APPENDIX. 49 



to have taken in that meafure, it would be prefumption in any f c; ?" nt r / . 



*■ * * .Lord rreliaent; 



man to pronounce with confidence, while he mud admit, that Dundas. 

 opinions, equally weighty and refpe&able, are found on either 

 fide of the queflion. 



It is not to be denied, that arguments of a very illiberal na- 

 ture were urged in Parliament by a few Members, who, with 

 a mean and narrow fpirit, reproached this country with difaf- 

 fection to Government, and inculcated the danger of allowing 

 the ufe of arms to thofe who had recently employed them in re- 

 bellion. It was no wonder that afperfions of this nature called 

 forth the mod animated, noble and fpirited defence of their 

 country's honour from feveral of the Scottilh Members, who 

 perhaps contended the more keenly in behalf of that meafure, 

 that they faw it oppofed from fuch unworthy motives. But 

 the queflion, viewed without prejudice, remains Hill difputa- 

 ble ; and the arguments of the Lord Advocate againfl the efta- 

 bliihment of a militia in Scotland, were founded on the great 

 principles of national expediency, and a regard for what appeared 

 to him the real and fubflantial interefls of the country. 



On the 14th of June 1760, Mr Dundas was appointed Pre- 

 fident of the Court of Seflion. This was the aera of the fplen- 

 dour of his public character. Inverted with one of the mod 

 important trufts that can be committed to a fubject, the fuper- 

 intendence and regulation of the higheft judicature of his 

 country, he acquitted himfelf of that truft, during the twenty- 

 feven years in which he held it, with fuch confummate ability, 

 wifdom and rectitude, as muft found a reputation as durable 

 as the national annals, and tranfmit his memory with honour 

 to all future times. 



At his firft entry upon office, the public, though well aflured 

 of his abilities, was doubtful whether he poffefTed that power 

 of application and meafure of afliduitv, which is the firft duty 



(G) of 



