edinburgh in 1782 without 
 issue, having survived her husband for twenty-three years. 
 
 The son, William Binning, died before his father. He 
 was admitted an advocate on December 8, 1739, and in 
 March 1750 married Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Archi- 
 bald Stewart of Torrance, Writer to the Signet. In order 
 to provide for them Mr. Charles Binning disponed Pilmuir 
 to his son, who went with his wife to Uve there, but died in 
 August 1751, leaving an infant son, Charles, born March 29 
 of that year.^ The child died in 1754. 
 
 ^ George Watson's Hospital, 1740 (Adv. Lib. Pamphlets, y^--j). 
 
 * See Chapter xvii. 
 
 ^ Caledonian Mercury, September 21, 1758. 
 
 * Edinburgh Courant, August 2, 1806. 
 
 * C'ampbeWs Session Papers (Adv. Lib.), vi. 61.
 
 CHARLES BINNING OF PILMUIR 157 
 
 Charles Binning' s three daughters then succeeded to the 
 property, but it turned out that William Binning had con- 
 tracted large debts unknown to his father, so in 1761 the 
 barony was advertised for sale by the Court at the instance 
 of the creditors, the rent being stated at £1424 Scots. ^ It 
 was bought by Adam Fairholm, banker in Edinbiirgh, 
 whose representatives sold it in 1770 to James, seventh Earl 
 of Lauderdale. 2 WiUiam's widow moved to a house in St. 
 Anne's Yards near Holyrood, where she lived many years. 
 
 Charles Binning was granted the Wallyford arms with a 
 difference in the tinctures ^—argent, on a bend engrailed azure 
 a waggon of the first within a bordure ermine. 
 
 1 Edinburgh Courant, May 9, 1761. 
 - Edinburgh Advertiser, April 3, 1770. 
 3 Nisbet, Heraldry, 1816, i. 429.
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 THE MONTGOMERYS OF BROOMLANDS 
 
 It has already been mentioned^ that Mrs. Charles Buining, 
 grandmother of Mrs. Alexander Monro (Secundus), was a 
 Montgomery of Broomlands. 
 
 Broomlands and Highmjo-e he on the Annick Water within 
 a mile east of the burgh of Irvine in Ayrshire, partly in Irvine 
 parish and partly in Dreghorn. They belonged of old to the 
 Peebles family, as vassals of the Lords Ross of Halkhead, 
 and were acquired by the Montgomerys at the end of the 
 sixteenth century. 
 
 The Broomlands family claimed descent from Hew, first 
 Earl of Eglinton, through his second son, WUham Mont- 
 gomery of Greenfield,^ who married Ehzabeth, elder daughter 
 and heiress of Robert Francis of Stane and BourtreehiU.^ 
 These lands lie immediately to the north of Broomlands, 
 and had been owned by the Francis family prior to 1417.* 
 
 WUham Montgomery, whose ' principaU mansion ' had 
 been at ' Sanct Brydis Kirk,' built Stane Castle, the ruins of 
 which stiU exist, and died before September 1546, leaving 
 two sons, Arthur and Hew,^ and a daughter Katrine, who 
 married Hugh, son and successor of Adam Wallace of New- 
 toun. Arthiir married Lucy Carnis, daughter and co-heiress 
 
 1 Page 156. 
 
 ^ Pedigree of Ramsay-Fairfax, Lyon Office. 
 
 * Paterson, History of Ayrshire, iii. Pt. 1, 275-78. 
 
 * Protocol Book of Gavin Moss (Scottish Record Soc), 366, 862. 
 ' Protocol Book of James Harlaw, 966. 
 
 158
 
 THE MONTGOMERYS OF BROOMLANDS 159 
 
 of Henry Carnis of Dalketh,^ but had no family, so he was 
 succeeded by his brother Hew, who sold Stane in 1570 to 
 the third Earl of Eglinton and acquired Auchinhood. He 
 married Ehzabeth, daughter of Blair of Adamtoun. 
 
 The next two steps in the descent depend upon the evi- 
 dence of the Ramsay-Fairfax pedigree. ^ Hew Montgomery 
 of Auchinhood is said to have been succeeded by his son 
 Neill, the first Montgomery of Broomlands, so designed in 
 November 1598,^ when he was cautioner for William Pringle, 
 litster burgess of Edinburgh, and in March 1599, when he 
 was cited along with several other Montgomerys and Cunning- 
 hams to appear before the King and ' underlie such order as 
 is given to keep quietnes amangis thame.' It is not known 
 how Neill Montgomery acquired his right to the lands, nor 
 its natixre and extent, but it seems to have been limited 
 to Nether Broomlands, and it was not till his grandson's 
 time that Over and Nether Broomlands were re-united. 
 Moreover in 1623 Marion Peebles served heiress to her father 
 John Peebles in the lands of both Over and Nether Broom- 
 lands without reservation,* so probably some right of reversion 
 still remained in the Peebles family. 
 
 According to the Ramsay-Fairfax pedigree NeiU Mont- 
 gomery married Janet Lindsay, and was succeeded in 
 Broomlands by his third son. Hew ' in Bowhouse,' who 
 married Margaret, daughter of Calderwood of Peacock- 
 bank. In 1619 Hew gave his wife the liferent and their 
 second son, WilHam, the fee of a tenement on the east 
 side of the High Street of Irvine.^ 
 
 Hew Montgomery and his descendants are commemo- 
 rated on the family tombstone in Irvine churchyard, erected 
 
 * Protocol Book of Gavin Ross (Scottish Record Soc), 736, 863. 
 
 2 Lyon Office. » P. C. R., v. 539, 709. 
 
 ' Inquisitiones, Ayr, No. 226. 
 
 ' Archceological Collections of Ayrshire and Oalloway, ix. 140.
 
 160 THE MONTGOMERYS OF BROOMLANDS 
 
 about the middle of the eighteenth century ; and the facts 
 stated are correct so far as they can be tested. The 
 longevity of the family is most remarkable. The inscription 
 runs : ^ 
 
 ' Here lyes Hugh Montgomery of Broomlands, who died 
 in November 1658 aged 92 years. Also Margaret Calder- 
 wood, his spouse. Also George Montgomery of Broomlands, 
 their son, who died May 6, 1700 aged 86. Also Anna Barclay 
 and Margaret Wallace, his spouses. Also Hugh Montgomery 
 of Broomlands, his son of the first marriage, who died December 
 3, 1728 aged 83 years, in the 55th year of his marriage with 
 Jean Brown, his spouse, and the said Jean Brown, who died 
 December 8, 1728 aged 83 years. Also Robert Montgomery 
 of Broomlands, their son, who died January 11, 1740 aged 
 63 years. Also Hugh Montgomery of Broomlands, their 
 son, who died February 24, 1766, in the 80th year of his age.' 
 
 These facts can be amplified from the pubHc records, 
 and from the accounts of Robertson ^ and Paterson, which 
 are based on the Broomlands manuscript, a genealogical 
 document compiled in the middle of the eighteenth century 
 and now in possession of Lord Eglinton. 
 
 George Montgomery (1614-1700) built the mansion-house 
 in 1663 : it has now disappeared. He acquired the property 
 of Over Broomlands with the pendicle called Rossmeadow, 
 formerly pertaining to Hew Montgomery of Over Broomlands 
 and Hew his son, and in 1680 he disponed the united property 
 of Over and Nether Broomlands to Hew, his eldest son, 
 reserving his own liferent.^ He was acting as bailie depute 
 of the Regality Court of Kilwinning in 1669, and was suc- 
 ceeded by his son Hew, who acted down to October 1676.* 
 In 1690 both father and son were appointed Commissioners 
 
 ' Paterson, History of Ayrshire, iii. Pt. 1, 271. 
 
 2 Ayrshire Families, iii. 198 seq. ; Supplement, p. 62. 
 
 ^ Ayrshire Sasines, vol. iv. p. 328. * Court Book (Register House). 
 
 I
 
 THE MONTGOMERYS OF BROOMLANDS 161 
 
 of Supply for Ayrshire. The burgh accounts of Irvine 
 contain several entries referring to convivial meetings with 
 the magistrates : e.g.^ — 
 
 ' 1686. Feb. 1. Item— The Magistratis with young 
 Pearstoune, old Broomlands, and Bryce Blair and the clerk 
 and utheris, ffyve pyntis of wyne, and for tobacco, pjT^s, 
 and aiU, 9s, inde 05 09 00.' 
 
 ' December 31. Item — The Magistrate being come out of 
 Killwinning with Broomlands elder and younger, John Hay 
 and uther gentlemen, ane pynt of wyne and for aiU tobacco 
 and pyps, ffourteen shilling . . . . 01 14 00.' 
 
 As stated on the tombstone George Montgomery was 
 twice married. His first wife, Anna Barclay, was a daughter 
 of Sir George Barclay of Perceton, and by her he had three 
 sons and a daughter, viz. (1) Hew, of Broomlands, (2) George, 
 who married Janet, daughter of George Garven, writer and 
 notary in Irvine and clerk of the bailiery of Cunningham. 
 George Montgomery died about 1682. George Garven was 
 also a tavern keeper, and his daughter succeeded to the 
 business, and purveyed the refreshments mentioned above. ^ 
 
 (3) William, merchant in Edinburgh, and bailie of the 
 city in 1687. 
 
 (i) Jean, who married John Montgomery of Bridgend. 
 George Montgomery settled on his second and third sons 
 jointly the twenty shilling lands of Highmyre, which he had 
 recently acquired from Mr. Robert Tran.^ 
 
 He married secondly in 1655 Margaret Wallace, of the 
 Shewalton family, and by her also he had three sons and a 
 daughter : 
 
 (4) Alexander, of Assloss, who married Margaret, daughter 
 of Alexander Montgomery of Kirktonholme. He was tacksman 
 of the mills of Edinburgh in 1708,* and died on May 30, 1719.5 
 
 1 Muniments of Irvine, ii. 302, 313. ^ 75^ jj, 287, 302, 312. 
 
 3 G. R. 8., April 13, 1653. « Morison's Dictionary, 2498. 
 
 * Edinburgh Testaments, November 4, 1719. 
 
 X
 
 162 THE MONTGOMERYS OF BROOMLANDS 
 
 (5) John, of Wrae, Linlithgowshire, and Auchinhood, 
 Renfrewshire, admitted a Writer to the Signet in 1687, sat 
 in the Scots Parliament 1704-7 as Commissioner for Linlith- 
 gowshire, married (1) 1689, Penelope Barclay ; (2) 1696, 
 Janet, daughter of Thomas Gray, merchant in Edinburgh, 
 died March 11, 1725, aged sixty-two. 
 
 (6) James, merchant in Edinburgh, married Mary, daugh- 
 ter of Matthew Stewart of Newton, and died without issue. 
 
 (ii) Margaret, married her cousin, Hugh Montgomery 
 of Bowhouse, and died without issue. 
 
 Hew Montgomery of Broomlands (1645-1728) married 
 Jean, daughter and co-heiress of Robert Brown of the Moat, 
 afterwards caUed Carmelbank in Kilmaurs parish. They 
 are said to have had twenty or twenty-one children, of whom 
 sixteen used to sit at table at one time, but only seven are 
 known by name : — 
 
 (1) Robert, and (2) Hew, who succeeded in turn to Broom- 
 lands. 
 
 (3) William, sometime Comet in Brigadier Desbordes's 
 Regiment of Dragoons, who died at Irvine unmarried on 
 October 16,i 1729. 
 
 (4) George, who died unmarried in Jamaica in August 
 1734.2 
 
 (i) Jean, who died unmarried on September 21, 1783 at 
 the age of ninety. 
 
 (ii) Margaret (Mrs. Charles Binning). 
 
 (iii) Anne, who married Baihe Ker in Irvine, and died 
 without issue. 
 
 Robert Montgomery of Broomlands was comptroller of 
 the customs at Irvine. He married Ehzabeth, daughter of 
 
 ^ Glasgow Testaments, April 15, 1730. 
 
 2 Edinburgh Testaments, December 14, 1743.
 
 THE MONTGOMERYS OF BROOMLANDS 163 
 
 Alexander Cunningham of Cullellan, and died without issue 
 on January 11, 1740.^ 
 
 His brother Hew, who succeeded to Broomlands, and was 
 the author of the Broomlands manuscript previously referred 
 to, had been Provost of Campbeltown. He married (1) 
 Mary, daughter of the Rev. James Boes of Campbeltown, 
 by whom he had a son, Charles, and three daughters ; (2) 
 Margaret M'Laren of Money- 
 more, CO. Derry, who died with- 
 out issue. 
 
 Hew's son Charles entered 
 merchant burgess of Glasgow, 
 January 24, 1754, but four years 
 later emigrated to Jamaica, 
 where he died unmarried in 
 1766, a few months after his 
 father. The estate was adver- 
 tised for sale in 1768 by order 
 of the Court of Session to satisfy 
 his father's creditors, and was 
 bought by Mr. Hamilton of 
 BourtreehiU. It ultimately be- 
 came part of the Eglinton 
 estates. 
 
 The Broomlands arms are recorded in the Lyon Register 
 (1672-77) ^ — quarterly, first and fourth, azure, a palm branch 
 between three fleurs de lys or ; second and third, gules, three 
 amulets or, stoned azure : crest, a palm branch proper ; 
 motto, Procedamus in pace. 
 
 ^ Olasgmv Testaments, March 10, 1740. 
 2 Nisbet, Heraldry, 1816, i. 376, 377.
 
 SCOTT PEDIGREE 
 
 HEW SCOTT OF ScoTSLOCH, Irvine, Provost of Irvine 1616, 
 d. circa 1618. 
 
 Laurence, advocate, d. Dec. 1637, bought Harperrig, 
 Bavelaw, Clerkington, Bonnington, etc., m. Elizabeth, 
 daughter of William Pringle and Alisou Wallace. She 
 d. Nov. 1666. I 
 
 James, of Clonbeith and Scotsloch, Provost of Irvine 
 1633-4, d. May 1636, m. (1) Agne.s Blair, who d. 
 Dec. 21, 1620, one daughter; (2) Lillias Scott, three 
 daughters. 
 
 Sir William (Lord Clerkiugtou), d. Dec. 23, 1656, James, of 
 
 acquired M.-vUeny, Clonbeith, and Scotsloch, m. Bonnington, 
 
 (1) Katharine, daughter of John Morison of advocate, 
 Prestongrange, three sons and one daughter ; Clerk of Session, 
 
 (2) Barbara, daughter of Sir John Dalmahoy, m. Violet Pringle, 
 six sons and five daughters. She d. March, 1684. three sons and 
 
 one daughter. 
 
 Laorence, of Bavelaw, Clerk of Session, d. Oct. 31, 1669, 
 m. (1) Margaret, daughter of Stephen Boyd of Temple, 
 (2) March 1650, Catherine, daughter of James 
 Binning of Carlowriehaugh. 
 
 Elizabeth, 
 
 b. Nov. 1639, 
 
 d. Dec. 1698, 
 
 m. Dec. 1662, Sir 
 
 William Binning 
 
 of Wallyford, q.v. 
 
 Laurence of Bavelaw, 
 
 h. Aug. 1643, 
 
 d.s.j). 1679, 
 
 m. Jan. 16. 1670, 
 
 Margaret, daughter 
 
 of John Maiwell. 
 
 Margaret, 
 
 m. Aug. 1665, 
 
 Hugh Wallace, W.S., 
 
 of Ingliston, 
 
 Marion, b. June 1642. 
 Anna, b. Oct. 1644. 
 Barbara, b. Jan. 1647. 
 Janet, b. April 1648. 
 All d. in infancy. 
 
 WUliam 
 
 of Bavelaw, 
 
 advocate 
 
 b. 1657, 
 
 d. t.p. 
 
 March 1690. 
 
 John of Bavelaw, 
 
 d. s.p. 
 
 July 1703. 
 
 WUliam of Bavelaw, advocate, 
 m. Nov. 1721, Mary, eldest 
 daughter of William Foulis of 
 Woodhall, advocate, d. Sep. 8, 
 1741. 1 
 
 William of Bavelaw, 
 d. s.p. March 5, 1747. 
 
 Laurence of Bavelaw, 
 
 b. 1736, 
 
 d. s.p. Sep. 1755. 
 
 Charles of Bavelaw, of Scots Greys and 108th Foot, b. April 8, 
 1738, m. March 10, 1762, Frances, daughter of John Vicaradge, 
 Attorney in Exchequer, with issue. Sold Bavelaw 1774, d. 
 circa 1784.
 
 SCOTT PEDIGREE 
 
 Margaret, 
 d. unmarried. 
 
 Susanna, 
 
 m. James Blair, 
 
 Provost of Irvine, 
 
 two daughters. 
 
 Janet, m. John Blair, 
 Provost of Irvine, 
 who died Oct. 1628, 
 two daughters. 
 
 Marion, Margaret, Agne;,, 
 
 m. (1) James Scott, m. William Wallace m. 1622, 
 
 two daughters ; of Shewalton, Patrick Kinloch 
 
 (2) Kichard Lauder two daughters. of Alderston, 
 
 of H.atton, seven children, 
 one daughter. 
 
 Jean, 
 
 m. James Clerk 
 
 of Balbirnie. 
 
 Alison, 
 
 b. June 1610, 
 
 m. Peter Houston, 
 
 Charles 
 
 of Bavelaw, 
 
 d. Dec. 1701, 
 
 m. Barbara, 
 
 daughter of John 
 
 Scott of Malleny. 
 
 She d. July 1751. 
 
 Katharine, 
 
 b. April 1651, 
 
 d. unm. after 
 
 1690. 
 
 Barbara, 
 
 h. July 1652, 
 
 m. June 1682, 
 
 Sir Roger Hog 
 
 (LordHarcarse), 
 
 d. 1685, 
 one daughter. 
 
 Christian, 
 b. Feb. 1655, 
 
 m. 1674, 
 Sir Alexander 
 
 Brand 
 
 of Brandsfield, 
 
 with issue. 
 
 Janet, 
 
 b. Oct. 1659, 
 
 m. Feb. 1682, 
 
 Michael 
 
 Lumsden, 
 
 advocate, 
 
 d. Nov. 1695, 
 
 two sons and 
 
 two daughters. 
 
 Agnes, 
 
 b. Oct. 166.3, 
 
 m. Feb. 1695, 
 
 Adam 
 
 Fullarton 
 
 of Bartonholni, 
 
 W.S., one son. 
 
 Eupham, b. Jan. 1654. 
 Marion, b. Aug. 1656. 
 Hew, b. Sep. 1658. 
 David, b. Oct. 1660. 
 
 tnn, b. May 1662. 
 11 d. young. 
 
 Laurence, merchant in Glasgow, 
 b. 1695, d. Oct. 5, 1764. 
 
 David. 
 
 Barbara. 
 
 Mary, 
 m. Andrew Home, 
 merchant in 
 Windyghoul. 
 
 Margaret. 
 
 Charles, 
 
 merchant in 
 
 Glasgow. 
 
