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LONDON, Published for the European Magazine by J. Asperne, 320ornbill April 1818.

Patrick Colquhoun Esq. "L.LG

Engraved by H.Meyer from an original Painting by S.Drummond Ej RA

EUROPEAN MAGAZINE,

AND

LONDON REVIEW,

FOR MARCH, 1818.

MEMOIR OF

PATRICK COLQUHOUN, Esq. L.L.D.

LATE POLICE 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 facta moresque posteris tradere antiquitus usitatum.

To the Editor of the European Magazine.

HE contemplation of the characters of private individuals, who, by Leir actions, have contributed to bereft their fellow-creatures, must ever form a useful lesson to mankind. It points the way which others should folks, it becomes the incentive to virtugas exertion, and tells the rising generalioa the best mode of employing those tacats with which they may be fortu mately 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 laborions 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 intelleet, great comprehensiveness of mind with enlarged and benevolent views of objects within its grasp, have at any time acquired and fixed the respect and applause of mankind; such respect and applause have been eminently acquired by that distinguished Individual, a recital of the principal actions of whose meritorious life, now nearly octogenahan, it is my grateful task, from the possession of some authentic documents, to end you. The perusal of them will

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form the best eulogy of his character; and the rapid succession of important events, the amazing activity both of body and mind almost incessantly employed without diminution of their powers, connected with the arduous accomplishment of useful designs for the public good, must strike the attention 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 policy 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 ap preciate 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 meniorial to his actions; and thus he lives beyond the grave, while the natue of the other will only survive

To point a moral or adorn a tale,

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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: be 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 govern ment, 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 America, 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 be 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

same year in which he was so honourably chosen Chief Magistrate of Glasgow, he was appointed Commissioner by the convention of royal boroughs of Scotland to proceed to London, to obte an Act of Parliament to place the British linen manufactory on the same footing as that of Ireland.

Glasgow having greatly extended, and having become a manufacturing as well as a commercial city, and legislative facilities being required in conse quence of changes which were taking place, and as there existed then no combined body of men interested in the diversified branches of trade, calculated to collect information, or to give force, energy, or system, to any public mea sure necessary for partial or general benefit, Mr. Colquhoua turned his thoughts to the means of remedying this inconvenience, and devised a chamber of commerce and manufactures, for which he afterwards obtained a royal charter, erecting the same into a corporation. This institution has since proved of essential service to the trade and manufactures of the city. In this year, likewise, he was elected president of the Committee of Management of the Forth and Clyde Canal; to the affairs of which he paid much attention, for nearly ten years, as a great national object in the year 1783, we find this indefatigable magistrate chosen chairmas of the Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures, now consisting of about 500 members, 217 of whom attended the election-so that, in this year, Mr. Colquhoun had his comprehensive mind employed in attending to the functions of the following important situations, besides being necessarily occupied by an attention to private concerns:1. Lord Provost of Glasgow. 2. Chairman of the Chamber of Commerte and Manufactures.

3. Chairman of the Tontine Society. 4. Chairman of the Committee of management of the Great Canal. In the spring of this year Mr. Colqu hon proceeded to Manchester to collect information relative to the then extent of the rising manufactures, preparatory to a negociation with the minister, and for obtaining the assistance of the manufacturers in England, in proCuring a drawback on the bleaching materials. After a most tedious and laborious negociation with Lord John Cavendish, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and with other members of go

vernment, which ultimately proved successful, the Convention of Royal Boroughs transmitted to him a vote of thanks, accompanied by a handsome piece of plate, as a mark of the high sense they entertained of the services rendered to the manufactures of the country. This being the year, also, in which Mr. Colquhoun, while in London, obtained a royal charter for erecting the Chamber of Commerce into a corporation, that respectable body voted him their thanks, accompanied by a valuable piece of plate. This was, likewise, the year when Mr. Colquhoun was, on the 30th of September, unanimously chosen, for the third time, Lord Provost of Glasgow; he was, at the same time, appointed a magistrate for the county of Lanark, and a delegate from the Council of Glasgow, for the election of a member of Parliament.

