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l； his trading ventures at last met with a sad reverse； and he resolved to abandon commerce； and enter the service of the Royal Navy。 He was made purser； and in this position he entered upon a new series of adventures。 He was present at many naval engagements。 But he lost neither life nor limb。 At last he was pensioned； and became a resident at Greenwich Hospital。 He furnished his apartments with all manner of curiosities； such as his roving naval life had enabled him to collect。 His original skill as a worker in wood came to life again。 The taste of the workman and the handiness of the seaman enabled him to furnish his rooms at the Hospital in a most quaint and amusing manner。
My father had a most affectionate regard for Michael； and usually spent some days with him when he had occasion to visit London。 One bright summer day they went to have a stroll together on Blackheath； and while my uncle was enjoying a nap on a grassy knoll； my father made a sketch of him； which I still preserve。 Being of a most cheerful disposition； and having a great knack of detailing the incidents of his adventurous life； he became a great favourite with the resident officers of the Hospital； and was always regarded by them as real good company。 He ended his days there in peace and comfort； in 1819； at the age of sixty…four。
CHAPTER 2。 Alexander Nasmyth
My father； Alexander Nasmyth； was the second son of Michael Nasmyth。 He was born in his father's house in the Grassmarket on the 9th of September 1758。 The Grassmarket was then a lively place。 On certain days of the week it was busy with sheep and cattle fairs。 It was the centre of Edinburgh traffic。 Most of the inns were situated there； or in the street leading up to the Greyfriars Church gate。
The view from my grandfather's house was very grand。 Standing up； right opposite； was the steep Castle rock； with its crown buildings and circular battery towering high overhead。 They seemed almost to hang over the verge of the rock。 The houses on the opposite side of the Grassmarket were crowded under the esplanade of the Castle Hill。
There was an inn opposite the house where my father was born； from which the first coach started from Edinburgh to Newcastle。 The public notice stated that 〃The Coach would set out from the Grass Market ilka Tuesday at Twa o'clock in the day； GOD WULLIN'； but whether or no on Wednesday。〃 The 〃whether or no〃 was meant； I presume； as a precaution to passengers； in case all the places on the coach might be taken； or not； on Wednesday；
＇Image＇ Plan of the Grassmarket
The Grassmarket was also the place for public executions。 The gibbet stone was at the east end of the Market。 It consisted of a mass of solid sandstone； with a quadrangular hole in the middle； which served as a socket for the gallows。 Most of the Covenanters who were executed for conscience' sake in the reigns of Charles II。 and James II。 breathed their last at this spot。 The Porteous mob； in 1736； had its culmination here。 When Captain Porteous was dragged out of the Tolbooth in the High Street and hurried down the West Bow； the gallows was not in its place； but the leaders of the mob hanged him from a dyer's pole； nearly opposite the gallows stone； on the south side of the street； not far from my grandfather's door* ＇footnote。。。 See Heart of Midlothian 。。。＇
I have not much to say about my father's education。 For the most part； he was his own schoolmaster。 I have heard him say that his mother taught him his A B C； and that he afterwards learned to read at Mammy Smith's。 This old lady kept a school for boys and girls at the top of a house in the Grassmarket。 There my father was taught to rear his Bible； and to repeat his Carritch。* ＇footnote。。。 The Shorter Catechism。 。。。＇
As it was only the bigger boys who could read the Bible； the strongest of them consummated the feat by climbing up the Castle rock； and reaching what they called 〃The Bibler's Seat。〃 It must have been a break…neck adventure to get up to the place。 The seat was almost immediately under the window of the room in which James VI was born。 My father often pointed it out to me as one of the most dangerous bits of climbing in which he had been engaged in his younger years。
＇Image＇ The Bibler's seat
The annexed illustration is from his own slight sepia drawing； the Bibler's Seat is marked ＋ Not so daring； but much more mischievous； was a trick which he played with some of his companions on the tops of the houses on the north side of the Grassmarket。 The boys took a barrel to the Castlehill； filled it with small stones； and then shot it down towards the roofs of the houses in the Grassmarket。 The barrel leapt from rock to rock； burst； and scattered a shower of stones far and wide。 The fun was to see the 〃boddies〃 look out of their garret windows with their lighted lamps or candles； peer into the dark； and try to see what was the cause of the mischief。
Sir David Baird； the hero of Seringapatam； played a trick of the same kind before he went to India。
Among my father's favourite companions were the two sons of Dr。 John Erskine； minister of Old Greyfriars； in conjunction with the equally celebrated Dr。 Robertson。 Dr。 Erskine* ＇footnote。。。 Dr。 Erskine is well described by Scott in Guy Mannering； on the occasion when Pleydell and Mannering went to hear him preach a famous sermon。 。。。＇ was a man of great influence in his day； well known for his literary and theological works； as well as for his piety and practical benevolence。 On one occasion； when my father was at play with his sons； one of them threw a stone； which smashed a neighbour's window。 A servant of the house ran out； and seeing the culprit； called out； 〃Very wee！； Maister Erskine； I'll tell yeer faither wha broke the windae！〃 On which the boy； to throw her off the scent； said to his brother loudly； 〃Eh； keist！ she thinks we're the boddy Erskine's sons。〃
The boddy Erskine！ Who ever heard of such an irreverent nickname applied to that good and great man？ 〃The laddies couldna be his sons；〃 thought the woman。 She made no further inquiry； and the boys escaped scot free。 The culprit afterwards entered the service of the East India Company。 〃The boy was father to the man。〃 He acquired great reputation at the siege of Seringapatam； where he led the forlorn hope。 Erskine was promoted； until in course of time he returned to his native city a full…blown general。 To return to my father's education。 After he left 〃Mammy Smith's； he went for a short time to the original High School。 It was an old establishment； founded by James VI。 before he succeeded to the English throne； It was afterwards demolished to make room for the University buildings； and the new High School was erected a little below the old Royal Infirmary。 After leaving the High School； Alexander Nasmyth was taught by his father； first arithmetic and mensuration； next geometry and mathematics； so far as the first three books of Euclid were concerned。 After that； his own innate skill； ability； and industry enabled him to complete the rest of his education。
At a very early period my father exhibited a decided natural taste for art。 He used his pencil freely in s