 Barbara.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 THE SCOTTS OF BAVELAW 
 
 Elizabeth Scott, wife of Sir William Binning, was one of 
 the Scotts of Bavelaw, who are therefore direct ancestors of 
 
 the family of Professor Alex- 
 ander Monro (Seciindus). 
 
 They claimed to have branched 
 off the Scotts of Murdostomi 
 before the latter family migrated 
 from Lanarkshire to the Borders, 
 and in token of the connection 
 they bore the Buccleuch arms 
 with a difference — or, on a fess 
 azure (instead of a bend) a star 
 of six points between two cres- 
 cents of the field ; crest, a dexter 
 hand holding a scroU of paper ; 
 motto, Facundia felix. 
 
 The Bavelaw branch can be 
 traced back to Hew Scott of 
 Scotsloch at Irvine in Ayrshire. 
 He was Custumar (collector of customs) of the burgh in 1589, 
 Bailie in 1609,^ and Provost in 1616. He was also Commis- 
 sioner in Parhament in 1593 and 1617,^ and Commissioner 
 to the Convention of Royal Burghs at various times between 
 
 ^ Muniments of the Royal Burgh of Irvine, ii. 248. 
 2 Thomson's Acts, iv. 6, 526 ; P. C. R., xi. 56.
 
 THE SCOTTS OF BAVELAW 167 
 
 1593 and 1618.^ He seems to have died in 1618 or soon 
 afterwards. 
 
 The Scott family had been Custumars of Irvine almost 
 continuously throughout the sixteenth century, frequently 
 BaUies, and occasionally Provosts, but there are not sufficient 
 materials for fixing the relationships of the various members. 
 A Laurence Scott owned property in Irvine as far back as 
 1496.^ Another Laurence Scott graduated at Glasgow in 
 1509.^ This may have been the same man who seven years 
 later had the disagreeable experience of having his banns of 
 marriage with Isabella ' Mungumry ' objected to by a certain 
 ' Jonet Mur,' a widow, who maintained that the bridegroom 
 had promised to marry her. On being challenged before 
 the commissary she admitted that she had acted maliciously 
 and that her statement was untrue.* 
 
 Hew Scott had two sons — Laurence, afterwards of 
 Harperrig and Bavelaw, and James — and three daughters, 
 Margaret, Susamia, and ' Jonnet.' 
 
 James Scott succeeded his father as Custumar, Bailie, 
 and Provost (1633-4) of Irvine. In 1617, shortly before his 
 father's death, he bought from his brother Laurence the 
 latter' s interest in the family property of Scotsloch,^ and in 
 1633 he bought the estate of Clonbeith and Darnrule, three 
 miles north-east of Kilwinning, from Daniel Cunningham, 
 whose predecessors acquired it a century before from the 
 monastery of Kilwinning.^ James Scott held it of the Earl 
 of Eghnton for a feu -duty of £36. He was appointed a 
 Justice of the Peace for Cunningham in 1634. 
 
 He was twice married — (1) to Agnes Blair, who died on 
 
 1 Exchequer Rolls, xiii.-xxii., passim. 
 
 2 Obit Book of St. John the Baptist, Ayr, ed. Jas. Paterson, p. 62. 
 ^ Munimenta Alnim Universitatis Olasguensis, ii. 286. 
 
 ^ Protocol Book of Qavin Ros (Scottish Record See), No. 148. 
 ^ Arch(Eological Collections of Ayrshire, viii. 28, 211 ; ix. 23, 280. 
 « R. M. S., 1634-51, No. 1601 ; P. C. R., 2nd Sen, v. 383, 395.
 
 168 THE SCOTTS OF BAVELAW 
 
 December 21, 1620, leaving a daughter who married Thomas 
 Cunningham ; ^ (2) to Lillias Scott, by whom he had three 
 daughters — Agnes, who married Captain Brice Blair of 
 Boigsyd, Margaret, who married in 1645 Mr. John Eleis, 
 advocate, and LiUias, who married Hugh Boyd, merchant 
 in Edinburgh. 2 
 
 James Scott died at the end of May 1636 survived by his 
 wife.^ 
 
 Of Hew Scott's three daughters, Margaret, the eldest, 
 continued to live at Scotsloch and died unmarried ; Susanna 
 and ' Jonnet ' married two brothers, James and John Blair 
 respectively. 
 
 The Blairs succeeded the Scotts as the leading famUy 
 in the municipal affairs of Irvine. 
 
 John Blair, the elder brother, was BaiUe for several years 
 and Provost at his death in October 1628. He and ' Jonnet ' 
 Scott had two daughters, Agnes and Bessie.* In 1618 he 
 was commissioned by the Privy Council ^ to act as one of the 
 inquisitors at the trial of Margaret Barclay and John Stewart, 
 the Irvine witches, one of the most horrible cases in the 
 history of demonology in Scotland. 
 
 James Blair was also Baihe, and Provost (1646).^ He 
 died about 1649. He and Susanna Scott also had two 
 daughters — Agnes and ' Mareone.' 
 
 John and James Blair were sons of John Blair, merchant 
 burgess of Irvine, and grandsons of Alexander Blair, the 
 ' goodman ' of Windyedge, who was brother - german to 
 the laird of Blair.'' Their mother was Elizabeth Mure, a 
 kinswoman of the Rowallan family. There were two other 
 
 1 Glasgow Testaments, January 9, 1623. " R. M. S., 1634-51, No. 2182. 
 
 3 Glasgow Testaments, July 14, 1637. « lb., July 23, 1629. 
 
 5 P. C. R., xi. 367, 401 ; Sir Walter Scott, Letters on Demmwlogy, p. 307. 
 
 ' Archceological Collections of Ayrshire, viii. 75 ; ix. 101, 154. 
 
 ' Life of Robert Blair (Wodrow Society), p. 112.
 
 THE SCOTTS OF BAVELAW 169 
 
 sons, William, minister of Dumbarton, and Robert, the 
 famous divine; and two daughters, Marion, who married 
 Walter Stewart, burgess of Irvine,^ and Agnes, presumably 
 the first wife of James Scott. 
 
 Mr. Robert Blair, who was born in 1593, became minister 
 of St. Andrews. He was one of the commissioners sent to 
 arrange a treaty of peace in 1640 between Charles I. and the 
 Scots, and in 1646 he was appointed Chaplain-in-ordinary 
 to the King. He died in 1666. His elder son by his second 
 marriage was Mr. David Blair, one of the ministers of Edin- 
 burgh, who married Eupham, daughter of Archibald Nisbet 
 of Carphin, and was the grandfather of Lord President Blair 
 of Avontoun. 
 
 * Archaeological Collections of Ayrshire, viii. 186.
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG, DIED 1637 
 
 Laurence Scott, elder son of Hew Scott, Provost of Irvine, 
 was apprenticed to Robert Scott of Knightspottie in Perth- 
 shire, the Director of the Chancery, and after his death in 
 
 1592 to his stepson and successor, WUliam Scott of Grange- 
 muir, afterwards of Ardross.^ 
 
 He presented the Custumars' and BaUies' accounts of 
 Irvine to the Exchequer in Edinburgh from 1590,^ and in 
 April 1591 he was conducting an action in Edinburgh for his 
 native town against the ' unfriemen trublaris of your 
 mercattis,' and wrote to the magistrates : ^ 'As for my 
 debursingis I wiU superseid the payment thairof and geving 
 up of my compt till the samyn tak ane end and find me 
 wirdy ane rewaird with my depxirsingis.' 
 
 The process dragged on for two years, but on Jime 24, 
 
 1593 he wrote again that he has ' gottin the gift of your 
 haill unfriemen past the I^ng, and compositiovm, and that 
 upoun my great moyane very ressonabhe. . . . Send me the 
 demonciatioun with the executionis bak with the first beirir, 
 ffor I upoun my honestie hes promeist to report bak answer 
 betuix this and the last day of this moneth of Jimij with 
 the compositioun of the escheat quhUk lykwayes ye saU 
 send me with your beirar. ... I pray yow, Siris, be als 
 dihgent to keip to me as I have bene earnest to keip to yow, 
 
 1 Muniments of the Burgh of Irvine, i. 82 ; B. M. S., 1580-93, No. 1951 ; Scofa 
 Staggering State of Scottish Statesmen, ed. Rogers, 121. 
 ^ Exchequer Bolls, xxii. 92, 176. 
 ^ Muniments of the Burgh of Irvine, ii. 30, 31. 
 
 170
 
 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG 171 
 
 flfor in caice I violat promeis, I am tuichit in my honestie, 
 and be my promeis-making I will nocht be estemit in tymes 
 cuming, nathir yit wiU my credeit at thair handis be in ony 
 tyme heireftir sa far be extendit.' 
 
 In the following year he is found in conflict with the 
 burgh authorities.^ He had obtained from the King in 
 September 1594 a gift under the Privy Seal of the office of 
 Clerk and Town Notary of Irvine, ' with full power to creat 
 and substitute ane clerk under him for exerceing thairof 
 during quhat tyme he pleissis.' 
 
 The Magistrates naturally resented this arrangement, 
 and maintained that, as Irvine was a Royal Biirgh, they 
 were entitled to appoint their own clerk. Laurence Scott 
 took the matter before the Court of Session, but the case was 
 decided against him on December 7, 1594. 
 
 In spite of this rebuff he continued on friendly terms 
 with the burgh. His name appears several times in the 
 biu-gh accounts in 1601 and 1602.^ He gets 32s. 7d. ' for 
 the gaUowus,' and sums of £30, £40 and £108, 15s. for 
 ' services ' that are not specified. ' Laurence Scottis sone ' 
 also gets £3, 15s. In 1601 he acted as notary in a sasine 
 taken by the Provost and magistrates of Irvine on a charter 
 by King James confirming the erection of the town into a 
 free Royal Burgh. He is described in the docquet as 
 ' Glasguensis diocesis notarius pubhcus,' and his motto is 
 ' Ante omnia Veritas.' ^ 
 
 Laurence Scott was admitted an advocate on January 6, 
 1607, and enjoyed a good practice, chiefly before the Privy 
 Council. He had some sort of salary or retainer to the 
 extent of £240 Scots from the Earl of EgUnton,* and one of 
 £400 from the Earl of Buccleuch.^ 
 
 1 Muniments of the Burgh of Irvine, i. 81. 
 
 2 lb., ii. 240, 241, 244, 246. ' lb., i. 95. 
 
 * The Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton, Sir Wm. Fraser, ii. 278. 
 ' The ScoUs of Buccleuch, Sir Wm. Fraser, ii. 273.
 
 172 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG 
 
 In 1617, shortly before his father's death, he sold the 
 fee of Scotsloch, the family property at Irvine, to his brother 
 James. 1 It consisted of a tenement of land in the High 
 Street opposite to the Sea Gate and bounded on the north- 
 east by Scotsloch, and also of the twenty shiUing lands of 
 Gallowmure. 
 
 Laurence Scott had already started to acquire extensive 
 properties in Midlothian. His first purchase was the estate 
 of Harperrig, of which he got a charter in May 1605 from 
 James, second Lord Torphichen.^ 
 
 Harperrig lies in the parish of Midcalder about twelve 
 miles south-west of Edinburgh. It is a bare upland moor 
 about 900 feet above sea-level, on the western slope of the 
 Pentlands. It includes the source of the Water of Leith, 
 and now forms part of the catchment area of the reservoir 
 which bears its name. 
 
 Part of Harperrig was included in the barony of Calder : 
 the rest of the lands, called TemplehiU, had belonged to the 
 Knights Templars, and to their successors the Elnights 
 Hospitallers of St. John at Torphichen. At the Reformation 
 James Sandilands, second son of Sir James Sandilands of 
 Calder, was Preceptor of Torphichen and head of the Order 
 in Scotland. Making a virtue of necessity he surrendered 
 to the Crown the possessions of the Order, and for a money 
 consideration was rewarded with a grant to him and his 
 heirs of all the lands, which were erected into the temporal 
 lordship of Torphichen. On his death without issue in 1579 
 his grand-nephew James Sandilands of Calder succeeded to 
 the title and lands of Torphichen.^ 
 
 The Temple lands of Harperrig are described as boimded 
 ' by the Water of Lethensem on the north, by the Meredene 
 Burn on the east, and on the west by the TempUdyck which 
 
 1 ArchcBological Collections of Ayrshire and Galloway, viii. 211. 
 
 2 R. M. S., 1609-20, No. 1790. 
 
 ' History of the Parish of Midcalder, H. B. M'Call, p. 143.
 
 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG 173 
 
 extends from the south to the foresaid Water of Lethensem.' 
 They were feued at the Reformation by Lord Torphichen 
 to one Thomas Cant, and remained in the Cant family for 
 three generations. ^ In 1602 John Cant gave seisin to John 
 Hamilton of Bathgate,^ who in turn sold them three years 
 later to Laurence Scott at the same time as the latter bought 
 the rest of Harperrig. 
 
 The feudal lands of Harperrig lay further to the north- 
 west in Kirknewton parish, and consisted of Auchinoonhill, 
 Lyden and one-third of the runrig lands of Leithshead.^ 
 
 Laurence Scott paid Lord Torphichen 3s. 4d. annually 
 for the Temple lands, and Id. for the rest, together with the 
 usual services. 
 
 In 1618 he extended his property to the north-east by 
 buying from Sir John Preston of Penicuik the lands of 
 Butelands, lying on the south side of the Water of Leith in 
 the parish of Currie.* They extended to 1240 Scots acres, and 
 consisted of the farms of Butelandhill, Nethertoun, Overtoun, 
 Loanhead, and Templehouse.^ There was no mansion-house. 
 
 Butelands can be traced as far back as December 14, 1413, 
 when the Regent, Robert Duke of Albany, granted the lands 
 on the resignation of Archibald Earl of Douglas to Margaret, 
 daughter of Sir WiUiam de Borthwick and widow of William 
 de Abernethy.^ They remained with the Berth wicks till 
 1596, when James, eighth Lord Borthwick, sold them to 
 Mx. John Preston of Fentonbarns,'' afterwards Sir John 
 Preston of Penicuik, President of the Court of Session. 
 He in turn sold them to Laiirence Scott, who was entered as 
 a vassal holding direct of the Crown. 
 
 1 Maidment, Analecta, i. 397. 
 
 ^ Torphichen Charlulary, Robert Hill, W.S., p. 37. 
 
 2 Reports on Parishes, 1627 (Maitland Club), p. 83. 
 « R. M. S., 1609-20, No. 1790. 
 
 * Edinburgh Courani, November 7, 1763. 
 « R. M. S., 1306-1424, p. 256. 
 ' lb., 1609-20, No. 929.
 
 174 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG 
 
 In March 1628 Laurence Scott advanced his property a 
 stage nearer Edinburgh, by buying the neighboiu-ing estate 
 of Bavelaw in the parish of Penicuik, extending to 1276 
 Scots acres and consisting of Easter and Wester Bavelaw 
 Avith tower, fortahce, manor place, and the right of common 
 pasturage on the muir of Balerno.^ The country is of the 
 same character as Harperrig, but rather less bleak, and 
 there are plantations of firs and distant views of the lowland 
 country. The old castle, a seventeenth century building, 
 still stands overlooking Threipmuir reservoir. ^ 
 
 Bavelaw has a long history. Some time previous to 1235 
 it was held by Sir Henry [Fairlie] de Brade as part of the 
 royal moor of Pentland.^ The Fairhes kept it till 1427, 
 when Helen, daughter of John Fairhe of Braid, brought it 
 as a marriage portion to her husband Henry Forrester of 
 Niddry, second son of Sir Jolui Forrester of Corstorphme.^ 
 Henry Forrester also owned Auchindinny and part of the 
 barony of Redhall. His son. Sir John, forfeited the lands 
 of Bavelaw by 'recognition,' for having sold the greater 
 part of them without King James iv.'s permission, and on 
 October 14, 1515 they were granted by James v. to ' Robert 
 Bertoun, indweller in Leith.' ^ 
 
 The Bertouns or Bartons were a famous famUy of sea 
 captains in the reigns of James m. and James iv.^ John 
 Barton, the founder of the family, was a merchant trader in 
 Leith, and commanded the Yellow Carvel, which was called 
 ' the King's ship ' and was captured by the Enghsh. 
 
 James iv. had great ambitions to fomid a royal navy, 
 and John Barton and his sons, Andrew, Robert and John, 
 were leaders in his enterprises. In 1497 Andrew and Robert 
 
 ^ Thomson's Acts, v. 491. 
 
 ^ MacGibbon and Ross, Castellated and Domestic Architecture, iii, 531. 
 
 ' Charters of Holyrood (Bannatyne Club), p. 45. 
 
 * B. M. 8., 1424-1513, No. 74. 
 ^ Ih., 1513-46, No. 46. 
 
 * Exchequer Rolls, xiii. Intr. 181 ; xiv. Intr. 93.
 
 Hi 
 
 m 
 > 
 
 <
 
 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG 175 
 
 took charge of Perkin Warbeck's passage from Ayr to Ireland 
 in Robert's ship, the Cuckoo, and in the early years of the 
 sixteenth century the brothers were engaged in clearing the 
 Scottish coast of Flemish and other pirates, and in carrying 
 out reprisals under letters of marque against Portuguese 
 galleons from Africa and the Indies. These exploits brought 
 them into open conflict with their old enemies the English. 
 In July 1511 Robert Barton brought no less than thirteen 
 EngUsh prizes into Scottish ports, but a month later Andrew 
 was caught in the Downs by Sir Thomas and Sir Edward 
 Howard, and was killed in the engagement. 
 
 In 1513 James iv. fell at Flodden, and with him perished 
 all schemes for a Scottish navy. Robert Barton then entered 
 the royal service ashore, and was Comptroller from 1516 
 to 1525, and again in 1528-29 — 'ane very pyratt and sey- 
 revere comptroller,' as James Douglas caUs him. He was 
 also Custumar of Edinburgh from 1516 to 1525, and in 1529- 
 1530 he was Lord High Treasurer and Master of the Mint. 
 He died in 1538. 
 
 Robert Barton became a considerable landowner. In 
 1507 he obtained from King James iv. a grant of the lands of 
 Over Bamton, including the village of Cramond, and in 
 1515, as already mentioned, he acquired Bavelaw. On 
 January 20, 1529 these lands, together with Fulford (Wood- 
 houselee), were erected by King James v. into the free barony 
 of Over Bamton in favour of Robert Barton in Uferent and 
 Robert his son in fee, the charter narrating ^ that the grant 
 was made in consideration of the elder Robert's services to 
 the Crown in providing ships at great expense and exposing 
 himself to danger for the defence of the lieges and merchants 
 against English and other pirates. 
 
