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SEASON, 1817-18.

EAST INDIA SHIPS,

With their Managing Owners, Commanders, Principal Officers, Surgeons, Pursers, Time of coming afloat, &c.

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599 or Madras

20th February, 1818.

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LONDON, Published for the European Magazine by J. Asperne 320ernbill Eipril 1818.

Patrick: Colquhoun Osq22 L&D

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Engraved by H.Meyer from an original Painting by Drummond ERA.

EUROPEAN MAGAZINE,

AND

LONDON REVIEW,

FOR MARCH, 1818.

MEMOIR OF

PATRICK COLQUHOUN, Ësq. L.L.D.

LATE P LICE MAGISTRATE OF QUEEN SQUARE OFFICE, AND ACTING MAGISTRATE
FOR THE COUNTIES OF MIDDLESEX, SURREY, AND KENT, &c. &c. &c.
{WITH A PORTRAIT, ENGRAVED BY HENRY MEYER, FROM AN ORIGINAL PAINTING
BY SAMUEL DRUMMOND, ESQ. R.a.]

Clarorum Virorum facla moresque posteris tradere antiquitus usitatum.
To the Editor of the European Magazine.

SIR,

Tiers of rate individuals, who,

HE contemplation the charac

by their actions, have contributed to benefit their fellow-creatures, must ever form a useful lesson to mankind. It points the way which others should follow, it beconies the incentive to virtuous exertion, and tells the rising generation the best mode of employing those talents with which they may be fortu nately gifted. I have somewhere read, that the way most pleasing to God is that which is useful to man; and if this observation is at all applicable to any individual, it is eminently so to the one, a brief sketch of whose active and láborious life I send for insertion in your valuable Magazine. If great energy and integrity of character, steadiness of purpose, virtuous perseverance in welldoing unappalled by difficulties of no ordinary magnitude, clearness of intellect, great comprehensiveness of mind with enlarged and benevolent views of all objects within its grasp, have at any time acquired and fixed the respect and applause of mankind; such respect and applause bave been eminently acquired by that distinguished Individual, a recital of the principal actions of whose meritorious life, now nearly octogenarian, it is my grateful task, from the possession of some authentic documents, to send you. The perusal of them will

TACITUS.

form the best eulogy of his character; and the rapid succession of important events, the amazing activity both of

body and mind almost incessantly em

ployed without diminution of their powers, connected with the arduous accomplishment of useful designs for the public good, must strike the atten tion of the reader with admiration and surprise. The trophied laurels gained in the tented field by the slaughterers of mankind, excited either by the blind po licy of states or the inordinate ambition of individuals,

From Macedonia's madman to the Swede, glaringly attract the attention of the world; while he, who in the peaceful tenour of his way contributes to the essential comfort and prosperity of mankind, comparatively passes almost silently to the grave; the thinking part of society, however, and the reflecting philosopher in his retirement, fully appreciate the characters: what is more, the lasting beneficial effects of the wellconcerted and wisely-executed plans of the benevolent and political economist for the happiness of his fellow-creatures will be gratefully hailed by millions yet unborn, and will give a lasting memorial to his actions, and thus he lives beyond the grave, while the name of the other will only survive

To point a moral or adorn a tale,

But, Sir, the short space which is necessarily allotted for biographical history in a periodical work, does not admit of that detail of observations which the numerous incidents of a long, active, and useful life imperatively require.

Patrick Colquhoun, Esq. the subject of the following biographical sketch, was born in the royal borough of Dumbarton, in North Britain, on the 14th day of March, in the year 1745, old stile: he has therefore now attained the 74th year of his age. He is descended, both by the father and mother (both bearing the same name), from the antient family of Colquhoun, which has intermarried with several of the first nobility in Scotland, and which, at different periods, has filled high official situations in the state. His relation, Sir Robert Colquhoun, Bart. of Nova Scotia, who represents the family as heir male, now commands a regiment in the East Indies. The family estate of Luss is in the possession of Sir James Colquhoun, the heir female, whose grandfather assumed the name of Colquhoun. Mr. Colquhoun's father died at the early age of 44, holding at the time the office of local Judge and Register of the Records of the county of Dumbarton, he was a class-fellow of the late Dr. Smollet, and his son, the subject of the present sketch, was educated at the same seminary.

Before Mr. Colquhoun had attained his sixteenth year, (so early did his ardent mind look to independent pursuits) he embarked for the colony of Virginia, for the purpose of following commercial views. His residence there was in the Peninsula called the eastern shore, comprising two counties separated by the Chesapeake Bay, at a distance of seventy miles from the chief territory and population of the province. At the age of 18 years he crossed the Bay twice annually, to be present at the general courts at the seat of government, at which all the principal inhabitants were collected, for the purpose of attending law-suits, and of transacting commercial affairs. Such at this early period of his life was the confidence placed in his abilities and prudence, that, during these aquatic journeys, he was employed also by others to transact business of considerable importance. During his residence in Ame rica, Mr. Colquhoun associated chiefly with gentlemen of the profession of the

law. With the advantages of this society, and of a tolerable library, he finished his own education, amidst the wilds of trans-atlantic woods, a circumstance remarkable and extraordinary, considering his great attainments, and which marks at once the fertile resources of his genius. After a residence of nearly five years, his health being greatly impaired, he returned to his native country in 1766, and in the following year took up his abode permanently in the city of Glasgow, and soon after formed connections of the very first respectability with gentlemen of talents and fortune. In 1775 Mr. Colquhoun married a lady of his own name, the daughter of James Colquhoun, Esq. Chief Magistrate of Dumbarton, by whom he has had seven children, four of whom, a son and three daughters, have survived. In February 1810, he had the misfortune to lose his wife, a lady of the most amiable domestic virtues. In the year 1776, during the American war, Mr. Colquhoun was one of the fourteen principal contributors to a fund for raising a regiment for his Majesty's service from the population of the city of Glasgow, which afterwards greatly distinguished itself. In 1779 he first transacted business in London with Lord North, then Prime Minister. Being delegated on public business, he again visited London in 1780, when he succeeded in carrying a Bill through Parliament, of the greatest importance at that period to the trade of the country; and in the same year he was chosen a Member of the Council of the city of Glasgow, and also a local Magistrate. He originated a scheme in 1781 for building a coffee-house, and improving the Exchange of Glasgow, which terminated in that splendid building attached to the Exchange, and which has since proved the greatest ornament and convenience to the city, being the admiration of all strangers. In the month of July of the same year, being then a city Magistrate, he was chosen a Commissioner to represent the city in the convention of royal boroughs of Scotland, then assembled at Edinburgh. In January 1782 he was unanimouslyelected Chief Magistrate for the city of Glasgow, and such was the universal esteem in which he was justly held, that, contrary to general usage, he was continued in office three successive years; and has been for many years the highly respected and venerable father of that city. In the

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