e Spylaw, a small estate in the
parish of Colinton, about four miles from Edinburgh, where
he erected a snuff-mill on the banks of the Water of Leith,
a small stream which flows through the finely-wooded grounds
of Spylaw. The younger brother, John, attended to the shop,
while the subject of our notice resided at Spylaw, where he
superintended the snuff-mill. Mr. Gillespie was able to
continue his industrious habits through a long life, and
having made some successful speculations in tobacco during
the war of American Independence, when the 'weed' advanced
considerably in price, he was enabled to increase his Spylaw
estate from time to time by making additional purchases of
property in the parish.

"Mr. Gillespie remained through life a bachelor. His
establishment at Spylaw was of the simplest description. It
is said that he invariably sat at the same table with his
servants, indulging in familiar conversation, and entering
with much spirit into their amusements. Newspapers were not
so widely circulated at that period as they are now, and on
the return of any of his domestics from the city, which one
of them daily visited, he listened with great attention to
the 'news, and enjoyed with much zest the narration of any
jocular incident that had occurred. Mr. Gillespie had a
_penchant_ for animals, and their wants were carefully
attended to. His poultry, equally with his horses, could
have testified to the judicious attention which he bestowed
upon them. A story is told of the familiarity between the
laird and his riding horse, which was well-fed and full of
spirit.

"The animal frequently indulged in a little restive
curvetting with its master, especially when the latter was
about to get into the saddle. 'Come, come,' he would say, on
such occasions, addressing the animal in his usual quiet
way, 'hae dune, noo, for ye'll no like if I come across your
lugs (ears) wi' the stick.'

"Even in his old age Mr. Gillespie regularly superintended
the operations in the mill, which was situated in the rear
of his house. On these occasions he was wrapped in an old
blanket ingrained with snuff. Though he kept a carriage he
very seldom used it, until shortly before his death, when
increasing infirmities caused him occasionally to take