 Robert Barton was succeeded by his son Robert, who 
 took the name of Mowbray on his marriage with Barbara 
 Mowbray, heiress of Barnbougle, now part of the Dalmeny 
 
 1 R. M. 8., 1513-46, No. 801.
 
 176 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG 
 
 estates. On Robert Mowbray's death about 1550 the barony 
 was divided among his sons, and Bavelaw fell to Archibald, 
 the third son. He sold it in 1557 to his eldest brother, John, 
 and John sold it to Sir George Dundas of that ilk.^ It was 
 Sir George's eldest son. Sir Walter, who disponed it to Laurence 
 Scott in 1628. Wester Bavelaw had been subject to a feu 
 right constituted by John Mowbray in favour of Sir Matthew 
 Stewart, whose grandson WiUiam, second Lord Blantyre, 
 renounced it when the rest of the property was sold to 
 Laurence Scott. 
 
 Laurence Scott's next purchase followed closely. On 
 February 19, 1629 he bought from the Earl of Lauderdale 
 the ten pound lands of Bonyngton ^ (Bonnington) with 
 mansion-house and fishings, in Ratho parish, Midlothian. It 
 marches with the property of Hatton, and is a couple of miles 
 north of Butelands. The house stands on a ridge with a 
 fine view of the Forth valley. 
 
 Bonnington was a possession of the Montgomeries, Earls 
 of EgUnton, from 1371, when Robert m. granted it to Sir 
 Hugh de Eghnton on the resignation of Sir Robert de Erskyne,^ 
 until 1613, when Alexander, sixth Earl of Eglinton, sold it 
 to John Lord Thirlestane, afterwards first Earl of Lauder- 
 dale, who sold it three years later to Laiirence Scott. It 
 was held blench of the Crown. 
 
 Laurence Scott completed his purchases on this side of 
 the Pentlands by acquiring from James Hamilton of Kil- 
 brackmonth the lands of Easter Lymphoy, adjoining MaUeny 
 in the parish of Currie.* They ' appertained of auld to the 
 Proveist, Prebendarie and Chaplanes of the Trinity Colledge 
 of Edinburgh,' ^ and were leased in 1526 to James Abernethy 
 
 1 B. M. 8., 1513-46, No. 1954 ; 1546-80, Nos. 355, 1664, 3016. 
 ^ R. M. 8., 1620-33, No. 1374; MacGibbon and Ross, Castellated and Domestic 
 Architecture, v. 54, 408. 
 
 3 R. M. 8., 1306-1424, p. 84, Nos. 289, 291 ; 1609-20, No. 876. 
 * Edinburgh Testaments, February 9, 1664. 
 ° Reports on Parishes (Maitland Club), p. 60.
 
 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG 177 
 
 and afterwards to Robert Heriot.^ On September 1, 1568 
 the College granted a feu to Agnes or Annie, daughter and 
 heiress of Robert Heriot, and to her husband James, eldest 
 son of Henry Foulis of Colinton, the feu-duty being £14. ^ 
 Sir James Foulis, their eldest son, succeeded to the property,^ 
 and sold it to James Hamilton. At the Reformation the 
 superiority passed to the Good Town of Edinburgh. 
 
 The New Statistical Account gives the following descrip- 
 tion of the place : * — 
 
 ' Lennox Tower, now popularly called by the imcouth 
 name of Lymphoy, was formerly the property of the Lennox 
 family and a place of great strength. It was an occasional 
 residence of the lovely but mifortunate Mary, and also a 
 favourite hunting place of her son and successor, James vi.^ 
 . , . Tradition reports it to have had a subterranean com- 
 mimication with Cohnton tower, formerly the residence of the 
 Fouhs family, and about the beginning of the last century 
 a piper attempted to explore it. The sound of his pipes 
 was heard as far as Currie bridge, where he is supposed to 
 have perished. It certainly had a communication with the 
 Water of Leith, and with another building on the opposite 
 bank of the river on the lands of CurriehiU.' 
 
 Finally on July 10, 1634 Laurence Scott obtained, on 
 the resignation of George, first Lord Forrester of Corstorphine, 
 a charter comprising (1) the lands of Clerkington, (2) the lands 
 of Frierton.^ The two properties were quite distinct historic- 
 ally as well as geographically. 
 
 Clerkington, with its manor place and the pertinent called 
 Braidwood, lay in the parish of Temple, at the north end of 
 the Moorfoot hills, and about twelve mUes south-east of 
 
 ^ Charters of the Collegiate Churches of Midlothian (Bannatyne Club), pp. 92, 132. 
 
 2 Scottish Universities Commission of 1826, Appendix, 1837 [97]. 
 
 3 Inquisitiones, Edinburgh, p. 281. 
 « I. 546 (Currie). 
 
 ' Hist. MSS. Com. Report, 1902, Colonel Milne Home, p. 68. 
 • R. M. 8., 1634-51, No. 162. 
 
 Z
 
 178 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG 
 
 Edinburgh. It is similar in character to Harperrig and 
 Bavelaw, and the resemblance now goes so far that there 
 are reservoirs in this district also. 
 
 It is mentioned in the records as early as 1338,^ when it 
 was in possession of Christian Bysset, widow of John Bysset 
 of Clerkington. It next passed to their son Walter, and in 
 1368 King David n. made a grant of the lands in favour of 
 Sir Archibald de Douglas. In 1424 they were given to Sir 
 John Forrester of Corstorphine, Chancellor of Scotland,^ 
 on the resignation of Archibald Earl of Douglas, and were 
 included by annexation in the barony of Corstorphine, which 
 was erected next year. The lands remained with the 
 Forresters until they were sold to Laurence Scott two centuries 
 later. 
 
 Frierton was a small piece of land on the east slope of 
 the Pentlands lying into Paties HiU, between Nine Mile 
 Burn and Carlops. It is not more than a couple of miles 
 from the boundary of Harperrig and Bavelaw, and once more 
 there is a reservoir — the North Esk — close by. 
 
 It was originally a grant by King Robert ni, in 1392 to 
 the Abbey of Holyrood for the salvation of his own soul 
 and those of his queen Annabella and their eldest son David. ^ 
 It was annexed to the Abbey's barony of Broughton, which 
 was primarily the land upon which the New Town of Edin- 
 burgh is built, but also included lands in other districts. 
 
 James Forrester of Corstorphine obtained a feu of Frierton 
 from the Abbey on August 25, 1537, and the grant was con- 
 firmed by Crown charter on April 16, 1546.* The feu-duty 
 was twelve merks. 
 
 After the Reformation the barony was acquired by Sir 
 Lewis Bellenden, Lord Justice Clerk, whose grandson. Sir 
 
 ^ Chartulary of Newhattk (Bannatyne Club), p. 292. 
 
 2 R. M. S., 1424-1513, No. 7, 17. 
 
 3 Ih., 1306-1424, p. 205, No. 26. 
 ♦ lb., 1513-46, No. 3223.
 
 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG 179 
 
 William, sold it in 1627 to his uncle, Robert, first Earl of 
 Roxburghe. In 1636, two years after Laurence Scott bought 
 Frierton, the superiority and remaining lands in the barony 
 of Broughton were bought by the trustees of George Heriot's 
 Hospital. 
 
 Laurence Scott experienced some of the trials of the laird. 
 On May 5, 1628 he petitioned the Privy Council ^ against 
 James Greg and three other men in Bavelaw, who daily come 
 to the complainer's lands, ' and to the oastler houses within 
 the same, whair they ly day and night spending the tyme in 
 drinking and ryott, and everie ane of thame haveing with 
 thame lying dogges and netts with ane long hacquebutt, and 
 whan they have done with thair drinking they aU concurring 
 togidder goes athort my bounds and other gentlemen's bounds 
 nixt adjacent, and partlie with a long hacquebutt and with 
 thair lying dogges and netts they take and slay all kynde of 
 murefowle that they can find withua our bounds, and caries 
 the same in to the oastler houses and seUis and drinkis the 
 moneyes thairof at thair pleasure, and they live altogidder 
 as ydle vagabounds without anie trade caUmg or laughfuU 
 Industrie.' Moreover they went ' to the hous of BaviUaw 
 whair I had raised twa turrets upoun the entrie thairof and 
 covered the heads of the same with leid, and leddered the 
 saids turrets, and rave down and tooke away with thame the 
 most pairt of the leid being upoun the saids turrets for making 
 of buUetts and drappes to thair hacquebutts.' The petition 
 was granted by being endorsed with the usual formula ' Fiat 
 ut petitur.^ 
 
 Laurence Scott was on terms of intimacy and confidence 
 with the Buccleuch family. He was one of the commissioners 
 appointed in 1629 by Walter, the first Earl, to manage the 
 estates during his absence at the wars in the Netherlands. ^ 
 Earl Walter, who died in November 1633, nominated him and 
 
 » p. C. R., 2nd Series, ii. 589. 
 
 2 The Scots of Buccleuch, Sir Wm. Fraser, i. 256, 261, 264, 275 ; ii. 269.
 
 180 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG 
 
 his eldest son William to be tutors to his children, and at the 
 Earl's funeral at Hawick seven months later Laurence Scott 
 carried his coat of honour, WiUiam Scott his standard, and 
 James Scott, the second son, carried ' the grate grumpheon 
 of black tafta one the pointe of lance sutable.' 
 
 Laurence Scott seems to have taken special charge of 
 yoimg Earl Francis's pocket money, and the following letter 
 to him is extant, written in the boy's ninth year : 
 
 ' Most lovbing Tutor, — My love being rememberit to 
 you and your wife. Ye shall doe me the pleasur as to cause 
 send some moneyes heir to me again Hansel Monday that I 
 may gratifie my master and other servants. It sail please 
 you also to send furth ane pair of sweet gloves. So hoping 
 ye will obey me in this requeist. — I rest, your loving freind, 
 
 ' BUCCLEUCHE.' 
 Mblvill, 31 December 1635. 
 
 In 1634 Laurence Scott was appointed to the Commission 
 of the Peace for Midlothian,^ an institution which had been 
 introduced from England by King James vi. He had not, 
 however, always been on the side of law and order. On 
 November 14, 1617 he and his son-in-law James Scott were 
 committed by the Privy Council ^ to the Castle of Edinburgh 
 during their Lordships' pleasure for an assault upon a certain 
 James Harper. Harper had been given the escheat of the 
 goods of one Gawane Scott after an action with Laurence 
 and James Scott, and hearing that ' ane grite quantitie of 
 the guidis ' were in the house of Andro Law, he went there, 
 but ' missing him, stayed and soupit with his wyff, being 
 resolvit to have remainit in the house till his incomeing.' 
 The defenders ' not onhe stayed the said Andro fra comeing 
 to his house that nicht, bot thay, accumpanied with fyve or 
 sex personis bodin in feir of weir [in warhke array], come to 
 
 » P. C. R., 2nd Series, v. 378. ^ lb., xi. 263.
 
 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERRIG 181 
 
 the said Androis house, and after thay had utterit mony 
 quarrelling and threatning speitcheis aganis the said com- 
 plenair for presomeing to medle in a mater quhairin thay 
 had anes dippit, thay pat violent handis in the said com- 
 plenairis persone, strak him with thair neiffis [fists], and 
 by force and violence harlit him to the dure.' 
 
 Laurence Scott married Elizabeth Pringle or Hoppringle, 
 daughter of WiUiam Pringle, litster [dyer] burgess of Edin- 
 burgh, and Alison Wallace his wife. Little or nothing is 
 known of these Pringles except that on November 23, 1598 
 WUliam Pringle complained in person to the King in Privy 
 Comicil 1 that upon November 3 George HoppringiU of 
 Blindley, with Robert Quhippo and Thomas Hardy his servants, 
 came by night armed to the complainer's ' roum ' (farm) of 
 Mitchelstoun (two miles north of Stow), and to the houses 
 possessed by his tenants, and finding the doors closed ' thay 
 cryed for fyre, and had not faillit tressonabhe to have rissin 
 fyre, and to have brint the haiU personis being within the 
 saidis houssis, wer not thay suddanelie oppyiiit the durris 
 and gaif thame entres within the saidis houssis ; and thay 
 entering thairin, thay sercheit and socht the said complenar 
 or sum of his servandis throw all partis of the saidis houssis 
 to have slane thame, stoggit bedis with drawne swordis, and 
 had not faiUit to have slane the said complenar or sum of 
 his servandis, agains quhome thay unjustlie pretend a quarrell, 
 wer not be the providence of God thay wer absent for the 
 tyme.' 
 
 The result was that the defenders had to find caution 
 not to harm WiUiam Pringle, James and Andrew his sons, 
 and Laurence Scott his ' good son.' 
 
 WUliam Pringle died on November 6, 1611, and his wife 
 three days earher.^ 
 
 Laurence Scott died in December 1637, and his widow 
 
 1 p. a R., V. 496, 528, 714. 
 
 2 Edinburgh Testaments, March 10, 1612 ; September 13, 1614.
 
 182 LAURENCE SCOTT OF HARPERMG 
 
 survived till November 1666,^ when she must have been a 
 very old woman. 
 
 They had three sons, William, James and Laurence (n), 
 and five daughters : — 
 
 (1) Marion, the eldest, married James Scott, brother of 
 John Scott of ICnightspottie and Scotstarvit, Director of the 
 Chancery, and had two daughters, Elspeth and Jean : she 
 afterwards married Richard Lauder of Halton or Hatton, 
 and their only child, Elizabeth, married on November 18, 1652 
 Charles, third Earl of Lauderdale, 
 
 (2) Margaret, married (contract dated August 26, 1622) 
 William Wallace of Shewalton near Irvine. ^ 
 
 (3) Agnes, married in 1622 Patrick Kinloch, advocate, 
 of Alderston between Midcalder and Westcalder, and had 
 seven children.^ 
 
 (4) Jean, married James Clerk of Balbirnie.* 
 
 (5) Alison, born Jmie 1610, married Peter Houston, 
 apparently a younger son of Sir Patrick Houston of that ilk. 
 
 Laurence Scott left a will,^ made a few days before his 
 death. He had provided for his sons by a division of his 
 heritable properties, and to his daughters he left 1000 merks 
 each ; to Margaret, his eldest sister, fifty pounds ' for hir 
 aUment, as for the dewtie of the Loch and Lochlands called 
 Scotsloch lyand beside Irving,' and to his two other sisters 
 300 merks each. ' I leive to such poore of Edinburgh as 
 pleissis my said executors [his sons] to make choice of, the 
 sume of 500 merks: I leive to the Town of Edinburgh for 
 buUding of the Kirks 500 merks, to be delyvered as the Good 
 Town of Edinburgh sail think good.' 
 
 His movable assets consisted mainly of farm stock, and 
 
 1 Books of Sederunt, vol. 6, July 9, 1661 ; Greyfriars Register of Interments. 
 
 ^ B. M. S., 1620-33, No. 1043. 
 
 3 History of Midcalder, H. B. M'Call, p. 89. 
 
 « 0. R. S., vol. 42, p. 447. 
 
 ° Edinburgh Testaments, February 9, 1664.
 
 THE SCOTTS OF CLERKINGTON 183 
 
 among debts owing was the year's rent for his house in 
 Edinburgh £240, and for his writing chamber £100. 
 
 In the distribution of the property, WiUiam Scott, the 
 eldest son, got Clerkington, Frierton, and Easter Lymphoy. 
 
 He was appointed a Clerk of Session and of Parliament 
 in 1634,1 and was knighted in 1641, When the Civil War 
 broke out he took the Parliamentary side, and from 1644 
 to 1649 was on the Committees of War for Midlothian. ^ He 
 was rewarded in 1646 with a grant from the Commissioners 
 of Excise of the annual-rent on £6510, but he complained to 
 Parliament in 1649 that nothing had yet been paid. 
 
 Although he had never been an advocate, he was appointed 
 a Lord of Session by the Estates of Parliament, taking his 
 seat on June 8, 1649 with the title of Lord Clerkington ^ — • 
 ' one of a batch of furious asserters of their [the Estates'] 
 way,' replacing ' so many of the Lords of the Session who 
 were tainted with the crime of loyalty ' and were cashiered.^ 
 He had also a seat in Parliament from 1649, as Commissioner 
 first for Haddingtonshire and afterwards for Midlothian, 
 and he acted as principal clerk to the Committee of Estates, 
 signing several proclamations in that capacity. In 1652 
 he lost his official positions when the Scottish institutions 
 were swept away by CromweU, and on December 23, 1656 
 he died very suddenly. NicoU records in his Diary : ^ ' Sir 
 WiUiame Scott of Clerkingtomie, knycht, ane of the lait 
 Lordis of Sessioun in the lait kingis tyme and a verry guid 
 judge, depairtit this lyff of apoplexie.' 
 
 Lord Clerkington greatly increased his property in Currie 
 parish by getting feus of Wester Lymphoy, Malleny, Harlaw, 
 
 1 R. M. S., 1634-51, Index Officiorum. 
 
 2 Thomson's Acts, vi. i. 200a, 5616, 813a ; vi. ii. 187a, 358. 
 ' Boohs of Sederunt, vol. v., June 8, 1649. 
 
 * History of Scottish Affairs, by Mr. James Wilson (Literary Soc. of Perth, 1827), 
 p. 70. 
 
 ' (Bannatye Club), p. 188 ; Baillie's Letters (Bannatyne Club), iii. 367.
 
 184 THE SCOTTS OF CLERKINGTON 
 
 and the Kirklands of Currie from the Good Town of Edinbvirgh, 
 and a feu of Kinleith from the College of St. Andrews.^ 
 
 He was twice married : (first) to Katharine, daughter of 
 John Morison of Prestongrange, and (secondly) to Barbara, 
 eldest daughter of Sir John Dalmahoy of Dalmahoy, knight, 
 who survived him and died in March 1684.^ 
 
 His first family were : ^ — 
 
 (1) Laurence, who was born in September 1622, and suc- 
 ceeded to Clerkington and Frierton, which he had to surrender 
 on an apprising in IBS?.* Clerkington afterwards became 
 part of the Rosebery estates. Laurence Scott married Helen 
 Dalmahoy, his stepmother's sister, who died in February 1675, 
 leaving two daughters but no sons. 
 
 (2) Bessie, born September 1623. 
 
 (3) WiUiam, who succeeded to Clonbeith, which his father 
 bought in 1650 from his cousins, the daughters of James 
 Scott.^ He married Margaret Ker, but died without issue. 
 
 (4) Walter, who was born in June 1632, and succeeded his 
 brother WiUiam in 1694,® and also died without issue. He 
 sold Clonbeith in 1694. 
 
 His second family were : — 
 
 (5) Barbara, who was born in January 1638, and married 
 Sir WiUiam Drummond of Hawthornden in April 1663.'' 
 
 (6) Agnes, who is said to have married Sir John Home 
 of Benton.^ 
 
 (7) John, who inherited the lands in Currie parish and 
 founded the family of the Scotts of MaUeny, who held this 
 property untU 1882, when it was sold to Lord Rosebery. As 
 
 1 R. M. 8., 1634-51, No. 1792. 
 
 2 The Family of Dalmahoy, Thomas Falconer, p. 9. 
 ^ Edinburgh Testaments, April 22, 1657. 
 
 * B. M. S., 1652-59, No. 621. 
 ' lb., 1634-51, Nos. 1601, 2182. 
 " Inquisitiones, Ayr, 684. 
 ' Edinburgh Marriage Register. 
 ' Douglas, Baronage, p. 218.
 
