222 REMINISCENCES OF 



bring the subject formally before the next meeting 

 on Tuesday, nth March. 



" I therefore request your attendance on that day 

 at a quarter before seven o'clock at the New Club, 

 Edinburgh. If you are not to be present, will you 

 have the goodness to let me know your views on the 

 subject with as little delay as possible. 

 " I have the honour to be, 



" Your obedient servant, 



" J. Anstruther Thomson, 



"Preses." 



All the members, with one or two exceptions, 

 replied in favour of this. All the subscriptions were 

 punctually paid, except one. I had the pleasure of 

 sending Gillespie a cheque for ^i,ooo. He was 

 very grateful, and said it came most opportunely, as 

 it enabled him to meet the payment of his insurance 

 policies. He became blind, but still remained joint 

 secretary with his son, who was very popular, but 

 died quite young. Sir John died in 1901. 



23rd February, 1888. — My grandson, John Arnold 

 St. Clair, was born. On Monday, 22nd March, 

 we gave a ball at Charleton in his honour, which was 

 most successful. Danced in the dining-room ; supper 

 in the drawing-room ; all the doors were opened, so 

 there was free egress everywhere. Supper came up 

 back stairs, in the " Far West," and the bath was 

 full of ice and champagne bottles. We got Jamieson 

 to come from St. Andrews to take charge of the 

 wine. Rupert Leigh, Le Terrier, 15th Hussars, 



