294

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XIII.

16S9.

The Dal-ryinples.

Lockhart.

Mont-

gomery.

politician, who was not at all the dupe of his own cant, andwhose zeal against episcopal government was not a littlewhetted by his desire to obtain a grant of episcopal domains.In excuse for his greediness, it ought to be said that he was thepoorest noble of a poor nobility, and that before the Revolutionhe was sometimes at a loss for a meal and a suit of clothes.*

The ablest of Scottish politicians and debaters, Sir JohnDalrymple, was appointed Lord Advocate. His father, SirJames, the greatest of Scottish jurists, was placed at the headof the Court of Session. Sir William Lockhart, a man whoseletters prove him to have possessed considerable ability, be-came Solicitor General.

Sir James Montgomery had flattered himself that he shouldbe the chief minister. He had distinguished himself highly inthe Convention. He had been one of the Commissioners whohad tendered the Crown and administered the oath to the newSovereigns. In parliamentary ability and eloquence he had nosuperior among his countrymen, except the new LordAdvocate.The Secretaryship was, not indeed in dignity, but in real power,the highest office in the Scottish government; and this officewas the reward to which Montgomery thought himself entitled.But the Episcopalians and the moderate Presbyterians dreaded

* See Crawford’s Letters and Speeches, passim. Ills style of begging 1for a place was peculiar. After owning, not without reason, that his heartwas deceitful and desperately wicked, he proceeded thus: “The sameOmnipotent Being who hath said, when the poor and needy seek water andthere is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, he will not forsake them;notwithstanding of my present low condition, can build me a house if Hethink fit.” — Letter to Melville, of May 28. 1G89. As to Crawford’s povertyand his passion for Bishops’ lands, see his letter to Melville of the 4th ofDecember 1690. As to his humanity, see his letter to Melville, Dec. 11.1690. All these letters are among the Leven and Melville Papers. Theauthor of An Account of the Late Establishment of Presbyterian Govern-ment says of a person who had taken a bribe of ten or twelve pounds, “Hadhe been as poor as my Lord Crawford, perhaps he had been the more ex-cusable.” See also the dedication of the celebrated tract entitled ScotchPresbyterian Eloquence Displayed.