 THE SCOTTS OF CLERKINGTON 185 
 
 his elder brothers left no male issue, he became the eldest 
 representative of the Harperrig connection, and registered 
 the Buccleuch arms with the difference — in base, an arrow 
 bendways proper, feathered and barbed argent ; crest, a 
 stag lodged proper ; motto, Amo probos.^ 
 
 (8) Francis, born November 1642, seems to have died 
 young. 
 
 (9) Alexander, also died young. 
 
 (10) James, who succeeded to the ancestral property of 
 Scotsloch at Irvine, and became a Writer to the Signet. 
 He married Margaret Boyd and died in May 1693.^ She 
 survived till December 14, 1712. 
 
 (11) David, born December 1647, died yotmg. 
 
 (12) Robert,^ who was bom January 1649, graduated M.A. 
 at Edinburgh in 1670, became minister of Inverkeithing 
 in 1673, of Holjo-oodhouse in 1676, and Dean of Hamilton 
 from 1686 till the Revolution, when he lost his benefice. 
 He was made a D.D. of St. Andrews in 1686. He married 
 Barbara Martin, relict of the Rev. Charles Carnegie, D.D., 
 Dean of Brechin. He acquired the property of Kinglassie in 
 Fife,* and was alive in 1707. 
 
 Nisbet mentions three other daughters ^ — Margaret, Mary 
 and Jacobina. 
 
 James Scott, Harperrig's second son, succeeded to 
 Bonnington. He was admitted an advocate on February 2, 
 1648,® and next year, when his brother Clerkington went on 
 to the bench, he succeeded him as Clerk of Session on the 
 nomination of Sir Archibald Johnston of Warriston, ' he 
 being brought up and servit his brother thairin this long 
 
 1 Nisbet, Heraldry, i. 98. 
 
 ^ Orey friars Register of Interments. 
 
 3 Scott, Fasti, i. 85; ii. 259, 592. 
 
 * Morison, Dictionary, 11774. 
 
 ' Genealogical Collections (Adv. Lib. MSS.). 
 
 ' Books of Sederunt, vol. v. 
 
 2a
 
 186 THE SCOTTS OF BONNINGTON 
 
 tyme.' ^ He survived the Restoration, but did not regain his 
 office ; in fact he was fined £1200 for taking the Parhamentary 
 side in the Civil War.^ 
 
 He married Violet Pringle before December 1, 1630,^ 
 and had three sons who succeeded to Bonnington in turn * — 
 Gilbert, who died in March 1675, Charles, and James. He 
 also had a daughter Catherine. 
 
 ' Thomson's Acts, vi. ii. 548. 
 2 lb., vii. 4216. 
 " 0. R. S., vol. 29, p. 284. 
 
 * Inquisitiones, Edinburgh, 1216, 1281 ; Inquisitiones Oenerales, 6179 ; Services of 
 Heirs, 1700-1709.
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 LAURENCE SCOTT OF BAVELAW, DIED 1669 
 
 Laurence Scott (ii), Harperrig's youngest son, was with his 
 brothers trained to the law. 
 
 On his father's death he got Bavelaw, Butelands and 
 Harperrig,^ but was always known by the first of these 
 properties, as it was the most important, and included the 
 mansion-house. 
 
 Like his father he was the trusted friend and adviser of 
 the Buccleuch family. ^ He and his brother Clerkington 
 were among the twelve tutors, heads of the various Scott 
 families, who were appointed by Earl Francis to act for his 
 two daughters, and the position proved troublesome and 
 difficult. 
 
 The young Countess Mary, who was only four years old 
 at her father's death in 1651, at once became the centre of 
 intrigues for her hand, and dissensions arose among the 
 tutors. The south-country Scotts ranged themselves against 
 the Scotts of the Lothians, and neither side could get a 
 working majority, until Clerkington's death turned the scale 
 in favour of the south-country faction. They secured the 
 custody of the charter chests, and played into the hands of 
 the Earl of Tweeddale, who was working to arrange a marriage 
 between the young Countess and Walter Scott, son of Gideon 
 Scott of Highchester, one of the tutors. Bavelaw's consent 
 was at length obtained, and he was present at the marriage, 
 
 ^ Thomson's Acts, v. 491a; Inquisitiones, Edinburgh, 1181. 
 
 2 Scotts of Bucckueh, Sir Wm. Fraser, i. 313, 342, 350, 402 seq., 412. 
 
 187
 
 188 LAURENCE SCOTT OF BAVELAW 
 
 which was celebrated with great secrecy at the Church of 
 Wemyss.^ Tlae bride was not twelve years old. 
 
 Two years later she died, and the intrigues were at once 
 renewed round the younger sister. Countess Anna. A 
 formidable competitor was put forward in the young Duke 
 of Monmouth, a natural son of Charles ii., and the tutors 
 having given their consent, the marriage took place in 1663 
 just after the Countess had completed her twelfth year, 
 Laurence Scott was one of the signatories to the marriage 
 contract, and was nominated by the Countess to be one of 
 her curators. 
 
 Laurence Scott was a supporter of Presbyterianism, 
 and was a seatholder in the Tron Church, Edinburgh.^ 
 During the Civil War he and his brother Clerkington were 
 active on the side of Parliament and the Covenant, and were 
 nominated by the Estates to serve on the Committees of War 
 each year from 1646 to 1649.^ In 1646 he was granted an 
 annual-rent on £12,000, but like his brother he complained 
 to Parliament in 1649 that nothing had been paid. 
 
 At the Restoration he was appointed by Sir Archibald 
 Primrose, Lord Clerk Register, to be a Clerk of Session,^ and 
 occupied the office till his death. In 1661 an annuity of 
 £40,000 was voted to the King, and Laurence Scott was one 
 of the Commissioners of Excise charged with raising the 
 quota of the tax laid upon the county of Edinburgh.^ Two 
 years later he was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the 
 county. 
 
 He did not, however, escape punishment for his exertions 
 on behalf of the Covenanters, for among the exceptions from 
 the Act of Indemnity of 1662 ' in so far as may concern the 
 payment of the siuns underwritten ' are — Mr. Laurence 
 
 1 Upper TeviotdaU and the Scotts of Buccletich, J. R. Oliver, p. 316. 
 
 2 Butler, History of the Tron, p. 154. 
 
 3 Thomson's Acts, vi. (1), 562 (a), 813 (o) ; vi. (2), 30 {b), 187 (a), 358. 
 * Books of Sederunt, vi. June 5, 1661 ; Thomson's Acts, vii. App. 5. 
 5 Thomson's Acts, vii. 90 (a), 504 (6).
 
 LAURENCE SCOTT OF BAVELAW 189 
 
 Scott of Bavelaw £2400 Scots, and Mr. James Scott of Bonyng- 
 toun £1200 Scots.i 
 
 Laurence Scott of Bavelaw died suddenly on October 
 31, 1669, and was buried three days later at Greyfriars. 
 Lamont records in his Diary : ^ ' 1669, Nov. 1. S"' . . . Scot 
 of Bevelay in Lowthian, one of the Clerks of the Sessioun att 
 Edb., depairted out of this life [yesterday] at Edb. He dyned 
 that day att Bavelay, and came in after to Edb. and dyed 
 suddenly that same night.' 
 
 He was twice married. His first wife was Margaret Boyd, 
 daughter of Stephen Boyd of Temple, merchant in Edinburgh, 
 and by her he had seven children, three of whom lived to 
 grow up — Elizabeth (Lady Binning), born November 1639, 
 Laurence (iii), afterwards of Bavelaw, born August 1643, and 
 Margaret, who married in August 1665 Hugh Wallace of 
 Inghston, Writer to the Signet,^ afterwards representative 
 in Parliament for the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright 1685-86, 
 and for Kintore 1689-90. They had a son Thomas. Four 
 daughters of Laurence Scott and Margaret Boyd died in 
 infancy — Marion, born June 1642, Anna, born October 1644, 
 Barbara, born January 1647, and Janet, bom April 1648. 
 
 Margaret Boyd seems to have been alive on March 28, 
 1649, when her husband was made a burgess and guild 
 brother of Edinburgh in her right as the daughter of a 
 burgess, but she must have died very soon after, for in 
 March 1650 Laurence Scott married his second wife, Catherine 
 Binning, half-sister of his future son-in-law. Sir Wilham 
 Binning. They had a family of twelve : two sons, William 
 (iv) and Charles (v), grew up and succeeded to the property ; 
 five daughters also grew up, and five children died in infancy 
 — Eupham, born January 1654, Marion, born August 1656, 
 Hew, born September 1658, David, born October 1660, and 
 Anna, born May 1662. 
 
 1 Thomson's Acts, vii. 421 (h). - (Maitland Club), p. 215. 
 
 ' Inquisitiones Oenemles, No. 8721 ; History of the W.S. Society,
 
 190 LAURENCE SCOTT OF BAVELAW 
 
 The second IVIrs. Scott survived her husband for many 
 years, and was aHve m 1703. All that is recorded of her 
 is that her son-in-law, Sir Alexander Brand, successfully 
 sued one James Marshall for slander in having said that he 
 (Brand) had called his mother-in-law a witch. ^ 
 
 Of the five daughters of the second family, 
 
 (1) Katharine, born April 1651, died unmarried after 1690. 
 
 (2) Barbara, born July 1652, married in June 1682, as the 
 second of his three wives. Sir Roger Hog (Lord Harcarse), a 
 Lord of Session, and died within three years leaving an only 
 child, Barbara, who married William Robertson of Ladykirk. 
 
 (3) Christian, born February 1655, married in 1674 Sir 
 Alexander Brand of Brandsfield, and had a large family. 
 
 (4) Janet, born October 1659, married in February 1682 
 Michael Lumsden, advocate, and died before 1701, having had 
 two sons — Charles, born August 1685, and George, born April 
 1688, who both died young — and two daughters, Katharine, 
 who married David BosweU of Balmuto, and Barbara, who 
 died unmarried. Mr. Lumsden's grandfather, father and 
 brother were successively ministers of Duddingston. 
 
 (5) Agnes, born October 1663, married on February 16, 
 1695 Adam FuUarton, W.S., of Bartonholm, a property just 
 north of Irvine. He died in 1709, and their only son, Captain 
 WUliam FuUarton, died unmarried.^ 
 
 During the himdred years after Laurence Scott's death 
 Bavelaw passed through eight hands. Laurence (iii), the eldest 
 son, who succeeded him, was married at Alnwick on January 
 16, 1670 to Margaret, only child of John Maxwell, eldest son 
 of Sir James Maxwell of Calderwood.^ She had had an 
 unhappy upbringing : her father had been guilty of scandalous 
 
 1 Edinburgh Cammissariot Records, Consistorial Processes (Scot. Record Soc), 
 No. 117. 
 
 2 Campbell's Session Papers (Adv. Lib.), vol. vi. Nos. 5 and 7 ; Morison, Dictionary, 
 p. 3420. 
 
 ^ Maxwells of PoUok, Sir Wm. Fraser, i. 483.
 
 THE SCOTTS OF BAVELAW 191 
 
 ill-treatment of her mother, and was denounced as a rebel 
 in consequence. 
 
 Laurence Scott's marriage turned out unhappily. He 
 had no family, and in 1676 his wife proved mifaithful and 
 left him. He thereupon divorced her.^ She was alive in 
 1682. It may well be that she had great provocation, 
 for he figures in the records of Penicuik kirk session and 
 Dalkeith presbytery as a contumacious resister of discipline. 
 An entry in the session record on July 28, 1679, the year of 
 his death, runs : ' Received from Bavelaw the sum of £28, 8s. 
 penalty for his sins, he having before this for a considerable 
 period defied the Presbytery and Session.' Harperrig was 
 sold about this time. 
 
 His half-brother, WiUiam (iv), who succeeded, obtained 
 on October 9, 1679 a charter imder the Great Seal - erecting 
 the lands of Bavelaw and Butelands into the free barony of 
 Bavelaw. He was admitted an advocate on March 17, 1684, 
 was appointed a Commissioner of Supply in 1686,^ and died 
 without issue in March 1690,* aged forty- two. 
 
 Bavelaw passed to his brother Charles (v), who generously 
 carried out a provision, which William had mtended to 
 make, of 4000 merks for his five sisters. ^ He also was a 
 Commissioner of Supply in 1690 and 1696.^ He married 
 Barbara Scott, a daughter of his cousin, John Scott of Malleny, 
 and had three sons, Jolm, WiUiam, and Laurence. She sur- 
 vived him, and on September 6, 1709 married Mr. Walter 
 Stewart, Solicitor-General. She died in July 1751,^ leaving 
 a daughter by her second husband, Anne, who married Colin 
 Maclaurin, the famous professor of Mathematics. 
 
 1 Commissariot of Edinr., Consistorial Processes, No. 18 (Scot. Record Soc). 
 
 2 Vol. 63, Fol. 51. 
 
 * Thomson's Acts, viii. 610 (o). 
 
 * Edinburgh Testaments, November 17, 1691. 
 
 ° Campbell's Session Papers (Adv. Lib.), vol. vi., Nos. 5 and 7. 
 » Thomson's Acts, ix. 137 (a) ; x. 28 (6). 
 ' Edinburgh Testaments, March 20, 1753.
 
 192 THE SCOTTS OF BAVELAW 
 
 Charles Scott died in December 1701 aged thirty- three, 
 and Bavelaw went first to his eldest son, John (vi), who died 
 in July 1703, and then to the second son, WiUiam (vii). 
 Laurence, the third son, was a merchant in Glasgow, and 
 cashier there to the Royal Bank. He died on October 5, 
 1764, in his seventieth year, leavmg a son, Charles, and a 
 daughter, Barbara. 
 
 William Scott was admitted an advocate on July 6, 1717, 
 and married in November 1721 Mary, eldest daughter of 
 William Foulis of Woodhall, advocate,^ by whom he had four 
 sons and three daughters. He had been elected a member 
 of the Royal Company of Archers in 1712. In July 1737 he 
 bought at a judicial sale the estate of Kersland in the parish 
 of Dairy, Ayrshire ^ — a property which had been possessed 
 by the Kers since the beginning of the thirteenth century, 
 held ward of the Eglinton family. In the winter of 1740, 
 during a time of scarcity, WiUiam Scott provided a supply 
 of corn to be sold to the people on his property at a low 
 rate.^ The Caledonian Mercury,^ in notifying his sudden 
 death in Edinburgh on September 8, 1741, describes him as 
 ' a gentleman of great sobriety and vertue, and universally 
 esteemed.' 
 
 Bavelaw once more passed through the hands of three 
 brothers in turn. WiUiam (viii), the eldest son, who was 
 under the tutorship of his uncle Laurence, died on March 5, 
 1747 ; Laurence (ix), the second son, died in September 1755 
 aged eighteen ; ^ and Charles (x), who was born on AprU 8, 
 1738, finaUy succeeded. The rest of the family of WiUiam 
 Scott and Mary Foulis were a son David, and three daughters, 
 Barbara, Mary (wife of Andrew Home, merchant in Windy- 
 ghoul), and Margaret. 
 
 1 Account Book of Sir John Foulis (Scot. Hist. Soc), p. Ixix. 
 
 2 Hamilton-Oordori's Session Papers (Adv. Lib.), 1st Ser., 2K, 11. 
 5 CXirrie Kirk Session Records, December 28, 1740. 
 
 « September 10, 1741. 
 
 ' Edinburgh Courant, September 4, 1755.
 
 THE SCOTTS OF BAVELAW 193 
 
 Charles Scott was a cornet in the Scots Greys from 1758 
 to 1762. In the latter year he married Frances, daughter 
 of John Vicaradge, Attorney in Exchequer, and exchanged 
 into the 108th Foot as adjutant. The regiment was dis- 
 banded the next year, and he remained on the half-pay 
 (Irish) estabUshment till 1783, presumably the year of his 
 death. During his time the family property was dissipated. 
 His brother WiUiam had already sold part of Kersland, and 
 Laiirence with the consent of his curators had feued the 
 remainder, but Charles borrowed money on the superiority, 
 which amounted to £70 per annum, and eventually it had to 
 be sold. Butelands with a rental of £175, 8s. 6d. was adver- 
 tised for sale in 1763,^ and was bought by Calderwood of 
 Polton. Three years later Charles Scott tried to sell Bavelaw,^ 
 the rental being stated at £120, 13s. No bargain resulted, 
 so the advertisement was renewed in 1772 and 1773, the 
 rental, including the farm of Bedford, being then given at 
 £313, 15s. 8d. and £6600 being fixed as the upset price. The 
 estate was bought on April 1, 1774 by David Johnston of 
 Lathrisk, merchant in Gottenburg.^ These transactions did 
 not relieve Charles Scott's embarrassments, and on December 
 6, 1775 * he was sequestrated, and afterwards went abroad. 
 His widow was living at 3 Windmill Street, Edinburgh, as 
 late as 1809. He left several children, the representation of 
 the family in the male line being now in Commander Charles 
 Scott, Chief Constable of Sheffield. 
 
 Bavelaw remained in the Johnston famUy till 1903, when 
 it was bought by John Scott Tait, chartered accountant, 
 whose representatives sold it in 1911 to Sir Alexander Oliver 
 Riddell of Craiglockhart. 
 
 1 Edinburgh Courant, November 2, 1763. 
 
 2 lb., February 1, 1766, June 15, 1772, November 29, 1773. 
 
 3 Register of Deeds (Durie), vol. 233, fol. 456. 
 * Edinburgh Courant, December 30, 1775. 
 
 2b
 
 BOYD PEDIGREE 
 
 THOMAS BOYD OP Kipps, 
 d. Oct. 1575. 
 
 James of Kipps, 
 
 m. Marion, daughter of Richard Carmichael 
 
 of Aithernie, d. January 1594. 
 
 Robert. 
 
 William. 
 
 Margaret. 
 
 Robert of Kipps, advocate, 
 b. 1575, d. July 10, 1645, 
 m. Geilles Boig. 
 
 J 
 
 John. Stephen of Temple, Bailie of Edin- 
 burgh 1635 and 1639, m. Nov. 30, 1615, 
 Elizabeth Hutchesone, d. Dec. 1642. 
 I 
 
 Marion, 
 
 m. Francis Cockburn 
 
 of Temple. 
 
 Margaret, b. Jan. 1605, Christian, 
 
 d. July 10, 1672, m. m. William 
 
 David, brother of Sir Monteith 
 
 James Sibbald of of Carriber. 
 Raukeillor. 
 
 John, Bailie of Edin- 
 burgh 1660, 1663, and 
 
 1676, m. Margaret 
 Keith, widow of 
 Andrew Stevin, d. 
 
 1677. I 
 
 James of Temple, d. 
 March 1674, m. 1641, 
 Anna, daughter of 
 William Henryson 
 of Grantoun. 
 
 Margaret, 
 m. Laurence 
 
 Scott 
 of Bavelaw. 
 
