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The demise of the latest
survivor of a band of Reformers—who, though they may have “fallen upon
evil times," have not been passed over altogether uncommemorated in our
columns—induces us to present a few particulars from the notes, with
which a kind friend has been pleased to furnish us of the life of the
late James Calder. This able and unobtrusive coadjutor of Muir, Gerald,
Skirving, and the other sufferers of our dark age of politics, died on
the 20th of December last, in the 73d year of his age, after having
passed through a life of strange vicissitude, in which were commingled
successful study, political intrepidity, the adventures of a prisoner of
war, and a connexion of some distinction with the public press.
Our informant, who appears to have been at considerable pains to collect
from authentic sources the particulars with which he has favoured us
respecting this eminent patriot, states that the birth of James Calder
took place at Cromarty, 20th December, 1773.
A remarkable and even mysterious circumstance, one at least which was
readily enough regarded as such towards the close of last century in the
North of Scotland, is related as having occurred to Donald Calder, the
father of the subject of our present notice, and which actually led to
his becoming the founder of the town of Invergordon. It would seem that
when, but a herd boy in Mojgtyshire, of about twelve years of age,
Donald Calder dreamed that he was “set up” in business in a strange
place—one which he had never beheld with his eyes—but of which the
appearance became indelibly impressed on his memory. The young herd boy
grew up to he a man, and the young man became a pedlar, and the pedlar
ultimately settled down in business in the town of Cromarty; hut the
town of Cromarty was not the scene of his unforgotten vision; and it was
while accidentally passing over the spot where the town of Invergordon
now stands, that Donald Calder, recognising to his amazement the very
landscape of his early dream, felt as if required by destiny to realise
the prophetic intimation which had filled his mind since a boy. Of a
sanguine temperament, deeply tinged with religious enthusiasm, Donald
Calder felt little difficulty in accepting the vision, and relative
discovery of its locality, as a call of fate; and he consequently
applied to Sir John Gordon of Invergordon for liberty to found a town
upon the site. Sir John at first naturally looked upon the project of
the senior Calder as chimerical; for within the circuit of eleven miles
round there existed hut a few farm houses, whose scattered inmates could
not promise much resort to the future “town.” At length he granted a
piece of land to Mr. Calder, who did not hesitate to erect a warehouse
upon the feu, and even to stock it with a supply of articles suitable to
the wants of the neighbourhood. He would appear to have met, with some
degree of success up this unpromising undertaking; for another, and
another mercantile establishment speedily began to appear in the place,
which was soon crowded with habitations, until out of this small and
singular beginning arose the town or village of Invergordon.
James Calder was the eldest son of this enterprising and substantial
country merchant. At an early age he manifested extraordinary abilities;
for when at nine years of age, removed from the school of Cromarty to
Fort George, in which fortress his maternal uncle, the Rev. James
Stalker, was chaplain, he was able to write the Latin language with
ease, as well as to converse in it with fluency. His education at Fort
George became partially of a military character. It does not appear,
however, that this was with any view to his ultimately joining the army.
He was at all events, ere long, entered as an Alumnus of King’s College,
Aberdeen, and there contracted an acquaintance with several persons, who
subsequently rose to eminence and distinction, amongst whom we may
mention the late Right Hon. Sir James Mackintosh. Young Calder became an
especial favourite, too, of Dr. Beattie, author of “The Minstrel,” who
expressed himself “surprised and delighted” to find his lectures taken
down in short hand by a lad of fifteen. .
It was at Aberdeen that James Calder made his public debut as a
Reformer. His perusal of some of Mr. Fox’s speeches is said to have
determined the bias of his career. And “the boy Calder,” as he was
termed, soon became conspicuous for the dissemination of liberal
principles in a neighbourhood where Reformers were scarcely to he found.
The dismay and annoyance of the Tory gentlemen at the hold and
unexpected declarations of the youth were evinced in the epithet—“the
boy Calder”—which they sought to attach to his name.
The Reformers of Edinburgh were, therefore, somewhat prepared to receive
into their confidence “the boy Calder,” when he proceeded to Edinburgh,
in the eighteenth year of his age. Ho attended the law classes of the
metropolis ; and as was, and is, the custom with young men in this
position, was at the same time clerk in the office of a Writer to the
Signet. This person and his chief clerk (not Mr. Calder) are supposed to
have been ingloriously immortalised by Sir Walter Scott in one of his
Novels.
