of no action during that eventful war were more highly appreciated than the one
of which we liave been speaking, paid Lord Duncan a flattering mark of respect
by wearing, the women, gowns and ribands, and the men vests of a particular
kind which were named "Camperdowns," after the victory.
Lord Duncan continued in the comnland of the north-sea squadron till the beginning of the year 1800, when there being no longer any probability of the enemy venturing to sea, and having now arrived at his 69th year, he finally retired from the anxieties of public, to the enjoyment of private life; which he adorned as eminently by his virtues, as he had done his public station by his energy and talents.
In 1777 his Lordship married Miss Dundas, daughter of lord president Dundas, of the court of session in Scotland, by whom he had several children. He did not long enjoy his retirement, having been cut off in the 73rd year of his age by a stroke of apoplexy at Cornhill, on his way from London, in the summer of 1804. He was succeeded in his estates and titles by his eldest son, in elevating whom to an earldom, William IV. not only paid an honourable tribute of respect to the memory of the father, but a just compliment to the talents, public spirit, and worth of the son.
We close this sketch in the words of a late writer: "It would perhaps be difficult to find in modern history, another man in whom with so much meekness, modesty, and unaffected dignity of mind, were united so much genuine spirit, so much of the skill and fire of professional genius ; such vigorous and active wisdom ; such alacrity and ability for great achievements, with such indifference for their success, except so far as they might contribute to the good of his country. Lord Duncan was tall, above the middle size, and of an athletic and firmly proportioned form. His countenance was remarkably expressive of the benevolence and ingenuous excellencies of his mind."
DUNCAN, Andrew, Senr. M. D., an esteemed physician and professor of the institutions of medicine in the university of Edinburgh, was born at St Andrews on the 17th October, 1744. His father, who was formerly a merchant and shipmaster in Crail, was descended from a younger branch of the Duncans of Ardownie, in the county of Angus; and his mother, a daughter of professor Villant, was related to the Drummonds of Hawthornden. He received his preliminary education for the profession of medicine at St Andrews, from the university of which city he obtained the degree of master of arts in May, 1762. He then transferred his residence to Edinburgh, where he pursued his medical studies under the happiest auspices, being the pupil, as he was afterwards the friend, of Dr Cullen, Di John Gregory, Dr iMonro the second, Dr John Hope, and Dr Black. The university of Edinhurgh was at this period beginning to hold a prominent position in the scientific and literary world; for although the many discoveries that have since been made, lay then concealed like precious stones in their mines, unknown and unsuspected, yet the general and visible advancement of the progressive sciences which were here taught and cultivated by their respective professors, began to be duly felt and appreciated both at home and abroad. The professors, who held not their offices as sinecures, toiled incessantly and indefatigably to advance the interests and extend the known boundaries of science; and the students, emulating their examples, were likewise animated by a spirit of zeal and inquiry, which in turn reflected back honour on the university. It is not, then, to be supposed that our young candidate for medical honours, who had already distinguished himself by his talents and acquirements at St Andrews, would be less active than his fellow-students; and accordingly, we find that he soon obtained their suffrages of respect and esteem, in being elected a president of the Royal Medical Society in the session of
