youth. resource. The legal profession was, therefore, his sole The story was, that he departed for London on a Galloway pony, taking leave of his parents at Cumlongan, in Dumfriesshire, and thence proceeding by way of Gretna Green and Carlisle, arrived in the English capital on the 8th of May, 1718. There he was received by one John Wemyss, a Scotch apothecary, who had been born on the Stormont estate, and was eager to be of service to a son of the laird. He assisted him to sell his pony, and invested the proceeds to the best advantage; conducted him to Westminster School, and finally lodged him at a dame's in Dean Yard. An extract from the statement of account which he afterwards presented to Lady Stormont, will be of interest in connection with the manners and customs of the times : "1718, May 8.-ffor ye carriadge Mr. William's Box and bringing it home, ffor his horse before he was sold, To his Landlady where he Boards, 20. ffor a sword to him, ffor a belt, ffor pocket-money to him, June 5. -ffor pocket money, ffor two wigs as per receit, 18.-ffor a double letter and pocket- Aug. 16.-To Mr. William who went to the Lib. sh. d. - 09 08 7 1 01 13 5 05 1 01 3 6 Dec. 17.-Three guineas to the master and a 1719, Jany. 4.-ffor pocket-money 5 shil.; and the the Elections began, . Pay'd the Taylor as pr. bill,. Pay'd Mrs. Tollet for years Board 20 10 Thus bewigged and besworded, the lank, high cheekboned Scotch youth entered Westminster School, and started on his adventurous career. His north country dialect at first excited some ridicule, but it soon ceased when it was found that there was muscle in his arm and courage in his soul. His classical acquirements commanded respect, and that grace of manner which afterwards won so many hearts soon told in his favour. He had been nearly a year at the school before he was elected a King's scholar. Bishop Newton, one of his contemporaries and comrades, tells us that he gave early proof of his uncommon abilities, not so much in his poetry as in his other exercises, and particularly in his declamations. We have only one anecdote, however, of this period of his life, and it does not throw much light upon his character.* Lady Kinnoul, in one of his vacations, observing him with a pen in his hand, and seemingly thoughtful, asked him if he were writing his Latin theme, and what, in plain English, was the subject of it. He answered smartly, "What is that to you?" She replied, "How can you be so rude? I asked you civilly a plain question, and did not expect from a schoolboy so pert an answer.' * Holliday, "Life of William Earl of Mansfield," p. 2. "Indeed, my lady," said Murray, "I can only answer once more, What is that to you?" The explanation is, that the theme was headed, "Quid ad te pertinet." In May, 1728, Murray stood first on the list of the king's scholars to be sent to Oxford, and was entered of Christ Church on the 18th of June in that year. In 1724, through the generosity of a friend-a son of Lord Foley he was enabled to become a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, though he remained at Oxford for three years longer, sedulously pursuing those studies which were best adapted to facilitate his success in the profession he had adopted, and, in particular, cultivating with untiring perseverence the art of oratory. He read Cicero constantly and assiduously, translating the great master into English, and re-translating into Latin. Quinctilian was also consulted, while to the speeches of Demosthenes he gave the most critical attention. He also practised original composition in both Latin and English, acquiring an elegant and exact style. We may quote a specimen of his Latin prose, because it contains a panegyric on the oratorical excellences of that great Greek orator, whose resistless eloquence "Wielded at will that fierce democracy, Shook the arsenal, and fulmined over Greece." Qua solemnitate exordii animos auditorum incitat! Deosque deasque omnes benevolentiæ suæ in civitatem testes adhibet ! Quam sibi modesta meritorum in cives suos commemoratione ad se audiendum munivit viam! . . . Quis flexanimam Demosthenis potentiam digne explicaverit, qua summissio placidoque principio in animos omnium, velut in accensos agros taciturno roris imbre leniter fluentis incendium quod reliquerit Æschines extinguit, populique furorem placat. Mox vehemens et acer viquadem incredibili auditores extra se, contra Æschinem calum niatorem odio, mercenarium Philippi contemptu proditorem patriæ ira rapit." ["With what solemnity his exordium appeals to the minds of his hearers! He calls all the gods and goddesses to witness to his love for his country. With how modest an allusion to his own services does he preface the way for a favourable hearing!... Who shall ever be able to explain the power of Demosthenes over the human affections. Beginning in a mild and subdued tone, like dew descending gently on the parched fields, he extinguishes the flame which Æschines had raised, and soothes the popular fury. But soon afterwards, growing vehement and bitter, with what incredible force he controls his hearers, and holds up Æschines to their contempt and hatred as a calumniator, as the mercenary of Philip, and the betrayer of his native land."] In 1727 Murray gained the Latin prize poem “On the Death of George I." The versification is correct, but feeble; the imagery poor, and the poet's spirit is nowhere present. Murray had no imagination; but if he had had, we may doubt whether the subject was one to have stimulated it. The most noticeable fact about the competition is that the elder Pitt, the "Great Commoner," was a candidate; and it has absurdly been alleged that his defeat embittered him against the more fortunate Murray, and was the primary cause of his keen hostility to the latter in their after strife as leaders of the State. There was a deeper reason for that hostility, however, than the disappointment arising from a failure in a boyish struggle. Having taken his degree of B.A., Murray removed to London, and began his course of study at Lincoln's Inn. It would seem to have been regulated by broad and sound principles. Murray aimed at being something more than a lawyer; he was fired by a lofty ambition, and already aspired to succeed as an advocate and a politician, a scholar and a wit. He began by acquiring a thorough knowledge of the great historians, rightly conceiving that a knowledge of the past is essential to a just and accurate understanding of the present. Next he took up the study of ethics, and he appears to have set a special value on the philosophical works of Cicero. The Roman civil law engaged his close attention; he traced in it the elements of modern jurisprudence, and acknowledged its permanent influence on European polity. He read with care the works of Grotius, which form the foundation of international law; and those of Craig, which expound the traditions and effects of feudalism. English municipal law he studied in the erudite compositions of Bracton and Littleton; and with "precedents" and old "usages" he did not fail to make himself acquainted, in the text-books and reports which the old school of lawyers regarded with so blind a veneration. Scotch law, with its characteristics, he read up in the pages, always clear and precise, of Mackenzie and Stair; and he laboured with zeal to gain a complete mastery of the jurisprudence of France, and of her celebrated commercial code, which was then far in advance of anything that England possessed. To gain practical experience, and understand the application of the theories he had so conscientiously made his own, he regularly attended the Courts at Westminster, and analysed the decisions of the judges. His day's work at an end, "he drank champagne with the wits."* At Will's or Button's Coffeehouse he met the leaders of literature and society, and discussed with them the merits of the last new play or poem, toasted *Dr. Johnson's statement to Boswell. L |