James Calder had destined himself to the bar, to which there is no
reason to doubt that he would have attained, could he have brought his
mind to consent to abandon the cause of Reform. His excellent private
character and amiable disposition had, notwithstanding a difference of
politics, endeared him to several persons of station and influence, who
earnestly counselled him to renounce his political principles for the
prospect of professional success. Even in the Lord Provost, by whom the
meetings of tho Edinburgh Convention were dispersed, Calder had a
friend. And our informant possessed the assurance of the late Mr. M'Leod,
of Cadboll, that Calder was singularly esteemed, even by political
opponents. We may, while recounting these facts, revert to a defence of
Mr. Calder, which, we are happy to learn, afforded him great
satisfaction at the time of its appearance, against the
misrepresentations in Miller’s “Sketches and Legends of the North of
Scotland.” These misrepresentations caused him much annoyance, from his
being described as “a wild and furions democrat—the terror of the
surrounding country,” which can hardly be reconciled to the fact of his
haring remained on terms of intimacy with all the principal families of
the neighbourhood. The author of this book could hare had no object to
serve in making statements calculated to injure Mr. Calder, or to cause
him pain. His political principles were probably identical with those of
the “wild and furious democrat,” whom he knew only by report; but often
the report of persons who are to be benefited by political struggles
concerning men who make them, is characterised by no quality less than
that of gratitude.
No prospect of professional advancement proved adequate to induce young
Calder to act, as he had, at variance with the dictates of his
conscience; and, in April, 1793, he joined the “British Convention of
Delegates of Friends of the People,” sitting in Edinburgh; and,
notwithstanding his youth, soon became signalised as one of its leading
members. In November of the same year he was appointed one of a
committee of four members, selected to devise means for the diffusion of
political knowledge in the Highlands of Scotland.
On the dispersion of the Convention by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh,
and a body of Constabulary, 6th December, 1793, Calder moved an
adjournment to the Canongate. But the Reformers being traced thither
also, their Committee resolved upon varying their place of meeting on
each occasion; and to Calder was assigned the task of selecting places
appropriate for the purpose. A circumstance of a rather ludicrous kind,
in one instance, ensued. Mr. Calder having engaged for the place of
meeting a cabinetmaker’s workshop, situated in Nicolson Street, the
Committee of the Convention appeared, seated at the worktables and
benches, amidst a profusion of the workmen’s tools, including adzes,
hatchets, mallets, and hammers, when the sheriff of the county and two
officers, by whom the meeting had been discovered, suddenly burst into
the room. A single glimpse at the implements strewed around struck
terror and consternation to the hearts of the officials, and assuming
that they should instantly be attacked, they fled precipitately from the
scene—spreading abroad their protestations that all the members were
armed. With the aid of a suitable reinforcement, the meeting, however,
was as quietly dispersed as on any previous occasion.
Calder himself, while at home on a visit, was, sometime afterwards,
apprehended on a charge of sedition in virtue of a sheriff’s warrant.
The execution of the warrant had been, somewhat irregularly, committed
to the military force instead of the civil power; and Calder was
arrested by a corporal and two privates of the Sutherland Fencibles.
Whilst on the march with his escort towards the gaol of Tain, he charmed
the whole party so effectually by his conversation, that they abandoned
all desire to be instrumental in his detention, and, reckless of the
risk they themselves would have incurred had they been found guilty of a
breach of duty, the captors actually sauntered apart from the prisoner,
to afford an opportunity for his escape. Calder evinced no anxiety to
avail himself of this chance of liberty; and the hot-blooded Highland
corporal, provoked at his seeming obtuseness, even ventured so far, in
the height of his magnanimity, as to run hastily up to him, exclaiming
in Gaelic—“Can’t you run, man! can’t you run!” Mr. Calder used to relate
that it cost him some trouble to convince these simple-minded
Highlanders that it was his serious intention to go to gaol. And
thither, by dint of considerable persuasion, he induced his unwilling
captors to conduct him. From Tain he anticipated being forwarded to
Edinburgh, where Gerald and Skirving were, by this time, arrested and
confined. But whatever may have been the reason (and it never clearly
appeared), he was simply bound over by the sheriff of the county to keep
the peace, and discharged from custody. It is stated that the Lord
Advocate considered it inexpedient to proceed farther against hint.
