98 mer with respect to the latter, is in in the mind of the Englishman such an every body's memory; but something invincible repugnance to the arts by might be ascribed to asperity, and the which alone the way was open to miremembrance of very unneighbourly nisterial distinction. The family of Lord Melville has been treatment. Little was it expected that a few years would so materially change distinguished in Scotland by its sucthe scene, and that the propriety of the cess at the bar; and after the usual epithet would become a subject for the studies, but earlier than usual, the decision of our highest court of judica- young Dundas became a member of the ture. Both had the advantages of a li- class of advocates. This is a considerberal education, and from the time that able corps at Edinburgh, and the disthey left their universities, gradually tinction it enjoys does not suffer, as in were brought forward into public no- the similar class in London, from a comtice the one, by travel and study, parison with the splendour of rank, being distinguished for his knowledge the wealth of the merchant, and the of men and manners, and after the se- respect attached to other professions.verest confinement, and every exertion The church of Scotland does not hold of power to deprive him of his life, re- out also, as in England, high rewards taining the esteem of a vast circle of men to its teachers; a competence only is of literature, science, and rank, and what the great bulk can attain: "the little now employing dignified ease, in bring- highest dignities can be the lot of very ing forward the second volume of a few, and when attained, are very work, which shews his knowledge of calculated to satisfy the pursuits of amHence, to those who are our language, and will give celebrity to bition. his name wherever the English is spo- educated in Scotland, law and physic The hold out the fairest prospects, and the ken, and letters are cultivated. other pursued a very different road, and Scotch bar is little inferior to the Engarrived at some of the highest offices of lish in talents or industry. ky living the state, pursuing completely the also in a smaller capital, or as it may system of politics laid down at the be- now be more properly called, a proginning of this reign, speaking the vincial town, the corps of advocates English language with the rudest ac- forms a more distinct body, and having cents of the north, and from being en- a large well-chosen library, to which circled with suitors of all ranks, on a there is great ease of access, general sudden finding himself stripped of his literature is more cultivated in this body, offices, and the object of an impeach- and is held in greater estimation, than by their brethren of the south, Such different destinies might, in the England, as well as Scotland, the barhands of a Plutarch, make the subject rister or advocate must be to a great deThe gree a technical man; but in Scotland of an excellent comparison. Englishman and the Scotchman started the technicality, if we may so call it, of with equal advantages in life; but their the profession, is corrected by the atpolitics were remote from each other, tention paid to polite literature; its as is the northern from the southern members do not, indeed, bring with pole. The Englishman cultivated the them from their schools or colleges so inanners of a gentleman, speaks his much scholarship as is common at the nguage in the highest perfection, pos- English bar with those who have gone sesses the powers of conversation in a through a regular education; but they very eminent degree: the Scotchman have just studied sufficiently to give disdained, like his countrymen Lords them a taste for letters, and, as is the Mansfield and Wedderburne, to soften custom of their nation, to delight more his accents for a southern ear; and the on the surface, than to explore the joys of Bacchus were more pleasing depths of science. Mr. Dundas had made that sort of to him, than the sweet sounds of the harp of Apollo Much may be ascribed figure, which denoted him in his youth to difference of country, but more to to be a clever lad; and when he was politics for Lord Melville, having called to the bar, was by those of his the good fortune to be born a Scotchman, did not feel those difficulties in accommodating himself to the changes in our constitution, which have created 1 ment. own standing looked up to as one who would make some figure in future life. -He was assiduous in his profession, and to it joined all the pleasures which In Biographical Sketch of Lord Melville. 66 99 en the northern metropolis affords. His duty, and in executing diligently the family gave him early means of shewing office of a member of parliament, much his abilities, and in the general assem- valuable knowledge may be acquired. bly of the church of Scotland, he was listened to with attention. The emo- tated in parliament, East India affairs luments of his profession were Among other business that was agicreased by the fortune which he ac- The transactions of that country, en- attracted much of the public attention. quired in marriage, and the property of whether real or exaggerated, were a his first wife gives the title which he constant topic on which a minister has now assumed Rennier, and her father, a ship-builder, gentleman, whose consequence was Her name was might be harrassed, and the country was supposed to have amassed a fortune diminished by the rapid fortunes brought of between two and three hundred from the east, delighted in every atthousand pounds. The portion of the tack upon the Nabobs. To repel