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 Leith to the Canongate, but failed to prevent them carrying out their programme. Nor, although several students were captured and threatened with torture, and a reward offered for the leaders, was information obtained sufficient for the conviction of any one. On 25 Oct. 1681 Dalyell received a commission to enrol the celebrated regiment of the Scots Greys (Hist. MSS. Comm. 9th Rep. ii. 237), so called originally not from the colour of their horses but of the men's long overcoats. They were armed with sword, pistol, and musket, for service on horseback or on foot, and consisted of six companies of fifty-nine each, including officers. In a document (printed in the Miscellany of the Maitland Club) signed by Charles II at Windsor 16 June 1684, a list is given of the Scottish forces under Dalyell irrespective of the militia. With these thoroughly disciplined troops he easily restrained any serious manifestation of the covenanting spirit; although, of course, the influence of his rigour on covenanting convictions was utterly fruitless. As he grew older Dalyell became more testy. In Napier's ‘Life of Graham of Claverhouse,’ several amusing instances are given of the slights to which that ambitious officer had to submit from Dalyell. Latterly his duties were comparatively light, and he is said to have spent much of his time at his paternal estate of Binns, which he adorned with ‘avenues, large parks, and fine gardens, pleasing himself with the culture of curious plants and flowers.’ On the accession of James II in 1685 he received commendation and approval under the great seal of his conduct in Scotland, and an enlarged commission as commander-in-chief. Captain Creighton states that the catholic faith of James would probably have placed Dalyell in a perplexing dilemma had he lived. He died suddenly of an apoplexy at his town house in the Canongate, on Sunday evening 23 Aug. 1685. He was buried probably in Abercorn Church, near Binns, on 1 Sept., and ‘got,’ says Fountainhall, ‘a very splendid buriall after the military forme, being attended by the standing forces, horse and foot, present at Edinburgh, and six pieces of cannon drawn his herse, with his led horse and general's baton, &c.’ (Historical Observes, 215). ‘Some,’ adds Fountainhall, ‘were observing that few of our generall persons in Scotland had come to their grave without some tach or note of disgrace which Dalyell had not incurred’ (ib. 236).

Dalyell is said to have married a daughter of Ker of Cavers, and by her had an only son, Captain Thomas Dalyell, who was, in recognition of his father's services, created on 7 November 1685 a baronet of Nova Scotia. The patent of baronetcy is unique, inasmuch as it gives the dignity to heirs female and of entail succeeding to the estate of Binns. Thus, as the second baronet died unmarried, the baronetcy descended to James Menteith of Auldcathy, son of the second baronet's sister, who assumed the additional name of Dalyell. Four sons and three daughters are mentioned in the general's entail on 3 Aug. 1682. The second son, also named Thomas, a colonel of foot, who was engaged at the battle of the Boyne, settled in Ireland, and acquired by grant from Queen Anne the estate of Ticknevin, in the county of Kildare, but this branch became extinct in 1756, when the property in Ireland came to the descendants of John, the third son, another colonel of foot, who commanded the 21st fusiliers at the battle of Blenheim, and was killed while leading the first charge on the village of Blenheim. He was the progenitor of the Dalyells of Lingo in Fife. The fourth son, Captain Charles Dalyell, took part in the Darien expedition, and died there, leaving his brother John his heir. Dalyell's town house in Edinburgh was situated off the Canongate, on the north side opposite John Street, but was removed within the present century (, Memorials of Edinburgh, 290–1). As would appear from the picture of him in full uniform with his general's baton, painted probably in 1675 by Reilly for the Duke of Rothes, and now in Leslie House, Fifeshire, he in his later years shaved his beard. A picture in which he has the beard, and regarded as the original by Paton, from which the Vanderbanc print was done, is in the possession of Sir Robert Dalyell, K.C.I.E., of the India Council. There are also two paintings of the general at Binns, one probably a copy of the Reilly. A pair of very heavy cavalier boots, and an enormous double-handed sword, reputed to have been the general's, are now preserved at Lingo, Fifeshire.

[Report on the Muniments of Sir Robert Osborne Dalyell, baronet of Binns, Hist. MSS. Comm. 9th Rep. pt. ii. 230–8; Captain Creighton's Memoirs in Swift's Works; Thurloe State Papers, ii.; State Papers, Dom. Ser., 1654–67; Wodrow's Sufferings of the Church of Scotland; Fountainhall's Historical Notices: ib. Observes; Nicolls's Diary; Burnet's Own Time; Balfour's Annals; Acts of the Parliament of Scotland; Douglas's Baronage of Scotland; Grainger's Biog. Hist. of England, 4th ed. iii. 380–1; Letters to the Duke of Lauderdale, 1666–80; Add. MSS. 23125–6–8, 23135, 23246–7, published in Lauderdale Papers (Camden Soc.); Letters to Charles II, Add. MS. 28747; information from Sir Robert Dalyell, K.C.I.E.; Foster's Members of Parliament in Scotland, 1882.] 