1 MEMOIR OF SIR J. G. DALYELL, 



ture and science, and attend at the same time to business, both of a public 

 and private nature, Sir John must have husbanded well his time. He 

 usually breakfasted early, and, if nothing called him abroad, repaired to 

 his study at ten o'clock. Here he continued industriously till two, when 

 he regaled himself with a large cup of tea. He then either drove out, 

 or made a call ; at four o'clock he repaired to his turning-lathe till dinner 

 called him. At seven he again went to his study till nine. After that, 

 he played on his fine violin a while, came to his friends, with whom he al- 

 ways lived, at ten ; drank his glass of ale, and retired to rest at eleven. 

 He was very abstemious, never exceeding two glasses of wine at dinner. 

 Such were his regular habits, interrupted only by business calls, or the 

 demands of the various public institutions of which he was a member. We 

 have said that he had considerable employment as a consulting lawyer ; 

 and although a younger son, and not what the world might call wealthy, 

 he made it a rule of his legal practice never to accept a fee from a relative, 

 a widow, or an orphan. A memorial of this generous resolution, we have 

 seen in a handsome piece of silver plate, presented to him by a widow lady, 

 for whom he had done a good deal, with the following inscription : 

 " To John Graham Dalyell, Esq., advocate, in testimony of her gratitude 

 for repeated instances of disinterested friendship." 



Though naturally quick tempered, Sir John was not resentful. Not- 

 withstanding numerous provocations, he never was known to commit to 

 paper an ill-natured line in his life. He was grateful for a good action, 

 warm-hearted, and much beloved by his nearest relatives his advice be- 

 ing always first asked in every question of doubt. He deprecated gamb- 

 ling, disliked dancing, and could not endure debating. Though highly 

 educated, and an excellent lawyer, he never seemed to know the way to 

 argue. He liked to discuss particular points with calmness and modera- 

 tion, being very quiet and gentle in his manners. He was favoured with 

 a highly cultivated mind and sound understanding. There was scarcely 

 any subject upon which he could not talk, and give information. He 

 had, it may be said, every accomplishment which education could bestow. 

 Antiquities, music, and natural history were the subjects which he chief- 

 ly wrote upon. Mathematics were a favourite study. As formerly men- 



