MKMOIR OF >l I: -I ' I' \ I.V 1.1, L. 



succeeded by his brother. Sir John Graham Dalycll, Knight and Baronet, 

 sixth Baronet <>[' liinn-. ami t!n> subject of the present memoir. 



SIK JOHN <iic \U\M I>u. rax was born at Binns in August 1776. ll< 

 was the second son. His father living when the family were young, tin-it 

 education and bringing up devolved upon Lady Dalyell, who discharged 

 her duty in tin- moot exemplary manner. 



Unfortunately Sir John, when on infant, had been allowed, by u 

 mrelesH nurse, to fall from a table upon a stone floor, by which one of 

 his limbs wan so much injured that he became lame for life. Perhaps it 

 was owing to this physical deficiency that the mind of the youth was early 

 led to seek amusement in mental recreation. Certain it is, at all event-. 

 that from his boyhood upwards he studied arduously the dawn of morn- 

 ing seldom finding him in bed. 



His early education was conducted by a private tutor, who rended 

 in the family. Being delicate, he was sent to Mofl'at, when about ten or 

 twelve years of age, for the benefit of the well. A little sister, nearly hi* 

 own age, accompanied him as a companion, and died there. Her death 

 was a sad blow. Upon his return he attended the classes, first at St 

 Andrews, and secondly, at the University of Edinburgh. 



He bad early imbibed a taste for music, and his first in-tnu-tor on 

 the violin, while at St Andrews, is understood to have been a blind tid- 

 dler belonging to the place. During the vacations his time was frequently 

 passed at Binns, where the progress made at tin- dosses was greatly im- 

 proved by extensive reading and research. Towards the end of last <-<-ii 

 tury, it became fashionable for gentlemen, by way of in-door exercise, to 

 practise some of the mechanical arts. Being an excellent mathematician. 

 having gained the medal in the class of mechanics, Sir John showed L'n-.it 

 aptitude in thia department. His first attempt at lathe-turning WOK made 

 upon a loom called a spangle,'* in a hay- loft at Binns ; and he has left .1 

 number of exquisite specimens of his ultimate perfection. Am- 

 others, a miniature brass cannon mounted a truly splendid piece of 

 workmanship, and several small ivory vases turned into even- com-eiv- 



* This wu * very nimplc form of the turning-Uthr. 



