PREFACE.

IN the year 1862 it was proposed to me to write a Memoir of my grandfather, and I then prepared some materials towards the task. They were, however, but scanty, and it was felt by those who had prompted me to the work that some more must be collected. While this was being done I went to India, and the matter then rested. Some more materials having been obtained by Miss Catherine Forsyth, Mr. Forsyth's only surviving daughter, they were put into the hands of the late Mr. Robert Young, and by him it was suggested that the task should be undertaken by the late Mr. Carruthers of the Inverness Courier. What followed this suggestion I do not know, but the work never was undertaken and it remained in abeyance until the year 1888. Then my brother, William Macandrew, thought that, as our grandfather had been so conspicuous a promoter of public improvements in Elgin, it would be well to

revive the idea of his Memoir, and he proposed to me that I should resume the task I had abandoned in 1862; and the materials, such as they were, having with some difficulty been re-collected, I, with sundry misgivings, undertook to complete it.

It was at first contemplated to print it for private circulation alone; but it having been represented that there were still persons alive to whom a Memoir of Isaac Forsyth would be of interest, it was resolved to offer the work for sale; and, in obedience to this suggestion, while asking indulgence for what I feel must be my numerous shortcomings, I submit the Memoir to the judgment of the reader.

I. F. MACANDREW.

July 1889.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

MR. FORSYTH'S BIRTH AND PARENTAGE-HIS FATHER A

FRIEND OF DR. WATTS-HIS MOTHER-HIS BROTHER

JOSEPH-HIS MATERNAL GRANDFATHER, MR. HAR-

ROLD-SIR ROBERT GORDON OF GORDONSTOWN-MR.

HARROLD SETTLES IN PERTHSHIRE-GOES OUT WITH

PRINCE CHARLIE-DIES A PRISONER-MR. FORSYTH'S

EDUCATION AND BOYHOOD

PAGE

I-12

CHAPTER II.

-

MR. FORSYTH'S APPRENTICESHIP IN ABERDEEN-BEGINS

BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF AS BOOKBINDER, STATIONER,

AND BOOKSELLER-GIVES UP THE BOOKBINDING-

MODERATE SUCCESS BUSINESS CHARACTER - PUB-

LISHES SEVERAL WORKS-THE SURVEY OF MORAY

AND ITS AUTHORS-THE PROVINCE OF MORAY-GENE-

RAL WADE'S ROADS AND THEIR EFFECT-GREAT AGE

OF THE AUTHORS AND PUBLISHER OF THE SURVEY

13-25

CHAPTER III.

MR. FORSYTH GOES TO LONDON ON BUSINESS-HIS VOY-

AGE BACK-LANDS AT HARWICH AND PURSUES HIS

JOURNEY BY LAND-NOTES OF THE JOURNEY-HIS

REMARKABLE POWERS OF OBSERVATION AND EXPRES-

26-39

SION

CHAPTER IV.

TOUR IN THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND-HIS DESCRIPTION

OF THE COUNTRY AND OBJECTS OF INTEREST HE SEES

-LABORIOUS METHOD OF SMELTING IRON IN THOSE

DAYS-UNEXPECTED MEETING WITH NEIL GOW-MR.

FORSYTH'S APPRECIATION OF CIVILISATION MORE KEEN

THAN OF UNADORNED NATURE

PAGE

40-59

CHAPTER V.

MR. FORSYTH A FARMER-STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN

SCOTLAND AFTER THE UNION AND AT THE COM-

MENCEMENT OF THE PRESENT CENTURY-SUPERI-

ORITY OF ENGLAND AT THIS TIME-SCOTTISH IMPROVE-

MENT-HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-

MORAYSHIRE FARMER'S CLUB MR. FORSYTH ITS

SECRETARY-HIS ACTIVITY AND SERVICES-RETIRES

THROUGH DEAFNESS-DEPUTED TO INQUIRE INTO

NORFOLK FARMING-HOLKHAM AND MR. COKE-MR.

