consideration some ulterior views, which have been suggested
to me by my friends, and which I will either endeavor to
prosecute, time and place serving, or lay aside all thoughts
of, as they appear to your Grace feasible, and likely to be
forwarded by your patronage. It has been suggested to me, in
a word, that there would be no impropriety in my being put
in nomination as a candidate for the situation of a Baron of
Exchequer, when a vacancy shall take place. The difference
of the emolument between that situation and those which I
now hold, is just L400 a year, so that, in that point of
view, it is not a very great object. But there is a
difference in the rank, and also in the leisure afforded by
a Baron's situation; and a man may, without condemnation,
endeavor, at my period of life, to obtain as much honor and
ease as he can handsomely come by. My pretensions to such an
honor (next to your Grace's countenancing my wishes) would
rest very much on the circumstance that my nomination would
vacate two good offices (Clerk of Session and Sheriff of
Selkirkshire) to the amount of L1000 and L300 a year; and,
besides, would extinguish a pension of L300 which I have for
life, over and above my salary as Clerk of Session, as
having been in office at the time when the Judicature Act
deprived us of a part of our vested fees and emoluments. The
extinction of this pension would be just so much saved to
the public. I am pretty confident also that I should
{p.143} be personally acceptable to our friend the Chief
Baron.[57] But whether all or any of these circumstances
will weigh much in my favor, must solely and entirely rest
with your Grace, without whose countenance it would be folly
in me to give the matter a second thought. _With_ your
patronage, both my situation and habits of society may place
my hopes as far as any who are likely to apply; and your
interest would be strengthened by the opportunity of placing
some good friend in Selkirkshire, besides converting the
Minstrel of the Clan into a Baron,--a transmutation worthy
of so powerful and kind a chief. But if your Grace thinks I
ought to drop thoughts of this preferment, I am bound to
say, that I think myself as well provided for by my friends
and the public as I have the least tit