S4 
Memoirs of Lord Mehille. 
[Aug. 1, 
villeV cousin, the Right Honourable 
Colonel Charles Hope, late Lord Advo¬ 
cate, and now Lord Justice Ckrk) the 
only efficient great officer of state, and 
•whose power is unlimited. The Scotch 
judges assume to themselves an undefined 
authority, which they style offidumy 
and by which they make important le¬ 
gislative acts, that in England would re¬ 
quire the joint concurrence of the King, 
Lords, and Commons; and in like man¬ 
ner, the Lord Advocate, besides exer¬ 
cising, in eveiy criminal case, the functi¬ 
ons of a grand jury, issues mandates 
competent to no judge in the kingdom. 
The follow ing instance of this arbitrary 
power took place soon after Mr. Dun- 
das’s appointment. The people of the 
Highlands of Scotland, driven from their 
little farms by the oppression of the land¬ 
holders and their factors, were then be¬ 
ginning those emigrations to America 
which have since been so frequent and 
numerous. To check this spirit, the 
Lord Advocate resolved summarily to 
prevent them from enjoying, in ano¬ 
ther climate, the fruits of their industry, 
which their landlords denied them in their 
own. A number of these poor High¬ 
landers had, by disposing of their lit¬ 
tle all, engaged, and with their families 
embarked in a ship, to transport them 
over the Atlantic Ocean ; but they were 
interdicted, brought forcibly from on 
board, to wander wherever they might, 
and an embargo was laid on the vessel, 
all by the simple fiat of Lord Advmcate 
Dundas.* He w'as not, however, always 
so rigid as to emigrants to America. 
David Campbell, of Belmont, esq. a free¬ 
holder cf Mid Lothian, accused of a se¬ 
rious forgery, was well knovvn to be for 
months (hardly concealed) in the prin¬ 
cipal hotel in Edinburgh; but here the 
vigih.nce of the Lord Advocate was 
asieepy no step was taken either to ar¬ 
rest him or prevent his departure with 
his family, for which piupose a sub¬ 
scription was pretty publicly made, and 
contributions given by certain other of 
the Freeholders of Mid Lothian. The 
Uvo facts just mentioned made the sub¬ 
ject ©fa very severe pamphlet, published 
at Edinbui-gh, entitled “ A Letter to the 
Lord Advocate,” said to be written by 
the late Dr. Gilbert Stuart, but which ! 
have good reason to believe was the pro¬ 
* I believe Oliver Cromwell was one of 
the last persons in England, whom the ar¬ 
bitrary power of the government prevented 
ft om emigrating to Axnerica* 
duction of Mr, Hugo Arnot, the Histo¬ 
rian of Edinburgh. 
Mr. Dundas was resolved not to con¬ 
fine his talents to the bar of the Court 
of Session. He was desirous of display¬ 
ing them in parliament; and having be¬ 
come a candidate for Mid Lothian, in 
opposition to the late Sir Alexander Gil- 
main, (one of his early patrons) who had 
the court interest, he succeeded, as he 
boasted, against all the influence of go¬ 
vernment. Since which he has always 
either enjoyed that county himself, or 
put in one of his family as member. At 
the following election he made a strong 
push for the city of Edinburgh, in favour 
of Sir William Miller, now a respectable 
Judge, against the late Sir Laurence 
Dundas, 'and so far succeeded as to have . 
his friend returned, but to sit only until 
ousted on a petition to the House of 
Commons. Sir Laurence retained the 
city till his death, since which period it 
has been completely in the disposal of 
Mr. Dundas, who took his seat for it 
himself one parliament, ceding the county 
to his nephew. 
As a younger brother Mr. Dundas 
possessed no fortune, except a very mo¬ 
derate patrimony; but in the situation in 
which he was placed, with the most flat¬ 
tering prospects, and a manly figure and 
prepossessing address, he might success¬ 
fully have sought the hand of any woman. 
He fixed his affections on a lady of great 
beauty and accomplishments. Miss Ran- 
nie, the eldest daughter and coheiress 
of Mr. Rannie, of Melville, in Mid Lo¬ 
thian, and they were married (according 
to the best of my recollection) about the 
year 1768. Mr. Rannie w’as supposed to 
be immensely rich; and it has been re¬ 
peatedly said, that Mr. Dundas got 
^lOOjOOO by her. This, however, is 
erroneous. The fact is, Mr. Cockburn, 
ef Cockpen, (afterwards, by Mr. Dun- 
fiae’s interest, a Baron of the Scotch 
Court of Exchequer) at or about the 
same time married the younger Miss 
Rannie, and it was agreed by all parties 
that Mr. Dundas should have the whole 
succession, paying Mr.Cockburn =£10,000 
In full oi his ladv’s share. On Mr. Ran- 
nie’s death the property was fouod to be 
no wdse what was expected. Mr. Dun¬ 
das got the estate of Melville, which is 
not very extensive; but it is believed, 
that, after paying the barthens on it, and 
•the stipulated 10,000 to Mr.Cockburn, 
he had by no means an equal sum left to 
himaclf. Melville Castle is delightfully 
situated on the banks of the River North 
Esk^.. 
