F799-) 
merchant in Edinbargh. By fteady affiduity, 
activity, fidelity, and expertnefs in bufinefs, 
he foon recommended himfelf to the entire 
confidence of that gentleman. In confequence 
ef this, he was received into partnerfhip with - 
his matter, obtained his only daughter in mar- 
riage; and fucceeded, at laft, to his fortune, 
znd to the whole bufinefs of the houfe. 
Conduéting that bufinefs in a very honour- 
able manner, and being much efteemed among 
his fellow-citizens, for the worth and ami- 
ablenefs of his character ; he was, indue time, 
invited to become a member of ine City Ma- 
giftracy.. Manlinefs and candour in the un- 
avoidable contefts of city-politics; great at- 
tention to thofe common interefts of the burgh, 
which were under the care of its magiftrates, 
and that union of firmnefs with gentlenefs, 
which forms the happy mean between blame- 
able facility and impotent imperioufnefs, 
quickly acquired to Mr. ELpER, an extraor- 
dinary influence in the Town-Council, and 
@reat popularity among every clafs of his fel- 
jow-citizens. 
About the time of the commencement of 
the prefent reyolutionary troubles of Europe, 
Mr. Elder was raifed to the dignity of Lord- 
Provoft of Edinburgh, the higheft office of 
city-magiftracy in Scotland. In difcharging 
its functions, he was confeffed to difplay, ina 
more eminent degree than before, all thofe 
excellent qualities which had already recom- 
mended him to general efteem. _ 
He had been, in office for the ufual time, 
and had diftinguifhed his adminiftration by as 
many wife and beneficent meafures for the re- 
gulation of all the city concerns, as were ever 
-¢rowded within fo fhort a period. But, fedi- 
tion, anda fpirit of what was falfely called po- 
litical reform, beginning to threaten the tran~ 
quillity of Edinburgh; it was thought indif- 
penfibly- requifite to the public welfare, to 
prevail with Mr, Elder again to engage in the 
very difficult duties of the Chief Magiftracy. 
Without one violent a& of power, without 
exciting the clamours eyen of thofe who might 
be inclined to feditiony without expofing him- 
felf to any murmuring accufation, as if he 
had been actuated by felfithnefs, or a f{pirit of 
fervility to Government, he fuccefsfully fup- 
prefied all the outbreakings of fedition, and. 
almof entirely extinguithed every latent fpark 
of its dangerous fires. Eyen after he went 
again out of office, bhut fpecies of firm, yet 
not outrageous, policy of which he had fet the 
example, being ftill maintained, was ftill ef- 
fetual toward the prefervation of the public 
tranquillity. Though no longer Chief Ma- 
giftrate, Mr. Elder continued to hold, by his 
abilities and virtues, aimoft equal iguseue 
in the municipal adminiftration of Edinburgh, 
-as if he had been fill aGtually Lord-Provoft. 
The example of his prudent political condué 
‘was happily imitated in the other Scottith 
Burghs. ‘That which might have feemed to 
-wear a fufpicious afpect, ifit had been direétly 
enjoined trom the miniters ef the national 
Account. of Thomas Elder, Efg: 
corums of magiftracy. 
575 
government, was received as unquettionably 
wife and patriotic from a merchant and city 
magiftrate. The town council of Edinburgh 
feared to tru(t their fupreme executive au- 
thority, into a diverfity of hands, during the 
continuance of the prefent war; and for 
nearly thefe laft ten years, Mr. Elder, and 
the prefent Lord Provoft, Sir James Stirling, 
have been alternately Ging magiftrates of the 
Scottifh metropolis. 
In the meafure of embodying the volun« 
teers of Edinburgh, Mr. Elder took a very 
active part. His encouragement contributed 
greatly toinduce his fellow-citizens to enter 
the volunteer companies. Of one of the bat- 
talions he was, with general approbation, ap- 
pointed colonel. He was indefatigably ate 
tentive to the duties of this command, as to 
every other public fun@tion in which he at 
any time engaged. 
As chief magiftrate of the city, he was one 
‘of the leading .patrons of the Univerfity of 
Edinburgh. Never was the condué of any 
Lord Provoft more agreeable to the illuftrious 
profeffors in that famous feminary. He was 
always careful to treat them with the refpeét 
due to their virtues and talents ; and to pro- 
mote the interefts of the inftitution, by cvery 
beneficent means which he had it in his power 
toemploy. Of the plan for the ereétion of a 
new edifice for the accommodation of the pro 
feflors and their claffes, he was one of the 
firft authors. He exerted himfelf with ex- 
raordinary ativity and public fpirit in pro- 
moting the fub{crtption to defray the expence 
of the building ; it was not without great un- 
eafinefs, he faw it remain fo a tone.t in an unfi- 
nifhed ftate.- 
It is impoffible for the writer Hehe toenu- 
merate all thofe inftances in which proyoft 
Elder’s judgment and care contributed to im- 
prove the police, and all the ordinary concerns 
of the municipal government of the city of 
Edinburgh; fuffice to fay, that they were 
both numerous and eminently beneficial; and 
that they will long occur to obferyation, in 
almoft all that is fignally worthy of notice in 
that town. 
He excelled in fupporting the exterior de- 
That hofpitality to 
illuftrious ftrangers, which is honourable for 
the magiftracy of fuch a capital as Edinburgh 
to exercife, was never difplayed in a more be- 
coming manner, than during the. provoftthip 
of Mr. Elder. Whatever other funétions he 
had to perform, derived always new advantage 
from his manner of doing them. 
Upon a vacancy in the office of peftmafter- 
general for Scotland, the qualities which 
Mr. Elder had fo ufefully exhibited, made it 
very defirablethat he might accept that office. 
He could not refufe his fervice to the public 
in a fituation fo honourable. For a few of 
the laft years of his life, he difcharged its du- 
ties, and with the fame general approbation 
which had attended his condugt i in every other 
engigement, 
Fag Seco He 
