Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Men of Fife of Past and Present Times

CUN- riFESHIRE BIOGEAPHY. DAL Instruction Gimmisaiou, upon which Volun- Jeflfrey, early in 1850, Lord Cunninghame tary principles were represented, to the was removed to the Inner House, where his dismay of the Establishment, was perhaps labours, however responsible, were les3 a fruit of the cluuijje. In 1S37 Mr Cun- constant and harassing than those of a Lord ninghame was raised to the bench. He Ordinary. He had, however, before this gained a great reputation as an Outer House event, met with a very severe accident, Judge by the general soundness of his which, after much suffering, rendered him judgments, his unwearied application to his lame for life. Though he jiartly recovered duties, and quick despatch of the causes from the shock it gave to his constitution, the brought before him. Without being a pro- loss of his wonted exerci>ie .and out-door found lawyer, his knowledge was at com- enjoyment undennined his health, while the mand, anil no one could excel him in infirmity of increasing deafness, impairing disentangling the complexities of the ordi- his powers of usefulness on the bench, nary run of cases which came into court, obliged him to retire in 1853. and taking soimd practical views, which CiJrtKlE, Andrew, of Ghissmount, served to place his judgments on a firm merchant in Kirkcaldy, died in October footing. His courtesy and indidgence to 18.59, much respected. He was bom in those who pleaded before him, and his easy 1802, and died in his fifty-eighth year. and familiar manner—on which, however, During the whole of his active life Mr he never permitted any one unduly to jire- Curi-ie's fortunes were cast in his native sume—made him a favourite with all classes district, and his death, though not unlooked of practitioners. There is no profession, for, earned regret into a wide circle of perhaps, in whieh peculiar and totally dis- friends. Mr Currie, we believe, was the tinct gifts or inherent faculties have more architect of his own fortuue, his fii-st be- room for their develojjment than the law. ginning in business life having been made One man is a great oratoi-, and gains forensic under no great advantages, but the reverse ; victory after victory during the time when nevertheless, by energy and perseverance, his brethren are proclaiming—and proclaim- he was enabled some time before his death ing with truth—to an incredulous unprofes- to reach a very independent position. He sional public that he is no lawyer. Another purchased the estate of Glassmount, which seems a dreamer absorbed in some transcen- he immediately set about improving upon a dental speculations totally apart from this very liberal scixle. His desire was to be no workl, but we are told that he has kept a laggard among the skilled agriculturists firm grasp in his mind of some leading around him. With this view the lands were principle—it may be in conveyancing, or in thoroughly drained and improved, and a contracts of indemnity—which has given steading designed, embracing every im- stability and the right direction to the whole provement suggested by experience. It had Eractice and tenor of that department of the been decreed, however, that he was never to m: We have alluded to general practical see this last finished ; for, shortly after the sagacity rather than abstract law as the erecting of it was commenced, he was seized prevailing character in Cuuninghame's with the complaint which clung so fatally to judicial labours, and we may attribute it to him to the end. As an employer, Mr the prevalence of this character, combined Currie was beloved and respected by those with the strongly political tone of his mind, under him, his wish being to see all com- that he made an admirable Judge in all fortable and happy. The funeral was constitutional questions—adassof question.s numerously and respectably attended. with which it is remarkable that very pro- found "lawyers," according to the technical use of the term, often make great havoc. Among other opportunities of showing his powers in this department, it was his fortune DALYELL of Lingo, The FAimy of.