joining stream, so that the visitor may ride; or walk for miles, through this extensive domain."

It seems to have been the carly wish of Lord Fife to add to his patrimonial estates, by purchasing every thing that came to market, in the three adjacent counties. In order to accomplish this, he employed his savings and accumulations, and even borrowed large sums of money, with a view of encreasing his lands, and his influence at the same time. Nor was his Lordship inattentive to that species of power, which originates in political interest, for he obtained considerable patronage in the boroughs," and even the counties in his vicinage, and soon became the first man, in point of consequence, in the north of Scotland. In respect to some of the towns denominated Royal Boroughs, on account of their franchises, he could not, indeed, boast with Lord Lonsdale, while speaking of Whitehaven, that the three elements of fire, land, and water, were subjected to his command, yet he could assuredly controul one of them at least the peat and turf, which constitute the common fuel of the country, being generally procured from within his district.

But Lord Fife was not inattentive to matters of another kind, which in their nature and consequences were far more advantageous to the community. Early in life he began a grand system of planting the waste lands appertaining to all his estates, and enclosed the ground dedicated to this purpose, by means of turf walls, some of which are many miles in extent. When the unfavourableness of the soil,

1801-2.

P

and

and the series of years requisite for the growth of timber were considered, it was imagined that a work of this kind could only be intended for the benefit of posterity. It has, however, proved otherwise, for the age which saw the trees planted, and the nobleman who had borne the expences, have both reaped advantage, the people being on one hand supplied with wood for fuel and for building, while on the other, the weedings alone are said to have brought very profitable returns to the noble owner.

His Lordship's conduct in another point of view has also been meritorious, for praise ought never to be refused to those enlightened men, who combine public and private advantage together. What we now allude to, is his conduct in respect to a little and hitherto insignificant fishing village, in his neighbourhood, of which he is proprietor. This is said. to have risen, under his protection, and management, to be a place of some note; he has built a pier there, granted certain privileges to the inhabitants, and considering himself as the founder, denominated it "Macduff's-town." Nature, indeed, has not been very favourable to the situation, but on the contrary, presented insurmountable barriers against its ever attaining any commercial eminence, else there is every probability, that no expence would. have been spared by the proprietor.

We shall now consider his Lordship in the character of a senator. While a peer of Ireland, he sat for many years as a member for a Scotch county, in the British House of Commons, and spoke but seldom.

We

We do not indeed believe, that his Lordship ever took an active part in the debates of either House, nor do we recollect that until of late he has once delivered his opinions, during the period he has been a peer of Great Britain. But new and important events have recently occurred in the history of this country, which of course attracted his notice, and appear to have rivetted his attention.

At the commencement of the present war, the Earl of Fife, like many other independent noblemen, if they did not fully approve, yet appeared not wholly averse from that measure. There was a certain fascination about the name of Pitt, which added to his persuasive eloquence, seemed to augur, nay, to ensure success. But the delusion at length vanished, and he was found to be a mere theorist, devoid of practical ability.

Whether the contest had been originally just or unjust in its principle, it soon began to be seen, that it was at least ill-conducted; and that, with an exception in favour of the navy alone, the strength and resources of a great nation had never been managed in a manner less calculated to give satisfaction. In addition to these considerations, others naturally suggested themselves, and were indeed intimately connected with them. The taxes and burdens of the people had been multiplied to a degree never experienced before; new, and as some imagined, improper modes of finance were recurred to, and the cord of fiscal oppression experienced a degree of tension never seen until then. Two men, and two only, appeared to rule

the nation, with an extent of authority unknown to modern times. Like the triumvirs of old, they seemed to have actually divided the empire between them. One assumed the management and the control of the revenues, the customs, the excise; and every thing to be given away in England, Ireland, and the colonies, was bestowed under his immediate direction. The other was content with the patronage of. Asia and of Scotland, and as if no office in the latter had been too great or too minute for his attention, he is said to have disposed of every thing, from the crmined robe of the judge to the graduated staff of the excifeman. This circumstance of course, tended not a little to pique many men of figure and consequence, for, being no longer themselves the conduits through which public favour was dispensed, they were reduced to the alternative, of either remaining destitute of power, or of mendicating a portion of it, at the brazen shrine of a provincial lawyer.

At the beginning of the present year (1801) Mr. Pitt's administration began at length to totter, but long ere this was known to the public, many, hitherto supposed the Premier's warmest friends, although they did not side with the opposition, yet declined any longer to give him their support. So early as the 2d of February the Earl of Fife rose in his place in the House of Peers, and not only declared himself hostile to the mode in which public affairs had been lately conducted, but he was also of opinion, that the scarcity then felt was connected with the continuance of the war. Here follows a copy of his

speech,

speech, which occasioned no inconsiderable sensation :

"I do very seldom trouble your Lordships, and certainly shall not take up much of your time at present. I had no intention when I came into the House of offering myself to your Lordships. I could not feel myself at ease however, if I did not fulfil my duty in laying my sentiments before you.

"I should rather incline, if the motion for an inquiry was not now made, but even if it should at present be brought forward, thinking as I do, I most decidedly give my opinion for it.

"I have no desire to give offence to his Majesty's ministers, nor to pay court to those that oppose them. Nothing could be more improper at present than to debate whether the war was just or unjust, necessary or not necessary; but I can most positively declare, that no war was ever worse conducted. My Lords, I have read all the history of this country; I have seen and been intimate with all the different parties, from the death of Mr. Pelham to the present hour. In this horrid war our blood and treasure has been spent in the extravagant folly of secret expeditions; grievous and heavy taxes have been laid on the people, and wasted in expensive embassies, and subsidizing proud, treacherous, and useless foreign princes, who would have acted much better for themselves had you saved your money, and taken no concern with them. I do not condole with you on your present unfortunate situation in having no such friends; I only wish you had been in that situation in the beginning of the war. The noble Lord who presides at the Admiralty, in his speech, has, with much ability, done justice to the navy. I sincerely wish our ill-spent money had been laid out on our fleets.

"All those, my Lords, that ever heard me speak, or ever read a letter from me on the subject, will do me the justice to say, that my sentiments have all along been the same; and that this has hung upon my mind from the day the first battalion of the guards marched from the parade for Holland.

"I lament the present scarcity. But great as our demerits are, it comes not from the Almighty, but from the effects of this ill conducted

P 3