Grampian Club > Boswelliana

272 BOSWELLIANA.
" Our frame and temper of mind depends much on the state
of our bodies. The human body is often called a machine, and
a wonderful machine it is. The blood is like quicksilver, the
veins like feathers, the nerves like springs. The soul sits in
the machine. As one who in a chaise when driving hard cannot
hear or give attention, I have been conscious of the corporeal
machine running on with such rapidity that I felt to apply seri-
ously to anything was in vain for me while that continued."
"Mr. Crosbie,* the advocate, when he once took up an idea
retained it most obstinately, even after there was convincing
evidence against it. On occasion of the great cause between
Nabob Fullertont and Orangefield,;}: where he and I were on
opposite sides, he persisted in thinking Fullarton in the right,
when every one else was clear against him. I said Crosbie's
head was like a Christmas-box with a slit in the top of it. If
once a thing has got into it, you cannot get it out again but by
breaking the box. * We must break your head, Crosbie,'
said I."
" It's a good thing for Scotland that we can appeal to the
House of Lords. I look upon that court, the House of Lords,
as a great rolling stone, which by going over a cause effectually
smooths it at once, when our fifteen lords, who have been
breaking the clods with their mallets for a long time, may have
left some parts rough ; or sometimes may have found large
masses which they have not been able to break at all. The
* Andrew Crosbie of Holm, an eminent advocate, the original of
" Councillor Pleydell " in " Guy Mannering." He met Dr. Johnson
at BosweU's residence in Edinburgh, and engaged with him in keen
debate. In his " Journey" Boswell has described him as "his truly
learned and philosophical friend." Crosbie attained opulence in his
profession, but having made an unfortunate investment fell into
poverty. He died in 178-5.
f See stipra, p. 74.
% Orangefield, an estate in the parish of Monkton, Ayrshire, now
belonging to A. Murdoch, Esq.