— while a Lord Ordinary to have the respon- The family of Dalyell is one of the oldest in sibility of deciding in the first instance some Scotland, having been people of note for of the most important of the Church ques- some centuries. The origin of the name— is tions which led to the Disruption. Although thus described in Nisbet's Heraldry : " In naturally the party to whose claims his one of the wars of Kenneth II., one of the decisions were inimical might have both felt greatest of the early Scottish kings, who and spoken bitterly in the heat of litigation, came to the throne A.D. 8.3.5, one of his we believe that were they now, after more chief favourites, and a kinsman of his own, than twenty years, to go back to the admirable was taken prisoner by the enemy, and notes by which his judgments were ex- hanged in sight of both camps. Kenneth plained, they would admit the constitutional being exceedingly grieved that the body of soundness of the opinions expressed in his friend should be so disgracefully treated, them, and feel the maintenance of S'ach offered a large reward for its recovery. principles a guarantee for the security of When none would undertake the dangerous their own altered position. It was remarked enterprise, a valorous gentleman said to the at the time that the matter of Sir James king 'Dal Yell,' which in the old Scottish Graham's celebrated letter to the Church of language signifies ' I dare.' This attempt Scotland was to be found in Lord Cunning- having been performed to the king's satis- hame's interlocutors. On the death of Lord faction, he was given for his arms the NO. "XTIII. 137 DAL FIFESHIRE BIOGRAPHY. DAL remarkable bearing Sa, a naked man hanging, in Ireland, which had been settled in 1707 Ppr, and Dalyell for his surname, with the on the male heirs of Sir Thomas Dalyell of signification thereof, • I dare,' for his motto." Bins, failing the proprietor's own descend- Thomas D. Dalyell swore fealty as one of ants. He 'married Margaret, daughter of the great barons of Scotland to Edward I., Antlrew Lumsdaine. Bishop of Edinburgh, King of England. He afterwards enrolled and aunt of the celebrated Andrew Lums- himself in the band of worthy patriots who daine, for so many years private secretary joined Robert Bruce. His son, Robert D. to Prince Charles Edward, by whom he had Dalyell, was knighted by King Robert II. issue a son, John Dalyell of Lingo and He was one of the Earl of Orkney's sureties Ticknevin, who married Lindsay, eldest to Haquin, King of Norway, and went to daughter of Peter Hay, Esq. of Ley.s, by that country in 1380, and died immediately his wife Lindsivy, daughter of David Scott, on his return home. Passing over several Esq. of Scotstarvit, M.P., by whom he had members of the family, we uome to Thomas issue, and was succeeded liv his second son, Dalyell of Bins, who entered the army John l>a!v,-ll. E<.|. •' l.in-n .and Ticknevin, early, and during the reign of Charles I. who was a ,;.|itaili in ll;- l-'ifeshire Militia, commanded the town and garrison of an^acr-miiianiMltliit rr-inurit to Ireland in Carriokfergus. He was appointed major- 17iiS. Hr.led in IsiiL', and was Succeeded general by Charles II. ; had a comuiand at l.y his el.lestson, J. .lin Dalyell, Esq. of Lingo the battle of Worcestrr, when- li.; was t:ikt-ii aiid Ticknevin, wlio married Jane An- pi-isonerandcoumiittedtiitheTowLT, wlirnre struther, eldest daughter of General Robert he escaped to the north of Scotland, ami in Anstruther of Ealcaskie. and on retiring on 1654, with a party of Royalists, took pos- half-pay from the 5th Dragoon Guards, Mr session of the castle of Skelko, and made r>alyell became lieuten.ant-colonel of the great exertions for the restoration of Fife'shire Militia. He died in October Charles ; but this proving hopeless, with 1843, and was succeeded by his son, Robert strong recommendations from his King, he Anstruther Dalyell, now of Ticknevin and entered the service of the Czar of Russia, C.arberry, Ireland, who was born on the 5th where he saw a great deal of warfare against l\Iay 18:31, and became, at the death of his the Turks and Tartars, and was made gr.-nd-aunt. Miss Helen Robertson Mel- general ; and on his return to his own ville, rei iresentative of the families of Mel- country after the Restoration, was presented ville rif Murdocaimie, and of Robertson of by the Czar with a testimonial of his ser- Newbiggen. vices under the Great Seal of ];ussia. DALYELL, Thomas, was the third son of Charles II. was not forgetful of his former John Dalyell of Lingo and Ticknevin, who exertions on his behalf, and made him died in 1.S22. Thomas entered the Bengal lieutenant-general and commander-in-chief army in 1821 ; was present at the first Bur- in Scotland, and in this position he mese war : throughout the war in Affghani- much employed against the insurgents at stan, where he was wounded ; and commanded the Pentland Hills, in conjunction with his his regiment during the latter period of the friends. Viscount Graham of Claverhouse, battle of Sobraonin the Punjauh campaign. and General Drummond, afterwards Vis- He obtained the command of his regiment count Strathallan, who had accompanied in 1854, and led a sortie against the muti- him to Russia.

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