plaint was never heard to escape his lips, nor the shadow of discontent seen to cloud his countenance ! 'Nothing in his life became him, like the leaving it.' He looked patiently forward to the termination of his painful existence, and received with mild complacency the intelligence of his danger, while the ease and happiness of those, whose felicity through life had been his primary consideration, were never absent from his thoughts. It is said that Swift, after having written that celebrated satire on mankind, Gulliver's Travels, exclaimed whilst meditating on the rare virtues of his friend Arbuthnot:- Oh! were there ten Arbuthnots in the world, I would burn my book.' It is difficult to contemplate such a character as Mr Erskine's without a similar sentiment, without feeling, that were there many Erskines, one should learn to think better of mankind. The general voice placed him, while living, high among the illustrious characters of the present age; may the humble memorial the author is giving to the public, preserve his name unblemished by misrepresentation, till some more equal pen shall hand it down to posterity, as a bright example of what great usefulness extraordinary talents may prove to society, when under the direction of sound judgment, incorruptible integrity, and enlarged philanthropy"

Francis Horner.

BORN A. D. 1778.-DIED A. D. 1817.

THIS upright and intelligent statesman was the son of a respectable merchant in Edinburgh. He received his education at the high school and university of that city, and chose the profession of the law, in which he gave early promise of future eminence.

When Lord Henry Petty, the second son of the first marquess of Lansdowne, was appointed chancellor of the exchequer, he procured the return of Mr Horner for the borough of St Ives, in 1806, wishing to strengthen his party by the presence and talents of one whom he had long known, and of whose ability he had formed a very high opinion.

From this period Mr Horner resided in London, and, though he qualified himself for, and was called to the English bar, appears to have devoted his whole attention to politics. The dismissal of the FoxoGrenville administration deprived him of his seat for St Ives, but he was immediately returned for Wendover by the courtesy of Lord Mahon, who vacated his seat to make room for him.

On the 1st of February, 1810, Mr Horner, pursuant to a notice he had given, moved in his place for an inquiry into the state of the coin and exchanges. This was the commencement of a brilliant career in this department of finance, to which Mr Horner had long given peculiar attention. He acted for some time as chairman of the Bullion committee, and drew up the first part of their report.' The committee recommended the repeal of the law suspending the cash-payments of the bank; leaving the details of the measures necessary for returning to cash-payments to the bank itself.

On the 16th of May, 1811, Mr Horner, in a long and eloquent

1 The second was prepared by Mr Huskisson, and the third by Mr Henry Thornton.

speech of between three and four hours' duration, supported all these positions, and contended strongly for the justice of the results. On this occasion, he with great ability defended both himself and the other members of the committee, and concluded with moving sixteen distinct resolutions, the subject of which amounted to the following:-1. That the promissory notes of the bank of England are stipulations to pay, on demand, the sum of pounds sterling, respectively specified in each of these notes.-2. That when the parliament suspended the cash-payments of these notes, it was not its intention that any alteration whatever should take place in the value of these promissory notes.-3. It appears that the actual value of the promissory notes of the bank of England, (measuring such value by the standard weight of gold and silver aforesaid,) has been for a considerable period of time, and still is considerably less than what is established by the laws of the realm, to be the legal tender in payment of any money-contract or stipulation.— 4. That the fall which has taken place in the value of the promissory notes, &c., has been occasioned by the too great issue of paper currency.-5. That to the depreciation which has taken place in the relative value of the currency of this and foreign countries may be attributed the depression of the exchange.-6. That the only certain and adequate security to be provided against an excess of paper currency, and for maintaining the relative value of the circulating medium of the realm, is the legal convertibility, upon demand, of all paper currency, into lawful coin of the realm: and, 7. That in order to revert gradually to this security, and to enforce a due limitation of the paper of the bank of England, as well as the other bank-paper of the country, it is expedient to alter the time, during which the suspension of cash-payments shall continue, from six months after the ratification of a definitive treaty of peace, to that of two years from the present time.

Mr Horner's propositions were negatived at the instant, but afterwards acted upon in spirit and substance both by government and the bank.

