Grampian Club > Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland > Volume 1

94 EDINBURGHSHIRE.
issued the fifth edition with a supplement. He suffered in-
solvency in 1826, his liabilities exceeding a quarter of a million.
He died on the 21st July, 1827, in his fifty-third year. Mr.
Constable was a munificent patron of literature, and a generous
friend. His insolvency was consequent on a monetary panic ; the
event shattered his health, which was never re-established.
AVilliam Blackwood, another eminent bookseller, is interred in
this burial-ground. He was born at Edinburgh on the 20th
November, 1776. After a long apprenticeship to a bookseller, he
commenced business in 1804 on his own account. For some time
he dealt in old books only. In 1816 he disposed of his stock and
became publisher. He issued the first number of Blackwood's
Magazine in April, 1817 ; henceforth he became one of the foremost
of Scottish publishers. He died at Edinburgh on the 16th
September, 1834, at the age of fifty-eight. Mr. Blackwood held
office as a magistrate, and took a deep interest in civic affairs.
A handsome obelisk reared by public subscription commemorates
Charles Mackay, of the Theatre Eoyal. Mr. Mackay was a native
of Glasgow. He obtained wide celebrity for his successful personi-
fication of Bailie Nieol Jarvie in the drama of " Eob Eoy," and for
his embodiment of other creations of the author of "Waverley."
He died on the 2nd November, 1857.
David Roberts, E.A., has commemorated his parents by a tomb-
stone which is thus inscribed : —
" Sacred to the memory of John Eoberts, shoemaker of Stock-
bridge, who died 27th April, 1840, aged eighty-six years, and was
liere interred. As also his wife. Christian Eitchie, who died
11th July, 1845, aged eighty-six years. There are also interred
near the same spot three of their children ; Christian, aged tw^o
years, Alexander, aged seven years, and John, aged nine years.
This stone is erected to their memory by their only surviving sou,
David Eoberts, member of the Eoyal Academy of Arts, London,
who gratefully attributes nmch of his happiness and success in life
to their parental care and solicitude, combined with the virtuous
example which in their own conduct they placed before him during
his early years."
By an affectionate relative a Gothic spire has been erected to