 Sir Robert Sibbald (1641- 
 1722), President Royal 
 College of Physicians, 
 Edinburgh, First Pro- 
 fessor of Medicine in 
 Edinburgh University. 
 
 Margaret, m. Sep. 4, 1670, Elizabeth, d. 1686, Anna, m. Alexander 
 
 Sir James Foulis, third m. James Scott, Sympsone, merchant 
 
 Sheriff-Clerk of burgess of Edinburgh. 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 Bart, of Colinton (Lord 
 Reidfoord).
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE BOYDS OF KIPPS 
 
 Stephen Boyd of Temple, whose daughter married Laurence 
 Scott of Bavelaw, was the youngest son of James Boyd of 
 Kipps, Linlithgowshire. 1 
 
 The Kipps family are evidently descended from the 
 Boyds of Kilmarnock. In an heraldic MS., of date about 
 1600 and attributed to Sir David Lindsay the younger, there 
 is a note opposite the blazon of Lord Boyd in a contemporary 
 hand ^ — ' Lairds of Banheath, Kippis, Bonschaw, Penkill, 
 the Throchrig ' — evidently indicating that they are the 
 cadet branches. James Boyd and his father are often found 
 in close association with Robert, fifth Lord Boyd ; ^ and 
 Robert Boyd of Badinheath, brother of the sixth Lord Boyd, 
 in his will made in 1611, appoints his 'cousin' Mr. Robert 
 Boyd of Kipps to be one of his executors.* It seems most 
 probable that this branch descended from a younger son of 
 Alexander, third Lord Boyd. 
 
 Kipps was acquired by Thomas Boyd, who was one of 
 the commissioners for Torphichen parish at John Knox's 
 first General Assembly of the Reformed Church,^ which 
 met on December 20, 1560 and drew up the famous Book 
 of Discipline. In 1568 he appears along with his son James 
 among the followers of Robert Lord Boyd at the battle of 
 
 * Quild Register of Edinburgh. 
 
 - Stoddart, Scottish Arms, ii. 283. 
 
 ^ Glasgow Protocols, vii. No. 2090 ; x. No. 3085. 
 
 * Paterson, History of Ayrshire, 1842, ii. 520. 
 
 ^ Booke of the Universal Kirk (Bannatyne Club), p. 4. 
 
 195
 
 196 THE BO YDS OF KIPPS 
 
 Langside, where they fought for Queen Mary against the 
 Regent Moray and were defeated. 
 
 In 1571 father and son received the King's pardon,^ and 
 next year they obtained from Lord Torphichen a grant of 
 the liferent and fee respectively of the three merk lands of 
 Kjpps. The grant was confirmed by a charter of King 
 James vi. on February 13, 1574.2 
 
 Thomas Boyd died in October 1575, and was buried in 
 Torphichen church. He left three sons, James his successor, 
 Robert, and William, and a daughter, Margaret. 
 
 James Boyd had been in the service of Lord Torphichen, 
 and the feu charter of Kipps bears to have been granted 
 partly for good service and partly for a money consideration. 
 
 Sir Robert Sibbald says : ^ 'I have seen the copie of a 
 Commission to be Balive by James Lord Torphichen to James 
 Boyd of Kipps and his Heirs, for aU the Temple Lands within 
 the bounds of Angus and Fife for nineteen years.' 
 
 Kipps is described in the charter as a three merk land, 
 with the grain mill of the barony of Torphichen, together with 
 the astricted multures of all grain grown on the lands of the 
 said barony, and with the piece of land called IMyhihill and 
 the kiln built on it, ' aU as occupied by the said Tliomas Boyd.' 
 The feu-duty was 40 shillings for Kipps and £24, 14s. Scots 
 for the mill and multures, with the usual services. 
 
 Kipps, now a ruin, lies on the southern slope of Cockleroi 
 or Cocklernie Hill, about three miles south of Linlithgow 
 and a mile north-east of Torphichen. MacGibbon and Ross, 
 who give a plan and illustration of the house, say : ^ ' The 
 building is a gaunt narrow oblong house, extremely plain, 
 but it may be regarded as a good specimen of the kind of 
 
 1 R. M. S., 1546-80, No. 1969 ; Ahhotsford Chib Miscellany, ' Boyd Papers,' i. 29. 
 
 2 R. M. 8., 1546-80, No. 2186. 
 
 * History of the Sheriffdom of Linlithgow, p. 24. 
 
 * Castellated and Domestic Architecture, iv. 14.
 
 JAMES BOYD OF KIPPS 197 
 
 accommodation required in a Scotch gentleman's house in 
 the seventeenth century.' 
 
 Sir Robert Sibbald, who hved there in the early years 
 of the eighteenth century, says :^ 'As to the particular 
 Description of the Parish [Torphichen] : I begin with the 
 eastmost house of it, the Kipps ; which in the old Language 
 signifies HiUs. The house stands upon the rising of the 
 Hill, and in the midst of Planting and Gardens, it is shaltered 
 from the North Winds by the Hill of Cocklereuf, and is open 
 towards the south. There are several Vallies with Springs 
 and Rivulets running through them between the HiUs, which 
 afford a constant Verdure there, for the HiUs are often 
 moistened with the Vapours which ascend from the Coast 
 and other low Grounds about it, which settle on the Tops 
 of the Hills, and drop down on them when there is no Rain 
 in the Neighbourhood. 
 
 ' A little to the West of the House, there is an Echo 
 from Cocklereuf, which repeats three several times from 
 different places, distinctly, six or seven syUabls; when one 
 has their Face towards the House. And when one turns 
 and looks to the North West tliere is upon calling a Circular 
 Echo, from the ambient Hills. From the House there is, 
 betwixt the rising Grounds on each side, an easie Descent 
 towards the Meadow, which openeth a long and large Prospect 
 of the Countrey westward ; and from the top of the Hill on 
 which the House stands there is a Prospect of the Countrey 
 round about, and of the Firth of Forth from the rise of the 
 River to the May and the Bass : the Castle of Stirling and 
 the Linlvs of Forth and the Carss Countrey on each side of 
 the River afford a delightful Prospect. 
 
 ' The Gromad has Coal and other Minerals and Metalls 
 in it. There is Mmidick found in the Bourns, and the 
 Hematites upon the laboured Land, and at the foot of the 
 West Bank there is a VitrioUck Spring. 
 
 ^ History of the Sheriffdom of Linlithgow, pp. 22-26.
 
 198 JAMES BOYD OF KIPPS 
 
 ' The House is at a miles distance from any other Seat 
 of the Gentry, so that it is a perfect Solitude, and without 
 the Ornaments of Art, which other Seats have, but has 
 many commendable advantages by Nature's Free Gift. . . . 
 
 ' There is at the end of the Inclosure of the Kipps an 
 ancient Altar of several great Stones so placed that each 
 of them does support another, and not one of them could 
 stand without the support of the other : the broad Stone, 
 upon which the Sacrifice was offered, looks to the South ; 
 near to this Altar is a Circle of Stones with a large Stone 
 or two in the middle : this was a Temple in Ancient Times, 
 and our word Kirk is from Circus, the round position of the 
 Stones.' 
 
 In 1573 Lord Torphichen was summoned before the Privy 
 Council on the charge of having retained certain articles of 
 furniture and ' ane coffer fuU of buikis ' belonging to the 
 Crown. ^ He admitted having received them, and professed 
 his willingness to restore them : at the same time he pled 
 that they had been given to him by Queen Mary, and called 
 James Boyd of Kipps as a witness. Thomas Binning of 
 Carlowriehaugh was also cited. James Boyd deponed that 
 he ' wes desirit be my Lord Torphechen to pas to Lochlevin 
 quhair the Queen then wes, and obtenit fra hir a precept 
 to Servie to be ansuerit of sic thingis as mycht serve to my 
 Lord of Saint Johnnes' commoditie, being then diseasit and 
 lying in the Abb ay.' 
 
 Some time before 1567 James Boyd had left the service 
 of Lord Torphichen, ' and duelt with my Lord Boyd.' In 
 1569 he and his master were witnesses to a commission by 
 the Queen for procuring a divorce from Bothwell,^ and in 
 the spring of 1571 he was sent to Sheffield to render ' compt ' 
 of some affairs to the Queen. ^ He was a witness * to the 
 
 * Inventories of the Royal Wardrobe, Thos. Thomson, p. 192. 
 
 * National MSS. of Scotland, iii. 59. ^ Calendar of Scottish Papers, iii. 493, 531. 
 
 * The Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinlon, Sir Wm. Fraser, ii. 216.
 
 JAMES BOYD OF KIPPS 199 
 
 marriage contract of Lord Boyd's daughter to Hugh, after- 
 wards fourth Earl of Eglinton, and in 1589 he stood surety 
 that Lord Boyd would not harm a certain George Cunningham 
 in Gogar.^ In 1582 he himself had to find caution of 
 £500 not to ' ressett, supplie nor intercommoun be word or 
 write ' with any of the ' declairit tratouris f orfaltit and now 
 remaning furth of this realm.' 
 
 James Boyd made two appearances in the Court of 
 Justiciary.^ On May 20, 1589 he was ' delatit ' along with 
 Thomas Master of Boyd and four other persons ' of the 
 slauchter of umqi^ John Mure in the WeU committit near 
 Prestwick in the moneth of August 1571.' The complaint 
 set forth ^ that the accused ' w' convocatioun of o'' leagis 
 to the nwmber of sextene persounis or th'"by, aU boidin in 
 feir of weir w' jackis, speiris, secreitis steilbonnetis, swordis, 
 lang culweringis, duggis and pistolettis expresslie prohibeit 
 to be borne worne usit or schot ... in the moneth of Avigust 
 the zeir of God jaj v^ Ixxj zeiris, haifing conceavit ane deidlie 
 feid ranco"" and malice aganis the said umq'" Jhonne, umbeset 
 the hiegat and passage to him at the kirk of prestick lyand 
 w'in o'' s^'effdome of air, quhair he was solitar his aUane 
 rydand fra the toun of air to his awin duelling hous in the 
 well in maist sober and quyet maner, set upone him and 
 crueUie invadit him for his slauchtir, schot and delaschit th'' 
 pistolettis at him qi'w* thai schot him throuche the body, 
 and being faUin of the hors, w' th' suordis maist cruellie 
 and unmercifuUie slew him upone set purpois provisioun 
 invy and foirtho* fellony.' 
 
 Letters of remission were granted by the King. 
 
 In 1590 James Boyd was complainer at the trial of James 
 Gyb * on the charge of ' Wearing and Shooting of Pistolets 
 within the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Woimding, etc' The 
 
 1 p. C. E., iii. 488 ; iv. 370. = Pitcairn, Criminal Trials, i. Pt. 2, 171. 
 
 ' The Historie and Descent of the House of Bowallane, p. 120. 
 * Pitcairn, Criminal Trials, i. Pt. 2, 187.
 
 200 JAMES BOYD OF KIPPS 
 
 prisoner was ' convict of umbesetting of the hie way and 
 passage, upoune deidlie feid, rancour, and malice to James 
 Boyd of Kippis, burges of Edinburghe, the penult day of 
 Maij last bypast, the said James being gangand sobirUe upoune 
 the hie streit thairof, as within our souerane lordis chalmer 
 of peax, dredand na evill, harme, iniurie or persuit of ony 
 persounes, bot to haif levit under Godis peax and our souerer- 
 ane lordis, and thair setting upoune him, and crewallie 
 invading him with ane pistolet and drawin swerd for his 
 slauchter ; schuiting of him with the said pistolet and thre 
 buUettis in the rycht fute, and hiirting and wounding of 
 him with his sword in the rycht hand, to the effusioune of 
 his blude in grit quantitie.' 
 
 After the verdict a letter from the King was read. It 
 was addressed to the Court and stated that as the prisoner 
 had committed the crime ' withm the boimdis of our awin 
 PaKce and Chalmer, in proude contempte of Us and mony 
 of our Actis of Parliament, Secreit CounsaU and Proclama- 
 tiounis past thairupoune, and thairby hes offerit ane pereUous 
 preparative and example to the rest of our subjectis ; this 
 being the first fact committit in that forme sen our retiu"ning 
 to our realme or lang befoir. . . . Thairfoir we declair that 
 the said James Gyb saU suffer the death and be put thairto 
 without ony delay as he hes worthelie deseruit.' 
 
 A month later, however, at a sitting of the Court on 
 July 11, ' Comperit Mr. James Carmichel, brothir-in-law 
 to James Boyd of the Kippis, and produceit ane Precept 
 direct be oure Soueverane Lord to the Justice. 
 
 ' " ForsamekiU as James Gyb wes be ane condigne Assyse 
 laithe convict and condamnit to deid before zow . . . 
 Quhilk dome of deid wes thaireftir upoune certane respectis 
 mitigat be Ws ; and the said James decernit and condamnit 
 to want his rycht hand for the cryme foirsaid ; The execu- 
 tioun quhairof hes bene as zit delayit, att the ernist requeist 
 and desyre of the said James Boyd of Kippis, to quhome
 
 JAMES BOYD OF KIPPS 201 
 
 the wrang and offence wes done ; ane manne mair willing 
 apperandlie, upoune repentance of his oflfendar, to petie, 
 pardoun and forgif, nor to seek revange of his offence be 
 schedding of mair blude : quhais Cristinne inclinatioune we 
 can nocht bot allow. And now, being informit that certane 
 gentilmen, takand the burding upoune thame for the said 
 James Gyb, hes for the assythment of the said James Boyd 
 maid certane offerris and bundin and obleist thame under 
 certane pecuniaU panis that the said James Gyb sail do sic 
 homage to him as he sail pleis command ; and als that the 
 said James Gyb sail willinghe baneise him selff furth of our 
 realme and sail newir returne agane. . . . We charge you 
 to interpone your auctoritie thairunto, Lyke as we also 
 interpone oure auctoritie to the said Band." ' 
 
 James Boyd was a man of property before he succeeded 
 his father in the estate of Kipps. In 1573 he bought from 
 his kinsman, James Boyd of Trochrig, Archbishop of Glasgow, 
 a ' ruinous and waist tenement ' on the north side of the 
 High Street of Edinburgh,^ which had been burnt by the 
 English in 1544 during the Earl of Hertford's invasion. The 
 disposition was confirmed by King James in 1575, and again 
 in 1592 after the annexation of the Church lands. In 1578 
 he bought the mill of Carstairs, also from the Archbishop. ^ 
 
 On November 3, 1587 James Boyd was made a burgess 
 and guild brother of Edinburgh in right of his wife, Marion, 
 daughter of Richard Carraichael of Aithernie, merchant 
 burgess. He seems to have lived principally in Edinburgh, 
 for at his death the lands of Kipps were let to a tenant.^ 
 
 Richard Carmichael, who was a baiUe of Edinburgh in 
 1556,* was the son of John Carmichael, burgess of Edinburgh, 
 
 ^ Thomscni's Ads, iii. 616. 
 2 E. M. S., 1546-80, No. 2881. 
 ^ Morison, Dictionary, 5386. 
 * Laing Charters, 659. 
 
 2c
 
 202 THE CARMICHAELS OF AITHERNIE 
 
 and Mary Richardson his wife. In 1536 John Carmichael 
 obtained from the Abbess of the Nunnery of North Berwick 
 a feu of the lands of Aithernie,^ which he in the parish of 
 Scoonie in Fife, about a mile and a haK from the Firth of 
 Forth half-way between Leven and Largo. 
 
 The lands were a grant to the Nmmery, partly by the 
 Earl of Fife in 1160, and partly by Thomas Lundin of that 
 ilk in 1220 ; ^ and at the Reformation they were included in 
 the barony of North Berwick erected in favour of Alexander 
 Home.^ In 1623 the superiority of the barony passed to 
 Sir Thomas Hope of CraighaU, the famous Lord Advocate,* 
 the reddendo paid to him for Aitheniie being £11. 
 
 Richard Carmichael died in April 1588, leaving at least 
 three sons — John, WiUiam, a burgess of Dysart, and James, 
 minister of Haddington.^ 
 
 Mr. James Carmichael was one of the most prominent 
 of John Knox's successors in the Reformed Church. He 
 graduated M.A. at St, Andrews in 1564, and was appointed 
 to Haddington in 1570 : he held the benefice for over fifty 
 years, with a break of four years (1584-88), during which, 
 along with Andrew MelviUe and others, he had to take refuge 
 in England owing to his sympathy with the Ruthven raiders.^ 
 He was nominated constant Moderator of the Presbytery 
 of Haddington in 1606, and died in 1628 in his eighty- fifth 
 year. Wodrow says : ' ' He was a person of very great 
 naturaU and acquired abilities, a sufficient person for busi- 
 ness, and a great strain of both piety and strong learning 
 runs through his letters and papers.' He was a fine scholar : 
 he was the author of Grammaticce Latince de Etymologia 
 
 1 R. M. 8., 1513-46, Nos. 1005, 1759, 2388, 2659. 
 
 - Charters of North Berwick (Bannatyne Club), pp. 5, 11. 
 
 =• R. M. S., 1580-93, No. 1492. 
 
 * lb., 1620-33, No. 463. 
 
 ' Edinburgh Testaments, May 30, 1594. 
 
 « Life of Aiidrew Melville, M'Crie, 2nd Ed., i. 229 ; ii. 412, 431. 
 
 ' Miscellany, i. 412.
 
 THE CARMICHAELS OF AITHERNIE 203 
 
 Liber secundus, and he was selected by the Privy Council 
 to revise Skene's Regiam Majestatem as it passed through 
 the press. 
 
 On Richard Carmichael's death Aithernie was acquired 
 by Thomas Inglis, merchant in Edinburgh/ and on his death 
 some time before 1622 it passed to his son-in-law, WiUiam 
 Rig, also merchant in Edinburgh,^ who had married Sara 
 Inglis in January 1612.^ 
 
 WiUiam Rig's first enjoyment of Aithernie was as a 
 prisoner : he was a prominent Presbyterian and refused to 
 conform to the Articles of Perth of 1618, so he and five other 
 laymen were sentenced to banishment in 1620.* After 
 being kept for some time at Blackness, Rig petitioned in 
 1625 to be allowed to stay at Aithernie, in order, as he said, 
 that he might have access to the guidance of the Archbishop 
 of St. Andrews. The petition was granted. 
 
 Aithernie remamed in the Rig family tiU 1670, when it 
 was sold to James Watson of Downfield, son of David Watson 
 and grandson of James Watson sometime Provost of St. 
 Andrews.^ James's son, Alexander, married Margaret 
 Lindsay, daughter of David Lindsay of EdzeU, and left a 
 daughter and heiress, Anne, who married Dr. James Smyth, 
 a cadet of the house of Braco. The eldest daughter and 
 heiress, Margaret Smjrth, married Dr. Thomas Carmichael, 
 whose granddaughter, Maria Agnes Carmichael-Smyth, 
 became Mrs. Alexander Monro (Tertius). Thus by a coinci- 
 dence the last three generations of Monros can claim a two- 
 fold descent from the lairds of Aithernie, and the property 
 twice passed through families of Carmichaels. 
 
