Rae.-David, afterwards Lord Eskgrove, and Lord Justice-Clerk. He was subsequently made a Baronet. He was the son of a nonjuring clergyman, and father of the Right Honourable Sir William Rae, Bart. M.P. for the county of Bute, and many years Lord Advocate of Scotland. 5 Auchinleck.-Boswell's father, a Judge of the Court of Session. "M'Queen.-Better known afterwards as Lord Braxfield. 7 Lockhart.-Alexander Lockhart, Lord Covington, a very distinguished lawyer. 8 Alemoor.-Andrew Pringle called to the bench in 1759, died 1776. 9 Kames.-Lord Kames's use of the epithet mentioned in the text was notorious; whether in his own house, in the house of a friend, or on the bench, it was always slipping out. Once when on the circuit, his Lordship had been dozing on the bench, a noise created by the entrance of a new pannel, woke him, and he enquired what the matter was, Oh! its a woman, my Lord, accused of child murder," and a weel farred b-h too," muttered his Lordship, loud enough to be heard by those present. Kames had a great taste for convictions, and it was alleged, used every effort to procure them. Once he had the satisfaction of convicting and sentencing two unfortunate wretches to be hanged. At the Circuit dinner he was in capital spirits, boasting, "he had killed two birds that day." His Lordship was sometimes addicted to what is in modern parlance termed quizzing; and being in Perth upon the Circuit, he was one day walking across the bridge, where a toll-bar had just been put up, and met Hamilton the Professor of Mathematics at Aberdeen, (uncle of the well-known Bishop Horsley), who was a very stupid looking man; his Lordship not knowing him, thought this a capital chance for a banter. He stopped him and asked, "pray my good man, what would be the toll for a carriage and six? The Professor told him. Next he enquired what the toll for a carriage and four? Next what was the toll for a horse? All which queries were politely and separately answered. "Now Sir, pray what may be the toll for an ass?" "If your Lordship will take the trouble of passing thro' the toll, the keeper will inform you." Saying so, the Professor made a low bow and walked away, leaving the learned Lord far from comfortable. As, however, Kames relished a good thing, he took occasion after dinner to tell the story, praising the wit of the supposed idiot, when some one asked for a description of this clever fool, and having got it, he astonished the judge by telling him that this imagined natural was one of the cleverest men in Scotland, and the then Professor of Mathematics in the University of Aberdeen. His Lordship immediately expressed a wish to be introduced, and subsequently he and the Professor became very intimate. 10 Hailes. Sir David Dalrymple, Bart. one of the most upright and accomplished Judges that ever sat on the Scotish Bench. The annals of Scotland for the first time placed the early history of his native country on something like a solid foundation. He was remarkably critical and very severe on any omission or verbal inaccuracies in the papers before him. 11 Coalston.-George Brown of Coalston, in the county of Haddington, appointed a Judge, 1756, died 1776. The Earl of Dalhousie, by the recent demise of his mother, is now in possession of the estate of Coalston, which she inherited from her father, the eldest son and heir of the Judge. 12 Strichen. Alexander Fraser of Strichen, raised to the Bench 5th June 1730, and appointed a Lord of Justiciary 1736. His Lordship married Ann, Countess of Bute in 1731, and by his Lady had one son, Alex ander, whose grandson, Thomas Alexander, ultimately succeeded by a destination in the entail, to the Lovat estates, and was, in 1837, created a British Peer by the title of Lord Lovat. Lord Strichen died 15th February 1775. 13 Barjarg.―James Erskine, who subsequently changed his title, as a Lord of Session, to Alva, he was very diminutive in stature. He died in 1796. 14 Elliock. James Veitch, made a Judge of the Court of Session in 1761. He died in 1793. He owed his elevation to the Bench more to his political influence than to his legal talents. 15 Gardenstone.-Francis Garden became a Judge in 1764. He died in 1793. He was a clever but eccentric person, not overburdened with judicial wisdom. 16 Dundas.-Robert Dundas, Esq. Lord President. 17 Dundas.-Henry, first Viscount Melville. 18 Mess John. John Erskine of Carnock, author of the Institute of the Law of Scotland. 19 Justice-Clerk.-Sir Thomas Miller of Glenlee, Bart. He was, upon the death of President Dundas, raised to the Presidency, (1788.) His Lordship held this high appointment but a short time, as he died in September 1789. He was the father of Lord Glenlee. 20 Stonefield.-John Campbell, who became a Judge of the Court of Session, and took that title. 21 Monboddo.-James Burnet, Esq. appointed 1767,died 1799. 22 Pitfour.-James Ferguson of Pitfour raised to the Bench 1764,-died 1777. His eyesight was weak, in consequence of which he always wore his hat on the Bench. 23 Kennet. Robert Bruce of Kennet, appointed a Judge 1764,-died 1785. 24 Tait. Alexander Tait, Clerk of Session. VIII. THE FACULTY GARLAND. From a printed broadside dated 1785, said to have been composed on occasion of the application of Mr. John Pattison, to be admitted a Member of the Faculty of Advocates.1 TUNE-The old woman of Grimstone. Ye orators all, Attend to my call, Lest ye suffer a Jewish dispersion; To keep themselves pure,) To wander about, In a dirty black clout, Tho' none are the fools to employ them; They reckon of late Privileges so great, That they do not wish more to enjoy them. The Advocates met, The point to debate, Upon this, so important occasion; Knaves, Writers, and fools, To bar by such rules, As will not admit of evasion. The first, I've heard say, Who spoke, was C[harle]s Hay,2 And this was the lawyer's beginning; Writers' prentices here Should never appear, H[enrly E[rskin]e,3 I'm told, If twenty and five they were past; Should a midshipman roam, And not be a lawyer at last. Says Bob, since 'tis true, It is plain twenty-five Is old age and decay of the mind. Quoth sweet William Charles, We can't admit carles Who keep company blackguard and low; Had the Justice e'er been With a gentleman seen, It had been a most singular show. Says J[ami]e Colquhou]n, We'll degenerate soon, If we do not watch over the forum; Will soon be sherives, And buy up the causes before 'em. Says old M'[Intosh,8 If we bring in such trash, Without either kin, or connections: |