tions and sacrifices demanded by the relation he thus clandestinely contracted. Both made ample atonement to society for their offence, if it was one. There never was a more faithful or affectionate pair; and they afforded a beautiful example of the consortium vitæ, which constitutes the essence of the married state. She conformed to his tastes, and thought only of his advancement.-One example is more worth than any amount of general praise. When her husband was qualifying himself for the Bar, she would sit up with him during, his midnight studies, watching him with silent affection, and moving about on tip-toe that she might not disturb the connexion of his thoughts. The faults of penuriousness and seclusion, which she afterwards displayed, grew out of the habits she acquired when exercising self-denial for his sake. He showed his deep sense of the obligations under which he had come -not only by his unwearied exertions to be able creditably to maintain her, but when youth and beauty were gone, and peculiarities of temper and manners appeared in her which were to be regretted, though excusable-he still treated her with fondness. Being told, after the clandestine match of his eldest daughter, Lady Elizabeth, that he should force Lady Eldon into society, in order to chaperon the younger daughter, Lady Frances-he replied, "When she was young and beautiful, she gave up every thing for me. What she is, I have made her; and I cannot now bring myself to compel her inclinations. Our marriage prevented her mixing in society when it might have afforded her pleasure; it appears to give pain now, and why should I interpose?” When she was snatched away from him by death, he still tenderly cherished her memory. Within two or three years of his own decease, when a north-country friend came over to see him at Rushyford, the old peer observed to him," I know my fellow-townsmen at Newcastle complain of my never coming to see them, but how can I pass that bridge?" -meaning the bridge across the Tyne, looking upon the Sand-hill. Then musing on the dead-with tears in his eyes—after a pause he exclaimed, "Poor Bessie! if ever there was an angel on earth, she was one. The only reparation which one man can make to another for running away with his daughter, is to be exemplary in his conduct towards her." But we have now to attend Mr. and Mrs. John Scott in Love Lane. She was, and therefore so was he, still most wretched, on account of the obduracy of her father, who vowed that he never would see her more, nor forgive her even on his death-bed. But at length the old gentleman, hearing of her anguish, and feeling the want of her pious attentions, in which he had so much delighted, gradually relented, and sent her his forgiveness and his blessing. Her brother John, who was the bearer of this message, said, " She threw her arms about me in a transport of joy, and kissed me for a considerable time without intermission." They now removed to Mr. Surtees' house on Sand-hill, where they met with a kind reception. Soon after, “Articles" were executed, whereby Mr. Scott settled upon them 20007., and Mr. Surtees 10007., (which he after[JAN. 7, 1773.] wards doubled,) to bear interest at 51. per cent. I need not formally refute the false statement which has been so often repeated-that Lord Eldon, never having been reconciled to Mr. Surtees, showed his thirst for revenge by sealing with his own hand, when Chancellor, a commission of bankruptcy against him. Mr. Surtees lived and died in affluent circumstances, although the bank to which he belonged long afterwards failed; and he lived with his son-in-law on terms of the greatest confidence and affection.* * Of this I am able to give a very striking proof by a letter which has never yet appeared in print, showing that Mr. Scott was employed by Mr. Surtees in the delicate matter of advising with him about the framing of his will:"Honoured Sir, "I had this day delivered to me a parcel from you containing a will formerly. made by you, and your instructions as to the alterations which you wish to be made at present. I shall take care to finish it the first thing I do, and will send it you as soon as I hear of any person coming to Newcastle, with whom it is prudent to intrust it. "I have no difficulty about your meaning, except in a single particular or two. All your real and personal estate, except what is in the bank, you propose to leave to your eldest son, and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten: that expression, which I have scored under, will give your son, Mr. William Surtees, as ample a power of disposing of your lands absolutely from his family, in case it should be thought advisable by him to do so, as can possibly exist in law. As he has children, I presume it is your intention to leave it entirely in his power; and if that is so, this expression, viz. heirs of the body, you will probably think less proper than to give it to him and his heirs, without saying, of his body lawfully begotten. The expressions do not differ in effect, except that, although both give the same power over the estate, any thing which your son may wish to do with the estate will be much more expensive to him if the words heirs of the body lawfully begotten are used, than if the word heirs only is used. On the other hand, if you mean at all events to secure it to his children