FORSYTH'S REPORT TO THE CLUB-GREAT CHANGE

IN THE CHARACTER OF SCOTTISH AGRICULTURE-

THE LAND OF MORAY

60-77

CHAPTER VI.

MR. FORSYTH'S INFIRMITY OF DEAFNESS-GOES TO PARIS

TO CONSULT AN EMINENT AURIST-NOTES OF HIS

JOURNEY-FRENCH SOLDIERS-FRENCH AGRICULTURE

-ABSENCE OF GENTLEMEN'S CHATEAUS AND CAR-

RIAGES-FAILURE TO OBTAIN RELIEF TO HIS INFIR-

MITY-ANECDOTES CONNECTED WITH IT-SINGULARLY

SLIGHT EFFECT ON HIS ACTIVITY OF MIND

CHAPTER VII.

MR. FORSYTH'S GREAT INTEREST IN ELGIN CATHEDRAL

-STATE OF THAT RUIN WHEN HE TOOK IT IN HAND

JOHN SHANKS-EXERTIONS OF MR. FORSYTH TO

INTEREST THE GOVERNMENT-HIS SUCCESS-REMOVAL

ACCUMULATED RUBBISH-THE RUIN PRESERVED

AND PUT INTO ORDER, AND SOME FUNDS GRANTED

OF

78-98

FOR ITS MAINTENANCE-OTHER ANTIQUITIES OF ELGIN

-PARALLEL BETWEEN ITS HIGH STREET AND THAT OF

EDINBURGH-THE SCHOOLS OF ELGIN-HIS

TIONS IN BUILDING AND SUPPORTING THEM

EXER-

PAGE

• 99-112

MR.

CHAPTER VIII.

FORSYTH AS A LOCAL PUBLIC MAN-HIS ENERGY

AND SYMPATHY WITH IMPROVEMENT-HIS INFLUENCE

AND EXTENSIVE CORRESPONDENCE-CASE OF THE

LOSS OF THE WHOLE MALE FISHER POPULATION OF

STOTFIELD-MR. FORSYTH'S EXERTIONS TO PROVIDE

FOR THEIR FAMILIES-THE FLOODS IN MORAY, 1829

-BECOMES SECRETARY OF THE RELIEF FUND-TESTI-

MONY OF SIR THOMAS DICK LAUDER TO HIS SERVICES

-GREAT INFLUENCE OF MR. FORSYTH IN PROVIDING

INTRODUCTIONS AND CAREERS FOR DESERVING YOUNG

MEN-PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF MR. FORSYTH'S

PUBLIC SERVICES-HIS HOSPITALITY

CHAPTER IX.

113-124

POLITICAL CHARACTER OF MR. FORSYTH-GREAT CHANGES

WHICH TOOK PLACE DURING HIS LONG LIFE-SLOW

POLITICAL PROGRESS-STATE OF REPRESENTATION IN .

SCOTLAND AND IN ELGIN-ANECDOTE OF PARTY

FEELING AND UNSCRUPULOUSNESS-REFORM MOVE-

MENT OF 1830-PART TAKEN BY MR. FORSYTH-RE-

FORM ACT-MUNICIPAL REFORM ACT-LIBERAL CHAR-

ACTER OF MR. FORSYTH'S OPINIONS, BUT NATIONAL

AND PATRIOTIC-AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE-FRENCH

REVOLUTION-CHARTISM-REMEDIAL LEGISLATION-

POSITION OF THE COUNTRY AT MR. FORSYTH'S

DEATH.

125-136

CHAPTER X.

RELIGIOUS CHARACTER OF MR. FORSYTH-EARLY PIETY-

ADVICE TO HIS GRANDSON-EFFECT ON HIS MIND OF

HIGH MASS AT NOTRE DAME DE PARIS-DISPUTE IN

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND IN 1838-HIGH CHURCH

PARTY-MR. FORSYTH ADHERES TO THAT PARTY-