Calder had been somewhat implicated in an occurrence arising out of a
“clearing” of the inhabitants, effected some time previously, on certain
farms in Ross-shire, for the purpose of converting them into
sheep-walks. This “clearing” had led to riots on the part of the persons
ejected from their homes and hearths. At all events they had risen up
and driven away the sheep by whom they had been inhumanely supplanted.
Several of the ringleaders were consequently lodged in gaol: but by the
aid of a “bora natural”—one of those hapless creatures afflicted with
idiocy, of whom specimens are sometimes to be seen about our country
villages—they had succeeded in effecting their escape. Their poor
witless friend contrived to abstract the keys from the custody of a
slumbering turnkey, to whom he faithfully restored them while still in
the arms of Morpheus; but not before he had, in the meanwhile, set the
prisoners free! The sheriff and other officials, inexpressibly annoyed
at the circumstance, promulgated the offer of a large reward for having
them retaken, branding them as “ sheep-stealers” in tho placards issued
for the purpose. Young Calder’s indignation was aroused at the
application of such a term, under the circumstances, to persons, many of
whom, to his own personal knowledge, were otherwise worthy and religious
people; and the part taken by him in the affair consisted in having
counter-placards privately posted, exhorting the inhabitants not to
betray their countrymen. His appeals were effectual; none of the
individuals concerned were retakes; they voe even suffered eventually to
return to their homes, without farther notiee being taken of their
conduct by the authorities. Amongst their somber, was a noted Celt,
named Hugh Brack Mao—something; who, having vowed summary vengeance
against a neighbour concerned in Ids original apprehension, might have
been regarded as in rather an unfavourable position for keeping his
resolution. But no sooner had the pursuit after the fugitives from gaol
slackened, than Hugh Brack returned all the way from Perth on foot, for
the express purpose of pouncing upon his foe; and having one night found
a fitting opportunity of indulging his revenge without the usual fetal
consequences, retreated onoe more to his hiding-place in Perth, without
having visited any one m the district with the exception of Mr. Gaidar.
The individual subjected to Hugh Brack’s disciplinary vengeance applied,
early on the succeeding morning, to his Lordship, the Sheriff, for a
warrant against his assailant. “A warrant,” exclaimed the Sheriff
“against Hugh Breck! Why man, I have offered a hundred pounds already to
cateh him, and where do you expect to do so?”
Calder was not restrained by the proceedings which had been directed
against him in the north from forthwith repairing to Edinburgh, the
scene of the political prosecutions against his friends. He arrived in
time to rescue several of them from eminent peril, by collecting letters
and papers emanating from different societies, which he took the
precaution of destroying at his own lodgings. The greater part of a
night was spent in the work of destruction; and when the domiciliary
visits were paid, as paid they were, the proofs of connexion with
Associations obnoxious to the Government had ceased to exist!
At the memorable trials which ensued, Calder rendered active assistance
in the preparations for the defence. He sat at the bar with Joseph
Gerald throughout the entire inquiry, arranging his papers, and
privately administering to him, from time to time, small doses of spirit
of lavendar combined with laudanum, upon pieces of sugar, for the
purpose of stimulating and sustaining him in the delivery of his speech,
which occupied four hours. Mr. Calder always mentioned this noble-minded
man in terms expressive of the fondest admiration; and often would
recite portions of his address on this occasion, particularly its solemn
peroration, the effect of which was so overpowering that even the Judges
on the Bench suffered some minutes to elapse ere' they regained their
composure. Calder passed with Gerald the night previous to the latter
being sent away; and even within the precincts of the prison, the song
“Come, Sons of Freedom! no
more let us monm!"
was raised on the
occasion. Calder was likewise one of the exculpatory witnesses on the
trial of Marguerot.
The consequences of these unhappy prosecutions, as respected the victims
of the law, are well and widely known; but less has been heard of the
minor sufferings indirectly endured by others who were not arraigned. Of
these Mr. Calder had his Bhare. His prospects of admission to the
Scottish Bar were blighted solely in consequence of his persevering
fidelity to the cause of reform. In the previous year, the name of
Thomas Muir, of Huntershill, had been struck off the roll of the Faculty
of Advocates; and it was now distinctly enough announced that there was
no admission to be expected for the name of the friend of Muir and of
Muir’s associates.
