CLU

FIFESHIRE BIOGRAPHY.

took it down from his singing." Mr Clunie
died at Greenend, near Edinburgh, 13th
April 1819.

gard to the amount in dispute, or to the distinction of law and equity, and to criLord minal as well as civil business. COCKBURN, PATRICK, a learned ProBrougham, knowing the advantages of the Sheriff Courts in Scotland, got an Act fessor of the Oriental languages, was a son passed for establishing County Courts in of Cockburn of Langton, in the Merse, and England, but with limited jurisdiction, as educated at the University of St Andrews. above specified. Mr Clephane, in his ele- After taking holy orders, he went to the vated position in one of the most important University of Paris, where he taught the counties in Scotland, conducted himself Oriental languages for several years. In with so much integrity and public spirit as 1551 and 1552 he published at Paris two to acquire the lasting esteem and veneration religious works, which brought him under of all classes. He went through a great the suspicion of heresy, and compelled him amount of work in his capacity of judge, to to quit Paris. On his return to Scotland, the highest satisfaction of the inhabitants. he embraced the doctrines of the ReformaHis judgments were rarely appealed against, tion. He taught the languages for several and still more rarely reversed. His energy years at St Andrews, and in 1555 published and ability as Chief County Magistrate there some pious meditations on the Lord's preserved good order in times of commotion Prayer. He was afterwards chosen minister and anxiety; but apart from these duties, of Haddington, being the first Protestant Mr Clephane often took an opportunity of preacher in that place. He died, far adgiving his gratuitous services on matters of vanced in years, in 1559. He left several great public importance. He was connected manuscripts on subjects of Divinity, and with the management of the Fife and New-some letters and orations, of which a treaApostles' Creed" was pubhaven Ferries, the duties attending which tise on the " he discharged with a zeal and diligence lished at London, 1561, 4to. which could only be rightly appreciated by those who were aware of their arduous-Of this ancient family, which deduces its nature. His politics were Conservative, but were never allowed in any shape or degree to bias him in the performance of his public duties; and most certainly he was equally respected and liked for his chivalrous rectitude and genial qualities as a friend and companion by all (be their political opinions what they might) who had the happiness of regarding him as such. This excellent individual died suddenly, at Kirkness House, Kinross-shire, in August 1838, when apparently in the full plenitude of that manly vigour for which he was eminently distinguished, in the sixtieth year of his age. It was gratifying to the Sheriff's friends in Cupar to hear several of the speakers at public meetings held shortly after his death, and who had the best means of knowing his worth, paying warm eulogiums on his long and faithful services, and on his general character. He left a son, Lieutenant-Colonel Clephane, late of the 79th Highlanders.

CLUÑIE, Rev. JOHN, author of the well-known Scots song, "I lo'e na a laddie but ane," was born about 1757. He was educated for the Church of Scotland; and after being licensed to preach the Gospel, be became schoolmaster at Markinch, in Fife; and having an excellent voice, he also acted as precentor. He was afterwards, about 1790, ordained minister of the parish of Borthwick, in Mid-Lothian. Burns, in one of his letters to Mr Thomson, dated in September 1794, thus celebrates him for his vocal skill-"I am flattered at your adopting Ca' the yowes to the knowes,' as it was owing to me that it saw the light. About seven years ago I was well acquainted with a worthy little fellow of a clergyman, a Mr Clunie, who sung it charmingly; and at my request, Mr Clarke (Stephen Clarke, the composer)

COLVILLE of Culross, THE FAMILY OF.

descent from Philip de Colville of Oxenhame, in Roxburgh, who lived in the 12th century, the first necessary to be here noticed was Sir James Colville, only son of Sir James Colville of Ochiltree, and grandson of Robert Colville, steward to Margaret, Queen of James III., who married Janet, second daughter of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven.

He died in 1580, and was succeeded by his elder son, Sir James Colville of Easter Wemyss, who had served in the wars of France, under Henry the Great, with high reputation. He had a charter of Culross, Valleyfield, &c., erected into the temporal barony of Culross, 20th June 1589, and was created a Peer of Parliament, 20th January 1609, by the title of Lord Colville of Culross, with remainder to his heirs male whatsoever.

