LITERARY AND DOMESTIC LIFE. 387 



By the marriage of his second daughter, who, along with her hus- 

 band, found a home for eleven years in her father's house, a change 

 was wrought in the feelings of some of the chief men of the Whig 

 party towards him. It has already been shown to what an extent 

 the bitterness of party spirit had separated good men and true from 

 each other, not only in public matters but in private life. That 

 spirit was now dying out, and the alienation which had for some 

 years existed, more through force of habit than inclination, was 

 soon to cease, as far as my father was concerned. Mr. Gordon was 

 a Whig, and connected with Whig families ; he introduced to his 

 father-in-law's house new visitors and new elements of thought; old 

 prejudices disappeared, and " Christopher North" was frequently 

 seen in the midst of what once was to his own party the camp 

 of the enemy. Many a pleasant day they spent in each other's 

 houses ; and no observer, however dull, could fail to be struck even 

 by the aspect of the four men who thus again met together, Jeff- 

 rey, Cockburn, Rutherfurd, and Wilson. I think I may venture, 

 without partiality, to say that my father was the most remarkable 

 of the four. There was a certain similarity of bearing and manner 

 in the three great lawyers which was not shared by him : he was 

 evidently not one of the family. I shall never forget his manly 

 voice, pleasantly contrasting with Jeffrey's sharp silvery tones, as 

 they mingled sparkling wit with their more serious discourse, which 

 was enlivened by the quaint humor and Doric notes of Cockburn, 

 that type of the old Scottish gentleman, whose dignified yet homely 

 manner and solemn beauty gave his aspect a peculiar grace — Ruth- 

 erfurd also, to whose large mind, consummate ability, rich and ripe 

 endowments, I most willingly pay a most sincere and affectionate 

 tribute of true regard and respect.* It will not do for me to dwell 

 on these things, however pleasant to myself would be a digression 

 into this fairy -land of reminiscence.! 



* The mutual appreciation and familiar friendship of Wilson and Rutherfurd was as instant as 

 are question and answer to-day by telegraph ; and I cannot now recall, without emotion, the fond 

 and constant attachment which the great and busy lawyer felt and manifested to " Christopher 

 North." I have before me at this moment letter after letter, written during a course of years to 

 my husband from his uncle in London, in the din of the heaviest seasons of official duty, not one 

 of which ever concludes without some special message to or inquiry about the " Professor." 



t Nobody, however, will grudge me a few words in honor of that amiable and admirable man, 

 the late Lord Murray, who may be said to have lived iu the open air of universal and cheerful 

 hospitality. His heart and his hearth were alike open, with an equal warmth of welcome, to all, 

 old and young, big or little. None understood or relished better than he did the joyous benev- 

 olence of my father's disposition. I wish I could linger a little over the agreeable reunions in 



