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An agent had proved unfaithful on a serious scale； and it used to be told
me in my childhood how the brothers pursued him from one island to
another in an open boat； were exposed to the pernicious dews of the
tropics； and simultaneously struck down。 The dates and places of their
deaths （now before me） would seem to indicate a more scattered and
prolonged pursuit： Hugh； on the 16th April 1774； in Tobago； within sight
of Trinidad； Alan； so late as 26th May； and so far away as ‘Santt Kittes；' in
the Leeward Islands … both； says the family Bible； ‘of a fiver'（！）。 The
death of Hugh was probably announced by Alan in a letter； to which we
may refer the details of the open boat and the dew。 Thus； at least； in
something like the course of post； both were called away； the one twenty…
five； the other twenty…two； their brief generation became extinct； their
short…lived house fell with them； and ‘in these lawless parts and lawless
times' … the words are my grandfather's … their property was stolen or
became involved。 Many years later； I understand some small recovery to
have been made； but at the moment almost the whole means of the family
seem to have perished with the young merchants。 On the 27th April；
eleven days after Hugh Stevenson； twenty…nine before Alan； died David
Lillie； the Deacon of the Wrights； so that mother and son were orphaned in
one month。 Thus； from a few scraps of paper bearing little beyond dates；
we construct the outlines of the tragedy that shadowed the cradle of Robert
Stevenson。
Jean Lillie was a young woman of strong sense； well fitted to contend
with poverty； and of a pious disposition； which it is like that these
misfortunes heated。 Like so many other widowed Scots…women； she
vowed her son should wag his head in a pulpit； but her means were
inadequate to her ambition。 A charity school； and some time under a Mr。
M'Intyre； ‘a famous linguist；' were all she could afford in the way of
education to the would…be minister。 He learned no Greek； in one place he
mentions that the Orations of Cicero were his highest book in Latin； in
another that he had 'delighted' in Virgil and Horace； but his delight could
never have been scholarly。 This appears to have been the whole of his
training previous to an event which changed his own destiny and moulded
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
that of his descendants … the second marriage of his mother。
There was a Merchant…Burgess of Edinburgh of the name of Thomas
Smith。 The Smith pedigree has been traced a little more particularly than
the Stevensons'； with a similar dearth of illustrious names。 One character
seems to have appeared； indeed； for a moment at the wings of history： a
skipper of Dundee who smuggled over some Jacobite big…wig at the time
of the 'Fifteen； and was afterwards drowned in Dundee harbour while
going on board his ship。 With this exception； the generations of the
Smiths present no conceivable interest even to a descendant； and Thomas；
of Edinburgh； was the first to issue from respectable obscurity。 His
father； a skipper out of Broughty Ferry； was drowned at sea while Thomas
was still young。 He seems to have owned a ship or two … whalers； I
suppose； or coasters … and to have been a member of the Dundee Trinity
House； whatever that implies。 On his death the widow remained in
Broughty； and the son came to push his future in Edinburgh。 There is a
story told of him in the family which I repeat here because I shall have to
tell later on a similar； but more perfectly authenticated； experience of his
stepson； Robert Stevenson。 Word reached Thomas that his mother was
unwell； and he prepared to leave for Broughty on the morrow。 It was
between two and three in the morning； and the early northern daylight was
already clear； when he awoke and beheld the curtains at the bed…foot
drawn aside and his mother appear in the interval； smile upon him for a
moment； and then vanish。 The sequel is stereo…type； he took the time by
his watch； and arrived at Broughty to learn it was the very moment of her
death。 The incident is at least curious in having happened to such a
person … as the tale is being told of him。 In all else； he appears as a man
ardent； passionate； practical； designed for affairs and prospering in them
far beyond the average。 He founded a solid business in lamps and oils；
and was the sole proprietor of a concern called the Greenside Company's
Works … ‘a multifarious concern it was；' writes my cousin； Professor Swan；
‘of tinsmiths； coppersmiths； brass… founders； blacksmiths； and japanners。'
He was also； it seems； a shipowner and underwriter。 He built himself ‘a
land' … Nos。 1 and 2 Baxter's Place； then no such unfashionable
neighbourhood … and died； leaving his only son in easy circumstances； and
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
giving to his three surviving daughters portions of five thousand pounds
and upwards。 There is no standard of success in life； but in one of its
meanings； this is to succeed。
In what we know of his opinions； he makes a figure highly
characteristic of the time。 A high Tory and patriot； a captain … so I find it
in my notes … of Edinburgh Spearmen； and on duty in the Castle during the
Muir and Palmer troubles； he bequeathed to his descendants a bloodless
sword and a somewhat violent tradition； both long preserved。 The judge
who sat on Muir and Palmer； the famous Braxfield； let fall from the bench
the OBITER DICTUM … ‘I never liked the French all my days； but now I
hate them。' If Thomas Smith； the Edinburgh Spearman； were in court； he
must have been tempted to applaud。 The people of that land were his
abhorrence； he loathed Buonaparte like Antichrist。 Towards the end he
fell into a kind of dotage； his family must entertain him with games of tin
soldiers； which he took a childish pleasure to array and overset； but those
who played with him must be upon their guard； for if his side； which was
always that of the English against the French； should chance to be
defeated； there would be trouble in Baxter's Place。 For these opinions he
may almost be said to have suffered。 Baptised and brought up in the
Church of Scotland； he had； upon some conscientious scruple； joined the
communion of the Baptists。 Like other Nonconformists； these were
inclined to the Liberal side in politics； and； at least in the beginning；
regarded Buonaparte as a deliverer。 From the time of his joining the
Spearmen； Thomas Smith became in consequence a bugbear to his
brethren in the faith。 ‘They that take the sword shall perish with the
sword；' they told him； they gave him ‘no rest'； ‘his position became
intolerable'；