56 EARLY LIFE. 



the cause in some material particular. This rule per- 

 haps applies to all the departments of eloquence; but 

 it is of paramount importance, nay, an absolute obli- 

 gation, and of necessity to be obeyed in the conduct- 

 ing of a cause before any tribunal, even before a 

 popular assembly. Both the Erskines had been edu- 

 cated at the High School, of which the younger all 

 his life cherished an affectionate remembrance. The 

 University he had not attended, having been at St 

 Andrews for a short time before he entered the navy. 

 The care of his education devolved upon his brother 

 (Lord Buchan), who was greatly his senior, and who 

 most liberally, out of his moderate income, supplied all 

 his wants. He died at his brother's seat near Edin- 

 burgh. Both these brothers inculcated their political 

 as well as professional opinions very strongly on me 

 at all times. They were stanch friends of liberty 

 and enemies of oppression, whether exercised over 

 bodies of men or individuals ; and I can bear testi- 

 mony to the warmth of feeling as well as the skill and 

 judgment which Lord Erskine showed at the end of 

 his life in the great case of the Queen. The remark 

 made on Loughborough that his Scotch returned to 

 him in his latter days (the phrase being that his English 

 had run out of him by the effects of age), does not 

 apply to Erskine. The taint of the High School of 

 Edinburgh could not be perceived at any time of his 

 life. 



