91} among the laity. Thus he may, during that time, have
learned the songs which he is accused of singing, though rather
inconsistent with his clerical character. What, then, was more
natural, than that, when thrown off his guard by the assumed
conviviality and artful solicitations of those about him, former
improper habits, though renounced during his thinking moments,
might assume the reins of his imagination, when his situation
rendered him utterly insensible of their impropriety?

... The Venerable Court will now consider how far three instances
of ebriety, and their consequences, should ruin at once the
character and the peace of mind of the unfortunate defender, and
reduce him, at his advanced time of life, about sixty years,
together with his aged parent, to a state of beggary. He hopes
his severe sufferings may be considered as some atonement for the
improprieties of which he may have been guilty; and that the
Venerable Court will, in their judgment, remember mercy.

In respect whereof, etc.
WALTER SCOTT.

This argument (for which he received five guineas) was sustained by
Scott in a speech of considerable length at the Bar of the Assembly.
It was far the most important business in which any solicitor had as
yet employed him, and _The Club_ mustered strong in the gallery. He
began in a low voice, but by degrees gathered more confidence; and
when it became necessary for him to analyze the evidence touching a
certain penny-wedding, repeated some very coarse specimens of his
client's alleged conversation, in a tone so bold and free, that he was
called to order with great austerity by one of the leading members of
the Venerable Court. This seemed to confuse him not a little; so when,
by and by, he had to recite a stanza of one of M'Naught's convivial
ditties, he breathed it out in a faint and hesitating style;
whereupon, thinking he needed encouragement, the allies in the gallery
astounded the Assembly by cordial shouts of _hear! hear!--encore!
encore!_ They were immediately turned out, and Scott got through the
rest of his harangue very little to his own satisfaction.

He {p.192} believed, in a word, that he had made a complete failure,
and issued from the Court in a melancholy mood. At the door he found
Adam Ferguson waiting to inform him that the brethren so
unceremoniously extruded fro