72 HIS TORT of the SOCIETK 



UrdTrefident '^itli hls owii cvcs many of the pidurefque fcenes which had fo 

 jvMicr. often delighted \\\m. in the defcriptions of their poets. He re- 



turned in perfeefl health, after being abfent for about a year, 

 and refiimed his former occupations with his wonted vigour 

 and adivity. 



In the month of January 1788, on the death of Prefident 

 DuNDAS, he was, to the entire fatisfadion of his country and 

 the Bar, called to prefide in the Civil Court. His Majefty, at 

 the fame time, thought proper to requite his long fervices, by 

 beftowing on him the title of a Baronet of Great Britain. 



It was a very difficult talk for any man, the youngeft and 

 mofl: vigorous, to enter on the extenfive labours of this office, 

 after the Lord Prefident Dundas ; whofe Angular powers for 

 the rapid difpatch of bufinefs will always be remembered with 

 regret, whoever the perfon be that fills his chair. Yet of his 

 fucceflbr, during the fhort time he held it, we may with truth 

 fay, that he gained an acceffion of reputation, by his manner 

 of conducfting himfelf in this new (lation, though advanced to 

 the age of Seventy before he attained it. And if he fometimes 

 confulted with his brethren upon matters which he might have 

 fettled without fuch deliberation, this was almoft unavoidable 

 upon the firft entry into office; at leaft in a perfon like Sir Tho- 

 mas Miller, who, with the beft pretenfions to lead and di- 

 refl. was free from all defire to exert his influence. This mild- 

 nefs of difpofition fecured to him, in an uncommon degree, 

 the refpecfl and affedlion of the Gentlemen at the Bar ; whom 

 he always heard with fuch patience, and treated with fuch at- 

 tention and good breeding, as Ihould, more efFedtually than 

 the fliarpeft animadverfion, reprefs all petulance and indecorum. 

 Having thus then gained the fummit of his honeft ambi- 

 tion, in rifing fucceffively, by his own talents and ufeful la- 

 bours, to all the great offices of the law ; — having obtained 

 them all without blame or envy, and held them with credit and 

 diftindion ; — happy in retaining, at an advanced age, the full 



pofleffion 



