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

PARISH OF MERTON. 233
for his cliildreu and heirs. He died at Abbotsford on the 21st
September, 1832. His remains were accompanied to tlie grave by
a large assemblage of friends and neighbours. In recording the
event of his death, many of the public journals used mourning
borders. Sir Walter has depicted Scottish life and manners with
the pen of an enchanter, and has, by the impress of his genius,
rendered celebrated many scenes and localities hitherto unknown.
The remains of so great a magician, so renowned a minstrel, rest
appropriately by the banks of the silver Tweed, within his own
loved Dry burgh.
In St. Mary's aisle rest the remains of Sir Walter's eldest son,
the second Sir Walter Scott, who was here entombed on the 4th
May, 1847. John Gibson Lockhart, his son-in-law and literary
executor, has here also found a sepulchre. This ingenious writer
and expert critic was born in the manse of Cambusnethan, on the
14th June, 1794. He studied at the University of Glasgow, and
proceeded on the SneU Exhibition to Baliol College, Oxford. In
1816 he was called to the Scottish Bar. He was one of the
originators of Blachvood's Magazine. In 1820 he married Sir Walter
Scott's eldest daughter, Sophia. In 1825 he was appointed editor
of the Quarterly Revieio, and established his residence in Lon-
don. He published four novels, "Valerius," "Eeginald Dalton,"
" J\latthew Wald," and " Adam Blair." His poetical abilities are
indicated in his translations of "Spanish Ballads." He died at
Abbotsford, on the 25th November, 1854, in his sixty-first year.
His " Life of Sir AValter Scott " is one of the most interesting works
in the language.
Amidst the ruins of Dryburgh, which formed a portion of his
own estate, rest the remains of David Stewart Erskine, eleventh
Earl of Buchan. This patriotic and enterprising but eccentric
nobleman was born on the 1st of June, 1742. He studied at Glasgow
College, and afterwards joined the army. In 1767, on his father's
death, he succeeded to the earldom. He devoted himself to literary
and antiquarian pursuits. In November, 1780, he established tlie
Scottish Society of Antiquaries. He edited Henry the Mm-