after his death, and, failing them, to your own, according to their seniority of age, as in the old will sent to me, the word heirs of the body lawfully begotten' will not do. You will be so obliging as to favour me with a letter explaining this. The personal estate which you direct to be disposed of in the same way may also require your consideration for personal estate given to a man and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten will not go in law to those heirs, but entirely to the man himself. Nor is there any way of giving personal estate to a man but giving him it absolutely, and at his own disposal, unless he is merely to take the interest of it, and the principal is to be tied up in the hands of trustees; which, I presume to think, is not what you mean to your very deserving son.' You will be so kind as to explain this point also. "You are so very obliging, as, upon the supposition that Mrs. Scott and I may not survive you, to give her legacy to your grandson. As I hope in God you will see a great many years, and it may happen that your daughter's family may increase, I submit it to your goodness to determine whether, supposing it should please God to remove my wife and myself, you would not alter that matter and give it, in that case, to John, in case we have no more children living at your death; but if we have, equally among and between him and the others. Alluding to Lord Eldon's school-fellow and eldest brother-in-law, Mr. William Surtees, who for many years resided at 31, Montagu Square, London, and between whom (till his death, on 1st January, 1832,) and Lord Eldon an intimate intercourse and constant correspondence always continued. To bring this matrimonial narrative to a conclusion I have only to state, that although no doubt was entertained about the marriage celebrated at Blackshiels being sufficient, both in law and religion,-with a view to easy evidence of marriage in future times, it was thought right to follow the practice of the Chancellor, with respect to his wards, and to have the parties re-married in England, in conformity [A. D. 1773.] to the provisions of Lord Hardwicke's Act. Accordingly [A. D. 1773.] the ceremony was again performed in the parish church of St. Nicholas, Newcastle, in the presence of the father of the bride and the brother of the bridegroom, and the following entry was made of it in the register:"John Scott and Elizabeth Surtees, a minor, with the consent of her father, Aubone Surtees, Esq., and both of this parish, were married in this church, by license, the 19th day of January 1773, by me, CUTH. WILSON, Curate. "This marriage was solemnized between us, John Scott and Elizabeth Surtees, S In the presence of us, Aubone Surtees, Henry Scott." The bride and bridegroom, on this occasion, without trepidation, entered a post-chaise which waited for them at the church door,—and, rapidly crossing the Tyne, bade adieu to Newcastle. "The world was all before them, where to choose CHAPTER CXCII. CONTINUATION OF THE LIFE OF LORD ELDON TILL HE WAS CALLED TO THE BAR. Ir was now necessary that Mr. John Scott should form a new scheme of life. He could no longer look to the Church as a profession. After "With respect to what is to be divided among your younger children, after Mrs. Surtees's death, if I understand you right, it is to go amongst your three younger sons and your two daughters, if they are all then living; and if any of them die before, then among such of them as are left. Or do you mean, that if any of them should be then dead, and have left several or any children behind them, that those children should have what their parent, if then alive, would have had; or is it to be confined to your children, without giving the share of your child, in case of his or her death, to his or her children? I beg the favour of your answer to these particulars. Give me leave to add, that I cannot help thinking all your family under extremely high obligations to you; and, for my own part, my gratitude shall be as lasting as your kindness has been great. "Lord Ravensworth called upon me on Friday, and he tells me your trade will certainly be protected. I am, with love and duty to Mrs. Surtees and yourself, in which Mrs. Scott and John beg to be joined with me, and also in love to all the family, dear Sir, "Your much obliged and dutiful son, "Please to excuse haste. "March 2, 1779." "JOHN SCOTT. the year of grace his fellowship was lost by his marriage, and he had no other chance of ecclesiastical preferment. He resolved, if a college living should fall vacant within the year, to claim it, but immediately to begin the study of the law-having for a little time two strings to his bow. Although he by no means felt any enthusiasm for his new profession, he knew that from a sense of duty he should be able to submit to its labours. Accordingly, on his arrival in London, he was admitted of the Middle Temple. The following is a copy of his admission:"Die 28 Januarii 1723, Mar. Johannes Scott, filius tertius Gulielmi Scott de Novo Castello super Tinum, Armigeri, admissus est in Societatem Medii Templi Londini specialiter. Et dat pro fine 47." Mr. and Mrs. John Scott proceeded to Oxford, which was to be the place of their residence while he was preparing for the Bar. A lady, who met them at a friend's house where they paid a visit on their way, observed, in