346 LEAVES THEY HAVE TOUCHED. 



this excellent man, whom life extended from 1791 to 1868 is a brief 

 note, in keeping with his clerical character, but unimportant except as 

 an autograph. It is as follows: "Cloisters, Saturday. Dear Lady 

 Williams. — The Confirmation is at half-past eleven; the Candidates 

 are to be in the Church by eleven. Ever truly yours, H. H. Milman. 

 Did you see the note in my last enclosure?" I add here a sentence or 

 two from the hand of another dean, the late Dean Ramsay of Edin- 

 burgh, author of "Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character." 

 "Illness and being in my own room must be my apology," he says, "for 

 delay in the reply to your favor of Jan. 23. 1. Carscadden was the 

 name of the laird who sate a "corpse twa hours" at the festive board. 

 (see. Rem. p. 66. ed. 13.) I had the story from the late Prof. Aytoun, 

 who was very correct in all such matters. I found afterwards it was 

 referred to in Dr. Strong's history of Glasgow Clubs. 2. There is 

 another place (in Fife, I believe,) Garnstadden Colqu.houn. Gavscad- 

 den is six miles from Glasgow, at New or East Kilpatrick. The old 

 drinking laird's probably passed away. 3. All places beginning with 

 'Gar,' are, I believe, from the Celtic 'caer,' which means fortress. 

 The addition represents some quality of the fortress: for example, 

 Gargunnoch, i.e. Celtic Caer-guineach, a pointed fortress. But I am 

 not a Celtic nor Antiquarian scholar. I hope you will excuse this 

 imperfect answer, and accept the consideration of yours sincerely, 

 E. B. Ramsay." 



I value very highly the autograph manuscript which I produce 

 now. It is a note in the handwriting of the first Duke of Wellington. 

 Very often the notes of the great Duke which collectors show, are 

 somewhat grotesque in character : " E. M. the Duke of Wellington 

 is one of the few persons in this country who don't meddle with things 

 with which they have no concern." " F. M. the Duke of Wellington 

 can give no opinion upon that of which he knows nothing." " F. 



M. the Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr. , 



and would advise him to ask the local papers themselves on what 



authority they make such a statement as that to which Mr. - 



alludes." "F. M. the Duke of Wellington presents his compliments 

 to Mr. H. He has also received Mr. H.'s letter, and begs leave to 

 inform him he is not the historian of the wars of the French Republic 

 in Syria." The query was put to him in the letter referred to — 

 " Did Napoleon poison the prisoners at Jafiaf " F. M. the Duke of 



Wellington presents his compliments to Mr. . His letter of 



the 28th instant has been received by the duke, but not the petition 