All hopes of an opening at the Bar being thus blighted and crushed,
Calder foresaw no means of earning an independent livelihood without
quitting his native country. He repaired, therefore, to London, era he
had yet attained his twenty-first year. On occasion of his departure, a
large party of gentlemen embraced the opportunity of testifying their
regard by escorting him to Leith. He was not long in London until he was
engaged upon a newspaper called “The Oracle,” at that time a well-known
journal. But, in the course of a few months, he yielded to inducements
offered him for undertaking a voyage to the Coast of Guinea; and it is
singular enough, that he sailed in the capacity of Surgeon. He hrfd, in
point of fact, studied Medicine as ardently as law, or even politics,
while sojourning in Edinburgh. The Sugar Cane, the vessel in which he
went, was captured, whilst homeward-bound, by a French frigate, after an
engagement of several hours’ duration ; in the course of which, Calder
beheld a negro girl lulled at his side by a cannon ball. He was carried,
along with the ship’s crew, to Guadaloupe; and there became accidentally
serviceable in an affair of some importance to the liberties of the
Islanders. It was at the time when that sanguinary Frenchman, Victor
Hngues, was Governor of the Island; and while the tyranny of this man’s
role instigated the secret indignation of the residents, the fear of his
vengeance checked all their efforts for redress. Scarcely had Calder
been a fortnight in confinement, when, won by his pleasing manners and
conversation, the French Inspecting Surgeon directed his removal to the
Hospital, from the dnngeon in which he lay immured. The handsome conduct
of the medical officer was dictated, as he himself expressed it, by the
desire to see Calder “treated as a gentleman.” And the change formed no
trivial boon ; for such was the construction of the cells in which the
prisoners were confined, as to allow the inmates to lie on one side
only. Calder gained even the good opinion of his gaolers, although it
must be allowed that he accomplished this in rather a whimsical manner.
He was in the habit of remonstrating with his fellow-prisoners
respecting the anathemas they were daily accustomed to visit upon the
French, and to instruct them to transfer their maledictions to William
Pitt, who would not let the French alone. William Pitt accordingly
became, to the infinite delight of their Frenoh custodiers, the subject
of the sailors’ imprecations, before the period that Calder left them,
duly as the day came round. Shortly after his transference to the
Hospital, Calder was still farther enlarged, having received permission
to go abroad upon parole. He was frequently invited to visit the leading
people of the Island, and thus became acquainted with the smouldering
animosity occasioned by the severe conduct of the Governor. The result
was the production in English, from the pen of Mr. Calder, of a document
which obtained some celebrity in its day; and which, translated into
French by an officer serving on the Island, formed the memorable
remonstrance from the merchants and other inhabitants of Guadaloupe to
the Directory of France. The effect of this representation, on its
reaching Paris, is matter of history. The Directory were obliged to
recal their petty tyrant. But the risk thus encountered by a prisoner of
war, in attempting to vanquish local oppression, must be too obvious to
require animadversion. Mr. Calder was released by cartel, after three
months’ detention in Guadaloupe, and proceeded to Antigua, where he met
with a warm reception. Amongst his friends in the island of Antigua were
two brothers, extensive planters, who generously offered to guarantee
him an income of ,£600 a-year, provided he would remain there as a
teacher and lecturer. But finding him bent on departing, they delicately
availed themselves of an opportunity to send privately on board of the
vessel by which he was to sail a complete stock of clothes and linen for
his use. The fate which awaited these warm-hearted brothers was tragical
and distressing. They were British; but so devotedly attached to each
other, that they became mutu-ally plighted never to marry—never to
separate —never to survive one another. One of them died a few years
afterwards ; the other immediately shot himself through the head : thus
fearfully keeping his rash and romantic compact!
From Antigua, Calder returned to England, and again entered into
connexion with the Press. His first engagement was on the London
Telegraph; but, in the course of a short time, he entered the Gallery as
a Parliamentary reporter on the Times. The “leading journal" was at that
period held by the father of the present' Mr. Walter. Mr. Calder’s
position on the staff of reporters endured for something less than a
session. His extensive knowledge—more especially his acquaintance with
the Continental languages—marked him out for a superior sphere of
usefulness within the office. He was now confidentially employed by “The
Whig Club,” for some purpose which never transpired, for he never
revealed it even to his nearest connexions. All that he ever seems to
have felt himself at liberty to mention was the fact of his having spent
a fortnight at Footscray, whither he had been invited by Sir Francis
Burdett, who was then but a young man. The party to whom he was
introduced by Sir Francis consisted of Arthur O’Connor, Horne Tooke, Dr.
