with the court and clients, and he rapidly rose into the leading practice at the bar.

The Erskines espoused whig politics in very early life, and on the accession of the Rockingham administration, Henry Erskine was appointed lord-advocate of Scotland,—a dignity which of course proved as ephemeral as the ministry which conferred it. On the return of Fox to power in 1806, Henry Erskine once more became lord-advocate, while his brother, Thomas, was nominated lord-chancellor. He enjoyed his honours a little longer this time, but was again stripped of them when Pitt resumed the ascendant.

In 1812 Mr Erskine withdrew from the bar, finding his health giving way. He died on the 8th of October, 1817. "The character of Mr Erskine's eloquence," says one who knew him long and intimately, "bore a strong resemblance to that of his noble brother, Lord Erskine, but being much less diffusive, it was better calculated to leave a forcible impression: he had the art of concentrating his ideas, and presenting them at once in so luminous and irresistible a form, as to render his hearers masters of the view he took of his subject; which, however dry or complex in its nature, never failed to become entertaining and instructive in his hands; for, to professional knowledge of the highest order, he united a most extensive acquaintance with history, literature, and science, and a thorough conversancy with human life and moral and political philosophy. The writer of this article has witnessed, with pleasure and astonishment, the widely different emotions excited by the amazing powers of his oratory; fervid and affecting in the extremest degree when the occasion called for it; and no less powerful, in opposite circumstances, by the potency of wit and the brilliancy of comic humour, which constantly excited shouts of laughter throughout the precincts of the court,—the mirthful glee even extending itself to the ermined sages, who found too much amusement in the scene to check the fascinating actor of it. He assisted the great powers of his understanding by an indefatigable industry, not commonly annexed to extraordinary genius; and he kept his mind open for the admission of knowledge, by the most unaffected modesty of deportment. The harmony of his periods, and the accuracy of his expressions, in his most unpremeditated speeches, were not among the least of his oratorical accomplishments.

"In the most rapid of his flights, when his tongue could scarce keep pace with his thoughts, he never failed to seize the choicest words in the treasury of our language. The apt, beautiful, and varied images which constantly decorated his judicial addresses, suggested themselves instantaneously, and appeared, like the soldiers of Cadmus, in complete armour and array to support the cause of their creator, the most remarkable feature of whose eloquence was, that it never made him swerve by one hair-breadth from the minuter details most befitting his purpose; for, with matchless skill, he rendered the most dazzling oratory subservient to the uses of consummate special pleading, so that his prudence and sagacity as an advocate were as decisive as his speeches were splendid.

"Mr Erskine's attainments, as we have before observed, were not confined to a mere acquaintance with his professional duties; he was an elegant classical scholar, and an able mathematician; and he also pos

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sessed many minor accomplishments in great perfection. ledge of music was correct, and his execution on the violoncello most pleasing. In all the various relations of private live, Mr Erskine's character was truly estimable, and the just appreciation of his virtues extended far beyond the circle of his own family and friends; and it is a well-authenticated fact, that a writer, or as we should say, attorney, in a distant part of Scotland, representing to an oppressed and needy tacksman, who had applied to him for advice, the futility of entering into a lawsuit with a wealthy neighbour, having himself no means of defending his cause, received for answer, Ye dinna ken what ye say, Maister, there's nae a puir man in Scotland need to want a friend or fear an enemy while Harry Erskine lives!' How much honour does that simple sentence convey to the generous and benevolent object of it! He had, indeed, a claim to the affection and respect of all who were within the knowledge of his extraordinary talents, and more uncommon virtues.

