Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-28
SCOTLAND.
toMETHrNa ABOUT THAT COUNTRY IN
TER LAST CENTURY.
Interesting Record Of Leading seotohmsn- -
A Prosecuted Profession
The Union.

landed proprietor ~ the last century, was
ono 81 The best specimens Of The gentry OF
Sco'isnd In that transition period OF its bis
tory when the effects OF the Union treaty
were at work moulding the people and the
country into what they arc to-day. Mr.,
Ramsay was born ~ Edinburgh IN 1895, and
was The son Of Winter IN the Slgnet. After
succeeding 10 tho estate OF Ochiertyre he led
lhc % learned leisure became deeply IN
tercsicd IN all the literary movements OF bis
timc and carefully improved his pstrimOny.
lie was n Whig Of the old school. and while
friend 20 the Hqpovcr family and stsunch
supporter ~ The Protestant succession be was
fun 81 sympathy for the unfortunate people
who ruined themselves through their LOYALTY
10 the Stuaiis. At OchieTiyre hts hospitality
was uDbounded, and he there entertained
nearly al the men o. note his country pro.
dnccd duripg his long and emnentIy beau
tfui life Robert Burns paid him VISIT In
1887. aud IN 1898 oDc Of his guests was Walter
scott. then IN search OF traditions aud memo
Tics OF the rs. II IL said that Mr.. Rgmsay
wns one OF the models who made up The
character ~ Monk barns IN the novel OF
1.-THE ADtiquary." Another guest was the
Rev. Or. Gleig, whose desoh WAS announced
ia last weeks issue Of the SCOTTISH Antricdp,
Ut the great ace oi ninety-two years. He
was probably tho last mEn living who knew
Mr. Ramsay, for the latter died In 1914, in
Tho seven,v-eighth year Of bis age.
Mr.. Ramsay spent most Of his time IN CON-
pHiog sketches of hts contemporaries,
writing "reminiscences Of the events and
scenes 81 which be was an eyewitness. aud
recording the manners and customs Of his
couRtry people. Thsse writings are contain
cd IN ten bulky volumes, and for the student
OF scottish history and customs during the
last century u Is difficult 10 imagine a
Naf.. fhae, 10 AL h.
tAe perusal of these manuscripts. Much OF
what Mr.. Ramsay wrote has lost It's import
sncc. and time has demonstrated conciu-
siyely the fallacy 81 many o. his
opinions. Mr.. Alexander Allardyce hiss.
however. CLEANED from the manuscripts
sufficient matter Of general interest
20 an two large octave volumes
and the contents throw much light upon the
domestic habits Of the scottish people during
the greater part 81 the last century, and in.
Sroduees us TO many famous people whose
psmcs are nov familiar ne household words.
Mr. Anardyce rppfoduces Mr.. RaDsay's
manuscripts exactly AZ he wrote them, using
even ms now obsolete form of spelling. The
chapters treat Of such themes as 1.-The Re-
yival ~ Letters" "JudRes." " Churches
md Universities Before 17fj." men OF
Letters from 1745 10 l7G3," professors and
Ciergymen from 1915 10 1900" " Scottish
Comfy" "Highland Superstitions." The
VolHmes. which bear the TUE OF "Seotland
and Scotsmen in the Eighteenth Century"
are published by Mcssrs. William Black
wood & Sons, EainbUrgh. IN the tasteful
manner for which their house Is famous.
The following extracts NAV be regarded as
illustrative ~ Mr Ramsay's style and Of the
character OF the work.
DIR. SKINNER. OF LISsHART.
In July, 1872, in On expedition TO The North
] paid my first visit % this venerable man at
L'nshsft accompanied by DR.. Gleig, Bishop
SINNERS intimate friend, and the CORE
spoudent Of the old man, whom he had
rcyer seen before. What | saw and heard
upon that occasion made too deep an I'm
preston on nv miud 10 be ever eliaced.
