74 HISf.ORr of the SO'CIETr. 



LmTprefiLt quently, or with more pleafure, than its growing ftate of im- 



Miiier. provement in his own time. 



He was, in like manner, a very focial and hofpitable man ; 

 to his family, and connections, and indeed to all about him, 

 full of gentlenefs, and kindnefs, and cordiality : and this uni- 

 formly and without exertion ; infomuch that- no perfon whom 

 he had reafon to efteem or think well of, could ever fay of him, 

 that he received him coldly, or treated him with referve *. 

 Good breeding indeed, (meaning by the term that kind and 

 open manner which fets a ftranger or inferior at eafe) was in 

 a manner natural to him ; and he had it to all ranks and con- 

 ditions of men ; fo that in a humane vifit to the houfe of a 

 fervant or dependant, he equally pleafed, and was as furely di- 

 rected to the very things that were fit and acceptable to be faid, 

 as in his intercourfe with thofe of his own rank. Among 

 whom too, and indeed in all fituations, he was diftinguifhed 

 for a rare fimplicity of manners and opennefs of fpeech ; which 

 flowed from a purity of thought and intentions, fo perfect that 

 it was not to be furpafled. 



He retained through life the higheft relifh of the beauties of 

 nature, and every year fpent a confiderable part of the recefs 

 of bufinefs, in the enjoyment and improvement of the roman- 

 tic 



* Here we mull obferve, that however remarkable this gentlenefs and difpofition to 

 oblige, they were yet always confined to their proper fphere, and in no inftance fuffered 

 to interfere with what he efleemed his duty. This appeared, among other examples 

 that might be given, in his fpirited behaviour as Lord Advocate, on occafion of a que- 

 ftion that arofe touching the pre-eminence of his office. The late Mr Charles Yorke 

 had been honoured with a patent of precedence over his brethren at the Bar, with ex- 

 ception only of the Attorney General ; and happening to be engaged as Counfel in the 

 Houfe of Lords, on the fame fide with Mr Miller, he, under this privilege, claimed 

 right to be heard before him. Mr Miller, though in habits of intimacy with Mr 

 Yorke, and perfonally very indifferent about any fuch diftinction, felt himfelf here in 

 duty called upon to refift his friend's pretenfions ; and accordingly maintained (nor 

 could be prevailed on to recede from it) that he, as his Majefty's Advocate, was Attor- 

 ney-General for Scotland, and within the exception of the patent. The point was in the 

 end referred to the opinion of Lord Mansfield, which was given in favour of Mr Miller. 