one daughter, and the fees of the bar, plac- of these attacks, the minister himself ed Mr. Dundas in a state of inde- moved for a secret committee to pendence. Neither talents nor industry will Carnatic, and of the unfavourable conquire into the causes of the war in the command success; but they are of dition of the British possessions in those great advantage to the possessor, when parts." This was favourable circumstances give him the cumstance for Mr. Dundas, who was opportunity of displaying them. a favourable cirMr. Dundas rose in his profession, he enquiry, which he pursued with the As appointed the chairman; and in the attracted the attention of the minister utmost diligence and industry, he aeof the day, and Lord North raised him quired a very extensive knowledge of to the post of lord advocate of Scotland. the concerns of the East India com-For this post, whose nature and ex- pany at home and abroad, and qualitent has been lately developed in so ex- fied himself to move the secret springs traordinary a manner in the house of of that extraordinary machine, when commons, Mr. Dundas was admirably they should be entrusted to his mafitted, and it gave him an opportunity nagement. Both sides, both the opalso of exerting his talents in a larger position and the ministry, were struck sphere. The nation was now engaged with the report of the committee, in that unhappy conflict, which ended which was ascribed, and in a great in the separation of the American States measure justly so, to the talents of the from the mother country, and the dis- chairman; and it is exactly suited to putes were strong between the vehement those talents, which can enter into a supporters of the king's prerogative, and minute detail, and unravel, with apthose who were fearful that the subju- parent ease, a complication of difficult gation of America would lead to the concerns.. With the knowledge thus destruction of the constitution at home. acquired, he afterwards introduced his By becoming lord advocate, Mr. Dun- India Bill, which, though defeated, das naturally took a seat in parliament, confirmed still more the opinion enterand Lord North had every reason to ap- tained of his talents. pland his choice. The lord advocate was the strenuous supporter of all the tration, and the succeeding adminis The close of Lord North's adminismeasures of the minister; and the bold- trations, and memorable coalition of ness of his language, and confidence in Lord North and Mr. Fox, afforded himself, attracted the attention of the every opportunity for the display of house, and convinced it, that such a these talents. To steer a steady course speaker, gifted neither with great amidst the conflict of the elements, was powers of mind, nor capability of dis- impossible: to take advantage of every playing what he possessed with any circumstance; to see the right moment graces of elocution, possessed those ta- for quitting one minister, and to whom lents, which would carry him through he should next aflix his bark, this reno ordinary career. He had much to quired much circumspection and great do, and in all shewed that he was an diligence. In all this, Mr. Dundas acexcellent man for business: a praise to quitted himself to the utmost perfecwhich it is to be regretted that so few tion. He stood by the American war, of our members aspire. ne by talents, yet all may perform their could; when the one was given up, For all cannot and the falling minister, as long as he 02 end the other fairly beaten, it was time vered father: he was now in the hands of a statesman, who viewed things in a very different light: the father had been the determined foe of Lord Bute and his politics: what shall the son do, when those politics are cherished by his intimate friend and colleague-by him to whom he must look for counsel in every emergence! to look out for other means of support. -All parties saw in him an useful as sistant, and it was only to seize the moment judiciously, when he could find one to which he might attach himself with sufficient confidence. The coalition between Lord North and Mr. Fox, unhappy for the nation, but happy for Mr. Dundas, afforded him this op- Raised to an Indian throne, Mr. portunity. The nation was shocked, Dundas now possessed far more power and with reason, at this coalition, which than the most sanguine expectations of was evidently formed to throw the Mr. Fox could have entertained; and power of the crown into the hands of the party in opposition had the mortian aristocracy; and however rising up- fication to see, that all their struggles on popular pretensions, to subject both for so many years had tended only to king and people to their influence. In raise a new set of men to power and the conflicts in parliament upon this pre-eminence. The nation was recooccasion, Mr. Dundas bore no small vering from its difficulties, and contentpart; and he saw with rapture the ed with its administration, which had young minister maintaining his ground indeed nothing to do but to correct the with the utmost firmness. Should he errors which had crept into it, and succeed, the road was open to the both Pitt and Dundas were the zealous highest emoluments; if he fell, there advocates for salutary reforms. What might still be means to make a peace a happy state must that nation be in, with the other parties. But success was certain, and the dissolution of parliament, followed by the universal approbation of the nation, confirmed the triumph of the minister. when its chiefs not only profess such purity of conduct, but are instrumental in the enacting of measures which shall maintain and