 James Boyd of Kipps died in January 1594, survived by 
 
 1 B. M. 8., 1593-1608, No. 2167. 
 ^ Inquisitiones Generates, 1020. 
 3 Edinburgh Marriage Register. 
 * P. C. B., xii. 249-51 ; xiiL 694. 
 ^ Itiqaisitiones, Fife, 1136, 1137.
 
 204 THE BOYDS OF KIPPS 
 
 his wife and three sons, Robert, John, and Stephen, and 
 a daughter, and was buried in Torphichen Church. The 
 daughter, Marion, married Francis Cockburn of Temple.'- 
 In his will James Boyd nominated tutors to his children, and 
 appointed Lord Boyd and the Master of Boyd to be overs- 
 men to supervise their actings.^ 
 
 Robert, the eldest son, who was bom in 1575, succeeded 
 to Kipps, and became an advocate with a good practice. In 
 1609 he raised an action against his mother, who had married 
 a Mr. John Russell, for delivery of certain heirship goods, 
 including ' six gold buttons which his father had upon his 
 skin coat.' ^ His wife's name was Geilles Boig. He died 
 on July 10, 1645 leaving two daughters, Margaret and 
 Christian, and was buried at Torphichen. The inscription 
 on his tomb runs : * ' Magistro Roberto Bodio a Kipps, 
 Jurisconsulto ; qui ad antiquam sanguinis uobihtatem, 
 insignem pietatis, probitatis et eruditionis claritatem accu- 
 mulavit : bonis probatus vixit, desideratus ad coelestem 
 gloriam transiit 10 Julii 1645, setatis septuagesimo primo.' 
 
 After his death his ' ludgeing foranent Nidries WjTid 
 head ' was for a couple of years used as a powder magazine.^ 
 
 Margaret, the elder daughter, married David Sibbald, 
 son of Andrew Sibbald of Over Rankeillor in Fife, and brother 
 of Sir James Sibbald, and had a large family, her third son 
 being Sir Robert Sibbald, foimder of the Royal CoUege of 
 Physicians in Edinburgh. Christian Boyd, the yoimger 
 daughter, married WilHam Monteith of Carriber. The 
 sisters could not agree as to the possession of Kipps after 
 their father's death, so the matter was taken into Court, 
 
 1 p. C. R., 2nd Series, ii. 314. 
 
 ^ Edinburgh Testaments, July 25, 1695. 
 
 ^ Morison, Dictionary, p. 5386. 
 
 « Monteith, Epitaphs, ed. 1851, p. 274. 
 
 * Thomson's Acts, vi. (1), 694, 724.
 
 THE BOYDS OF KIPPS 205 
 
 where it was decided that the mansion-house belonged to 
 Mrs. Sibbald. 
 
 Sir Robert Sibbald described his mother as ' a vertuous 
 and pious matron of great sagacity and firmnesse of mynde 
 and very carefull of my education.' ^ Her tomb at Tor- 
 phichen records : ' Sub hoc etiam conditur cippo Margareta 
 Bodia ejusdem Magistri Roberti filia primogenita et conjunx 
 Magistri Davidis Sibbaldi fratris germani Rankilorii, in qua, 
 prseter smgularem modestiam et constantiam emicuere pietas, 
 prudentia et qusecumque virtus matronam decebat ab 
 iUustrissima Bodiorum gente oriundam. Nata Januarii 
 1606, denata 10 Juhi 1672.' Sir Robert Sibbald lived at 
 Kipps for many years, and after his death the property 
 went to his son-in-law, Alexander Falconer, advocate. ^ It 
 was allowed to become dilapidated, and though it was after- 
 wards repaired, it again feU into ruins within Uving memory. 
 
 Of John Boyd, second son of James Boyd of Kipps, 
 nothing is known except a single incident recorded in the 
 Register of the Privy Council.^ On July 31, 1600 two men 
 called M'Grane complained that upon a Sunday in Jime 
 last, they having repaired to the town of Mauchline ' for 
 heiring of the Word, lippyning for na truble nor injurie to 
 have bene offerit to thame,' Johnne Boyde, brother of the 
 goodman of Eappis, and Hew Gray of MayboUl assaulted 
 them in divers parts of their bodies. The defenders did 
 not appear and were denounced as rebels. 
 
 John Boyd's son John became a merchant in Edinburgh,* 
 and was fourth BaiUe in 1660, and first Bailie in 1663, and 
 again in 1676 when Sir WiUiam Binning was Provost. He 
 was chosen Dean of Guild the following year, but died ten 
 
 1 Maidment, Analecta, i. 126 aeq. 
 
 ^ Arniston Session Papers (Adv. Lib.), vol. xi. No. 11. 
 
 3 vi. 140. 
 
 * Inquisitiones Generales, 3376.
 
 206 THE BOYDS OF KIPPS 
 
 days after his election. He married Margaret Keith, widow 
 of Andrew Stevin, and left one daughter, Margaret, who on 
 September 4, 1670 married Sir James Foulis (Lord Reidfoord), 
 third Baronet of Colinton.^ His Lordship ' got with her of 
 tocher about ane 100 pounds Scots.' ^ 
 
 1 Inqaisiiiones Generales, 6142. 
 
 ^ Index of Geneahgies, etc. in Lyon Office (Soot. Record Soc).
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 STEPHEN BOYD OF TEMPLE 
 
 Stephen Boyd, whose daughter married Laurence Scott, 
 was the youngest son of James Boyd of Kipps. On November 
 23, 1614 ' compeirand sufficientlie armit w* ane furnishit 
 corslett' he was admitted a burgess and guild brother of 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 He married Elizabeth Hutchesone on November 30, 1615. 
 
 In 1618 he acqmred the ' town ' and lands of Vogrie in 
 Borthwick parish, at the north-east end of the Moorfoot 
 hills, from Elizabeth Cockburn, sister of his brother-in-law 
 Francis Cockburn.^ EHzabeth had acquired her right from 
 Francis by virtue of an apprismg. 
 
 It is not known whether Stephen Boyd ever lived at 
 Vogrie, but in 1631 he sold it back to William Cockbiirn, 
 younger brother of Francis, and about the same time bought 
 from him the property of Temple, consisting of the lands 
 and dominical lands of Temple, with tower, manor-place, 
 mill, lands and town of Utterstoim, lands of Caldwell, lands 
 and town of Yorkstoun, with the right of presentation to 
 the kirk of Temple. Some time later he acquired some security 
 right over the adjoining lands of Esperstoun on the east side. 
 
 Temple, originally the Temple lands of BaUntrodo or 
 Balantradoch, lies adjoining Clerkington at the north end 
 of the Moorfoots, and was the site of the chief house in 
 Scotland of the Knights Templars. On the suppression of 
 the Order the lands had passed to the Knights Hospitallers 
 
 1 R. M. S., 1620-33, Nos. 382, 2248 ; Reports o» Parishes, 1627 (Maitland Qub), p. 38. 
 
 207
 
 208 STEPHEN BOYD OF TEMPLE 
 
 of St. John of Jerusalem, and in 1577 Lord Torphichen, the 
 Lord of Erection, feued them to his brother-in-law, John 
 Cockburn of Ormiston, one of the Reformation leaders, 
 and Alison Sandilands his "wife.^ Eight years later a charter 
 was granted to Samuel Cockburn, John's third son, and 
 Samuel was succeeded by his elder son Francis, who married 
 Marion Boyd. 
 
 Francis disponed Temple to his brother WiUiam, but 
 the transaction gave rise to a family feud, and the Privy 
 Council had to intervene. ^ 
 
 On March 8, 1634 the King, on the resignation of Stephen 
 Boyd and Lord Torphichen the superior, erected it into a 
 free barony.^ 
 
 This royal grant may perhaps be connected with the 
 fact that on December 12, 1632 King Charles n. appointed 
 Stephen Boyd to be one of the Commissioners of Surrenders 
 and Tithes.* The first Commission for Surrenders of Superi- 
 orities and Teinds was appointed in 1627 to work out the 
 situation created by the Act of Revocation, which annexed 
 aU the Church and CrowTi lands that had been alienated 
 since the accession of Queen Mary in 1542. This involved 
 the transference to the Crown of the lands which had been 
 erected into temporal lordships at the Reformation. The 
 Commission was instructed to settle the terms upon which 
 the erected lands should be transferred, but it iiltimately 
 left the matter to the King's pleasure, and the value of the 
 erected lands was fixed by him at ten years' purchase, and 
 that of the teinds at one-fifth of the rental of the lands from 
 which they were drawn. The Commission of 1632, and 
 also those of 1641, 1644 and 1647, were mainly occupied 
 with questions of valuation. 
 
 1 Charters of Torphichen, Robt. Hill, Edinr., 1830, pp. 53, 12. 
 
 2 P. C. R., 2nd Ser. i. 520; ii. 17, 65, 314. 
 
 3 R. M. S., 1634-51, No. 72. 
 
 * Register of Royal Letters, ii. 638.
 
 STEPHEN BOYD OF TEMPLE 209 
 
 In 1635 Stephen Boyd was elected to the town council 
 of Edinburgh as fourth Bailie, and four years later as second 
 Bailie. He acted as Treasurer of the University revenues. 
 
 In the summer of 1640 the King and the Covenanters 
 were at open war, and a Scottish army under General Leslie 
 and the great Montrose marched to Newcastle. ' The castell 
 of Edinburgh was randerit to the covenanteris upone the 
 15"^ of September. . . . Ane touns man of Edinburghe called 
 Stevin Boyd wes maid capitane of this casteU, who enterit 
 with sum soldiouris to keip the samen.' ^ 
 
 During the winter it became apparent that Montrose, 
 whose loyalty to the Covenant had not been above suspicion 
 for a year past, was fast becoming one of its most dangerous 
 opponents ; so in June 1641, together with Napier of 
 Merchiston, Stirling of Keir and Stewart of Blackball, he 
 was committed to the Castle on a charge of treason against 
 the existing constitution. 
 
 The situation proved too much for Stephen Boyd. At 
 the end of the month he ' wes dischargeit and ane uther 
 capitane put in his place, becaus he sufferit Montross to 
 have conferrens with the rest.' ^ However, a month later 
 ' ColoneU Lindesay ' (the new captain) ' being sick, he gott 
 warrand to put in his place for charge of the castle any 
 for whom he would be answerable. He named Steven 
 Boyd, his predecessor, whom the Committee for his too great 
 respect to his prisoners had shifted of that charge,' ^ with 
 authority from the Estates ' for upliftmg the Castle rentis 
 and to pay the said Collonell Lindesay and his souldieris and 
 porteris in the Castle out of the said Castle rentis.' * 
 
 Stephen Boyd died in December 1642. He left a will 
 appointing his daughter Margaret, wife of Laurence Scott 
 
 ^ Memorials of the Truhles (Spalding Club), i. 340. 
 2 76., ii. 54. 
 
 ^ BailUe's Letters and Journals (Bannatyne Club), i. 385. 
 * Thomson's Acts, v. 321o. 
 
 2d
 
 210 STEPHEN BOYD OF TEMPLE 
 
 of Bavelaw, to be his sole executor. ^ The net value of his 
 personal estate was given up at £5943 Scots. 
 
 His son James, who succeeded to Temple,^ was on the 
 Committee of War from 1646 to 1648, and at the Restoration 
 was appointed a Commissioner of Excise and a Justice of 
 the Peace for Midlothian.^ He died in March 1674.* 
 
 In 1641 he married Anna Henry son, eldest daughter of 
 William Henryson of Grantovm, and had two daughters — 
 EUzabeth, who married James Scott, Sheriff-Clerk of Edin- 
 biu"gh, and died in 1686, and Anna, who married Alexander 
 Sympsone, merchant burgess of Edinburgh.^ In default of 
 male issue the family of Boyd of Temple became extinct, 
 and the property was acquired by Dundas of Arniston. 
 
 ' Edinburgh Testaments, January 29, 1645. 
 
 2 R. M. S., 1634-51, No. 1070. 
 
 3 Thomson's Acts, vi. (i.) 562 (a), 813 (a), vi. (ii.) 30 (6), vii. 90 (a), 504 (6). 
 * Oreyfriars Register. 
 
 ' Morison, Dictionary of Decisions, p. 12854 ; Inquisitiones Oenerales, No. 5806.
 
 INDEX 
 
 Adam, Robert, 64. 
 
 Addinstone, Marion (Mrs. James Binning), 
 
 138. 
 Admiralty, Court of, Edinburgh, 77, 83. 
 Aikman, William, 56. 
 Aithernie, 120, 202, 203. 
 Aitken, John, 97. 
 Albinus, 68, 92. 
 Alston, Dr. Charles, 60, 89. 
 Anatomy, Professorship of, Edinburgh Uni- 
 versity, 57-59, 67-69, 89-99, 111-118. 
 Angus, James, Earl of, 37, 44. 
 Angus's Regiment (Cameronians), 37-45. 
 Archers, Royal Company of, 192. 
 Argaty, 84, 85, 122-124. 
 Argyll, Archibald, 9th Earl of, 17, 18, 20, 
 25-28. 
 
 John, 2nd Duke of, 73, 152. 
 
 Aruiadale Castle, 81. 
 Anns, Coats of — 
 
 Binning of Carlowriehaugh, James, 135. 
 
 of Pilmuir, Charles, 157. 
 
 of WaUyford, Sir William, 135. 
 
 Boyds, 195. 
 
 Macdonald, Sir Donald, 78, 82. 
 
 Monro, Sir Alexander, 36. 
 
 Professor Alexander {Secmidus), 
 
 107. 
 
 and Bruce quartered, 47. 
 
 Montgomery of Broomlands, 163. 
 
 Scotts of Bavelaw, 166. 
 
 of Buccleuch, 166. 
 
 of Malleny, 185. 
 
 Atherney. See Aithernie. 
 
 Auchinbowie, 45-51, 73, 83-85, 123, 124, 
 
 127. 
 Auchindinny, 83, 84, 129, 174. 
 Auchinhood, 159, 162. 
 Aylmer, Elizabeth (Mrs. George Monro), 53. 
 
 Baillie of Jerviswood, Robert, 17-28, 
 31. 
 
 of Lamington, William, 33. 
 
 Euphemia (Mrs. James Binning), 139. 
 
 Baird of Newbyth, William, 149-151. 
 
 of Saughton, Sir Robert, 141, 150. 
 
 BallochaUan, 85. 
 Balnagown, Rosses of, 1. 
 Bank of Scotland, 73, 107, 156. 
 Barclay of Perceton, Sir George, 161 
 
 '■ Sir Robert, 141. 
 
 Bartons of Bavelaw, 174, 175. 
 Bathgate, 11, 14, 173. 
 Bavelaw, 174-176, 187, 190-193. 
 Bearcrofts, 10, 11, 35, 47, 48, 49. 
 Bell, Benjamin, 101. 
 
 Sir Charles, 97, 103. 
 
 John, 97. 
 
 Bellendens of Broughton, 10, 11, 178. 
 
 Benyns, de, 136. 
 
 Berlin, 92, 102. 
 
 Binning, alias Bunnock, WiUiam, 134, 135. 
 
 of Carlowriehaugh, Thomas, 137, 
 
 1.38, 198. 
 
 James, 137-139. 
 
 advocate, 135, 138-140. 
 
 Thomas, 137, 138. 
 
 Sarah (Mrs. Alexander Brand), 138, 
 
 141. 
 Catherine (Mrs. Laurence Scott), 139, 
 
 189, 190. 
 Margaret (Mrs. Ross, afterwards Mrs. 
 
 Craig), 139. 
 
 of Walltford, Sir William, 
 
 135, 13R, 139-151, 166, 189 ; his wives, 
 see Scott, Elizabeth, and Livingstone, 
 Mary. 
 
 WilUam, 149, 150. 
 
 advocate, 122, 150, 
 
 151. 
 
 Laurence, 149, 150. 
 
 Catherine (Mrs. WUliam Baird), 149. 
 
 of Pilmdir, Charles, 108, 149, 
 
 152-157 ; his wife, see Montgomery, 
 
 Margaret. 
 
 William, 156, 157. 
 
 Elizabeth (Mrs. Andrew Buchanan), 
 
 156, 157. 
 
 211
 
 212 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Binning, Katharine (Mrs. David Inglis), 
 
 108, 149, 156, 157. 
 David Monro-, of Softlaw, 85, 122, 
 
 123, 125, 151 ; liia wives, see Home, 
 
 Sopiiia, and Blair, Isabella. 
 
 Robert Blair Monro-, 125. 
 
 Binnings, Monro-, of Softlaw, 122-124. 
 Binning-Homes of Argaty, 122, 123. 
 Binning-Monros of Auchinbowie, 123-125. 
 Blackwood. See Lawrie. 
 Blair of Boigsyd, Mrs. Brice (Agnes Scott), 
 
 168. 
 Isabella (Mrs. David Monro-Binning), 
 
 125. 
 
 Robert, Lord President, 84, 125, 169. 
 
 Blairs (Irvine), 168, 169. 
 Boerhaave, 58, 60. 
 
 Boig, Geilles (Mrs. Robert Boyd), 204. 
 Bonnington, 176, 185, 186. 
 Borthwick, William, 54. 
 
 The Lords, 153, 154, 173. 
 
 Bothwell Bridge, battle of, 16, 22, 148. 
 Bower of Edmondsham, Philadelphia (Mrs. 
 
 Hector William Monro), 53. 
 Bowerhouse, 153-157. 
 Boyd, Robert, 5th Lord, 195, 198, 199. 
 
 of Badinheath, Robert, 195. 
 
 of Trochrig, James, 195, 201. 
 
 of Kipps, Thomas, 195, 196. 
 
 James, 195, 196, 198-201, 203, 
 
 204. 
 
 Robert, 204. 
 
 John, 205. 
 
 Marion (Mrs. Francis Cockburn), 204, 
 
 208. 
 Christian (Mrs. William Monteith), 
 
 204. 
 Margaret (Mrs. David Sibbald), 204, 
 
 205. 
 
 Margaret (Lady Foulis), 206. 
 
 OF Temple, Stephen, 189, 195, 207- 
 
 209. 
 
 James, 210. 
 
 Margaret (Mrs. Laurence Scott), 189, 
 
 209. 
 Anna (Mrs. Alexander Sympsone), 
 
 210. 
 
 Elizabeth (Mrs. James Scott), 210. 
 
 Mrs. Hugh (Lillias Scott), 168. 
 
 Brand of Redhall, Mrs. Alexander (Sarah 
 
 Binning), 138, 141. 
 
 Sir Ale.xander, 145-147, 190. 
 
 Broomlands, 158-163. 
 
 Broompark, 12, 13. 
 
 Broughton, Barony of, 10, 178, 179. 
 
 Brown of the Moat, Robert, 162. 
 
 Bruce of Auchinbowie, Robert, 45, 46, 47, 49. 
 
 Janet (Mrs. William Bruce), 46. 
 
