Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 4.djvu/130

476 he rented, denying himself all the comforts and conveniences of life, and even using its necessaries in the most sparing manner; insomuch, that his whole personal expense, room rent included, did not exceed £5 sterling annually. Many of the anecdotes which have been handed down by tradition, respecting the habits and privations of this singular individual, seem to be nearly the same which are related of certain English misers of celebrity. It is told of him, for instance, that he used to keep himself warm by walking backwards and forwards in his room with a bag of coals on his back, judging, no doubt, that this was a more economical method of procuring heat, than by burning the coals. Also, that he sometimes contrived to satisfy the cravings of appetite by going to the market, and tasting a little of the various articles of provision, such as meal, butter, cheese, &c., by way of ascertaining their quality before he should make any purchase. Another anecdote is recorded of him, which seems less incredible. A particular friend of his who was in the way of spending an evening with him occasionally (for he was naturally of a social disposition), was so highly honoured that, as often as the meeting took place, a small rush-light was produced to enliven the scene. One evening, however, the same friend perceiving the rays of the moon shining brightly into the apartment, observed, no doubt with the view of ingratiating himself more with his host, that it was a pity to waste the candle when the moonlight was quite sufficient.- The hint was not lost, and afterwards when the two friends met it was most scrupulously attended to. He is said to have been fond of reading, and in order to indulge his literary taste without expense, during the dark evenings, he is said to have bored a hole in the floor of his apartment, to allow the light from a cobbler's lamp in the room below to shine through, and by lying down on his side, he thus contrived to get as much light as to see the page before him.

Yet although avarice had taken a strong hold of his mind, and subjected him to the most severe privations, it was never able fully to eradicate the natural sociability of his disposition, or to destroy his relish for the luxuries and enjoyments of life: for he is said to have mixed in society as often as he could do so without affecting his purse, and to have indulged pretty freely in the pleasures of the table, when the banquet was not furnished at his own expense. As he was a person of shrewdness and intelligence, and one who had seen a good deal of the world, and was also known to possess wealth, it may be supposed he was not an unwelcome guest at the table of many of his fellow citizens.

It has been asserted by some, that Mr Gordon's parsimonious habits arose from the design which he had lormed, of founding and endowing an hospital for the benefit of the male children of the poorer class of citizens; and we should be glad to be able to establish the truth of this assertion ; but from all we can find, it was not till a considerable time after the desire of amassing wealth by every possible means had taken possession of his mind, and within, perhaps, a few years of his death, that he entertained the benevolent design above alluded to. Severe animadversions have been passed upon his character, on account of his having bequeathed no part of his fortune to his poorer relations, especially to his sister, who was in indigent circumstances, and had a numerous family; and indeed, it is difficult to justify his conduct in this respect. Perhaps it was sufficient for him to know that he was not legally bound to make any provision for his poor relatives; and we know that avarice tends to harden the heart and stifle the feelings of natural affection. While conversing on one occasion with the provost of Aberdeen, on the subject of the settlement which he was about to make, the latter is said to have hinted to him that he ought to remember his relations as well as the public; but this, instead of having the desired effect, drew from him the following severe rebuke: "What have I to expect, sir, when