f}g2, ^jnemoirs of lord Milton. 3 



admitted an advocate on the 26th of February 1 71 7, 

 one of the lords of Sefsion on the 4th of June 1734, 

 and lord justice clerk on the 21st of July 1735, 

 xvhich office, on being appointed keeper of the signet 

 in the year 1 748, he relinquifhed. 



The acutenefs of lord Miltbn^s understanding, his 

 judgement and addrefs, and his minute knowledge of 

 tlie laws, customs, and temper of Scotland, recom- 

 ■mended him early to the notice, favour, and confi- 

 dence of Archibald duke of Argyll ; and he con- 

 ducted himself during the unhappy rebellion 1745, 

 in the important office of lord justice clerk, with so 

 much discretion, that even the unfortunate party ac- 

 knowledged, that by the mild and judicious exercise 

 of his authority, the impetuosity of wanton punifli- 

 ment was restrained, and lenient measures adopted 

 •for the concealment, or recal, of such of the rebels 

 as had been rather inveigled and betrayed into acts of 

 hostility, than impelled by any deep laid designs to 

 overturn the estabiiflied government. He overlooked 

 or despised many of the informations which came to 

 his offi.ce through the channels of officious malevo- 

 lence ; and after his death many sealed letters con- 

 taining such informations, were found unopened ia 

 his repositories. 



In the abolition of heritable -jurisdictions in Scot- 

 land, lord Milton engaged with fervent zeal for the 

 welfare of the country 3 and he no sooner observed 

 the beginning of public tranquillity, than he imprefs- 

 ed the mind of his illustrious patron, Archibald duke 

 of Argyll, with brilliant designs for the promotion 

 of trade, naanufactures, improved agriculture, and 



