Obituary Notices . 
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most flattering one to Swinton, and was exceedingly gratifying to 
his friends. One feature of the evening’s proceedings was a song 
written for the occasion by Lord Neaves, of which I shall simply 
quote one stanza as expressive of its general character and bearing. 
The second stanza runs thus : — 
“ He doffs the gown, he quits the town, 
His ancient haunts he leaves ; 
Henceforth his sphere will he to rear 
Good mutton and fat beeves, 
To sow and reap, to sell or keep 
His wheat or barley sheaves, 
While, sad and slow, his comrades go 
Lamenting, with Lord Neaves, 
That he ’s a country gentleman 
All of the present time.” 
And so from 1862 to 1890 he remained in great reputation and 
honour, a country gentleman living on his own property and among 
his own people, consulted by all and sundry, gentle and simple, 
whom his versatility and kindliness attracted, and seldom or never 
in vain. His father died in the year 1867, but of course the great 
proportion of the labour which the estate implied had before fallen 
upon the shoulders of Swinton. In his capacity of a country 
squire he filled almost every position in local management which 
was open to him. His knowledge, quickness of apprehension, and 
urbanity of manner caused him to be consulted from all quarters 
upon all manner of subjects. As I have already said, he combined 
knowledge of country affairs with an amount of legal lore very 
seldom combined with rustic pursuits. It would be impossible for 
me to enumerate in detail the amount of willing work which he 
performed in that capacity. He continued to be a member of the 
General Assembly, was much in the confidence of the clergy, and 
devoted a considerable portion of his time to the discharge of these 
duties. He was a member of the School Boards when they were 
first introduced, and indeed few of the parochial or county institu- 
tions were without his assistance. He continued, as he had done 
during the greater part of his life, to act as a Director of the Edin- 
burgh Academy, his zeal for, and devotion to which had suffered 
no diminution. 
I have been furnished with memoranda from his diaries, which 