preserve it! Mr. Dundas was particularly happy in this respect. With the utmost zeal he brought in the Bill for the Regulation of Money Concerns in the Army and Navy, which were to throw it completely out of the power of the treasurers to speculate with the public purse, or enrich themselves or their agents by peculation. Mr. Fox's India Bill had been the great instrument of his overthrow. One was absolutely necessary, and in framing another, the assistance of Mr. Dundas was of the utmost importance. An intimate connexion now took place between the young minister and the more experienced politician. Mr. Dun- The business of the navy and of das taught him the whole state of Indian India, occupied the attention of Mr. affairs. A bill was introduced into Dundas, and every year added to his parliament, which differed very little power. The influence obtained in Infrom that of Mr. Fox, and taking much dia, was felt in the remotest corners of of the power out of the hands of the Scotland; and Harry Dundas, who had East India company, conveyed it with so much to give away, was the most immense patronage and influence into the hands of administration. By this bill, a board of controul was formed; and he who had been so instrumental in the formation and success of the plan, was rewarded with the appointments of the treasurer of the navy, and president of the board of controul of the East India company, with a seat in the cabinet council. The youthful minister, and our hero, may now be considered as colleagues in office, as joint ministers: the title of premier was attributed to Mr. Pitt, but nothing was done but by the advice and assistance of Mr. Dundas. Mr. Pitt had learned the early lessons of politics under his re popular name in the country. On him, therefore, devolved the management of the affairs of Scotland; and the haughtiest thane soon felt, that his power was circumscribed, and that he must lower his pretensions. Scotland is a remarkable instance of the success attending a uniform set of measures: from the union, its members have always acted in subserviency to the minister; but se veral great families had a share in that influence, and looked up to the rewards attending it. This influence is in a great degree weakened; and to the skill of our hero is to be attributed, that a more immediate connection subsists between the Scotch representatives, a con Biographical Sketch of Lord Melville. may be very much injured by late events. 101 nection which, it is hoped or feared, spoken, than well defined: and the conduct of the French excited a division in the other with swerving from the ancient whig, and countenancing these the opposition-one party reproaching new principles, which, under the term of jacobinical, are supposed to contain every thing inimical to social intercourse. A secession took place from the whig club. secession, and his wrath against French Mr. Burke was the organ of the principles was rewarded by an ample As president of the board of controul, Mr. Dundas laid annually before parliament the state of India concerns. This was prefaced always with a long speech: and as the affairs were always prosperous, it annually afforded satisfaction to the proprietors of Indian stock, though it frequently contradicted, in very material parts, the assertions of the committee of the house of commons, pension. employed in Westminster hall, in the some distinguished for their rank and impeachment of Mr. Hastings. This opulence; and Mr Dundas, with his Among the scceders, were impeachment was a fine tub for the op- usual skill, availed himself of the breach, position; and the two ministers, Pitt and from the enemies quarters gained and Dundas, amused themselves with new accession of strength. To him seeing them waste their strength in so may be attributed the measure, which impotent an attack. Mr. Hastings, in- brought the Duke of Portland and Lord deed, deserved more support from both: Spencer into the cabinet: the necessity but if it had been more manly to protect of strengthening the hands of governhim from an impeachment, it was more ment, for the safety of the whole, and politic to leave him exposed to the wild the dangerous spread 6' jacobinical Tage of a Burke, and the sarcasms of a principles, were, with lucrative places, Sheridan. Mr. Dundas was thus left very prevailing arguments. Had these without controul, in the management noble lords been contented with their of India affairs; and too few persons are disapprobation of these principles, and interested with them to determine how held an independent situation between far they have been conducted with skill the administration and the weakened and success. anord but little assistance upon this oc- been spared to the country! But the The annual report will whig party, how much evil would have casion; and, as is the case of all distant measure colonies, the cry of oppression is but Dundas, strengthened by the support of feebly heard; and in the attempt to re- their new allies, Laughed at all the atwas efficacious. litt and dress a wrong, there is a danger of tacks of opposition; and their influence greater injustice. The two ministers carried on, without nearly the close of the war. The inwas never greater than at this period, to difficulty, their joint affairs, till the troduction of new men required new breaking out of the French war. was an embarrassment, to which the enough to bear any additional labour. This offices; and Mr. Dundas was strong powers of Mr. Dundas were not ade- As the Duke of Portland was to be a quate. He saw the rising flame of li- secretary of state, and Mr. Dundas's