3. Lord Auchinleck: Alexander Boswell, Esq.; the father of Dr. Johnson's friend, Boswell, and himself an acquaintance, though rather an argumentative one, of the learned Dr. His great

grandson is the present Sir James Boswell, Bart., of Auchinleck.

4. Lord Coalston: George Brown, Esq. His great-grandson and representative in the female line is the present Marquess of Dalhousie.

5. Lord Pitfour. James Fergusson, Esq., of Pitfour, brother-in-law of Lord Elibank, and father of the late James Fergusson, Esq., of Pitfour, M.P. for Aberdeenshire.

6. Lord Gardenston: Francis Gardine, Esq.

7. Lord Monboddo: James Burnett, Esq.; a remarkable man, and a talented, though very eccentric, philosopher.

The judges being thus equally divided, the casting vote against Mr. Douglas was given by

The Lord President: Robert Dundas, Esq., of Arniston, descended from a family in which great legal talent was hereditary. Two of his more remote ancestors had been Lords of Session with the title of Arniston; his father was Lord President; and his son was Lord Chief Baron of Scotland. His younger brother was that distinguished statesman Henry, first Viscount Melville, the friend and supporter of Pitt. His great-grandson is the present Mr. Dundas, of Arniston.

H 2

Thus, the decision of the Court of Session, in July, 1767, was adverse to the claims of Mr. Douglas by a majority of one (the casting vote of the Lord President) against him. There never was a case that caused so much public sympathy. Party feeling about it in Scotland ran so high that feuds were occasioned among the gentry, and rioting among the people. Mr. Douglas was the popular candidate, and during the progress of the legal proceedings, the general excitement rose to the highest pitch. The learned and distinguished of the time became partizans; and, throughout Europe, the question was discussed with interest.

The Duchess of Douglas was the generous and unwearied supporter of Mr. Douglas's cause, which must have fallen to the ground, if she had not supplied him with an unlimited command of money. Her grace survived the final triumph of her protegé and nephew several years, and died at Bothwell Castle, in October, 1774. She invested a sum of money in the purchase of the estate of Rose Hall, in Lanarkshire, which she bequeathed to the family of one of her younger brothers with the designation of Douglas-Support, in order to commemorate her principal share in vindicating the rights of the heir of line of the family.

On the failure of Mr. Douglas's case before the Scottish Supreme Court, there was an immediate

appeal to the House of Lords; and two years after the Lord Chancellor reversed the decision of the Court of Session, and pronounced a judgment in favour of Mr. Douglas, which secured to him the vast estates of the family, and the distinguished honour of being its lineal heir.

The decision of the Lord Chancellor was received, in Scotland, with transports of joy. The advocate, who came post from London with the news, had the horses taken from his carriage, and was borne in triumph to his lodgings. The late Mr. Rutherford, of Edzarston, many years M.P. for Roxburghshire, rode out as far as Dalkeith to meet the gentleman who brought the tidings from London; and having ascertained that the decision was in Mr. Douglas's favour, he hastened back to Edinburgh; and, entering the theatre, he stood up in the midst of the pit, so as to be seen by the whole audience, and waving his hat in the air, shouted "Douglas for ever." The cry was responded to with enthusiasm by the whole house. In the meantime so calm and philosophic was Mr. Douglas on this momentous occasion, that, on that evening, he had gone early to rest, in the apartments which he occupied at Holyrood; and when his friends went to him, in order to announce the glad tidings, they found him in a tranquil sleep.

Mr. Douglas was a most simple, unassuming

man, of quiet and retired habits; and he lived and died universally respected. It is said that soon after he was thus put in undisturbed possession of his magnificent estates, he went to make a Continental tour, and took with him, as his companion or travelling tutor, Mr. Sylvester Douglas, afterwards Lord Glenbervie. In the brilliant societies into which they were introduced, the rich, the fortunate heir of Douglas was naturally the object of much attention and curiosity; but he was never dazzled by his prosperity; and he maintained, throughout a long life, the most consistent and respectable simplicity. He married first, in 1771, the Lady Lucy Graham, only daughter of William, second Duke of Montrose; and secondly, in 1783, the Lady Frances Scott, sister of Henry, third Duke of Buccleugh. In July, 1790, he was raised to the peerage as Lord Douglas, of Douglas Castle. He died in 1827, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Archibald, second Lord, who dying unmarried, in 1844, was succeeded by his brother, Charles, third Lord, who dying unmarried, in 1848, was succeeded by his brother James, the present and fourth Lord Douglas. This nobleman is in holy orders; he married in 1813, Wilhelmina, daughter of the eminent General, the Honourable James Murray, fifth son of Alexander, fourth Lord Elibank.

A COUPLE OF POETICAL COÏNERS.

ACCORDING to the cruel criminal code formerly in force in this country, the offence of counterfeiting, or even clipping the coin of the realm, amounted to high treason, and was punishable with death and other penalties attached to the guilt of traitors. The following is an ordinary case of diminishing the coin; and singular only from the previous career, and from the conduct under sentence, of the two malefactors. These, Usher Geoghegan, and Florence Conner, were tried at the Old Bailey, in January, 1749, for clipping and filing the current coin of the realm; they were convicted and left for execution. Geoghegan, while in gaol awaiting his doom, wrote the following account of himself and his comrade in misery :—

"As it is customary for people under my unhappy circumstances, for the public satisfaction, to give some account of their birth, parentage, and life; in conformity to so common, and perhaps,