Allan Ramsay. [A biography.] - National Library of Scotland

114 FAMOUS SCOTS
from a Neapolitan villa, and designed by his son Allan,
which so long was an ornament on the northern slope
overlooking the New Town of Edinburgh. From his
windows a reach of scenery was commanded, probably
not surpassed in Europe, stretching from the mouth of
the Firth of Forth on the east to the Grampians on the
west, and extending far across the green hills of Fife to
the north. The poet, however, becoming alarmed at the
expense he was incurring, altered his son's design after
the building was half completed. In consequence, the
mansion presented a very quaint appearance. Tradition
states that Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (afterwards Lord
Milton) first detected the resemblance to a goose-pie.
Be this as it may, Allan was grievously vexed by the
comparison, and one day, when showing it, in the pride of
his heart, to the witty Lord Elibank, who duly admired its
unrivalled prospect, he added, ' And yet, my lord, thae
toon wits say it's like naething else than a guse-pie.' ' Deed,
Allan, noo I see ye intilt, I'm thinkin' the wits are no' sae
far wrang.' History does not record Allan's rejoinder.
Scarcely had he entered his new mansion, however,
expecting to enjoy there many years of domestic happi-
ness and peace, than the great sorrow of his life fell
upon him. In March 1743, his faithful and loving
partner, who had stood by him amid all the storm and
stress of his busy career, was taken from him, after thirty
years of unbroken affection and devotion. She was
interred in the Greyfriars Churchyard, as the cemetery
records show, on the 28th of March 1743. So intense
was her husband's grief that he, who for many another
had written elegies instinct with deep sympathy and
regret, could not trust himself to write of her, 'lest I