inberty spreading itself in every corner of terference in that department was absothe kingdom; and there was a danger lutely necessary, a third secretaryship that this would throw power into the was inade for him, for the conduct of hands of the opposition. The conduct the measures and operations of the war: of the Frenea was such, at last, as to and this office which he held with his disgust the warmest friends of liberty; others, became an object of mech aniand men, as they generally do, con- madversion in the commons. The fact founding the effects of licentiousness was, that Mr. Dundas did all the actual and liberty, attributed to the latter what and important business of a secretary of can only be produced by the former. state, whilst the office of the Duke of Hence, liberty itself was held in dis- Portland was confined to little more than pute, and a favourable opportunity the inspecting of aliens was offered to introduce new checks to ta supposed too rapid growth. The position had supported itself on poPar grounds, and under the name of Whigs, claimed the favour of the people. Bart is a term more easily whiggisin involved with that of the war, and the 1 keep all others in a state of alarm. To The part which Mr. Dundas took in him we may attribute, not the know- the continental proceedings of the last ledge of the affairs of the corresponding war, cannot be thoroughly ascertained. society, for this society published all Whether he planned the expedition to that it did, but the collecting together Ostend, which ended in the blowing in one report every thing which had up of a few stones, and the imprisonbeen detailed in newspapers relative to ment of all who landed to perform this it. This was brought with great so- important task, future history must deJemnity, and apparent mystery, into the terinine. The sluice, which was the house. Individuals were seized, ex- object of this military ardour, was a amined before the privy council, and beautiful piece of architecture, erected ordered to a most rigorous state of con- at the expence of the province of Flanfinement. Conspiracy was declared to ders, and kept in repair, as our bridges prowl in every street, and to infest every are, by a county rate. The destruction city and village. Never were the active of it would have been an injury only to powers of Mr. Dundas more employed; the inhabitants of that province, but never were they succeeded with such would not have impeded the navigation complete mortification. Upon his re- on the canal a day; and, as the plan searches, and the papers in his bag, col- was executed, every thing was repaired lected by the secret committee, were without loss of time, at about the thoufounded the famous state trials, in sandth part of the expence of the expewhich the present chancellor made dition. The Quiberon expedition such famous long speeches, and in which the vulgar proverb was completely verified Parturiunt montes, nascitur ridiculus mus The mountains are in labour, and a mouse is bon. Never were such long trials; and till the day that the acquittal of Hardy was resounded through the streets, the papers asserted the guilt of all who had been taken up on suspicion. The acquittal put a stop, it was said, to an immense number of apprehensions; for had a different verdict been brought in, every thing was prepared for following it up, by the seizure of all whom the ministry might think fit to involve in the guilt of conspiracy. The trial of Mr. H. Tooke will be ever memorable in the history of our law courts; for the accused might be said to have been the judge, and to have instructed the court and counsel on the proper mode of conducting judicial proceedings. His return to Wimbledon, and the concourse of rank, beauty, science, and literature, to his accustomed abodes of cheerfulness and hospitality, were not among the least mortifying circumstances of this acquittal; for Mr. Dundas's grounds are separated from Mr. Tooke's gardens only by an open fence: and Mr. Pitt and Mr. Dundas have, in retreating from the scene of happiness which the garden presented, been compared to our first parents, when they took their last farewel of Paradise, claims Mr. Windham for its patron: an expedition which seemed to have in view merely the exposure of a number of emigrants to the fury of their ene mies. But if Mr. Dundas cannot assume to himself the whole merit of these expeditions, the secret expedition into Holland is said to be entirely his own. Never, perhaps, was such an expedition: the county of Kent will never forget it. The drunkenness of the soldiers who had received the bounty, and were carried in waggons to Barhain Downs to seek for officers, and the journeying of oflicers the same way to seek for men; the double embarkation; the length of time between the first and second arrival of the troops in Holland; the deliberations on advancing to the attacks of the enemy, and the deliberations on the retreat from that enemy; these, with the articles for the escape of the army, would form the materials for the history of that expedition; which, if Mr. Dundas has not burned his papers relative to it, may hereafter afford much amusement to his leisure hours, and no small instruction to posterity. But in spite of all his military skill and exertions; in spite of every effort for the deliverance of Europe, and the restoration of social order, the internal affairs of France went on in their own train, and its external warfare stript the house of Austria of its richest territories, and Germany of all its provinces on The domain this side of the Rhine. of France was extended beyond the |