"With a mind that was superior to fear, and incapable of corruption, regulated by undeviating principles of integrity and uniformity,-elevated in adversity as in prosperity, neither subdued by pleasure into effeminacy, nor sunk into dejection by distress. In no situation of his life was he ashamed or afraid of discharging his duty, but constant to the God whom he worshipped, he evinced his confidence in the faith he professed by his actions; to his friends he was faithful, to his enemies generous, ever ready to sacrifice his little private interests and pleasures to what he conceived to be the public welfare, or to the domestic felicity of those around him. In the words of an eloquent writer he was a man to choose for a superior, to trust as a friend, and to love as a brother: the ardency of his efforts to promote the happiness of his fellow-creatures, was a prominent feature in his character; his very faults had their origin in the excessive confidence of too liberal a spirit, the uncircumscribed beneficence of too warm a heart. It has been remarked of a distinguished actor, that he was less to be envied whilst receiving the meed of universal applause, than at the head of his own table: the observation may justly be applied to Mr Erskine. In no sphere was the lustre of his talents more conspicuous, while the unaf fected grace and suavity of his manners, the benevolent smile that illumined his intelligent countenance in the exercise of the hospitalities of the social board, rendered indeed a meeting at his house a feast of reason, and a flow of soul.' In person Mr Erskine was above the middle size, well-proportioned, but slender; his features were all character and most strikingly expressive of the rare qualities of his mind. In early life his carriage was remarkably graceful,-dignified and impressive as occasion required it; in manner he was gentle, playful, and unassuming; and so persuasive was his address, that he never failed to attract attention, and by the spell of irresistible fascination to fix and enchain it. His voice was powerful and melodious, his enunciation uncommonly accurate and distinct, and there was a peculiar grace in his utterance which enhanced the value of all he said, and engraved the remembrance of it indelibly on the minds of his hearers. For many years of his life, Mr Erskine had been the victim of ill health, but the native sweetness of his temper remained unclouded, and during the painfully protracted sufferings of his last illness, the language of com

plaint was never heard to escape his lips, nor the shadow of discontent seen to cloud his countenance! Nothing in his life became him, like the leaving it.' He looked patiently forward to the termination of his painful existence, and received with mild complacency the intelligence of his danger, while the ease and happiness of those, whose felicity through life had been his primary consideration, were never absent from his thoughts. It is said that Swift, after having written that celebrated satire on mankind, Gulliver's Travels, exclaimed whilst meditating on the rare virtues of his friend Arbuthnot:-Oh! were there ten Arbuthnots in the world, I would burn my book.' It is difficult to contemplate such a character as Mr Erskine's without a similar sentiment, without feeling, that were there many Erskines, one should learn to think better of mankind. The general voice placed him, while living, high among the illustrious characters of the present age; may the humble memorial the author is giving to the public, preserve his name unblemished by misrepresentation, till some more equal pen shall hand it down to posterity, as a bright example of what great usefulness extraordinary talents may prove to society, when under the direction of sound judgment, incorruptible integrity, and enlarged philanthropy

Francis Horner.

BORN A. D. 1778.-DIED A. D. 1817.

THIS upright and intelligent statesman was the son of a respectable merchant in Edinburgh. He received his education at the high school and university of that city, and chose the profession of the law, in which he gave early promise of future eminence.

When Lord Henry Petty, the second son of the first marquess of Lansdowne, was appointed chancellor of the exchequer, he procured the return of Mr Horner for the borough of St Ives, in 1806, wishing to strengthen his party by the presence and talents of one whom he had long known, and of whose ability he had formed a very high opinion.

From this period Mr Horner resided in London, and, though he qualified himself for, and was called to the English bar, appears to have devoted his whole attention to politics. The dismissal of the FoxoGrenville administration deprived him of his seat for St Ives, but he was immediately returned for Wendover by the courtesy of Lord Mahon, who vacated his seat to make room for him.

On the 1st of February, 1810, Mr Horner, pursuant to a notice he had given, moved in his place for an inquiry into the state of the coin and exchanges. This was the commencement of a brilliant career in this department of finance, to which Mr Horner had long given peculiar attention. He acted for some time as chairman of the Bullion committee, and drew up the first part of their report. The committee recommended the repeal of the law suspending the cash-payments of the bank; leaving the details of the measures necessary for returning to cash-payments to the bank itself.

On the 16th of May, 1811, Mr Horner, in a long and eloquent

The second was prepared by Mr Huskisson, and the third by Mr Henry Thornton.

speech of between three and four hours' duration, supported all these positions, and contended strongly for the justice of the results. On this occasion, he with great ability defended both himself and the other members of the committee, and concluded with moving sixteen distinct resolutions, the subject of which amounted to the following:-1. That the promissory notes of the bank of England are stipulations to pay, on demand, the sum in pounds sterling, respectively specified in each of these notes.-2. That when the parliament suspended the cash-payments of these notes, it was not its intention that any alteration whatever should take place in the value of these promissory notes.-3. It appears that the actual value of the promissory notes of the bank of England, (measuring such value by the standard weight of gold and silver aforesaid,) has been for a considerable period of time, and still is considerably less than what is established by the laws of the realm, to be the legal tender in payment of any money-contract or stipulation.— 4. That the fall which has taken place in the value of the promissory notes, &c., has been occasioned by the too great issue of paper currency.-5. That to the depreciation which has taken place in the relative value of the currency of this and foreign countries may be attributed the depression of the exchange.-6. That the only certain and adequate security to be provided against an excess of paper currency, and for maintaining the relative value of the circulating medium of the realm, is the legal convertibility, upon demand, of all paper currency, into lawful coin of the realm: and, 7. That in order to revert gradually to this security, and to enforce a due limitation of the paper of the bank of England, as well as the other bank-paper of the country, it is expedient to alter the time, during which the suspension of cash-payments shall continue, from six months after the ratification of a definitive treaty of peace, to that of two years from the present time.

