MR. DUNCAN, EX-TREASURER OF

POLICE.

WILLIAM DUNCAN was born in 1796, of very worthy and respectable parents. He received a good classical education at our Grammar School; and, through life, he retained creditable familiarity with the Latin language. He was a good French scholar, and well versed in the literature of that language. He attended the classes of Natural History and Natural Philosophy in Marischal College, then taught by Dr. Knight and Professor Copland. With history, especially that of his own country, he had extensive and exact acquaintance. He had a fondness, almost passionate, for Scottish antiquities; and in familiarity with those of his native city, he had few, if any equals. This was singularly proved by the large share which he had in the publication of the Book of Bon-Accord, in conjunction with his friend Mr. Robertson, of the Register House, Edinburgh. Mr. Duncan was also the author of a Description of the Coast between Aberdeen and Leith; of a paper on Witchcraft in the North, read before the Society of Scottish Anti

quaries, of which he was a Corresponding Member; and of various occasional essays illustrative of olden times. Indeed, Mr. Duncan had shown a strong turn for literature from his early youth. Some fifty years ago, in conjunction with several young men, he established a sort of club, styled "The Aberdeen Literary Society," which used to meet in the schoolroom of one of the members (Mr. Robert Wilson), at the head of Broad Street. Of this Society, the noted, not to say notorious, James Gordon Bennett, now of the New York Herald, was an active member. Another member survives in the dapper person of a worthy burgess,* whose lively chirruping about days of yore might almost beguile us into the fancy that

"Youth and he were house-mates still."

As Mr. Duncan advanced in life he took an unceasing interest in public matters, particularly in burgh Reform. In 1829, to promote this object, he

*

Mr. James Burgess, a well-known merchant, who predeceased Mr. Ramsay two years. Mr. Burgess's taste for literature remained with him to the last. One calm evening in mid-summer he was walking up Union Street with the writer, when, stopping at the façade as the jangle from the belfry met our ears, he said with mock pathos

"Those evening bells, those evening bells,
How many a tale their music tells

Of drunken ringers without art,

Ringing to break John Ramsay's heart."

His "Sett" were at the time giving Mr. Ramsay much trouble to train.

took an active part, along with the late Mr. Spark, in establishing and conducting the Aberdeen Observer. It showed much information, shrewdness, and not a little piquancy, occasionally aggravated into a good deal of acrimony. The subjects chiefly discussed were of a local nature, such as the affairs of the Guildry, Police, Harbour, etc. Along with these subjects, matters of local antiquity, drollery, customs, and manners were introduced, and treated with ability and spirit. The columns of the paper were enlivened by a band of clever contributors, among whom may be mentioned - Mr. Joseph Robertson, Mr. Cooke, the late Messrs. R. Brown, J. Bruce, F. Clerihew, Deacon Robb, and others. In general politics, the paper inclined to what would now be called Liberal Conservatism; but, as the Reform era advanced, its tone became decidedly that of uncompromising Toryism. This change proved unfortunate for its commercial position; and those who had stoutly, and to their personal loss, fought the battle of local Toryism, found that gratitude was not to be reckoned among the virtues of the leaders of the party. The honorarium which conventional usage ought to bestow in the deserving quarter is too often filched by sneaking toadies and unprincipled panders!

The Observer was ultimately bought up by a joint stock company, and was thus merged in the Constitutional, professing Conservative politics. Mr. Duncan was retained as cashier and general man.

ager. It had a good business connection, but was unfortunate in some of its editors, who proved to have been most trusted where they were least known. Besides, there was really no room for the paper. After a dwining existence, which all the coddling of its supporters could not protract, it puffed out-tennes recessit in auras!

Fortunately for Mr. Duncan, although a loser, he was not ruined, as some have been, by his newspaper connection. He still had his own business, in which he had reasonable success, although, as may be supposed, it was not very congenial to his tastes. He all along continued to take an active and intelligent part in the affairs of his native city. At length his talents and knowledge of local matters pointed him out as being beyond question the fittest man for the office of treasurer of police, to which he was appointed in 1844 by the Commissioners, with a felicity of judgment which has not invariably distinguished that body.

In his public capacity he was a sagacious and honest counsellor, and averse to carrying matters with a high hand, or causing unnecessary trouble and expense; and he had the address to lead his principals to a right conclusion without making them aware of it, and thus he often kept them out of difficulties. He had great sagacity in appreciating the nature and extent of the prospective wants of the community, and, in endeavouring to meet them, he was actuated by a quiet but indomitable perseverance.

In his ordinary life and conduct, Mr. Duncan was placid, unassuming, cheerful, and friendly. His conversation, like his writing, was racy, full of useful and curious information and anecdote. When well set and in the vein, he was not only witty himself but the cause of wit in others. His memory is indissolubly entwined with the recollection of many happy hours, and of the genial beaming of many "old familiar faces." Alas! how well may the few survivors of our all but vanished circle of friendship, each take up the poet's pensive strain:

:

"When I remember all

The friends so linked together,

I've seen around me fall,

Like leaves in wintry weather;

I seem like one

Who treads, alone,

Some banquet-hall deserted,

Whose lights are fled,

And garlands-dead,

And all but he departed!"

Mr. Duncan died at Morque, near Cults, on Sunday the 4th November 1866. Mr. Ramsay, on being praised for the neatness and truth of the above notice of his friend, said, "Duncan was far too good a fellow for me to let the awkward squad fire o'er his grave."