[520 J 
[Jan, 1, 
BIOGRAPHY OF. EMINENT PERSONS. 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH of the’ LATE 
THOMAS LORD ERSKINE. 
T has seldom occugred to'us to be 
calied upon ‘to perform a dufy in 
more accordance with our own Sympa- 
thies, than ii writing this last tribute to 
the labours, virtues, and patriotism, of 
Lord Erskine. Our deceased friend 
united, with his public talents, the feel- 
ings of a man, and the endowments of 
great genius. To the excess in which 
he possessed ‘each of these qualities, i is 
to be ascribed the affection in which he 
was so universally held. In statesmen 
of inferior or mechanical abilities, it is 
the object of their education, and their 
sedulous study, to sink the man in the 
office, and to approximate as far as pos- 
sible to the qualities of mere machines 
withont sympathies or affections. Sach 
are half the present cabinet, but such 
was not Lord Erskine. This amiable 
man admitted into full play the keenest 
sensibilities of human nature, and in- 
dalged in the luxury of their enjoyment, 
forming his public character on them, 
feeling as a citizen as he did as a: man; 
and, surrendering himself to his affections 
and antipathies, he trusted to their jus- 
tite for the result. His’ intercourse 
with the world, even in the demoralizing 
profession of “the law, neither corrupted 
nor warped his ‘moral sympathies; and 
the renown which followed his exertions, 
never raised in him any undue assump- 
tion of his own superiority, or created 
any unworthy feeling of pride. With 
elements of human character so happily 
blended, and with the reputation of his 
unequalled powers as an orator, and of 
his immoveable integrity as ‘a patriot, it 
is not to be wondered, that: he has for 
many ‘years been’ one of the most 
esteemed characters of his age.» 
The Hon. Thomas Erskine: was the 
third son of the former Earl of Buchan, 
and youngest brother to the present earl. 
The’ second,’ Henry, held an eminent 
rank at the Scotch bar, and died about 
seven years since. He entered very 
early in life into the navy, a service for 
which’he had imbibeda strong predi- 
lection. 
He never had the commission of 
lieutenant, but ‘acted for some time in 
that capacity, by the appointmentiof his 
captain. He quitted the navy owing to 
the slender chance of obtaining promo- 
tion; and, having served as a lieutenant 
in consequence of the friendship of his , 
commander, he was unwilling to return 
> 
to sea in the inferior capacity of mid- 
shipman, 
On quitting the naval service, he 
entered into the army as an ensign in the 
Royals, or first regiment of foot, in the 
year 1768, not from inclination, “but 
because his.father, with a small and 
strictly entailed estate; had not the 
means of ‘assisting bim, with eonveni- 
ence, to pursue one.of the learned pro- 
fessions. He went with his regiment to 
Minorca, in.which island he spent three 
years, and continued in the aang about 
six. 
He acquired considerable reputation 
for the acuteness and versatility “of his 
talents in conversation. Mr. Boswell 
mentions, in-his: Memoirs:of Dr. John- 
son, the delight which the doctor and 
himself felt from the ability of young 
Erskine, in discoursing on some tempo- 
rary topig. 
Mr. Erskine had no merit whatever in 
the extraordinary adventure of embark- 
ing in the study of, law, but it was lite- 
rally and most unwillingly forced upon 
him by the importunities of his mother, 
the Couutess of Buchan, after the death 
of his father; while the hopes: of suc- 
ceeding were fortified and kept alive, 
against his own’ prepossessions, by her 
counsel, and persuasions. She was a 
lady of most uncommon acquirements 
and singular penetration; and, thinking 
that she perceived the capacity of her 
son, in the confidence of parental affce- 
tion planned this scheme of his future 
destination, while he was absent in the 
army at Minorca. 
Mr. Erskine was about twenty-six 
when he commenced the course of his 
legal studies. He entered as a Fellow- 
Commoner of Trinity College, in Cam- 
bridge, in the year 1777; and, at the, 
same time, inserted his name as a stu- 
dent on the books of Lincoln’s’ Inn. 
One of his college declamations, on the 
revolation of 1688, is still extant and it 
displays extraordinary powers of Jan- 
guage.’ It gained the first:prize, which 
he refused to accept; not attending Cam- 
bridge as a stadent, and only declaiming 
in conformity to the rules of the college. 
An ode, written by Mr. Erskine about 
this time, in imitation of Gray’s Bard, is 
worthy of noticeas a sportive production 
of bis fancy.’ He gave the manuscript 
to the editor, and it was published in the 
Monthly Magazine. Mr. Erskine had 
been disappointed by his barber, who, 
neglecting his usual attendance, pre- 
vented 