In October, 1784, Mr. Colquhoun ceased to fill the office of Chief Magistrate of Glasgow, but continued to execute the duties of a County Justice of the peace, and to attend sedulously to all other objects respecting the trade and manufactures of the city, and to other public objects connected with the prosperity of the country.

In 1785, we find Mr. Colquhoun's attention almost unceasingly devoted to the means of relieving the distresses of the mannfacturers in different branches, particularly those engaged in fabricating cotton, in printing calicoes, tobacco manufactures, and other trades. And, in March of this year, he proceeded to London, delegated by all the manufac

turers of Scotland, to meet those of

England, to concert measures to avert the calamities which were likely to be caused by the adoption of the Irish propositions, and to obtain legislative relief for the languishing condition of the cotton manufactures. In March he was sedulously and constantly engaged, in conjunction with the delegates of the manufacturers from different parts of England, in representations and in negociations with the Minister, and in conference with Members of Parliament representing the different districts from whence the delegates were sent. After encountering, and ultimately overcoming numerous difficulties, Mr. Colquhoun, after a residence of three months in London, finished the object of his mission, the result of which was, that by a new modification of the Irish propositions, many points were concèded

to the British manufacturers. The manufacturers of printed goods were thus exempted from an additional duty which was contemplated, and an act was obtained, which was considered as extremely beneficial; and further, the cotton and muslin manufacturers obtained a repeal of the duties which pressed hard upon them. These advantages, obtained after the most unwearied exertions, laid the foundation for that burst of prosperity which the cotton manufacturers afterwards experienced, and made a deep impression on the minds of all the parties concerned, who expressed their gratitude by the presentation of four valuable pieces of plate, with appropriate inscriptions and devices, from four different public bodies. At the same time, on Mr. Colquhoun's return to Glasgow, the Corporation of Weavers unanimously resolved

"To bestow the freedom of their corporation on Patrick Colquhoun, Esq. late Lord Provost of the city, in testimony of their approbation of his public conduct; particularly of his seasonable and spirited exertions in warding off, from the muslin manufactures of this country, an oppressive and ruinous tax, equally pernicious to the landed interests, the manufacturers, and the great collective body of the people; humbly requesting that Mr. Colquhoun will honour them by his acceptance of this public demonstration of their esteem and gratitude, and permit them to add his name to the roll of the corporation. "Signed, at Glasgow, the

16th of July, 1785, in
the name, and by the
appointment of the Cor-
poration,

"JOHN PAUL, Deacon." Notwithstanding the multiplicity of all these important and urgent avocations, Mr. Colquhoun, from 1783, published the following works, in furtherance of the various national objects committed to his management:

1 Observations on the present State of the Linen and Cotton Manufactares..

Printed 1783

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8. Observations on the Means of extending the Consumption of British Calicoes, Muslins, and other Cotton Goods, and of affording Pecuniary Aid to the Manufacturers under Circumstances of the highest Advantage to the Trade ..1788 9. Queries on the Present Distressed Situation of the Cotton Manufactures of Great Britain, and on the Means of Relief......1788

10. A Representation of Facts relative to the Rise and Progress of the Cotton Manufactures in Great Britain, with Observations on the Means of Extending and Improv ing this valuable branch of Trade..1789

11. A Representation of the Facts relative to the Sufferings and Losses of the Merchants residing in Great Britain who carried on Trade to the United States of America......................1799

During the interval from 1785 to 1785, Mr. Colquhoun devoted most of his time to public business, and to the means of extending and improving the trades and manufactures of his country, and in devising means to remove the difficulties which were opposed to their extension, which now became an important desideratum, in consequence of the rapid increase of the cotton mills, not only in England, but also in Scotland. In consequence of this state of things, a gene-` ral meeting of the manufacturers was called, and Mr. Colquhoun was strongly solicited once more to advocate their cause in London. He accordingly proceeded to Manchester on his way to the metropolis, for the purpose of collecting accurate information as to the then, situation and actual extent of the mills, and of the state of the cotton manufaetures in Eugland. After passing two days there, aud after having obtained

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