306 ANEC. OF TH£ LATE EARL OF ERROL. NoV. 9, 



tears of thofe who fuffer by the change, are the only 

 trophies raifed to his memory. The perfons who thus 

 fectetly bewail their lofs, foon follow in their turn ; 

 and though the effe£ls of his beneficence may con- 

 tinue to cherifh thofc who furvive •, yet, like the genial 

 influence of heaven, the hand from whence it pro- 

 ceeded, is too often unperceived, and thofe who a£lu- 

 ally reap the benefit of his tender forefight, in a fhort 

 while forget that ever fuch a perfon exiited. 



Such, in a great meafure, has been the fate of the 

 mah who is the fubjefl: of this memoir. 1 hofe a£ls of 

 beneficence which excited gratitude when they were 

 conferred, are now in a great meafure forgotten ; 

 many perfons who were benefitted by them, are dropt 

 into the grave, and the time feems to be faft approach- 

 ing when not a trait of that amiable charadler lliall be 

 temembered that once excited the admiration of all 

 who had an opportunity of obferving it, and called 

 forth the gratitude of thoufands who participated in 

 the blefTings it procured them. An attempt to refcue 

 it from oblivion ought to be received with indulgence. 



James, Earl of Errol, was not more confpicuous 

 for the dignity of his rank *, than for the comelinefs- 

 of his perlon, and the elegance of his manners. His 

 ftature greatly exceeded the common fize, and the 

 proportions of every member were fuch as would have 



* As to raiilc, in his I.ortlfliip's perfon ■H'ere united the hcnmirs of 

 l.ivingilon, Kihnarnock, and Errol. As hereditary high confrubie «f 

 .Scotland, I,ord Eno) is,' by birth, the firl\ lubjcit in Great Britait;, 

 afttr the Llood royal, and as fuch, has a right to take place of ewry 

 hereditary honour, 'lliel^^id Chancellor, and the Lord High Cor- 

 llabk of Ivngland do indeed taki. preccui-Dce of him, but thefc are ov.ly 

 temporary honours \v!-,:ch no man can lay claim to /lylrird, (otiiM/yLiri't, 

 J.ord Errol ranks, without a doubt, as the lirll luhjedl of Great Bri- 

 tain, next after the princes of the blcod royal. 



But fortune prevented him from enjoying all ihe advantages he ought 

 naturally to have derived from thcfe accumulations of honours, by wreli- 

 ing from him in his early youth a great portion of the paternal eftatcj 

 ;hat ought to have devolved upon him. His father. Lord Kilmsrntrk, 

 having been inadvtrtcnily drawn in to cfpcufv tiic caufc of the ;.!if'jr- 