Parr, and other noted reformers. This meeting took place previous to the
outbreaks in Ireland. It is probable, that O’Connor, though he did not
avow it, was already aware of the movements in contemplation. In the
course of conversation, tho state of Ireland happened to be adverted to.
O’Connor undertook to show by what means an insurrection might prove
successful. He concluded the development of his plan, by observing
triumphantly, “Thus, I have made provision for everything.” “Not so, Mr.
O’Connor,” remarked Home Tooke, “there is one thing for which you have
made no provision.” “What is that?” inquired O’Connor, surprised. “Why,”
replied the Author of the “Diversions of Purley,” with a characteristic
play upon language, “you have made no provision for provisions, the most
difficult provision of ail!” The declaration of the “Whig Club” was
submitted to the consideration of Mr. Calder, at the meeting we have
just described.
On the failure of the Irish Rebellion in 1798, although he entirely
disapproved of the proceedings of its promoters, Mr. Calder did not
refuse them in their adversity his sympathy and his aid. Amongst those
whom he rescued from the pursuit of Government was M'Cabe, the
disciplinarian of the Irish army. When M'Cabe’s capture seemed imminent
in London, he concealed him for a fortnight in his own lodgings. The
Minister of the day, the celebrated Spencer Percival, appears to have
made overtures to Mr. Calder, through a renegade rebel, whereby a bribe
of a thousand pounds was offered for the information requisite to trace
M'Cabe. The offer was indignantly spurned; and M'Cabe succeeded in
reaching France in safety.
The career of Mr. Calder as an Editor of the London Press during this
period was that of an active and consistent Reformer. Several of his
early friends he saw rising superior to him in rank and in riches; but
the stern independence of his principles precluded his taking the
slightest step to follow them, which would have involved a deviation
from the straightforward course which he uniformly pursued.
The Englishman was the principal Sunday paper towards the close of the
war. Mr. Calder, by whom it was conducted, was joint proprietor of it
along with Mr. Walter—and, while still conducting it in 1821, an eminent
statesman, now deceased, intimated Mr. Caiming’s desire to have an
interview with him. It was tolerably well understood that an official
appointment, in which Mr. Calder’s accurate knowledge of foreign parties
and politics would become available, was likely to follow the interview
thus requested. But the meeting was unhesitatingly declined.
After editing, for a short period, the -British Traveller, Mr. Calder
finally retired from active life, in 1824, a martyr to hereditary gout,
and to a liver complaint contracted in Africa. He survived until
December last; and at the time of his death had nearly completed his
seventy-third year.
Such were the excessive kindness and benevolence of Mr. C aider’s
disposition, that they even advantaged his enemies. A slight instance of
this we may venture to record. For years, he had been the frequent
subject of espionage, and particularly of that of a person in the pay of
the ministry connected with the public press. This man is character Mr.
Calder knew. He, therefore, distrusted him. But when this person was
seized with an illness, which proved to bo a fatal one, ho promptly
responded to liis application for assistance. The dying wretch sent from
his death-bed for his benefactor, and abjectly implored his forgiveness
for having acted for years as a government spy upon his actions.
We could name more than one person now figuring in public life, by whom
the advantages of Mr. Calder’s encouragement and support were early
experienced.
His talents and acquirements were extraordinary and extensive. In almost
every branch of the arts and sciences he was a proficient. He was a
universalist as respected languages; and such were the retentive powers
of his memory, that nothing once heard or read ever afterwards escaped
his recollection. He hence possessed an exhaustless fund of original
anecdote. With these singular advantages, supqr-added to a perfect
knowledge of all the remarkable characters and notable transactions of
his times, his Autobiography would have added illustrations of value to
the history of the age ; but a considerate regard for the feelings of
others, and a dread of inadvertently committing to paper circumstances
shielded from publicity by the obligations of honour, caused him
invariably to decline many liberal offers which were made him on this
account. It is only five years ago, since £500 in cash, and half the
profits of the work, were unavailingly offered him for a history of his
life.
Though unknown as an author, Mr. 0alder’s literary labours were
extensive. Grammars of the Portuguese, the Spanish, the French, and the
German languages, now in constant use, came under his revision, as well
as works on mathematics, on the construction of bridges, and in other
departments of science. But the only person who ever publicly
acknowledged his obligations of this kind to Mr. Calder, was the late
Mr. Grant, with whom he was associated at Aberdeen, and who was the
author of both Latin and English Grammars. |
