an autobiography-第6节
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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 sketching from nature； and in course of time he showed equal skill in the use of oil colour。 At his own earnest request he was bound apprentice to Mr。 Crighton； then the chief coachbuilder in Edinburgh。 He was employed in that special department where artistic taste was necessarythat is； in decorating the panels of the highest class of carriages； and painting upon them coats of arms； with their crests and supporters。 He took great pleasure in this kind of work。 It introduced him to the practical details of heraldry； and gave him command over his materials。
Still further to improve himself in the art of drawing； my father devoted his evenings to attending the Edinburgh Drawing Academy。 This institution； termed 〃The Trustees' Academy of Fine Art；〃 had been formed and supported by the funds arising from the estates confiscated after the rebellions of 1715 and 1745。 Part of these funds was set apart by Government for the encouragement of drawing； and also for the establishment of the arts of linen weaving； carpet manufacture； and other industrial occupations。
These arts were introduced into Scotland by the French Protestants； who had been persecuted for conscience' sake out of their own country； and settled in England； Ireland； and Scotland； where they prosecuted their industrial callings。 The Corporation was anxious to afford an asylum for these skilled and able workmen。 The emigrants settled down with their families； and pursued their occupations of damask； linen； and carpet weaving。 They were also required to take Scotch apprentices； and teach them the various branches of their trade。 The Magistrates caused cottages and workshops to be erected on a piece of unoccupied land near Edinburgh； where the street appropriately called Picardy Place now stands；the greater number of the weavers having come from Picardy in France。
In connection with the establishment of these industrial artisans； it was necessary to teach the young Scotch apprentices drawing； for the purpose of designing new patterns suitable for the market。 Hence the establishment by the Trustees of the Forfeited Estate Funds of 〃The Academy of Fine Art。〃 From the designing of patterns； the institution advanced to the improvement of the fine arts generally。 Young men who had given proofs of their natural taste for drawing were invited to enter the school and participate in its benefits。
At the time that my father was apprenticed to the coach painter； the Trustees' Academy was managed by Alexander Runciman。 He had originally been a house painter； from which business he proceeded to landscape painting。 〃Other artists；〃 said one who knew him； 〃talked meat and drink； but Runciman talked landscape。〃 He went to Rome and studied art there。 He returned to Edinburgh； and devoted himself to historical painting。 He was also promoted to the office of master of the Trustees' Academy。 When my father called upon him with his drawings from nature； Runciman found them so satisfactory that he was at once admitted as a student。 After his admission he began to study with intense eagerness。 The young men who had been occupied at their business during the day could only attend in the evening。 And thus the evenings were fixed for studying drawing and design。 The Trustees' Academy made its mark upon the art of Scotland： it turned out many artists of great note such as Raeburn； Wilkie； my father； and many more。
At the time when my father entered as a student； the stock of casts from the antique； and the number of drawings from the old masters； were very small； so much so； indeed； that Runciman was under the necessity of setting the students to copy them again and again。 This became rather irksome to the more ardent pupils。 My father had completed his sixth copy of a fine chalk drawing of 〃The Laocoon。〃 It was then set for him to copy again。 He begged Mr。 Runciman for another subject。 The quick…tempered man at once said；〃l'll give you another subject。〃 And turning the group of the Laocoon upside down； he added； 〃Now； then； copy that！〃 The patient youth set to work； and in a few evenings completed a perfect copy。 It was a most severe test； but Runciman was so proud of the skill of his pupil that he had the drawing mounted and framed； with a note of the circumstances under which it had been produced。 It continued to hang there for many years； and the story of its achievement became traditional in the school。
During all this time my father remained in the employment of Crighton the carriage builder。 He improved in his painting day by day。 But at length an important change took place in his career。 Allan Ramsay； son of the author of The Gentle Shepherd； and then court painter to George III。； called upon his old friend Crighton one day； to look over his works。 There he found young Nasmyth painting a coat of arms on the panel of a carriage。 He was so much surprised with the lad's artistic workmanshipfor he was then only sixteenthat he formed a strong desire to take him into his service。 After much persuasion； backed by the offer of a considerable sum
