[253] A newspaper, giving an account of Lord Palmerston’s visit to
Edinburgh in 1865, mentions that his lordship, during his stay in
the city, was made aware that an aged woman of the name of Peggie
Forbes, who had been a servant with Dugald Stewart, well remembered
his lordship when under the professor’s roof in early days. Interested
in the circumstance, Lord Palmerston took occasion to pay her a visit
at her dwelling, No. 1 Rankeillor Street, and expressed his pleasure
at renewing the acquaintance of the old domestic. Dr John Brown had
discovered the existence of this old association, and with it a box of
tools which were the property of ‘young Maister Henry’ of those days.
The sight of them called up within the breast of the Premier further
associations of days long bygone.