History of the Fife Pitcairns

432 THE FIFE PITCAIRNS.
tation, but Dr Eccles expressed a fear lest he might not
come, as there was an enmity between them. Dr Pitcairn
being, nevertheless, called in, and on his supposed scruple
being mentioned, he said : ' Tell them I would come to
consult upon the case of a grandchild of Sir George
M'Kenzie though it was with the muckle horn'd Deil
himselV " 1
" Bishop Low also told an affecting story of an old lady,
a Miss Sarah Pitcairne, a member of his congregation at
Pittenweem, who lived there in reduced circumstances,
owing to her family being Jacobites, and their estates of
Pitcairne and Forthar being forfeited. He was occasionally
invited to drink tea with her. Lady Anne Erskine of the
Kellie family, hearing of Miss Pitcairne through the Bishop,
became interested in the old lady on account of her pedi-
gree, for Lady Anne's mother was a Pitcairne, daughter of
the celebrated wit of that name. She accordingly wrote to
Dr Pitcairn, who was then in high practice in London,
giving him an account of this venerable member of his
clan, and soliciting some assistance for her. This excellent
man at once acceded to the request, and granted Miss
Pitcairne a small annuity. The Bishop went to take a fish
dinner with her, and to communicate the joyful tidings.
After dinner he produced a bottle of wine, which he said
he had brought because he had a particular health to give.
He said, ' I have to propose to you, Madam, that we drink
a bumper of this generous liquor, to a man who deserves
to have his health drunk in the best we have, — I mean Dr
Pitcairn of London, your kinsman, who has settled upon
you an annuity that will make you comfortable for life.'
The poor old lady was overpowered with joy, and could not
sleep a wink all that night."
Mr Conolly, the writer of ' The Biographical Dictionary
of Eminent Men of Fife,' says : " I knew Miss Pitcairne
well, met her regularly at church, and was invited when a
boy to drink tea with her once or twice a-week. I was
always told to bring my flute with me, that I might play
1 Extract from Life of Bishop Low, by Conolly.