elegant new summer gowns, the purple part of which is of a thin woollen stuff, and the red part is satin. It is remarkable, that although the judges in England have so long had both summer and winter gowns, the Lords of Session have, from the institution of the College of Justice in 1530 to the present year, which is no less than two hundred and forty years, continued to sit, both in the summer and winter Session, in their dark close and velvet gowns. The variation now introduced, by which a due regard is had to the different seasons, is certainly a considerable improvement in point of convenience, as well as a pretty variety." The pomposity of this announcement of their Lordships' change of garment is amusing enough. 2 David Robertson Williamson Ewart, Lord Balgray, was raised to the Bench in 1811, and died at his house in George's Square, Edinburgh, Feb. 3, 1837. His Lordship married Miss Robertson of Lawers, but by her had no issue. The picture given above is very accurate, for he was a fine looking man, and a most able lawyer. 3 Lord Hermand. 4 The following character of the President from a Whig pen may be inserted here: "Tory though he be, I like the President much. Fresh, hearty, and sincere, you know in him whom you have to deal with, and sincerity in my eyes covers a multitude of sins. There is nothing about him of the modern shuffling look of fallacy, Toryism. He is of the genuine old Cavalier School, and scorns bush-fighting,—a word and a blow, the blow first perhaps is what you may look for from him. Age has much tempered his fire since I first saw him at the head of the Edinburgh Volunteers. I can't help thinking yet he would have been more in his element at the head of his regiment than of a Court. Still he makes a very respectable Judge, and is deservedly esteemed. He has none of that tact which assumes dignity as a cloak for ignorance, or makes a flash speech when a crowded court is to be expected, an excuse for want of attention during the rest of a week or a session. His talents are of that every day business kind which are the most needed and most useful though least attractive. I remember the President some years ago at the special commission for the trials of the rioters of Bonnymuir, a job he did not seem to relish much. To the great consternation of the English functionaries he began by desiring the prisoners to be allowed seats. Taking some refreshment after the trial had lasted some hours, and observing the eyes of the prisoners following the morsels, he ordered them beef and bread; and still later in the day, noticing their flushed and anxious faces, he permitted them to retire two and two into the open air. This kindness quite overcame them, and, in passing me, one of them remarked, (and I concur heartily in the feeling which dictated the observation), 'My God, if they had been a' like that chap, we would not have been here the day.' (Chronicle, 1st April, 1831.) 5 Sir Archibald Campbell, Bart. of Succoth, was for many years a Lord of Session and Justiciary. Having served the usual number of years, he retired upon twothirds of his salary. He is the eldest son of Lord President Campbell. It was in consequence of his being Judge in the famous case of Hay, during the dependence of which his Lordship left Scotland for the clime of Italy, that those memorable proceedings took place against Hay, which at the time created a great sensation, but are now almost forgotten. Hay intemperately complained of the delay, and he was proceeded against for contempt of Court. XLIV. HURRAH FOR THE BILL AND THE FRANCHISE SO LOW! This Song is believed to be written by a member of the Faculty of Advocates, who has been very successful in his political squibs. There is prefixed this notification:"The following Song was dropped from the pocket of a member of the Political Union of Edinburgh, and found by a Gentleman, who sang it at a Dinner of the young Conservatives of that place, held on the Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, 1832." The dinner referred to, was a sort of gathering of the Conservative party, consisting chiefly of Advocates and Agents, the great majority of whom were much opposed to the lauded panacea for all evils, the Reform Bill: they were in a woful minority; for the citizens of Edinburgh, or rather the ten pounders, were intoxicated with Reform, which was as much puffed as Warren's jet blacking, or Dr. Goss's " Ægis of life"; and the old clothes-men of St. Mary's Wynd in the city sang hymns of praise for becoming politically as great as the aristocrats of Moray Place. Every thing was to be changed according to the newest and most approved fashion, so much so, that the following Lines, by an Anti-Reformer, were not very far wrong: : We thankful feel that the sun and moon That no presuming hand can reach To pluck them from the sky; Would soon propose to snuff them out, And light the world with gas. (Nov. 25, 1832.) AIR-The Black Jock. Ye beggars and blackguards of every degree, In praise of the Bill and the Franchise so low; Oh! when shall time hasten that glorious day! No Aristocrat then shall dare utter a word! All under the Bill and the Franchise so low; Stockbridge and Jamaica Street now will outface, What swarms from the Bow and Grassmarket unkennel, No Tax then on Whisky, no Taxes on Ale! All under the Bill and the Franchise so low; Note to Number XLIV. 1 Alluding to the threat of throwing the Lord Provost Allan over the North Bridge, for supporting the Tory Candidate for the representation of the City. XLV. BILL OF SUSPENSION JOHNNIE GOW, MERCHANT IN MONTROSE, AGAINST JOHNNIE BELL, MERCHANT IN DUNDEE. Party Agent. Written by Mr. James Henderson, formerly Clerk's My Lords, unto your Lordships now, Most humbly means and shews That I am charged by Johnnie Bell, To pay the contents of a bill, For twenty-one pound, three. |