functions ; but, unlike that official, these functions
did not become permanently a part of his office.
At the Union the office of Clerk Register was
preserved with all its dignity and emoluments, and
that the records of Scotland should always remain
in that kingdom. '
The salary of the office was abolished between
186r and 1868; but a select committee was so
strongly irr favour of its maintainance, that it was
restored by the 25th section of the Writs' Registration
Act of the latter year.
Under the Act passed together with the Treaty
of Uiiion, no election of representative peers can
47
take place in Scotland without the presence of ,the
Lord Clerk Register.
Perhaps no holder of this important office ren-
' dered better service than the late Sir Wiliiam
well known for his talents, energy, and great
urbanity of manner. He was born in 1797, and
in 1837 represented Midlothian in the Whig interest.
In 1841 he was returned for the city as one
of its representatives along with Lord Macaulay,
and continued to sit till 1852, and ten years after
was appointed Lord Clerk Register and one result
of the careful charge and supervision he took of
his department, was that the histoid documents