His Lordship married first, Isabel, second daughter of Patrick, Lord Ruthven, by whom he had an only surviving son, Robert, and a daughter, Jean, who married Sir James Campbell of Lawers, and was mother of John, Earl of Loudon, Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. Lord Colville married secondly, Ellen Shaw, relict of Robert Moubray of Barnbougle; and, dying in 1620, was succeeded by his grandson, James, second Lord Colville, who died without issue in 1640, when the title devolved upon his cousin, John Colville of Wester Crumbie, as third baron; but this gentleman did not assume the title, neither did his son, Andrew Colville of Kincardine, fourth baron, who was Professor of Divinity at Sedan. He was succeeded by his son, John, fifth baron, who also declined assum ing the title-his successor likewise declining. John, seventh baron, an officer in the army, claimed the barony, but was refused on the ground that it was not on the roll at the time of the Union. He appealed, how

125

The winter, the maiden found heart-broken-
dyin';

And spring spread the green turf owre Mary
Macneil !

and to his business tact and straightforward deportment, next to the genius and talent of its projectors, may be attributed much of its subsequent success. In 1804 he admitted as a partner Mr Alexander Gibson Hunter CONSTABLE, ARCHIBALD, the most of Blackness, after which the business was eminent publisher that Scotland has ever carried on under the firm of Archibald produced, was born February 24, 1775, at Constable & Co. In December 1808 he and Kellie, parish of Carnbee, county of Fife. his partner joined with Mr Charles Hunter He was the son of Thomas Constable, over- and Mr John Park in commencing a general seer or land steward on the estate of the bookselling business in London, under the Earl of Kellie. He received all the educa- name of Constable, Hunter, Park, and tion he ever got at the school of Carnbee. Hunter; but this speculation not answering, In 1788 he was apprenticed to Mr Peter was relinquished in 1811. On the retireHill, bookseller in Edinburgh, the friend ment of Mr A. G. Hunter from the Edinand correspondent of Burns. While he re- burgh firm in the early part of the latter mained with Mr Hill, he assiduously devoted year, Mr Robert Cathcart of Drum, writer himself to acquiring a knowledge of old and to the signet, and Mr Robert Cadell, then scarce books, and particularly of the early in Mr Constable's shop, were admitted and rare productions of the Scottish press. partners. Mr Cathcart having died in On the expiration of his apprenticeship he November 1812, the latter remained his married a daughter of Mr David Willison, sole partner. In 1805 he commenced the a respectable printer in Edinburgh, who Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal," assisted him in commencing business, which a work projected in concert with the late Dr he did in 1795, in a small shop on the north Andrew Duncan. In the same year, in side of the High Street of that city. In conjunction with Longman & Co. of LonNovember of that year he issued the first of don, he published the Lay of the Last that series of sale catalogues of curious and Minstrel," the first of that long series of rare books, which he continued for a few original and romantic publications, in years to publish at intervals, and which poetry and prose, which has immortalised attracted to his shop all the bibliographers the name of Walter Scott. In 1806 Mr and lovers of literature in the northern Constable brought out, in five volumes, a metropolis. Among the more eminent of beautiful edition of the works of Mr Scott, these may be mentioned Mr Richard Heber, comprising the "Lay of the Last Minstrel," afterwards M.P. for the University of the "Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, Oxford; Mr Alexander Campbell; Mr "Sir Tristrem," and a series of lyrical (afterwards Dr) Alexander Murray'; Dr pieces. In 1807 he purchased the copyright John Leyden; Mr (afterwards Sir) Walter of "Marmion," before a line of it was Scott; Mr (now Sir) J. G. Dalyell, and written, from Mr Scott for £1000. Before others, distinguished for a taste for Scottish it was published, he admitted Mr Miller of literary and historical antiquities. Mr Albermarle Street, and Mr Murray, then of Constable's obliging manners, professional Fleet Street, to a share in the copyright, intelligence, personal activity, and prompt each of these gentlemen having purchased a attention to the wishes of his visitors, re-fourth. Amongst other works of importcommended him to all who came in contact ance published by him may be mentioned with him. Amongst the first of his publi- here Mr J. P. Wood's edition of " Douglas's cations of any importance were Campbell's Scottish Peerage," "Mr George Chalmers' "History of Scottish Poetry," Dalyell's Caledonia," and the “ Edinburgh Gazetteer" "Fragments of Scottish History," and in six volumes. In 1808 a serious disagreeLeyden's edition of the "Complaint of ment took place between Mr Scott and Scotland." In 1800 he commenced a Constable and Co., owing, it is understood, quarterly work, entitled the "Farmer's Magazine," which, under the management of Mr Robert Brown of Markle, obtained a considerable circulation among agriculturists. In 1801 he became proprietor of the "Scots Magazine," commenced in 1793, and esteemed a curious repository of information regarding the history, antiquities, and traditions of Scotland. Dr Leyden, Dr A. Murray, and the late Mr Donald, advocate, were successively the editors of this periodical, which, on his bankruptcy, was discontinued. Mr Constable's reputation as a publisher may be said to have commenced with the appearance, in October 1802, of the first number of the Edinburgh Review. His conduct towards the conductors and contributors of that celebrated quarterly was at once discreet and liberal;

to some intemperate expression of Mr Constable's partner, Mr Hunter, which was not removed till 1813. In 1812 Mr Constable purchased the copyright and stock of the

