GEORGE HERIOT Founder of the Boys Hospital" AT EDINBURGH. ETAT. SUA 26 1589. From an Orignal Picture in the Collection of the E.of Buchan THE BEE, OR LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, FOR WEDNESDAY, November 9, 1791. For the Bee. Sketch of the Life of George Heriot, GEORGE HERIOT, the founder of that noble charity at Edinburgh, which has produced fo many useful and valuable citizens, was the fon of George Heriot of Trabrown, or Trabrane, in East-Lothian, and was born: in the beginning of June 1563†. His father was a goldfmith in Edinburgh, and made a handsome fortune for the times and country in which he lived, and gave a fuitable education to a numerous family. George, the fon, worked with his father as a jeweller and goldfmith, and at the age of 23, in the year 1586, was by his father's intereft, creditably married to Chriftian Marjoribanks, daughter of Simon Marjoribanks, merch As appears by the appointment of the annual proceffion of the boys, and an infeription on his original portrait, in the collection of the Earl of Buchan, who is poffeffed likewife of an original portrait of George's father, both of which were prefented to him by Mr George Paton of the customs, fon of Mr Paton bookfeller at Edinburgh. VOL. VI. t A 0901 ant in Edinburgh. On his marriage he received 1000f merks for his portion, and 500 to fit up a shop and furnifh himself with cloaths and tools; a fmall fum indeed, even confidering the value of money at that time, for such an undertaking, the whole not exceeding 80 pounds Sterling. With his wife he got a mortgage, amounting to the capital fum of 1075 merks, the interest of which, at the then legal intereft of ten per centum, amounted to no more than 107 merks 6s. 8d. Scots money; both fums not exceeding 1431. 1s. Sterling. From this time George Heriot continued to apply clofely to business, with fuccefs; and eleven years afterwards, being appointed jeweller and goldfmith to Anne of Denmark, the Queen of James VI. by writ of privy-seal, dated at Dumfermline on the 17th of July 1597, and foon after to the fame offices to the King, he rofe to confiderable eminence in his profeffion. On the acceffion of the King of Scots to the crown of England he removed to London, but paid occasional vifits to Scotland, where, in the year 1608, being a widower, he married to his fecond wife Alifon, eldest daughter of James Primrofe, clerk to the privy council, with whom he had a fortune of 5000 merks Scots, and beneficial alliances, the Primrofe family then beginning to be confiderable in Scotland. From George Heriot's affiduity in business, his frugality, and address in obtaining precious ftones from Spain and Portugal at low prices, by his command of ready money, he amaffed fo large a fortune, that notwithstanding his generofity to his poor relations during his life, he left at his death, which happened on the 12th of February, O. S. 1624, the fum of fortythree thoufand fix hundred and eight pounds eleven fhillings and three-pence Sterling, for endowing an hofpital at Edinburgh, to be called George Heriot's Hofpital, and to be regulated by ftatutes and ordinances to One thousand merks Scots is equal to 551 116. 4d. Sterling. be drawn out according to his will, by Doctor Balcanquil, dean of Rochester. Befides this, he left confiderable legacies to his relations, friends, and fervants, and remitted several debts to his benefactors, both in England and Scotland. He had no lawful children. To two natural daugh, ters he left legacies. To the children of his father by his fecond wife Chriftian Blaw, James, Thomas, Chrif tian, Sibilla, Janet, and Marion Heriot, he left likewife. bequeaths, and to James, the eldest of his half-brothers, his Eaft India stock. To his step-mother an annuity of 500 merks, with 500 merks more, to be difpofed of by her will; and upon the whole, though he may be accufed of unnatural conduct, in preferring a charitable inftitution to his relations, yet, except we were made acquainted with circumstances, we cannot affix any turpitude or immorality to his character. On the 22d of June, 1627, the executors of George Heriot's will purchased from the city of Edin burgh eight acres and an half of land, near the Grassmarket, and on the firft of July 1628, laid the foundation of the present noble pile of building, according to a plan furnished by Dr. Balcanquil, with the advice of Inigo Jones and other eminent architects; in which fcarce any deviation appears from the chafte model of the ancients except the turrets, which give a dignity to the building, not justly to be reprehended. On the 11th of April 1659, thirty boys were received into this hospital, the use of which had been hitherto prevented by the civil wars, and on the 8th of August of the fame year ten more were admitted on the foundation. On the 23d of December 1661 the number amounted to fifty-two, and when Maitland published his history of Edinburgh it contained 130; fince which time the funds and numbers have confiderably increased. This is an excellent institution, and has produced many valuable and useful citizens, who might other ant in Edinburgh. On his marriage he received 1000 † merks for his portion, and 500 to fit up a fhop and furnish himself with cloaths and tools; a small fum indeed, even confidering the value of money at that time, for fuch an undertaking, the whole not exceeding 80 pounds Sterling. With his wife he got a mortgage, amounting to the capital fum of 1075 merks, the intereft of which, at the then legal intereft of ten per centum, amounted to no more than 107 merks 6s. 8d. Scots money; both fums not exceeding 1431. 18. Sterling. From this time George Heriot continued to apply closely to business, with fuccefs; and eleven years afterwards, being appointed jeweller and goldfmith to Anne of Denmark, the Queen of James VI. by writ of privy-feal, dated at Dumfermline on the 17th of July 1597, and foon after to the fame offices to the King, he rofe to confiderable eminence in his profeffion. On the acceffion of the King of Scots to the crown of England he removed to London, but paid occafional vifits to Scotland, where, in the year 1608, being a widower, he married to his fecond wife Alifon, eldest daughter of James Primrofe, clerk to the privy council, with whom he had a fortune of 5000 merks Scots, and beneficial alliances, the Primrose family then beginning to be confiderable in Scotland. From George Heriot's affiduity in business, his frugality, and address in obtaining precious ftones from Spain and Portugal at low prices, by his command of ready money, he amaffed fo large a fortune, that notwithstanding his generofity to his poor relations during his life, he left at his death, which happened on the 12th of February, O. S. 1624, the fum of fortythree thoufand fix hundred and eight pounds eleven fhillings and three-pence Sterling, for endowing an hofpital at Edinburgh, to be called George Heriot's Hofpital, and to be regulated by ftatutes and ordinances to † One thousand merks Scots is equal to 551 118. 4d. Sterling, |