Volume 3 > Half-Volume 6

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(1734), but without any intention of prosecuting the
law as a profession. He soon after set out upon a
tour of the Continent, where he formed an acquaint-
ance with the Duke of Ormond, the earl-marischal,
and other exiled Jacobite chiefs. The family from
which he descended had been conspicuous for its at-
tachment to the popular cause for a century; but Sir
James appears to have been converted by these
nobles from his original Whig principles. Having
permitted himself to be introduced by them to Prince
Charles Stuart at Rome, he received such civilities
from that scion of expatriated royalty as had a
material effect upon the tenor of his future life. He
returned to his native country in 1740, with many
accomplishments, which added brilliancy to his char-
acter, but an unsettled tone of mind, which he after-
wards greatly regretted.
Among the intimate friends of Sir James at this
period of his life was Mr. Alexander Trotter, whose
son was afterwards a landed proprietor in Mid-
lothian. Mr. Trotter was cut off in early life; and
during his last illness made a promise to Sir James,
that if possible he would come to him after his death
in an inclosure near the house of Coltness, which in
summer had been frequently their place of study.
It was agreed, in order to prevent mistake or mis-
apprehension, that the hour of meeting should be
noon; that Mr. Trotter should appear in the dress
he usually wore, and that every other circumstance
should be exactly conformable to what had com-
monly happened when they met together. Sir
James laid greater stress on this engagement than
sound reason will warrant. Both before and after
his exile he never failed, when it was in his power,
to attend at the place of appointment, even when
the debility arising from gout rendered him hardly
able to walk. Every day at noon, while residing at
Coltness, he went to challenge the promise of Mr.
Trotter, and always returned extremely disappointed
that his expectation of his friend's appearance had
not been gratified. When rallied on the subject, he
always observed seriously, that we do not know
enough of "the other world" to entitle us to assume
that such an event as the reappearance of Mr.
Trotter was impossible. We fear, however, that
the most of those who peruse this narrative will be
inclined to class this anecdote with the "follies of
the wise."
In the course of his travels Sir James had formed
an intimacy with Lord Elcho, who, conceiving in
the warmth of youthful friendship, that the young
baronet would be able to gain the affections of his
sister, Lady Frances Wemyss, carried him to Cedar
Hall, in the north of Scotland, where that young
lady was residing with the Countess of Sutherland.
As Elcho expected, Sir James gained the heart of
Lady Frances; and after some scruples on the part
of her relations had been overcome, they were mar-
ried in October, 1743, at Dunrobin Castle, the lady
bringing her husband what was then considered a
very handsome fortune, namely, .�6000. A pair
more elegant, more amiable, and more accomplished
is rarely seen. Their union was blessed in August,
1744, by the birth of their son, Sir James Steuart,
who was for many years the principal object of their
care.
The subject of our memoir had joined the opposi-
tion party, and in the year last named he had an
unpleasant collision with the family of Dundas, which
was then beginning to take a leading part in Scottish
politics. A claim preferred by him to be enrolled
amongst the freeholders of Midlothian was refused;
and for this he raised an action against Dundas of
Arniston, then one of the senators of the College of
Justice. In the course of the judicial proceedings
Sir James pleaded his own cause in so masterly a
manner that Lord Arniston descended from the
bench, and defended himself at the bar. The cause
was given against the young advocate; and this, no
doubt, conspired with other circumstances to pre-
pare him for the step he took in the subsequent year.
Sir James was residing in Edinburgh, in attendance
upon Lady Frances, who was then in a state of ill
health, when Prince Charles, at the head of his
Highland army, took possession of the city. Among
the principal adherents of the young adventurer was
Lord Elcho, the brother-in-law and bosom friend of
Sir James Steuart. The latter, with the Earl of
Buchan, who had married one of his sisters, formed
the wish of being introduced to Prince Charles, but
without pledging themselves to join his standard.
They therefore induced Lord Elcho to seize them
at the cross of Edinburgh, and conduct them, appar-
ently as prisoners, into the presence of the prince.
Being brought into an ante-chamber in Holyrood
House, their friend proceeded to inform his royal
highness of their arrival, and of the circumstances
under which they approached him; when Charles,
with great dignity, refused to see them in any other
character than as avowed adherents of his cause.
When Elcho returned with this intelligence the Earl
of Buchan took his leave; while Sir James, a man
greatly excelling that nobleman in intellect, pro-
ceeded to offer his services to the young Chevalier.
He was fortunately saved from the ultimate perils of
the campaign by being immediately despatched on
a mission to the French court, where he was at the
time of the battle of Culloden. The penalty of his
rashness was an exile of nearly twenty years, being,
though not attainted, among the exceptions from the
act of indemnity.
Till the year 1763, when George III. permitted
him to return home, Sir James Steuart resided abroad
with his family, employing his leisure in those studies
which he afterwards embodied in his works. He
spent the greater part of the period of his exile in
the town of Angouleme, where he became intimately
acquainted with the French finance system, through
a body of counsellors of the parliament of Paris, who
were banished to that town for nearly the space of
two years. Sir James also spent some time at
Frankfort, at Spa, at Venice, and at Padua. When
in Germany, he and his lady were received with ex-
traordinary marks of favour at the courts of Wir-
temberg, Baden-dourlach, and Hohenzollern. At
Venice, in 1758, he and Lady Frances had the good
fortune to form a friendship with the celebrated
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, who till the end of
her life corresponded frequently with both, and
gave them and their son many proofs of her affection.
A series of her ladyship's letters to Sir James and
Lady Frances were printed at Greenock, under the
care of their son Sir James in 1818. Though exiled
from Britain on account of disloyalty to the Hanover
dynasty, Sir James Steuart never entertained a dis-
loyal feeling towards his country. On the contrary,
the enthusiasm with which he rejoiced in the suc-
cesses of the British arms during the Seven Years'
war led to his falling under the suspicion of the
French court; and while residing at Spa in a neu-
tral territory, a large body of troops was sent to ap-
prehend him and convey him to prison in the duchy
of Luxemburg. It was not for many months that
he succeeded in convincing the French government
of its error, or regained his liberty.
The first work published by Sir James was a
volume which appeared at Frankfort-sur-le-Main,
in 1758, under the title of "Apologie du Sentiment