Mr Horner's propositions were negatived at the instant, but afterwards acted upon in spirit and substance both by government and the bank.

For several years Mr Horner pursued his parliamentary avocations with great industry, and few public men, perhaps, ever commanded so much general esteem in the house; but his health-which had never been robust at last gave way before his unwearied application and fatiguing duties. He complied with the advice of his medical men to refresh and recreate himself by a tour in southern Europe, but expired soon after his arrival at Pisa, on the 8th of February, 1817.

On moving for a new writ for the borough of St Mawes, Lord Morpeth said, in reference to the late lamented member:-"I may perhaps be permitted, without penetrating too far into the more sequestered paths of private life, to allude to those mild virtues, those domestic charities, which embellished while they dignified his private character. I may be permitted to observe, that as a son and as a brother, he was eminently dutiful and affectionate; but I am aware that these qualities, however amiable, can hardly, with strict propriety, be addressed to the consideration of parliament. When, however, they are blended, interwoven, and incorporated in the character of a public man, they become a species of public property, and by their influence and example, essentially augment the general stock of public virtue. For his qualifications as a public man I can confidently appeal to a wider circle,-to

that learned profession of which he was a distinguished ornament,-to this house, where his exertions will be long remembered with mingled feelings of regret and admiration. It is not necessary for me to enter into the detail of his graver studies and occupations. I may be allowed to say generally, that he raised the edifice of his fair fame upon a good and solid foundation,-upon the firm basis of conscientious principle. He was ardent in the pursuit of truth, he was inflexible in his adherence to the great principles of justice and of right. Whenever he delivered in this house the ideas of his clear and intelligent mind, he employed that chaste, simple, but at the same time nervous and impressive style of oratory, which seemed admirably adapted to the elucidation and discussion of important business; it seemed to combine the force and precision of legal argument with the acquirements and knowledge of a statesman. Of his political opinions it is not necessary for me to enter into any detailed statement; they are sufficiently known, and do not require from me any comment or illustration. I am confident that his political opponents will admit, that he never courted popularity by any unbecoming or unworthy means: they will have the candour to allow, that the expression of his political opinions, however firm, manly, and decided, was untinctured with moroseness, and unembittered with any personal animosity or rancorous reflection. From these feelings he was effectually exempted by the operation of those qualities which formed the graces and the charms of his private life. But successful as his exertions were, both in this house and in the courts of law, considering the contracted span of his life, they can only be looked upon as the harbingers of his maturer fame, as the presages and the anticipations of a more exalted reputation. But his career was prematurely closed. That his loss to his family and his friends is irreparable, can be readily conceived; but I may add, that to this house and the country it is a loss of no ordinary magnitude; in these times it will be severely felt. In these times, however, when the structure of the constitution is undergoing close and rigorous investigation-on the part of some with a view of exposing its defects, on the part of others with that of displaying its beauties and perfections-we may derive some consolation from the reflection, that a man not possessed of the advantages of hereditary rank or of very ample fortune, was enabled, by the exertion of his own honourable industry, by the successful cultivation of his native talents, to vindicate to himself a station and eminence in society, which the proudest and wealthiest might envy and admire."

Mr Canning warmly seconded this eulogy:-"I, Sir," said he, "had not the happiness-a happiness now counterbalanced by a proportionate excess of sorrow and regret-to be acquainted personally, in private life, with the distinguished and amiable individual whose loss we have to deplore. I knew him only within the walls of the house of commons. And even here, from the circumstance of my absence during the last two sessions, I had not the good fortune to witness the later and more matured exhibition of his talents; which, as I am informed, and can well believe, at once kept the promise of his earlier years, and opened still wider expectations of future excellence. But I had seen enough of him to share in those expectations, and to be sensible of what this house and the country have lost by his being so prematurely taken from us. He had, indeed, qualifications eminently calculated to obtain