CCCLXXXV.-The Lord Advocate to the

Laird of Culloden

CCCLXXXVI.-M Hamilton to the Lord

CCCLXXXVII.-The Lord Advocate's Let-

ter to Mr Talbot

335

CCCXCVIII-Sir John Cope to the Lord

- ibid.

ERRATA.

Nos. CLVI. and CLVII. for Sir Tho3 (read Sir John) Pringle; and for the Signatures T.P. read J. P.

DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE ENGRAVINGS.

(1.) A PORTRAIT of the Right Honourable DUNCAN FORBES. To face the engraved Title Page. (2.) Engraved TITLE PAGE; with Vignette, representing the MONUMENT of the LORD President in the Court of Session, executed by Roubiliac.

(4.) A Plate of FAC SIMILIES, to face Page 1.

(3.) A PORTRAIT of PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD STUART (Son of the Pretender), from an original Drawing by Ozias Humphry, R. A. taken at Florence in 1776; derived from the Kindness of Mr. Upcot, of the London Institution. To face Page 226.

greatest assiduity to his studies under the professors of that university. Of the intenseness and success of his application in general, some judgement may be formed from the great extent of his acquirements in languages as well as law (which in the former comprehended the Hebrew and several other Eastern languages), and from his rapid rise into reputation and business upon his commencing practice. His conduct was, indeed, quite the contrary of that of almost all the English youths who resorted to the different cities of Europe, which were usually disturbed by the riot and debauchery of those striplings, who repaid the forbearance and politeness of the inhabitants with contempt and arrogance; and returned to their native country as ignorant as when they left it, but much more depraved; generally carrying nothing home but the absurdities and vices which they met with. As he states in one of his letters," he bought his books, upon coming to Leyden, that he might make "use of them;" whereas with the generality of students the custom was, to make the payment of such articles a pretext for drawing money to defray other debts upon leaving the place.

In 1707 Mr. Forbes returned to Scotland, and to the study of the Scotch law, and was admitted Advocate on the 26th July 1709, when in his 24th year: a period somewhat late, if we consider how early his studies began, and with what success they were prosecuted.

The warm friendship of the family of Argyll, which had probably been instrumental in inclining Mr. Forbes to the profession of the law, did not long leave him unprovided and he obtained the place of Sheriff of Mid-Lothian very soon after his appearance at the bar. The Earl of Ilay (brother of John Duke of Argyll), who was afterwards known as Archibald Duke of Argyll, took a very active interest in his success in life, and entrusted his most weighty affairs to his management and judgement at this early period: a compliment which must have been very advantageous and honourable to so young a man, from a nobleman of so high a character for discernment; since, as has been said of amusement, it may be said of business, that no man is a hypocrite to the loss of his own interest. The Duke of Argyll afterwards committed the direction of his

in Edinburgh at the age of 19, and was engaged in the same pursuit at Leyden from the age of 20 to 22, and afterwards in Edinburgh again till 1709, when admitted Advocate, he must be supposed to have had little time for the pursuits of commerce, It is indeed true, that he might have adventured his patrimony in a commercial speculation, and lost it (as said in the Memoir), without being what can be termed engaged in commerce as a man of business before studying the law, as the memoir intimates that he was.

The Memoir accuses both Duncan Forbes and his brother of being bousers in their youth: that the elder brother was, may be true; but the younger had neither time nor inclination to merit such a title. b

estates