42 HISfORT of the S0CIE7T. 



fordTif.dent m s earlier years, improved his mind by an acquaintance with 

 Dundas. general literature ; and he gained by practice, aided by uncom- 



mon acutenefs of talents, a profound knowledge of the law. 



He had been but eight years at the bar, when his reputation 

 pointed him out as the fitted perfon to hold the office of Soli- 

 citor-general, to which he was appointed by King George I. in 

 17 1 7. The flate of the country, recently the fcene of rebel- 

 lion, and flili fecretly fermenting with the rancour of party- 

 contentions, was fuch, as to require, on the part of the law-offi- 

 cers of the Crown, the utmoft extent of political prudence ; a 

 zeal firm and fervent in its aim, but cautious in its exertions, 

 and a humane moderation in the exercife of authority, which 

 has ever been found more efficacious than feverity, in extin- 

 guifhing difaffeclion to government. 



The office of Solicitor- general was preparatory to that of 

 Lord Advocate for Scotland, to which Mr Dundas was ap- 

 pointed in 1720. In 1722, he was elecled Member of Parlia- 

 ment for the county of Edinburgh ; and, in that fituation, he 

 diftinguifhed himfelf by a moft vigilant attention to all public 

 meafures, in which the intereft of his country was concerned, 

 and by a fteady and patriotic regard for its interefts. 



On the change of Miniftry, which took place in 1725, when 

 Sir Robert Walpole and the Argyle party came into power, 

 Mr Dundas was removed from his office of King's Advocate, 

 and refumed his ftation without the bar, diftinguimed only by 

 the honourable title of Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, till 

 he was raifed to the Bench in 1737. For nine years, he filled 

 the feat of an ordinary Judge of the Court of Sefiion, till the 

 year 1748, when, on the death of Mr Duncan Forbes of 

 Culloden, he was appointed to fucceed him in the honourable 

 and important office of Prefident of the Court. 



While a barrifter, he Ihone equally as a powerful pleader 

 and an ingenious reafoner. To the quickeft apprehenfion, he 

 joined an uncommon folidity of judgment ; and embracing in 



his 



