The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-17
more numerous than English, Irish and
Scotch Merchants.

Ii ( (
The greatest commercial firms of the
last quarter OF the Eighteenth century,
and the first ofathe Nineteenth We're Of
4 the Scotch atlonulity.5 When old ga
zettes and foii letter-E>-,ks are scanned
this TRUTH becomes apparent. The Ali-
sons. ,Brydies, Barclays, Browns
Donalds, Donaldsons. Calls. Gordons.5
Iiyles.s McClures, Rutherfoords. Ronalds,
Wnrdlaws. Grahams. occur by names
In our commerc:al annai-,: and yet later.
the Adams, Bars. Bairds Caskies.
Fishers. Kerrs. Gilmours. Mabens. Nc.
Raes. PAGES, Reds. samsons. Scots.
Stewards Walkers, Wallaces. etc. The
Scot once domiciled in Virginia, rarely
ventured back to the land Of his sires, or
MS he proudly terms it, 1.-THE land Of
gentlemen" even after acquiring for-
tune by honest thrift in his adopted
home. ! recall the names of only three
engaged in Htrade In Richmond. who sang
as they quit forever our prosperous city:
ITS hane. and it's hame. faln wnd
/ be-
An It's hame. hame, hame. to my. ain
countre!i'
These were Andrew Wallace to the Low
lands. William Rankin to Auhtermuchty,
and John Glmour, OF the ,well-known
commission firm Of John Gllmour, and
Company, whose Office was formerly on
the west side OF Shockoe Slip.
1t.has been said. that the French have
no word in their language for home, hut
1t cannot be said with truth, that he is
void of the sentiment which makes 1t
1.-THE sacred refuge of our life" He has
1t In common with all who are OF woman
born. and 30 the Scot. hut in higher de-
gree. From the days of Walter Scott
to the days of Margaret Crawford It's
hame and it's hame, that forms the bur-
den of nearly every Scottish poem. This
divine instinct. and some others as sacred
he shares with the Yirsinan ms with one
OF his kin.
Into this thrifty, colony of the Scot,
shall now introduce man who made
some little noise in his day. and who Is
still remembered by elderly citizens Of
Scottish descent. II not OF Scottish birth,
MS shining Light. in tina gay circles OF his
countrymen.
Mr.. Hamilton came from New York
City to Richmond, and after a short stay
at the Exchange Hotel, went into lods-
ings In small Dutch rooted, wooden
house situated on Bank Street. a draw
ing OF which accompanies this paper,
II mad been occupied by DR.. James Me-
Clurg In tho carly years OF the last CEN
fury, who also, We are told by our re-
liable friend Mordecal, built near 1t a
brick building for the Bank OF Virginia.
THIS old hank building stood. In my
time, on the southeast corner west of
thes0ther. and was used by one, Boyd, as
a genteel boarding house. The Dutch
rooted house stood exactly where tie
great door OF the Custom House now
| opens on It's Bank Street front. and /,
had been occupied previously BY sue
eesson OF professional men. A few years
/ earlier than Hamilton's arrival In Ricll-
mond. the square owned in part by the
Niekhams, was on the Main Street side
pretty much blank. A row of mul.
berry trees shaded II In summer. and
horses were htched there By country
men who had dealings With the Bank OF
| Virginia. and the Farmers Bank.
Hemilion's pretty lodgings looked gu,
| on the trees and green swards OF grass
| that ornamcnted the Capital grounds.
THAT fine plantation OF Willow Oak,
which In our summers obstrnct the
view. We're then but weakiings. the hanc
Of the eveler had not yet touched tn,
! old formation of vale and terrace, hae
not set buried under the sod the I'm,