 Margaret (Mrs. George Monro), 
 
 45-48. 
 
 of Riddoch, Grizel, 49, 50. 
 
 Buccleuch, Anna, Countess of, 188. 
 
 Francis, Earl of, 180, 187. 
 
 Mary, Countess of, 187, 188. 
 
 Walter, Earl of, 171, 179, 180. 
 
 Buchanan of Drumpellier, Mrs. Andrew 
 
 (Elizabeth Binning), 156. 
 Bunnock alias Binning, William, 134, 135. 
 Burnet, Margaret (Mrs. James Binning), 
 
 139. 
 Burnett, Catherine (Mrs. George H. M. 
 
 Binning-Home), 122. 
 Burns, Robert, 98. 
 Butelands, 173, 187, 191, 193. 
 Byssets of Clerkington, 178. 
 
 Cailendar, Earls of, 11, 32. 
 Cameron, Dr. Archibald, 74. 
 Cameronian Regiment, 37-45. 
 Campbell, Hay, Lord President, 72, 89. 
 
 of Cessnock, Sir George, 16-24, 26. 
 
 Sir Hew, 17-24, 26. 
 
 Camper, Petrus, 92. 
 
 Cannon, Colonel, 41. 
 
 Cant, Margaret (Mrs. John Eastoun), 12. 
 
 Cants of Harperrig, 173. 
 
 Cardross, Henry, 3rd Lord, 37, 40, 41, 44. 
 
 Carlowriehaugh, 137-139. 
 
 Carmichael of Aithernie, John, 201, 202. 
 
 Richard, 201-203. 
 
 Mr. James, 200, 202. 
 
 Dr. Thomas, 120, 203. 
 
 Carmichael-Smyth, Dr. James, 93, 119- 
 
 121. 
 Maria Agnes (Mrs. Alexander Monro, 
 
 tertim), 119, 203. 
 Carolina scheme. See Rye House Plot. 
 Carres of Cavers, 151, 154. 
 Carrolside, 56. 
 Carstairs Mill, 201. 
 Carstares, Rev. William, 18-24, 26. 
 Cessnock. So; Campbell. 
 Chancellor, Mrs. George (Katherine E. 
 
 Skene), 130. 
 Chanonry, 3-6. 
 
 Cheselden, William, 57, 58, 69. 
 Chevalier, the Old, 80, 81. 
 Christison, Sir Rotjert, 113. 
 Clachnaharry, battle of, 1. 
 Claverhouse, James Graham of, 40, 79.
 
 INDEX 
 
 213 
 
 clerk of Balbirnie, Mrs. James (Jean Scott), 
 
 182. 
 Clerkington, 177, 178, 183, 184. 
 Lord. See Scott of Clerkington, Sir 
 
 William. 
 Clonbeith, 167, 184. 
 'Club,' The, 30,31, 33. 
 Clynie, 6. 
 Cochrane of Ochiltree, Sir John, 16-20, 
 
 24-28. 
 Cockburn, 107, 126. 
 
 Henry (Lord Cockburn), 107, 111. 
 
 of Ormiston, Adam, Lord Justice 
 
 Clerk, 33, 34. 
 Cockburns of Temple, 207, 208. 
 Collielaw, 153-155. 
 Colquhoun, Lady (Charlotte M. D. Monro), 
 
 129. 
 Commissary Court of Stirling, 15, 35, 45, 
 
 48, 51. 
 Convention of Royal Burghs, 55, 166. 
 Cooper, Sir Astley, 94, 98. 
 Couston, 11-14. 
 
 Craig, Mrs. John (Margaret Binning), 139. 
 Craiglockhart, 105, 106, 118, 119, 126. 
 Cranston Riddell, 138, 139. 
 Crawford, Dr. James, 57, 60. 
 Crawfurd of Crawfurdland, John, 21, 26. 
 Crichton, Margaret (Mrs. John Monro), 
 
 56. 
 Cromartie, George, 1st Earl of, 32. 
 CuUen, Dr. William, 69, 102. 
 Culloden. See Forbes. 
 
 Dalcartt, 2, 3. 
 
 Dalmahoy, Barbara (Lady Scott), 184. 
 
 Dalrymple, Sir James (first Viscount Stair), 
 
 15, 20, 30. 
 Sir John (Master of Stair), 30, 
 
 33. 
 Darien Company, 34-36, 55. 
 Dawachcarty, 2, 3. 
 Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, 119. 
 Dettingen, battle of, 48. 
 Dickson of Carberry, Sir Robert, 145, 147. 
 Dillon, Mrs. Philip (Constance C. Monro), 
 
 129. 
 Docharty, 2, 3. 
 Douglas, Archibald, Earl of, 173, 178. 
 
 Lady Mary (Lady Macdonald), 78. 
 
 Drummond, Adam, 57, 58. 
 
 Provost George, .56, 61-65, 72. 
 
 of Hawthornden, Lady (Barbara Scott), 
 
 184. 
 Dryburgh Abbey, 154. 
 
 Dunbar, Euphemia (Mrs. Andrew Monro), 
 
 2. 
 Duncan, Dr. Andrew, 68, 104, 106. 
 Dundas, Henry (Lord Melville), 96, 101. 
 
 Isobel (Mrs. William Binning), 150. 
 
 Robert, 1st Lord President, 152. 
 
 2nd Lord President, 72, 153. 
 
 Dundases of Arniston, 210. 
 
 of that ilk, 176. 
 
 Dunfermline Abbey, 147. 
 Dunkeld, battle of, 40-44. 
 Duntulm, 80. 
 
 Eastouns of Couston, 11-14. 
 Eastoun, Euphemia (Mrs. Alexander Nairn), 
 14. 
 
 Lillias (Mrs. Alexander Monro), 11, 
 
 14. 
 
 Mary, (Mrs. William Sandilands), 14. 
 
 Edinburgh — 
 
 Argyle Square, 52, 150. 
 
 Bailie Fyfe's Close, 55. 
 
 Canongate, 148. 
 
 Carmichael's Land, 106. 
 
 Castle Hill, 6. 
 
 Covenant Close, 56, 77, 84. 
 
 Cross, The, S3. 
 
 Fisher's Land, 155. 
 
 George Square, 86. 
 
 George Street, 118. 
 
 Gosford's Close, 84 
 
 Great Stuart Street, 85. 
 
 Halkerston's Wynd, 55, 56. 
 
 Kinloch's Clo.se, 55. 
 
 Lawnmarket, 83, 106, 155. 
 
 Milne's Court, 83. 
 
 Nicolson Square, 118. 
 
 Nicolson Street, 99, 107. 
 
 Niddry's Wynd, 139, 204. 
 
 Parliament Close, 148. 
 
 Richmond Street, 103. 
 
 Robertson's Close, 64. 
 
 St. Andrew Square, 107, 118. 
 
 St. Anne's Yards, 157. 
 
 Smith's Land, 55. 
 
 ' Spread Eagle,' 155. 
 
 Surgeon's Square, 61. 
 
 Windmill Street, 193. 
 Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, 56, 63-65, 69, 
 
 108. 
 Edinburgh University, 18, 57-62, 67-69, 76, 
 
 87, 89-96, 99-103, 111-118, 120, 150. 
 Edmondsham, 53. 
 
 Eglinton, Earls of, 158, 159, 160, 163, 167, 
 171, 176, 199.
 
 214 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Eistoun. See Eastoun. 
 
 Eleis, Mrs. John (Margaret Scott), 168. 
 
 Elphinstone of Airtb, Charles, 46. 
 
 Jean (Mrs. John Eastoun), 13. 
 
 of Quarrel, Michael, 13. 
 
 Elton, Mary (Mrs. Thomas Holyland), 121. 
 ' Engagement,' The, 7. 
 
 Fairholm, Adam, 157. 
 
 Fairlies of Braid, 174. 
 
 Fairly of Bruntsfield, William, 21, 26. 
 
 Ferguson, Robert, 'The Plotter,' 18, 20. 
 
 Fergusson, Professor Adam, 72. 
 
 Ferrier of Belsyde, Mrs. Louis Henry 
 
 (Charlotte Monro), 108, 125. 
 Fishing Company, 63, 155. 
 Fletcher of Saltoun, Andrew, 20, 31. 
 Fletcher, Mrs. Henry M. (Charlotte Monro), 
 
 131. 
 Forbes of CuUoden, Duncan, 54. 
 
 Barbara (Mrs. George Monro), 7. 
 
 Captain James, 54, 55. 
 
 Jean (Mrs. John Monro), 54, 56. 
 
 Forresters of Corstorphine, 174, 177, 178. 
 
 Fort William, 45, 80. 
 
 Foulis, Munros of, 1. 
 
 Foulis of Colinton, James, 105, 177. 
 
 Sir James, third Bart., 206. 
 
 of Ravelston, George, 105. 
 
 Sir John, 16. 
 
 Mary (Mrs. WUliam Scott), 192. 
 
 Fountainhall, Lord (Sir John Lauder), 15, 
 
 19, 21, 24, 29, 143. 
 Francis of Stane, Robert, 158. 
 Eraser, Janet (Mrs. George Monro), 3. 
 Fuird of Cranston Riddell, 138. 
 Fullarton of Bartonholm, Mrs. Adam 
 
 (Agnes Scott), 190. 
 
 GiLMouR OF Craigmillar, Sir John, 105. 
 
 Glasgow, Laigh Kirk, 80. 
 
 Glasgow University, 48, 167. 
 
 Glencoe, Massacre of, 3.3, 45, 55. 
 
 Goldsmith, Oliver, 67, 68. 
 
 Goodsir, Dr. John, 100. 
 
 Gregory, Professor James (Mathematics), 62. 
 
 Professor James (Medicine), 65, 95, 
 
 101. 
 
 Mrs. William (Lisette Scott), 88. 
 
 Gretna Green, 121. 
 
 Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh, 6, 35, 
 
 77, 109, 122, 125, 149, 150, 189. 
 Gyb, James, 199-201. 
 
 Haldane of Gleneaglks, Patrick, 47. 
 
 Halton, Lord (third Earl of Lauderdale), 
 
 144, 145, 182. 
 Hamilton, James, fourth Duke of, 29. 
 
 of Binning, Sir Thomas, 12, 137. 
 
 HamOtons of Bangour, 47. 
 
 of Bathgate, 14, 173. 
 
 of Bearcrofts and Grange, 11. 
 
 Harperrig, 172, 173, 187, 191. 
 
 Harveian Society, 68 n, 104. 
 
 Hector, Lady (M. Georgiana Monro), 129. 
 
 Heineken, Dorothea Maria (Mrs. Donald 
 
 Monro), 88. 
 Henryson, Anna (Mrs. James Boyd), 210. 
 Heriot of Lymphoy, Anna, 105, 154, 177. 
 High School, Edinburgh, 111. 
 Highmyre, 158, 161. 
 Hog of Harcarse, Lady (Barbara Scott), 
 
 190. 
 Holyland, Mary (Mrs. James Carmichael- 
 
 Smyth), 121. 
 Holyrood, 10, 11, 141, 178, 185, 198, 199, 
 
 200. 
 Home of Argaty, Mrs. George (Jane 
 
 Monro), 84, 85. 
 Sophia (Mrs. David Monro- 
 
 Binning), 85, 122. 
 George Home Monro-Binning, 
 
 122, 123. 
 
 Dr. George Home Monro-, 124. 
 
 Home, Henry (Lord Kames), 72, 102. 
 
 Hope of Craighall, Sir Thomas, 202. 
 
 Hoppringle. See Pringle. 
 
 Houston, Mrs. Peter (Alison Scott), 182. 
 
 Howden, Mill of Nether, 153, 154. 
 
 Hume of Polwarth, Sir Patrick (Earl of 
 
 Marohmont,) 18, 19, 27, 29, 31, 37, 39, 
 
 44, 146. 
 David, 66, 72, 102. 
 
 Margaret (Mrs. Laurence Binning), 
 
 150. 
 
 Hunter, Janet (Mrs. Alexander Monro, 
 tertivs), 86, 119. 
 
 Margaret (Mrs. Robert Lowis), 86, 
 
 119. 
 
 Dr. WiUiam, 70, 71, 92, 100. 
 
 Hutchesone, Elizabeth (Mrs. Stephen 
 Boyd), 207. 
 
 Inchaffray, 7. 
 
 Infirmary, Edinburgh Royal, 56, 63-65, 69, 
 
 108. 
 Inglis of Auchindinny, Mrs. Archibald 
 
 (Jean Philp), 83. 
 
 Captain John, 84. 
 
 INIrs. John (Maria Monro), 129.
 
 INDEX 
 
 215 
 
 Inglis of Auchindinny, Sophia (Mrs. John 
 
 Monro), 83, 84. 
 of Redhall, Mrs. George (Hannah 
 
 Macqueen), 81. 
 
 David, 107, 108, 149, 156. 
 
 — — Katharine (Mrs. Alexander Monro, 
 
 secundus), 107, 108, 156. 
 
 Thomas, 203. 
 
 Sarah (Mrs. William Rig), 203. 
 
 Innes, Dr. John, 60. 
 
 Irvine, 158-162, 166-169, 170-172, 182, 
 
 185, 190. 
 Dr. Christopher, 54. 
 
 Jbrviswood. See Baillie, Robert. 
 Johnston, Dr. Samuel, 104. 
 
 of Lathrisk, David, 193. 
 
 of Warriston, Sir Archibald, 185. 
 
 Johnstone, Dr. James, 121. 
 
 Kames, Lord (Henry Home), 72, 102. 
 
 Kay's Portraits, 109. 
 
 Kelso Abbey, 154. 
 
 Kennedy, Sir Thomas, 145, 146. 
 
 Ker, Duncan, 10. 
 
 Euphemia (Mrs. John Eastoun), 13. 
 
 Kers of Moriston, 153-155. 
 Kerse, 10, 32. 
 Kersland, 192, 193. 
 Killiecrankie, battle of, 79. 
 Kilmuir Easter, 2, 3, 7. 
 Kilwinning, 160, 161, 167. 
 Kincaids of that ilk, 105. 
 Kinleith, 184. 
 Kinlocli, Sir Francis, 144. 
 
 of Alderston, Mrs. Patrick (Agnes 
 
 Scott), 182. 
 Kinnetas, 3. 
 
 Kipps, 195-198, 201, 204, 205. 
 Knox, Dr. Robert, 117. 
 
 Langbtres, 83, 84, 129. 
 Langside, battle of, 196. 
 Lauder, Sir John (Lord Fountainhall), 15, 
 
 19, 21, 24, 29, 143. 
 of Halton, Mrs. Richard (Marion 
 
 Scott), 182. 
 Lauderdale, 153. 
 
 John, Duke of, 17, 147. 
 
 first Earl of, 176. 
 
 Charles (Lord Halton), third Earl of, 
 
 144, 145, 182. 
 
 James, seventh Earl of, 157. 
 
 Lavater, 75. 
 
 Lawrie, alias Weir of Blackwood, 16, 25, 
 
 26, 37, 44, 45, 148. 
 
 Lennox Tower, alias Lymphoy, 176, 177, 
 183. 
 
 Leyden University, 54, 58, 60, 68, 92, 113. 
 
 Linlithgow Castle, 134, 135. 
 
 Earls of, 11, 50, 146. 
 
 Livingstone, Catharine (Mrs. Thomas Bin- 
 ning), 137, 138. 
 
 Margaret (Mrs. George Monro), 6. 
 
 of Ecclesmachan, William, 137. 
 
 of Gardoch, Henry, 13, 14. 
 
 of Saltcoats, Mary (Lady Binniog), 
 
 149. 
 
 Lockhart, Sir George, Lord President, 105. 
 
 London, St. George's Hospital, 87, 88. 
 
 Lewises of Plean, 86, 119. 
 
 Lumsden, Mrs. Michael (Janet Scott), 
 190. 
 
 Lymphoy, Easter, 176, 177, 183. 
 
 M'CoMisH, Jane (Mrs. George Monro), 
 
 52 53 
 M'Culloch, Sir Godfrey, 149. 
 Macdonald of Sleat, Sir Donald, fourth 
 
 Bart, 77-82. 
 Isabella (Mrs. Alexander Monro, 
 
 jjrimus), 77, 78, 81, 82, 90. 
 
 Janet (Mrs. Norman Macleod), 81. 
 
 Margaret (Mrs. John Macqueen), 81. 
 
 M'Gill, John, 57, 58, 64. 
 Mackay, General, 38, 40. 
 Mackenzie, Sir George, 16, 28. 
 
 Borie, 4, 5. 
 
 Maclaurin, Colin, 62, 66, 71, 89, 191. 
 
 Makdougall, Maria Georgiana Scott, 88. 
 
 Main, William, 56. 
 
 Malleny, 176, 183, 184. 
 
 Marchmont, Earl of (Sir Patrick Hume), 
 
 18, 19, 27, 29, 31, 37, 39, 44, 146. 
 Marshalsea prison, 21. 
 Martin, Robert, 18, 19, 25, 27. 
 Maxwell, Margaret (Mrs. Laurence Scott), 
 
 190, 191. 
 Meckel, Professor, 92. 
 Medical Society, Edinburgh, 65, 66. See 
 
 Royal Society of Edinburgh. 
 Medical Society of Edinburgh, Royal, 102, 
 
 120. 
 Melville, George, first Earl of, 17, 18, 24, 
 
 26, 28, 29. 
 Menzies of Coulterallers, James, 149. 
 Miln of Barnton, Robert, 144, 145. 
 Milntown, Monros of, 1-3. 
 Minorca, 52. 
 Mitchelstoun, 181. 
 Monmouth, James, Duke of, 17, 18, 28, 188.
 
 216 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Monro. 
 
 spelling of name, 1. 
 
 of Milntown, John, 1. 
 
 Andrew Mor, 1, 2. 
 
 Andrew Beg, 2. 
 
 George, 2, 3. 
 
 Mr. George, elder, Chancellor of Ross, 
 
 3-6. 
 Mr. George, younger, Chancellor of 
 
 Ross, 5, 6. 
 
 of Pitlundie, Mr. George, 6, 7, 10, 54. 
 
 John, 7. 
 
 Agnes (Mrs. James Forbes), 54. 
 
 Jean (Mrs. John Monro), 54-56. 
 
 David (brother of Sir Alexander), 6, 
 
 7, 10. 
 
 OF Bearcrofts, Sir Alexander, 
 
 6, 10-36, 44, 49, 51, 54 ; early life, 10 ; 
 purchase of Bearcrofts, 10, 11 ; early 
 professional career, 15, 16 ; Carolina 
 scheme and Rye House Plot, 16-28 ; 
 political career, 29-35 ; his wife (Lillias 
 Eastoun), 11-14; his family, viz. 
 Archibald, 35 ; Jean (Mrs. William 
 Sempil), iiiUias and Mary, 35, 47, 55 ; 
 also Colonel George and John infra. 
 
 MONROS OF AUCHINBOWIE, ELDER BRANCH. 
 
 Colonel George, 11, 14, 35-48. 
 