a letter written many years after, "Her appearance was considered his sufficient apology, for she was extremely beautiful; and so very young, as to give the impression of childhood, especially as her dress corresponded with that idea, the white frock and sash being in those days the distinguishing mark of a child, as well as the flowing ringlets which hung around her shoulders.' Sir Robert Chambers, Principal of New Inn Hall, and Vinerian Professor of Law, had just been appointed a Judge in the East Indies, and the job had been arranged that he should retain these appointments during his absence, performing their duties by deputy. Accordingly John Scott was named Vice Principal of New Inn Hall, having rooms for his family in the Lodge, and Vice Law Professor, with a salary of 607. a year, being employed merely to read the lectures written by his superior. He himself gave the following amusing account of his debut in this line:"The law professor sent me the first lecture which I had to read immediately to the students, and which I began without knowing a single word that was in it. It was upon the statute (4 & 5 P. & M. c. 8.) Of young men running away with maidens.' Fancy me reading, with about 140 boys and young men all giggling at the Professor! Such a tittering audience no one ever had!" He likewise eked out his income by private pupils sent to him from University College; and with the aid of a quarterly present from his brother William, and of strict good management, he and his wife could make the two ends meet. Tea-parties were the only entertainments they could venture to give to their friends. At these symposia they sometimes had a no less distinguished guest than Dr. Samuel Johnson, and Mrs. John Scott "sed to relate that she herself helped him one evening to fifteen cups of his favourite beverage. Lord Eldon does not seem, like his brother, Sir William Scott, to have cultivated literary society on removing to London; but he watched the great Lexicographer with much attention, and was eager to get into his company during his visits to Alma Mater. "The Doctor was so ab 6 sent," he would say, "that I have seen him standing for a long time without moving-with a foot on each side of the kennel, which was then in the middle of the High Street, Oxford,-with his eyes fixed on the running water." He related, that "in the common room of University College, a controversialist having frequently interrupted Johnson during a narrative of what had fallen under his own observation, saying, 'I deny that,' he at last vociferated, Sir, Sir, you must have forgotten that an author has said, Plus negabit unus asinus in uná horâ, quam centum philosophi probaverint in centum annis." "--But the following is his best Johnsonian anecdote. "I had a walk in New Inn Hall Garden with Dr. Johnson, Sir Robert Chambers, and some other gentle. Sir Robert was gathering snails and throwing them over the wall into his neighbour's garden. The Doctor reproached him very roughly, that this was unmannerly and unneighbourly. Sir,' said Sir Robert, 'my neighbour is a dissenter.' 'Oh,' said the Doctor, if so, Chambers, toss away, toss away, as hard as you can.'” The real good-humour here displayed makes us forget the apparent bigotry. men. At this time Lord Eldon gave the first specimen of his judicial powers-which must be allowed to have been very promising, although as yet he had but a slender portion of jurisprudential lore. Being senior resident fellow of University College, two under-graduates came to complain to him that "the cook had sent them up an apple-pie that could not be eaten.” The defendant being summoned, said, “I have a remarkably fine fillet of veal in the kitchen." The Judge immediately overruled this plea as tendering an immaterial issue, and ordered a profert in curiam of the apple-pie. The messenger sent to execute this order brought intelligence that the other under graduates, taking advantage of the absence of the two plaintiffs, had eaten up the whole of the apple-pie.. Thereupon, judgment was thus pronounced: "The charge here is, that the cook has sent up an apple-pie that cannot be eaten. Now that cannot be said to be uneatable which has been eaten; and as this apple-pie has been eaten, it was eatable. Let the cook be absolved." He used to say, in telling the story, "I often wished, in after life, that all the causes I had to decide had been apple-pie causes, and then no one could have complained of my doubts or delays.” But, by gigantic efforts, he was now laying the foundation of the unrivalled fame as a great magistrate which he acquired when presiding on the woolsack. Having taken his Master's degree on the 13th of February, 1773, he began the study of the law with the most devoted resolution to conquer all its difficulties. There was but little chance of a college living falling in during his year of grace, and on the 19th of November following,--the anniversary of his Blackshiels marriage,he actually gave up his fellowship. His efforts were redoubled when his new profession afforded the only chance of his being able to maintain himself and his family. He rose in the morning at four-took little exercise-made short and abstemious meals, and sat up studying late at night, with a wet towel round his head to drive away drowsi I am grieved to hear that the reading of "Coke upon Littleton' ness. |