Traditions of Edinburgh . own down by ahackney-coach, and had her leg broken; yet she recovered, andlived to the age of eighty-eight. Leading a solitary life, shetook a great fancy for cats. Besides supporting many in herown house, curiously disposed in bandboxes, with doors to goin and out at, she caused food to be laid out for others on herstair and around her house. Not a word of obloquy would shelisten to against the species, alleging, when any wickedness of acat was spoken of, that the animal must have acted under ALLAN RAMSAY. 27 provocation, for by nature, she asserted, cats are harmles
Traditions of Edinburgh . own down by ahackney-coach, and had her leg broken; yet she recovered, andlived to the age of eighty-eight. Leading a solitary life, shetook a great fancy for cats. Besides supporting many in herown house, curiously disposed in bandboxes, with doors to goin and out at, she caused food to be laid out for others on herstair and around her house. Not a word of obloquy would shelisten to against the species, alleging, when any wickedness of acat was spoken of, that the animal must have acted under ALLAN RAMSAY. 27 provocation, for by nature, she asserted, cats are did her maid go with morning messages to her friends,inquiring, with her compliments, after their pet cats. Good MissRamsay was also a friend to horses, and indeed to all she observed a carter ill-treating his horse, she wouldmarch up to him, tax him with cruelty, and, by the veryearnestness of her remonstrances, arrest the barbarians also, Avhen she saw one labouring on the street, with the. Ramsays House, as it appeared in 1S45. appearance of defective diet, she would send rolls to its master,entreating him to feed the animal. These peculiarities, althougha little eccentric, are not unpleasing; and I cannot be sorry torecord them of the daughter of one whose heart and head werean honour to his country. [1868.—It seems to have been unknown to the biographers ofAllan Ramsay the painter, that he made a romantic marriage. In c 28 TRADITIONS OF EDINBURGH. his early days, while teaching the art of drawing in the family ofSir Alexander Lindsay of Evelick, one of the young ladies fell inlove with him, captivated probably by the tongue which after-wards gave him the intimacy of princes, and was undoubtedly agreat source of his success in life. The father of the enamouredgirl was an old proud baronet; , a sister of the Chief-justice Earl of Mansfield. A marriage with consent of parentswas consequently impossible. The young people, nevertheless
Size: 1572px × 1590px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjectlegends, bookyear1868
