JSLEMOIll OF THE AUTHOE. 



XXXV 



grapher has not been intimately acquainted with the sub- 

 ject whose history he has undertaken, however slightly, to 

 sketch. For we conceive it to be the duty of a biographer 

 to make the subject of his Memoir portray, if possible, in 

 his own language a character of himself. This may to a 

 certain extent be performed by his biographer, when no 

 materials exist for enabling the subject of his Memoir to 

 draw his own portrait, provided he has lived on terms of 

 personal friendship, or at least general acquaintance, with 

 him whose history he writes. As the author of this Me- 

 moir has not enjoyed either of these advantages, he must 

 endeavour, from such information as he can recall or 

 collect, to draw up a slight portrait of Sir Henry, which, 

 from his well-known character, there is less difficulty in 

 effecting. 



The author of this Memoir — to commence with his own 

 recollections — well remembers the last occasion on which 

 he saw Sir Henry, in company with the Baronet^s relative, 

 General Sir James Steuart, whom he accompanied on a 

 visit to AUanton from Coltness. This occurred a few 

 years previous to Sir Henry's death ; and a distinct recol- 

 lection is stili retained of the appearance and urbanity of 

 the author of this work, presenting a fine instance of the 

 high though easy manners of the old school, accompanied 

 by the graceful deportment of ancient descent and intel- 

 lectual culture, with a natural mildness and kindness in 

 his general bearing and demeanour, for which Sir Henry 

 was usually distinguished. Unruffled calmness and natu- 

 ral dignity of deportment, which seems to place a natural 

 restraint on every disposition to sudden sallies of temper 

 or unusual excitement, is conceived to be the proper 

 results of the highest polish of which manner is capable; 

 and these results were particularly observable in Sir 

 Henry. It would be difficult perhaps at any period to 



