APPENDIX. 31 



I. Account of Sir James Hunter Blair, Bart. 

 {Read by Mr GREENFIELD, March 21. 1791.] 



THE following account of a late refpeclable Member will 

 not, I am perfuaded, be unacceptable to the Society. He 

 was one of the twenty-two who obtained the charter of its in- 

 corporation ; and although his fituation did not permit him to 

 aim at literary diftinction, he is entitled to an honourable place 

 in its records, both from the worth of his private character, and 

 alfo from his eminent activity and ufefulnefs in public life. 



Sir James Hunter Blair was the fecond fon of Mr John 

 Hunter, merchant in Ayr, and was born in that town on the 

 21ft day of February 1741. His father acquired a confiderable 

 property in land and money, and left his children, who were 

 flill young at his death, in eafy circumftances. 



In the year 1756, Sir James was placed as an apprentice in 

 the houfe of Coutts, Brothers and Company, Bankers in 

 Edinburgh. It was at this time that his friendfhip commenced 

 with Sir William Forbes, who had entered into the fame fi- 

 tuation about two years before, and who was afterwards his 

 partner in bufinefs. Sir William, in a very interefling letter, 

 written after Sir James's death, exprefTes himfelf thus : " Our 

 friendfhip terminated only with his life, after an intimacy which 

 few brothers can boafl of, during thirty-one years ; in which 

 long period, we never had a difference, nor a feparation of in- 

 tereft." 



After 



