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There was a Merchant…Burgess of Edinburgh of the name of Thomas
Smith。 The Smith pedigree has been traced a little more particularly than
the Stevensons'； with a similar dearth of illustrious names。 One character
seems to have appeared； indeed； for a moment at the wings of history： a
skipper of Dundee who smuggled over some Jacobite big…wig at the time
of the 'Fifteen； and was afterwards drowned in Dundee harbour while
going on board his ship。 With this exception； the generations of the
Smiths present no conceivable interest even to a descendant； and Thomas；
of Edinburgh； was the first to issue from respectable obscurity。 His
father； a skipper out of Broughty Ferry； was drowned at sea while Thomas
was still young。 He seems to have owned a ship or two … whalers； I
suppose； or coasters … and to have been a member of the Dundee Trinity
House； whatever that implies。 On his death the widow remained in
Broughty； and the son came to push his future in Edinburgh。 There is a
story told of him in the family which I repeat here because I shall have to
tell later on a similar； but more perfectly authenticated； experience of his
stepson； Robert Stevenson。 Word reached Thomas that his mother was
unwell； and he prepared to leave for Broughty on the morrow。 It was
between two and three in the morning； and the early northern daylight was
already clear； when he awoke and beheld the curtains at the bed…foot
drawn aside and his mother appear in the interval； smile upon him for a
moment； and then vanish。 The sequel is stereo…type； he took the time by
his watch； and arrived at Broughty to learn it was the very moment of her
death。 The incident is at least curious in having happened to such a
person … as the tale is being told of him。 In all else； he appears as a man
ardent； passionate； practical； designed for affairs and prospering in them
far beyond the average。 He founded a solid business in lamps and oils；
and was the sole proprietor of a concern called the Greenside Company's
Works … ‘a multifarious concern it was；' writes my cousin； Professor Swan；
‘of tinsmiths； coppersmiths； brass… founders； blacksmiths； and japanners。'
He was also； it seems； a shipowner and underwriter。 He built himself ‘a
land' … Nos。 1 and 2 Baxter's Place； then no such unfashionable
neighbourhood … and died； leaving his only son in easy circumstances； and
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giving to his three surviving daughters portions of five thousand pounds
and upwards。 There is no standard of success in life； but in one of its
meanings； this is to succeed。
In what we know of his opinions； he makes a figure highly
characteristic of the time。 A high Tory and patriot； a captain … so I find it
in my notes … of Edinburgh Spearmen； and on duty in the Castle during the
Muir and Palmer troubles； he bequeathed to his descendants a bloodless
sword and a somewhat violent tradition； both long preserved。 The judge
who sat on Muir and Palmer； the famous Braxfield； let fall from the bench
the OBITER DICTUM … ‘I never liked the French all my days； but now I
hate them。' If Thomas Smith； the Edinburgh Spearman； were in court； he
must have been tempted to applaud。 The people of that land were his
abhorrence； he loathed Buonaparte like Antichrist。 Towards the end he
fell into a kind of dotage； his family must entertain him with games of tin
soldiers； which he took a childish pleasure to array and overset； but those
who played with him must be upon their guard； for if his side； which was
always that of the English against the French； should chance to be
defeated； there would be trouble in Baxter's Place。 For these opinions he
may almost be said to have suffered。 Baptised and brought up in the
Church of Scotland； he had； upon some conscientious scruple； joined the
communion of the Baptists。 Like other Nonconformists； these were
inclined to the Liberal side in politics； and； at least in the beginning；
regarded Buonaparte as a deliverer。 From the time of his joining the
Spearmen； Thomas Smith became in consequence a bugbear to his
brethren in the faith。 ‘They that take the sword shall perish with the
sword；' they told him； they gave him ‘no rest'； ‘his position became
intolerable'； it was plain he must choose between his political and his
religious tenets； and in the last years of his life； about 1812； he returned to
the Church of his fathers。
August 1786 was the date of his chief advancement； when； having
designed a system of oil lights to take the place of the primitive coal fires
before in use； he was dubbed engineer to the newly…formed Board of
Northern Lighthouses。 Not only were his fortunes bettered by the
appointment； but he was introduced to a new and wider field for the
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exercise of his abilities； and a new way of life highly agreeable to his
active constitution。 He seems to have rejoiced in the long journeys； and
to have combined them with the practice of field sports。 ‘A tall； stout
man coming ashore with his gun over his arm' … so he was described to my
father … the only description that has come down to me by a light…keeper
old in the service。 Nor did this change come alone。 On the 9th July of
the same year； Thomas Smith had been left for the second time a widower。
As he was still but thirty…three years old； prospering in his affairs； newly
advanced in the world； and encumbered at the time with a family of
children； five in number； it was natural that he should entertain the notion
of another wife。 Expeditious in business； he was no less so in his choice；
and it was not later than June 1787 … for my grandfather is described as
still in his fifteenth year … that he married the widow of Alan Stevenson。
The perilous experiment of bringing together two families for once
succeeded。 Mr。 Smith's two eldest daughters； Jean and Janet； fervent in
piety； unwearied in kind deeds； were well qualified both to appreciate and
to attract the stepmother； and her son； on the other hand； seems to have
found immediate favour in the eyes of Mr。 Smith。 It is； perhaps； easy to
exaggerate the ready…made resemblances； the tired woman must have done
much to fashion girls who were under ten； the man； lusty and opinionated；
must have stamped a strong impression on the boy of fifteen。 But the
cleavage of the family was too marked； the identity of character and
interest produced between the two men on the one hand； and the three
women on the other； was too complete to have been the result of influence
alone。 Particular bonds of union must have pre…existed on each side。
And there is no doubt that the man and the boy met with common
ambitions； and a common bent； to the practice of that which had not so
long before acquired the name of civil engineering。
For the profession which is now so thronged； famous； and influential；
was then a thing of yesterday。 My grandfather had an anecdote of
Smeaton； probably learned from John Clerk of Eldin； their common friend。
Smeaton was asked by the Duke of Argyll to visit the West Highland coast
for a professional purpose。 He refused； appalled； it seems； by the rough
travelling。 ‘You can recommend some other fit person？' asked the Duke。
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‘No；' said Smeaton； ‘I'm sorry I can't。' ‘What！' cried the Duke； ‘a
profession with only one man in it！ Pray； who taught you？' ‘Why；' said
Smeaton； ‘I believe I may say I