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Kay's Originals Vol. 1

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100 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. No. XLVIII. HENRY VISCOUNT MELVILLE AND THE HON. ROBERT DUNDAS OF ARNISTON, LORD CHIEF BARON OF THE COURT OF EXCHEQUER. THE first figure in this Print represents the Right Honourable HENRY DUNDAS, Viscount Melville and Barop Dunira. Mr. Dundas was second son of Robert Dundas of Arniston, Lord President of the Court of Session,’ by Anne, daughter of Sir William Gordon of Invergordon, his lordship’s second wife, and was borq an the 28th April 1742. After completing his education at the University of Edinburgh with the usual course of legal st,udy, he was admitted a Member of the Faculty of Advocates in the year 1763, At this period it has been said, that, after paying the expense of his education and admission to the faculty, Mr. Dundas had just sixty pounds remaining of his patrimony. Mr. Dundas began his splendid public career in the comparatively humble capacity of an assessor to the Magistrates of Edinburgh. The office of one of his Majesty’s Depute-Advocates was then conferred upon him j and subsequently he was appointed Solicitor-General for Scotland. To these situations he recommended himself by his superior talents, which were early displayed, and which obtained for him the highest consideration of the Bench and Bar. But the ambition of Mr. Dundas was directed to higher objects than were to be attained even by the most brilliant success at the Scotch bar, where the only honour that would follow the most successful exertion of talent, would be a seat on the bench. He accordingly resolved to try his fortunes in the sister kingdom, and with this view, in the year 1774, successfully contested the county of Mid-Lothian with the Ministerial candidate. He, however, afterwards joined the party then in power-became a zealous and able supporter of Lord North‘s Administration-and was, as a reward for his services, appointed Lord Advocate of Scotland in 1775. Two years afterwards, he obtained the appointment of Keeper of his Majesty’s Signet for Scotland. 1 To prevent any misconception, it may be right to mention that there were two Presidents of the Court of Session hearing the name of Robert Dundas. The first, who waa born on the 9th December 1685, and died on the 26th August 1753, was the father of Lord Viscount Melville. The second, who was born on the 18th July 1713, and died, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, on the 13th December 1787, waa the eldest son of the preceding judge by his first marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Watson, Esq. of Xuirhouse, and in this way was the “half-brother ” (to use a Scotticism) of Lord Melville.
Volume 8 Page 146
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