The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2022 - Issue 32

bitecuisine I n the late 18th century, James Burnett, commonly known as Lord Monboddo, had a colourful and eccentric life. He was a Scottish judge, a scholar of linguistic evo- lution, and a philosopher and deist. His six-volume Of the Origin and Progress of Language studied the structure of obscure languages col- onised by European powers. He also wrote books on Ancient Metaphysic s that countered David Hume’s philosophy and Isaac Newton’s physics. Burnett faced a scandal when he co-founded the Canongate Theatre and became friendly with Hume, who was once the keeper of the Advocates Library. The lawyer hailed a sedan chair to carry his wig home from the court in the rain while he walked alongside. Whilst addressing a court in London, the floor began to collapse, and the attendees ran to the exits. Being partially deaf, Burnett remained in situ because he thought his peers were taking part in some unfamiliar English tradition. He was known for eccentric ideas such as oran- gutans are human, children are born with tails and humans, monkeys, and beavers were the only animals capable of creating civilisations, but the latter two somehow failed to fulfil their obligations. At his dinner parties, which often had Edinburgh literati such as the mathematician ESKE Images courtesy of Monboddo, Doubletree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre