66 HIS TORT of the SOCIETY. 



WdTrefident hearer the imprefTion of his own belief in the doctrines he 

 M,ller - maintained. Men there might perhaps be in the profeflion, 



more eminent for invention of topics in a defperate caufe, or 

 who fliowed more verfatility of genius in placing the fame bu- 

 finefs in different lights, or turning it into all variety of fliapes ; 

 but there was none who better underftood the flrength of a good 

 or a tenable caufe, or took his ground in one of that defcrip- 

 tion with more judgment and difcretion^or ufed its advantages 

 to better purpofe. Having found the foundeft or moft favour- 

 able part of his client's plea, that he attached himfelf to, and 

 on it exerted all his flrength ; throwing afide, with juft and 

 proper confidence, all the more doubtful points and weaker 

 considerations in the caufe. Captious and quibbling argu- 

 ment indeed, and all perverfion of an adverfary's words or 

 meaning, he held to be as foreign to the lawyer's duty, as they 

 are derogatory to the honour of the Court where they are 

 heard ; nor could he, on any occafion, be prevailed on to 

 attempt the aiding of his caufe, in a manner fo inconfiftent 

 with his own feelings of what was right and proper. 



No wonder then, that thus qualified, and regulated by fen- 

 timents fo refpediable, he quickly rofe to a high degree of em- 

 ployment in his profeflion, though he had among his cotempo- 

 raries, for rivals in the public favour, men of the greateft 

 acutenefs and fplendour of parts. 



Hence alfo he, at an early period of life, entered the career 

 of public offices and honour in the department of the law. 



In the year 1748, on the new arrangement of the office of 

 Sheriff, (which has been attended with fo many falutary confe- 

 quences) he was pitched upon as a fit perfon for one of thofe 

 appointments. The county which Government had deftined 

 for him, was that of Invernefs, in thofe times of recent diforder 

 and rebellion, accounted the mofl important of any, and what 

 required the fteadieft and moft able fuperintendence. But this 

 appointment, though more advantageous, he declined ; becaufe 



his 



