of Edinburgh, Session 1878 - 79 . 13 
Mr Hugh Scott of Gala was born in 1822. He held a commis- 
sion as captain in the 92d Highlanders, and was afterwards major 
in the Dumfries, Roxburgh, and Selkirkshire Militia. He was a 
Justice of the Peace and Deputy-Lieutenant of the county of Sel- 
kirk, and an enthusiastic supporter of the Episcopal Church of 
Scotland, whose cause he advocated for years in the local and Edin- 
burgh newspapers. His descent, both by his father’s side and that 
of his mother (who was daughter of Sir Archibald Hope of Craig- 
hall), secured him a good position amongst the landed gentry of 
Scotland, and his personal qualities were of the highest order. 
Spite of a marked stutter, he shone in society, and was always a 
general favourite ; indeed, it may be doubted whether this defect of 
speech is not an aid rather than a hindrance to its possessor, whether 
as a converser or as a lecturer. Charles Kingsley was a notable 
example amongst those who have passed away ; and many members 
of this Society will call to mind living examples illustrative of the 
truth of this remark. 
Mr Scott died at Hyeres, whither he had gone in search of health, 
on the 19th of December last. 
James Cunningham, Esq., W.S., was born at Edinburgh on the 
18th of March 1800. He died on the 6th of November 1878. His 
father, Alexander Cunningham, W.S., was a lineal descendant of 
Alexander Cunningham the historian, younger son of the Rev. James 
Cunningham, who was ordained minister of Ettrick in 1641. Alex- 
ander Cunningham’s grandfather married a sister of Dr Robertson, 
Principal of the University of Edinburgh, and grand-uncle of the 
late Lord Brougham. In Chambers’s edition of Burns, Alexander 
Cunningham is referred to as the chief Edinburgh friend of the 
poet. Mr Cunningham was educated at the High School of Edim 
burgh, in Mr Gray’s class, along with the late Lord Heaves, Pro- 
fessor Syme, Dr James Begbie, and other afterwards well-known 
citizens. After serving an apprenticeship in the office of Messrs 
Gibson-Craigs & Wardlaw, W.S., he was admitted a member of 
the Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet in 1823, and shortly 
after he began practice as a Writer to the Signet in partnership 
with the late James Walker, Esq. He retired from business in 
1852, and in the same year was elected a Eellow of this Society, 
