of Edinburgh, Session 1870 - 71 . 
243 
Whig in politics, when his friends obtained office, he received 
the appointment of Advocate-Depute. In the year 1851 he was 
made Sheriff of Argyle. In the year 1855 he was appointed 
Solicitor-General, which office he lost with the change of Govern- 
ment; but in 1859 it was restored to him. These professional 
appointments afforded an opportunity of showing his qualifica- 
tions as a good lawyer, and an accomplished pleader; and busi- 
ness at length flowed in, so as to afford a handsome income. He 
was thoroughly conscientious in the fulfilment of his professional 
engagements. When Solicitor-General, it was remarked that he 
never missed being present in the Justiciary Court, and he was 
always well prepared with the business of which he had charge. 
There were several cases of public interest in which he was 
counsel, — one of them the famous Yelverton case. He was senior 
counsel for Miss Longworth, and evinced the utmost anxiety to 
have her claims properly presented. Shortly before her case came 
on for discussion in the Inner House, he received from the Crown 
his commission to the bench. But he withheld it for a week, that 
he might have it in his power to plead once more on Miss Long- 
worth’s behalf; and it has been stated, that it took him three 
days’ hard work to prepare for the pleading. He declined to 
accept of any remuneration for his services in this case. His title 
of Barcaple was derived from a property of that name which he 
had purchased from his brother, David, a merchant in New York. 
It is situated in Kirkcudbrightshire, and I believe not far from 
the family estate of Dundrennan. 
It was in 1862 that Mr Maitland was raised to the bench, and 
it was in the same year that he became a Fellow of our Society. 
But he did not contribute any papers, or often attend our meet- 
ings. He was the first representative of the Edinburgh University 
Council in the University Court. He was also the first Rector of 
Aberdeen University, after the union of King’s and Marischal 
Colleges in 1860. Not being able to understand how Mr Maitland 
should have been thought of for this appointment, being in no 
way connected with Aberdeen, I wrote to my friend Principal 
Campbell for an explanation ; and I have much pleasure in 
making the following extract from his answer: — 
“ His appointment to the office of Rector was the result of a 