 Alexander, 48-50. 
 
 Dr. George, 50-52. 
 
 Lieutenant George, 48. 
 
 Alexander, 50. 
 
 Cecil, 51. 
 
 Major George (41st Regiment), 53. 
 
 Captain George Aylmer, 53. 
 
 of Edmondsham, 53. 
 
 Monro, John, surgeon (1670-1740), 35, 
 36, 47, 54-56, 57-60, 63 ; his wives, see 
 Forbes, Jean, and Crichton, Margaret. 
 
 Monro, Professor Alexander, Primus, 
 49, 51, 54, 55, 56, 57-77, 89-92; early 
 life and education, 57, 58 ; appointment 
 and work as Professor, 59-62, 67-69 ; 
 foundation of Royal Infirmary, 63-65 ; 
 scientific societies, 65-67, 71-73 ; private 
 life and character, 73-77 ; his wife (Isa- 
 bella Macdonald), 77, 78, 81, 82, 90. 
 
 Margaret (Mrs. James Philp), 77. 
 
 Dr. Donald, 56, 73, 76, 77, 87, 88. 
 
 Isabella Margaret (Mrs. John Scott), 
 
 88. 
 
 MoNROs OF Auchinbowie, younger 
 
 BRANCH. 
 
 John, advocate, 51, 77, 83, 84. 
 
 ■ Jane (Mrs. George Home), 84,85. 
 
 MoNRos OF Auchinbowie : Isabella (Mrs. 
 
 Ninian Lowis), 84-86. 
 — — Alexander Binning, 122, 123 ; 
 
 his family, 123-125. 
 
 David Binning, 123. 
 
 Alexander William, 124. 
 
 Major George, 108, 109, 119, 
 
 127. 
 Monro, Professor Alexander, Secundus, 
 
 67, 69, 70, 75, 77, 89-110, lU, 112, 151 ; 
 
 early life and education, 89-92 ; work 
 
 as Professor, 92-100 ; literary work, 100, 
 
 101 ; scientific societies, 102, 103 ; 
 
 private life and character, 104-110 ; his 
 
 wife (Katharine Inglis), 107, 108, 156. 
 
 Isabella (Mrs. Hugh Scott), 88, 108. 
 
 ■ Charlotte (Mrs. Louis Henry Ferrier), 
 
 108, 125. 
 
 MoNRO-BlNNINQ OF SoFTLAW, DaVID, 85, 
 
 122, 123, 125, 151 ; his wives, see Home, 
 
 Sophia, and Blair, Isabella. 
 Monro, Professor Alexander, Tertius, 
 
 95, 111-119, 151 ; his wives, see Car- 
 
 michael - Smyth, Maria Agnes, and 
 
 Hunter, Janet. 
 
 His family, viz : — 
 of Craiglockhart, Captain Alexander, 
 
 126. 
 
 Dr. James, 126. 
 
 Henry, 127. 
 
 Sir David, 128, 129. 
 
 Major William, 129. 
 
 Maria (Mrs. John Inglis), 129. 
 
 Catherine (Lady Steuart), 129, 130. 
 
 Georgiana (Mrs. George Skene), 130. 
 
 Harriet (Mrs. Alexander Binning- 
 
 Monro), 123, 131. 
 
 Isabella, 131. 
 
 — - Charlotte (Mrs. Henry M. Fletcher), 
 
 131. 
 Monteith of Carriber, Mrs. William 
 
 (Christian Boyd), 204. 
 Montgomery of Assloss, Alexander, 161. 
 
 of Auchinhood, Hew, 159. 
 
 of Broomlands, Hew (i), 159, 160. 
 
 George, 160, 161. 
 
 Hew (II), 156, 160-162. 
 
 Robert, 160, 162. 
 
 Hew (ill), 160, 162, 163. 
 
 Margaret (Mrs. Charles Binning), 
 
 156, 162. 
 
 of Greenfield, WiUiam, 158. 
 
 of Langshaw, David, 18, 24, 26. 
 
 of Skebnorlie, Sir James, 30, 33. 
 
 of Wrae, John, 155, 162.
 
 INDEX 
 
 217 
 
 Montrose, James, Marquis of, 209. 
 Morison, Katharine (Mrs. William Scott of 
 
 Clerkington), 184. 
 Morton, Robert, seventh Earl of, 78. 
 - — - James, fourteenth Earl of, 66. 
 Mowbrays of Barnbougle, 175, 176. 
 Mundell, Mr., 83, 87, 89. 
 Mure of Rowallan, Sir ^Villiam, 21, 26. 
 
 Elizabeth (Mrs. John Blair), 168. 
 
 in the Well, John, 199. 
 
 Murray of Philiphaugh, James, 19, 20, 23, 
 
 24, 27. 
 of Tippermuir, 21. 
 
 Nairn of Geebntards, Mrs. Alexander 
 
 (Euphemia Eastoun), 14. 
 Namur, siege of, 45, 54. 
 Napier, Mrs. G. V. C. (Isabella Monro), 
 
 127. 
 Newmore, 2, 3. 
 Nisbet, Eupham (Mrs. David Blair), 
 
 169. 
 
 Alexander, 134, 136, 185. 
 
 North Berwick, Nunnery of, 202. 
 
 Oxford Universitt, 81, 123, 127. 
 
 Paips of Wallyford, 147. 
 Paris, 58, 63, 69, 102, 112, 122, 123, 141. 
 Parkhill of Craiglockhart, John, 105. 
 Paul's Work, Edinburgh, 141, 142. 
 Peebles of Broorulands, 158, 159. 
 Pension's Tavern, Edinburgh, 30. 
 Philosophical or Physical Society, 66, 67, 
 
 102. 
 Philp of Greenlaw, Mrs. James (Margaret 
 
 Monro), 77, 83. 
 Physical Society, Royal, 103. 
 Physical or Philosophical Society, 66, 67, 
 
 102. 5(«(! also Royal Society of Edinburgh. 
 Physicians, Royal College of, Edinburgh, 
 
 59, 60, 63, 65, 69, 92, 95, 102, 111, 117, 
 
 118. 
 Physicians, Royal College of, London, 87, 
 
 120, 121. 
 Pilmuir, 108, 153157. 
 Pitlundie, 7, 54. 
 Plantation of Kirks, Commission for, 15, 
 
 31, 148. 
 Plean, West, 86. 
 
 Pluminer, Dr. Andrew, 60, 66, 89. 
 Porteoua of Craiglockhart, George, 105. 
 Preston, Mr. George, 57. 
 Prestonpans, battle of, 73. 
 
 Primrose, Sir Archibald, 15, 188. 
 
 Mary (Mrs. George Monro), 6, 10. 
 
 Pringle of Torwoodlee, George, 18, 19, 27. 
 
 James, 34. 
 
 Elizabeth (Mrs. Laurence Scott), 181, 
 
 182. 
 
 Violet (Mrs. James Scott), 186. 
 
 William, 159, 181. 
 
 Rab, Mr. James, 95, 96. 
 
 Raeburn, Sir Henry, 108, 109, 118, 122. 
 
 Ramsay, Allan, the younger, 72, 75. 
 
 Redhall, 81, 129, 174. 
 
 Regiments : — 
 
 Scots Greys, 192. 
 
 Sir Henry Belasyse's (6th), 54. 
 
 Major-General John Hill's (11th), 48. 
 
 Colonel Duroure's (12th), 48. 
 
 Earl of Panmure's (25th), 52. 
 
 Cameronians (26th), 37-45. 
 
 41st Foot, 53. 
 
 Royal Highhinders (42nd), 53. 
 
 Cameron Highlanders (79th), 129. 
 
 108th Foot, 192. 
 
 Colonel John Buchan'a, 46. 
 
 Colonel George Hamilton's, 45. 
 
 Colonel Hill's, 55. 
 
 College of Justice Volunteers, 29. 
 
 Stirlingshire Yeomanry, 86. 
 'Resurrecting,' 61, 97, 98, 117, 118, 119. 
 Riddell of Craiglockhart, Sir A. Oliver, 126, 
 
 193. 
 Riddoch, 49-51. 
 Rig of Aithernie, William, 203. 
 Robertson of Ladykirk, William, 190. 
 
 Principal William, 72, 102. 
 
 Rogerson, Mrs. T. Stanley (Maria E. J. 
 
 Monro), 129. 
 Romney, 121. 
 Rosemarkie, 3, 7. 
 
 Ross of Swanston, Mrs. WUliam (Margaret 
 Binning), 139. 
 
 Chancellary of, 3, 6. 
 
 of Halkhead, Lords, 158. 
 
 Rosses of Balnagown, 1. 
 Rothes, John, sixth Earl of, 142, 143. 
 Royal .College of Physicians, Edinburgh, 
 59, 60, 63, 65, 69, 92, 95, 102, 111, 117, 
 118. 
 
 London, 87, 120, 121. 
 
 Surgeons, Edinburgh, 55, 59-65, 
 
 69, 71, 73, 95-97, 115, 117. 
 
 Infirmary, Edinburgh, 56, 63-65, 69, 
 
 108. 
 Medical Society, 102, 120. 
 
 2 E
 
 218 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Koyal Physical Society, 103. 
 
 Society of Edinburgh, 65-67, 102, 103, 
 
 118. 
 
 London, 69, 87, 120. 
 
 Roxburgbe, John, first Duke of, 152. 
 Russell, William, Lord, 17, 18, 28. 
 Rutherford, Dr. John, 60, 69, 89. 
 Rye House Plot, 16-28. 
 
 St. Cuthbbrt's, Edinburgh, 86. 
 
 St. George's Hospital, London, 87, 88. 
 
 St. Ninians, 45, 48. 
 
 Saltcoats, 149. 
 
 Sandilands of Torphichen, James, 105. 
 
 Mrs. William (Mary Eastoun), 14. 
 
 See also Torphichen. 
 Scotsloch, 166, 167, 168, 172, 182, 185. 
 Scotts of Buccleuch, 166, 171, 179, 180, 
 
 187, 188. 
 
 of Murdostoun, 166. 
 
 Scott of Scotsloch, Hew, 166-168. 
 
 James, 167, 168, 169, 172, 184. 
 
 W.S., 185. 
 
 Susanna (Mrs. James Blair), 168. 
 
 Jonnet (Mrs. John Blair), 168. 
 
 OF Harperrig and Bavelaw, 
 
 Laurence (i), 170-182. 
 
 his wife. See Pringle, Elizabeth. 
 
 Marion (Mrs. James Scott, afterwards 
 
 Mrs. Richard Lauder), 182. 
 Margaret (Mrs. William Wallace), 
 
 182. 
 
 Agnes (Mrs. Patrick Kinloch), 182. 
 
 Jean (Mrs. James Clerk), 182. 
 
 Alison (Mrs. Peter Houston), 182. 
 
 of Clerkins^ton, Sir William (Lord 
 
 Clerkington), "180, 18.3, 184, 185, 187, 
 
 188. 
 
 Laurence, 184. 
 
 ■ of Clonbeith, William, 184. 
 
 Walter, 184. 
 
 ■ • of MaUeny, John, 184, 185, 191. 
 
 Rev. Robert, 185. 
 
 Barbara (Lady Drummond), 184. 
 
 Agnes (Lady Home), 184. 
 
 of Boniiington, James, 180, 185, 186, 
 
 189. 
 
 OF Bavelaw, Laurence (ii), 16, 139, 
 
 141, 147, 149, 187-189, 209; his 
 wives, see Boyd, Margaret, and Bin- 
 ning, Catherine. 
 
 Laurence (iii), 189, 190, 191. 
 
 William (iv), 189, 191. 
 
 Charles (v), 189, 191. 
 
 John (vi), 191, 192. 
 
 Scott of Bavelaw, William (vii), 191, 192. 
 
 William (viii), 192, 193. 
 
 • Laurence (ix), 192. 
 
 Charles (x), 192, 193. 
 
 Elizabeth (Lady Binning), 141, 149, 
 
 189. 
 
 Margaret (Mrs. Hugh Wallace), 189. 
 
 Barbara (Lady Hog), 190. 
 
 Christian (Lady Brand), 190. 
 
 Janet (Mrs. Michael Lumsden), 190. 
 
 Agnes (Mrs. Adam FuUarton), 100. 
 
 Barbara (Mrs. Charles Scott), 191. 
 
 James, 180, 182. 
 
 Laurence, merchant in Glasgow, 191, 
 
 192. 
 
 Commander Charles J., 193. 
 
 Mrs. James (Elizabeth Boyd), 210. 
 
 of Galashiels, Hugh, 24. 
 
 of Gala, Mrs. Hugh (Isabella Monro), 
 
 88, 108. 
 Mrs. John (Isabella Margaret Monro), 
 
 88. 
 
 Lisette (Mrs. William Gregory), 88. 
 
 Walter, Earl of Tarras, 18, 19, 22-24, 
 
 27, 187. 
 
 Sir Walter, 111. 
 
 Scottinflat, 12, 13. 
 
 Select Society, the, 71, 72, 73, 83. 
 
 Sempil of Cathcart, Airs. William (Jean 
 
 Monro), 35. 
 Shaftesbury, Anthony, first Earl of, 16, 17, 
 
 20, 27. 
 Shephard, Tliomas, 20, 27. 
 Sheriffmuir, battle of, 80. 
 Shields, Alexander, 38, 39, 44, 45. 
 Shielfield, Over, 154, 155. 
 Sibbald, Mrs. David (Margaret Boyd), 204, 
 
 205. 
 
 Sir Robert, 48, 196, 197, 204, 205. 
 
 Siddons, Mrs., 104. 
 
 Sinclair, Dr. Andrew, 60, 89. 
 
 Skene of Rubislaw, Mrs. George (Georgiana 
 
 Monro), 130. 
 Sleat, Macdonalds of, 77, 78-82. 
 Smith, Aaron, 17, 25. 
 
 Adam, 72. 
 
 Smyth of Aithernie, Dr. James, 120, 203. 
 — — Dr. James Carmichael-, 93, 119-121. 
 Maria Agnes Carmichael- (Mrs. 
 
 Alexander Monro, tertius), 119, 203. 
 Society of Improvers in Agriculture, 71, 155. 
 for Encouragement of Arts, Sciences, 
 
 etc., 72. 
 
 for promoting the English Language, 73. 
 
 for Relief of the Industrious Poor, 150.
 
 INDEX 
 
 219 
 
 Society, Harveian, 68 n, 104. 
 
 Royal Medical, 102, 120. 
 
 Royal Physical, 103. 
 
 — - Medical, afterwards the Philosophical 
 
 or Physical Society, finally the Royal 
 
 Society of Edinburgh, 65, 66, 67, 102, 
 
 103, 118. 
 
 Royal, London, 69, 87, 120. 
 
 Wernerian, 118. 
 
 Softlaw, 122-124, 151. 
 
 Somervell, Margaret (Mrs. James Eastoun), 
 
 14. 
 Spence, William, 21, 22. 
 'Squadrone,' the, 152. 
 Stair, Viscount (Sir James Dalrymple), 15, 
 
 20, 30. 
 
 Lady, 32, 33. 
 
 Master of (Sir John Dalrymple), 30, 
 
 33. 
 Stane Castle, 158, 159. 
 Steuart, James, Lord Advocate, 20, 33. 
 
 Lady (Catherine Monro), 129. 
 
 Stewart, Anne (Mrs. Alexander Monro), 
 
 48, 83. 
 
 Archibald, Lord Provost, 150. 
 
 Dugald, 72. 
 
 Elizabeth (Mrs. William Binning), 
 
 156, 157. 
 
 Professor Matthew, 89. 
 
 Mr. Walter, 191. 
 
 Stewarts of Ballochallan, 85. 
 
 of Tillicultry, 48, 49. 
 
 Stirling and Stirlingshire, 15, 19, 24, 29, 
 
 31, 33, 35, 40, 4.% 51, 73. 
 Strange, Sir Koljert, 66. 
 Suddie, 3, 6. 
 Surgeons, Royal College of, Edinburgh, 55, 
 
 59-65, 69, 71, 73, 95-97, 115, 117. 
 Surgeons' Hall, Edinburgh, 56, 59, 75. 
 Surgery, Professorship of, Edinburgh Uni- 
 versity, 95-97, 112, 114-117. 
 Sutherland, John, eighth Earl of, 1. 
 
 Tain, 2, 15. 
 
 Tarbat, George, Lord, 32. 
 
 Tarlogie, 2. 
 
 Tarras, Walter, Earl of, 18, 19, 22-24, 27, 
 
 187. 
 Teinds, Commission for, 15, 31, 208. 
 Temple, 207, 208, 210. 
 Temple Lands, 172, 196, 207. 
 Tolbooth Prison, Edinburgh, 21, 23, 24. 
 
 Torphichen, 12, 137, 138, 195, 196, 197, 
 2U4, 205. 
 
 James, first Lord, 11, 137, 173, 198. 
 
 second Lord, 172, 173. 
 
 John, fourth Lord, 14, 208. See also 
 
 Sandilands. 
 
 Torwoodhead, 14. 
 
 Trinity CoUege, Edinburgh, 176. 
 
 Tron Church, Edinburgh, 148, 188. 
 
 Troutbeck, Mrs. John (Harriet E. Monro), 
 
 127. 
 Tullibardine, John, Earl of, 34, 146. 
 Tweeddale, John, first Earl of, 153, 187. 
 Tytler, Mrs. George M. Eraser- (Jane 
 
 Georgiana Skene), 130. 
 
 Universittof Edinburgh, 18,67-62,67-69, 
 76, 87, 89-96, 99-103, 111-118, 120, 150. 
 
 of Glasgow, 48, 167. 
 
 of Leyden, 54, 58, 60, 68, 92, 113. 
 
 of Oxford, 81, 123, 127. 
 
 Universities' Commission, Scottish, 1826, 
 
 115-117. 
 
 Veitch, William, 26, 28. 
 
 Vicaradge, Frances (Mrs. Charles Scott), 
 
 192, 193. 
 Vogrie, 207. 
 
 Wallace, Alison (Mrs. William Pringle), 
 
 181. 
 of Ingliston, Mrs. Hugh (Margaret 
 
 Scott), 189. 
 of Shewalton, Mrs. William (Margaret 
 
 Scott), 182. 
 WaUyford, 147, 148, 150. 
 Waterman, Mrs. T. P. (Maria A, Binning 
 
 Monro), 125. 
 Watsons of Aithernie, 203. 
 Watson's Hospital, George, 156. 
 Weir, alias Lawrie of Blackwood, 16, 25, 
 
 26, 37, 44, 45, 148. 
 Wernerian Society, 118. 
 White, Ann Sarah (Mrs. George Aylmer 
 
 Monro), 53. 
 Whytt, Dr. Robert, 69. 
 Windsor, 18, 54. 
 Wiselawmill, 153, 154. 
 Witchcraft, 15, 168. 
 Wood, Sir IMark, Bart., 121. 
 Woodside, 12, 13. 
 Worcester, battle of, 7, 10 .
 
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