Encyclopædia Britannica." When he became the proprietor, the fifth edition was too far advanced at press to admit of any material improvements being introduced into it; but as he saw that these were largely required, he originated the plan of the supplement to the later editions, which has enhanced to such an extent the value, the usefulness, and the celebrity of the work. In 1814 he brought out the first of the "Waverley Novels;" and as that wonderful series of romantic tales proceeded, he had not unfrequently the merit of suggesting subjects to their distamished. author, and of finding titles for

han

one of these memorable works; such, for and stability, as well as experience in the example, was the case with "Rob Roy." publishing department, by the accession of In the same year he published Mr Scott's Mr Thomas Hurst, formerly of the house edition of "Swift's Works." Besides these of Messrs Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, publications, he brought out the philosophi- and Brown, as a partner. But the altocal works of Mr Dugald Stewart. He him-gether unprecedented state of the times, the self added something to the stock of Scottish general demolition of credit, and the utter historical literature. In 1810 he published, absence of all mercantile confidence, brought from an original manuscript, a quarto Messrs Hurst, Robinson, & Co., to a pause, volume, edited by himself, entitled the and rendered it necessary to suspend pay"Chronicle of Fife, being the Diary of ment of their engagements early in January John Lamont of Newton, from 1649 to 1826. Their insolvency necessarily led to 1672;" and, in 1822, he wrote and published that of Messrs Constable & Co., who, a "Memoir of George Heriot, Jeweller to without having been engaged in any specuKing James, containing an Account of the lations extraneous to their own business, Hospital founded by him at Edinburgh," were thus involved in the commercial dissuggested by the introduction of Heriot tress which everywhere surrounded them. into the "Fortunes of Nigel," which was Without entering into details, which would published during the spring of that year. be unsuitable to a work like the present, it He also published a compilation of the is sufficient to remark, that, in order to "Poetry contained in the Waverley Novels." | have recovered the concern in Edinburgh In 1818, his first wife having died in 1814, from the embarrassment of such a state of Mr Constable married Miss Charlotte matters as that we have described, two conNeale, who survived him. In the autumn ditions were indispensably necessary, viz., of 1821, in consequence of bad health, he time, and the restoration of that commercial had gone to reside in the neighbourhood of credit, without which business cannot be London, and his absence from Edinburgh carried on. The liberal character of the and its cause are feelingly alluded to in the late Mr Constable in his dealings with liteintroductory epistle to the "Fortunes of rary men, as well as with his brethren in Nigel," where Mr Constable is commended trade, is well known. His outlay of capital, as one "whose vigorous intellect and liberal during the period in which he was engaged ideas had not only rendered his native in business, tended much to raise the price country the mart of her own literature, but of literary labour, not merely in Scotland, established there a court of letters, which but throughout Great Britain. In the commanded respect even from those most department of commercial enterprise, to inclined to dissent from many of its canons. which he was particularly devoted, and Indeed, his readiness in appreciating literary which, perhaps, no man more thoroughly merit, his liberality in rewarding it, and understood, his life had been one uniform the sagacity he displayed in placing it in the career of unceasing and meritorious exertion. most favourable manner before the public, In its progress and general results (howwere universally acknowledged. In the ever melancholy the conclusion), we believe summer of 1822 Mr Constable returned to it will be found, that it proved more beneEdinburgh, and in 1823 he removed his ficial to those who were connected with him establishment to more splendid and com- in his literary undertakings, or to those modious premises in Princes Street, which among whom he lived, than productive of he had acquired by purchase from the con-advantage to himself or to his family. In nections of his second marriage. In that year he was included by the Government in a list of Justices of the Peace for the city of Edinburgh. In January 1826 the public was astonished by the announcement of the bankruptcy of his house, when his liabilities were understood to exceed £250,000. The year 1825 was rendered remarkable in Great Britain by an unusual rage for speculation, and the employment of capital in various schemes and projects under the name of joint-stock companies. At this period the concern of which the late Mr Constable was the leading partner, was engaged extensively in various literary undertakings, on some of which large profits had already been realised, while the money embarked in others, though so far successful, was still to be redeemed. Messrs Hurst, Robinson, & Co., the London agents of Constable's house, who were also large wholesale purchasers of the various publications which issued from the latter, had previously to this period acquired a great addition of capital

the course of his business, also, he had some considerable drawbacks to contend with. His partner, the late Mr Hunter of Blackness, on succeeding to his paternal estate, retired from business, and the amount of his share of the profits of the concern, subsequently paid over to his representatives, had been calculated on a liberal and perhaps over-sanguine estimate. The relieving the Messrs Ballantyne of their heavy stock, in order to assist Sir Walter Scott in the difficulties of 1813, must also have been felt as a considerable drag on the profits of the business. In the important consideration as to how far Messrs Constable & Co. ought to have gone in reference to their pecuniary engagements with Messrs Ballantyne, there are some essential considerations to be kept in view. Sir Walter's power of imagination, great rapidity of composition, the altogether unparalleled success of his writings as a favourite with the public, and his confidence in his own powers, were elements which exceeded the ordinary limits of cal

he was subject to occasional bursts of anger. He is understood to have left memorials of the great literary and scientific men of his day.