The approach to his house has no charms
10 a stranger from the southern part OF
Scotland. being an ugly place In very
ugly country. little Indebted 70 nsture and
less 10 art. II stands I'm great PLAIN COM
posed ~ corn lsnd and heath alternately
intersnorsed. though the quality OF The
former Is often very good. Not tree and
hardly bush is to he seen within view,
and, what is more extraordinary, the brook
that passes his door is black and stagnated.
our host met us at little distance from
the house. His figure was porty and
index 10 his mind. served to proposes us in
his favor. Although then IN his seventeen
year, snd lstely recovered from painful Ill
ness, he looked like = man Of fifty, such was
the iroshncss OF BIS appearance joined 10 the
color Of his hair, which was coal black, eN-
cept two tufts on his checks that were gray. !
lie then conducted us into his house, which
was much too mean for such an inhabl- |
t1nt. II Is only one story high, Ike
tenants mansion. but larger, and orna
Inentcd with sash.wndOws. The inside wac
someW hat between minister's manse and
farmers steadpg. Nothing could be palmer
or more primitive than the furniture, and
We were not little surprised at not seeing a
single chimney I'm the hOusc-the fuel, which
Is peat, being burned on the hearth. The
architecture OF his chapel, which stands hard
by the house. Is equally primitive and I'M
adorned, having the appearance Of vast
barn shaped Ike cross. IL IL tbatched. |
and 50 low in the roof rs not to admit OF
loffS or galleries. II r. tOleraby well seated, !
and will contain more than thousand peo- |
pie. The altar is very plain. being square |
seat immediately below very humble pub |
pit. In bis garden there WAS the same sim-
pliciiy. common pot herbs being interpreted |
with few gooseeefry and rose Bushes, while |
Tho borders were covered with flowers and |
broom and weeds. Everything of that kind |
+. relative. Mrs. skinner having been born |
and bred 10 Scotland looked on Buchan as |
Terrestrial paradise; and her husband, who |
had lived most Of bis time in Aberdecnshre,
considered The spot OF country between |
Peterhesd and Inverury castle as one OF the /
finest ia the kingdom.
A PROSECUTED PROFESSOR.
Little Is known Of the College OF Glasgow
.. ~ aft |
linton. IL may be concluded that the new |
professors were more remarkable for orthO- 4
doxy and zeal than for literary accomplish
ments. From the parochlsl clergy probes
sors 10 colleges are usually taken. II tradl-
ton, which Is at best a sorry guide in matters
where pGriy has any share, may be trusted,
some OF the ministers at Glasgow at that
period would be regarded nowadays as
weak. vulgar men. But a. they were
much liked by their fiocks, 30 it'll hardly fair
20 estimate the men and manners OF simple
times by those Of more fastidious age.
which ridges OF everything by the polish OF
elegance. II that was the case in great
towns. II nav De presumed that the members
OF the University were little dignlfed in
those DAYS. Mr.. John Simson, professor in
that college OF Divinity between eighty and
ninety wears ago, attracted TOO much OF the
pubnc attention. lie was repeatedly prose
cuted for heTesy by the presbytery, who
charged him with Ariaoism and other errors
IN strong and pointed terms. From oil that
can ba collected ri this distance OF time he
was quick. acnte man, OF more erudition
snd Ingenuity than most OF his clerical con-
who did not pride themseiye,
unon their liberllity. Nothing, howeyers
not even the purest Intentions, could Justify
his imprudent boldness wbru under prose
cntlon, for il neither suited the times nor
the place he beld. Instead Of soothing his CO
pr.sbyters and trying to give them satisisc-
ton, he treated them and bis prosecutors
with studied contempt, endeayoriDg to turn
them into ridicule. After great flame had
been klndlsd he was not more supple or dis
erect al the bar Of the General Assembly,
where be defeaded himself with great
spirit and periipaclty, conscious OF The
extent OF his Intellectual powers. The
process lasted for years, and ended
in sentence suspeuding the pro-
lessor from the functions OF his Office du-
riug the pleasure OF the Assembly. Al