Obituary Notices. 
xxxvii 
Murray, carried on by himself and the other partners of the 
firm of Murray, Beith, & Murray, W.S. In connection with the 
inquiries he had to make for the different Government departments 
for which he acted, Mr Beith acquired a wide knowledge of all 
subjects affecting antiquarian legal matters in Scotland, and was 
especially versed in the law of Teinds, Salmon -fishings, and the 
different tenures of land in Scotland. He always took a keen 
interest in politics, although latterly his official connection with 
Government debarred him from active participation in political 
affairs. In the earlier years of his professional career he was a 
liberal of an advanced type, and did good work for his party when, 
as agent for Mr Charles Cowan, he was helpful in defeating 
Macaulay as the representative of the city of Edinburgh. At a 
later date he acted as agent for Sir Alexander Gibson Maitland, 
when the latter defeated Lord Dalkeith in a contest for the seat for 
the County of Midlothian. Though holding many progressive liberal 
views, Mr Beith had little sympathy with the Home Eule move- 
ment, and stood firm with the Liberal Unionists for the maintenance 
of the Union. A staunch Eree Churchman, he was an elder in 
Free St George’s Church, and no member or office-bearer in that 
communion was more thorough and devoted in the practice of his 
principles. 
His strength of character was great, and it was founded on a 
strong and simple belief in the truths of the Bible. He judged 
himself severely, but no man was more lenient in his judgment of 
others. Charitable to a degree, he was ever ready to lend a helping 
hand in the furtherance of philanthropic or religious schemes, more 
especially those connected with the Eree Church, but all his kind- 
ness and charity were of the most unostentatious nature. 
He had a great charm of manner and power of attracting others, 
and the affection which he bestowed on his friends bore a fruitful 
harvest in the numbers who really mourned his death. He 
delighted in hospitality, and in having his friends about him at 
home. His zeal for his clients was remarkable, and he was untiring 
in the work which he did for them. His whole interests were 
centred in his business and his clients, and he rarely took a holiday 
or spared himself in any way. On the last day (at the age of nearly 
79) on which he attended his office, he wrote letters with his own 