His

culation or control in such matters, and appear to have drawn his publishers farther into these engagements (certainly more rapidly) than they ought to have gone. Yet, with these and other disadvantages, COOK, Rev. GEORGE, D.D., was born great profits were undoubtedly realised, and at St Andrews in 1773. His education was had not such an extraordinary crisis as that conducted at the schools and colleges of his of 1825-6 occurred, the concern, in a few native city, at that time distinguished for years, would have been better prepared to the high literary character and the eminent encounter such a state of money matters as men it produced, while his subsequent career then prevailed in every department of trade. fully showed how well he had availed himThe disastrous circumstances of the time, self of such opportunities of mental improveand the overbearing demands of others, for ment. From the early period of boyhood, the means of meeting and sustaining an the studies of George Cook had been directed extravagant system of expenditure, contri- towards the Church, in which his family had buted to drag the concern to its ruin, rather considerable influence; and at the age of than the impetuous and speculative genius twenty-two he was ordained minister of of its leading partner. Mr Constable was Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire. On settling naturally benevolent, generous, and san- down into such a tranquil residence, the guine. At a glance, he could see from the young divine did not resign himself either beginning to the end of a literary project, to rural indolence or literary epicurism; on more clearly than he could always impart the contrary, his studies were laborious, and his own views to others; but his deliberate and directed to the highest interests of his sacred matured opinion upon such subjects, among profession. It was while minister of Lauthose who knew him, was sufficient to justify rencekirk that he produced most of those the feasibility or ultimate success of any works by which his fame was extended over undertaking which he approved. In the the world of ecclesiastical literature. As an latter part of his career, his situation, as the author, his first work, published in 1808, most prominent individual in Scotland in was "Illustrations of the General Evidence the publishing world, as well as his exten- establishing Christ's Resurrection." sive connection with literary men in both next, in 1811, was the "History of the ends of the Island, together with an increas- Reformation," the most popular of all his ing family, led him into greater expense works, until it was eclipsed by the more than was consistent with his own moderate attractive productions on the same subject habits, but not greater than that scale of at a later period, and by writers possessing living, to which he had raised himself, en- more ample opportunities of information, of titled him, and in some measure compelled whom we need scarcely mention the name him to maintain. It is also certain that he of D'Aubigné. After this work in general did not scrupulously weigh his purse when ecclesiastical history, Dr Cook turned his sympathy with the necessities or inisfortunes attention to that part of it which concerned of others called upon him to open it. In his own church and country, and published his own case, the fruits of a life of activity, in 1815, the history of the "Church of Scotindustry, and exertion, were sacrificed in land from the Reformation to the Revoluthe prevailing wreck of commercial credit tion," a work in which the research was of which overtook him in the midst of his the most trying character, in so much as literary undertakings, by which he was one many of the materials were at that time in of the most remarkable sufferers, and, ac-obscure, moth-eaten manuscripts, which cording to received notions of worldly have since been printed mainly through the wisdom, little deserved to be the victim. public spirit of our antiquarian societies. At the time his bankruptcy took place, Mr In 1820 appeared his "Life of Principal Constable was meditating a series of publi-Hill," and in 1822 his "View of Chriscations, which afterwards came out under tianity." Such works naturally brought Dr the title of "Constable's Miscellany of Cook into the front rank of the most talented Original and Selected Works, in Literature, of his clerical brethren, and in church courts Art, and Science"--the percursor of that his opinions obtained that ascendancy to now almost universal system of cheap which they were so justly entitled. To these publishing, which renders the present an also were added the highest honorary disera of compilation and reprint rather than tinctions which our primitive national of original production. The Miscellany was Church can bestow. Thus, in 1825, he was his last project. Soon after its commence- Moderator of the General Assembly of the ment he was attacked with his former Church of Scotland, and in the following disease, a dropsical complaint; and he died, year he was appointed a member of the July 21, 1827, in the fifty-third year of his Royal Commission for examining into the age. He left several children by both his state of our Scottish Universities. He was marriages. His frame was bulky and cor- also appointed dean of the Order of the pulent, and his countenance was remarkably Thistle, and one of his Majesty's chaplains. pleasing and intelligent. The portrait On the death of Dr Inglis, which occurred taken by the late Sir Henry Raeburn is a in 1834, the leadership of his party in the most successful likeness of him. His man- Church, which that eminent divine had so ners were friendly and conciliating, although |ably conducted, was, by universal choice,