The peculiarity of character, for which we have placed his name against that of Caleb Balderstone, here occurs. Whenever there alighted any stranger of a more splendid appearance than ordinary, he was suddenly seized with a fit of magniloquency, and, in the identical manner of Caleb Balderstone, would call _Hostler No. 10_ down from _Hay-loft No. 15_, to conduct the gentleman’s “beast” to one of the best stalls in the _Stable No. 20_! He would then, with a superabundance of ceremony, show the stranger into a chamber which he would declare with the greatest assurance to be _No. 40_; and on his guest asking perhaps for a glass of rum, would order a waiter, whom he baptized (_nolens volens_) _No. 15_ for the occasion, to draw it from the cask in the bar marked 95. Then was the _twelfth_ hen-roost to be ransacked, and a glorious fowl, the best that could be selected from a stock of about _one thousand or so_, to be consigned to the hands of the _Head Cook_ herself, (God knows his house boasted only one, who was _Scullion_ and _Boots_ besides.) All this rhodomontade was enacted in a style of such serious effrontery, and was accompanied by such a volubility of talk, and flights of humour, and bustling activity, that any one not previously acquainted with his devices, would have given him and his house credit for ten times the size and respectability they could actually boast of. Mr. Davidson afterwards removed to the inn at Middleton, where he died, in good circumstances, about sixteen years ago. He was a man of very brilliant talents, distinguished much by that faculty entitled by the country people _ready wit_. He had a strong memory, a lively and fertile imagination, and possessed powers of discourse truly astonishing. The prevailing tone of his mind was disposed to ridicule. He had a singularly felicitous knack of giving anything improper in his own conduct or appearance a bias in his favour, and could at all times, as we have seen, set off his own circumstances in such a light as made them splendid and respectable, though in reality they were vulgar and undignified. FOOTNOTES: [36] We are indebted for the following ingenious and elaborate article to the gentleman who supplied the notice respecting the “Bodach Glas,” at page 25. [37] Douglas’s Baronage,—Hamilton of Innerwick. [38] A retour is a law term, signifying the report of the verdict of a jury, which, by the law of Scotland, is the mode of proving the propinquity of an heir, so as to entitle him to be invested in his predecessor’s estate. [39] Douglas’s Peerage,—Earl of Haddington. [40] Douglas’s Baronage,—Hamilton of Innerwick. [41] See page 6. [42] Douglas’s Peerage,—Viscount Kenmure. [43] A principal and conspicuous part of Lord Kenmure’s camp equipage was a barrel of brandy, which was carried at the head of the regiment. This was called Kenmure’s Drum. [44] Douglas’s Peerage,—Earl of Stair. [45] So she was styled.