For several years Mr Horner pursued his parliamentary avocations with great industry, and few public men, perhaps, ever commanded so much general esteem in the house; but his health-which had never been robust at last gave way before his unwearied application and fatiguing duties. He complied with the advice of his medical men to refresh and recreate himself by a tour in southern Europe, but expired soon after his arrival at Pisa, on the 8th of February, 1817.

On moving for a new writ for the borough of St Mawes, Lord Morpeth said, in reference to the late lamented member:-" I may perhaps be permitted, without penetrating too far into the more sequestered paths of private life, to allude to those mild virtues, those domestic charities, which embellished while they dignified his private character. I may be permitted to observe, that as a son and as a brother, he was eminently dutiful and affectionate; but I am aware that these qualities, however amiable, can hardly, with strict propriety, be addressed to the consideration of parliament. When, however, they are blended, interwoven, and incorporated in the character of a public man, they become a species of public property, and by their influence and example, essentially augment the general stock of public virtue. For his qualifications as a public man I can confidently appeal to a wider circle.-to

that learned profession of which he was a distinguished ornament,—to this house, where his exertions will be long remembered with mingled feelings of regret and admiration. It is not necessary for me to enter into the detail of his graver studies and occupations. I may be allowed to say generally, that he raised the edifice of his fair fame upon a good and solid foundation,-upon the firm basis of conscientious principle. He was ardent in the pursuit of truth, he was inflexible in his adherence to the great principles of justice and of right. Whenever he delivered in this house the ideas of his clear and intelligent mind, he employed that chaste, simple, but at the same time nervous and impressive style of oratory, which seemed admirably adapted to the elucidation and discussion of important business; it seemed to combine the force and precision of legal argument with the acquirements and knowledge of a statesman. Of his political opinions it is not necessary for me to enter into any detailed statement; they are sufficiently known, and do not require from me any comment or illustration. I am confident that his political opponents will admit, that he never courted popularity by any unbecoming or unworthy means: they will have the candour to allow, that the expression of his political opinions, however firm, manly, and decided, was untinctured with moroseness, and unembittered with any personal animosity or rancorous reflection. From these feelings he was effectually exempted by the operation of those qualities which formed the graces and the charms of his private life. But successful as his exertions were, both in this house and in the courts of law, considering the contracted span of his life, they can only be looked upon as the harbingers of his maturer fame, as the presages and the anticipations of a more exalted reputation. But his career was prematurely closed. That his loss to his family and his friends is irreparable, can be readily conceived; but I may add, that to this house and the country it is a loss of no ordinary magnitude; in these times it will be severely felt. In these times, however, when the structure of the constitution is undergoing close and rigorous investigation-on the part of some with a view of exposing its defects, on the part of others with that of displaying its beauties and perfections-we may derive some consolation from the reflection, that a man not possessed of the advantages of hereditary rank or of very ample fortune, was enabled, by the exertion of his own honourable industry, by the successful cultivation of his native talents, to vindicate to himself a station and eminence in society, which the proudest and wealthiest might envy and admire."

Mr Canning warmly seconded this eulogy :-" I, Sir," said he, " had not the happiness-a happiness now counterbalanced by a proportionate excess of sorrow and regret to be acquainted personally, in private life, with the distinguished and amiable individual whose loss we have to deplore. I knew him only within the walls of the house of commons. And even here, from the circumstance of my absence during the last two sessions, I had not the good fortune to witness the later and more matured exhibition of his talents; which, as I am informed, and can well believe, at once kept the promise of his earlier years, and opened still wider expectations of future excellence. But I had seen enough of him to share in those expectations, aud to be sensible of what this house and the country have lost by his being so prematurely taken from us. He had, indeed, qualifications eminently calculated to obtain

and to deserve success. His sound principles, his enlarged views, his various and accurate knowledge, the even tenor of his manly and temperate eloquence, the genuineness of his warmth, when into warmth he was betrayed, and above all the singular modesty with which he bore his faculties, and which shed a grace and lustre over them all; these qualifications, added to the known blamelessness and purity of his private character, did not more endear him to his friends, than they commanded the respect of those to whom he was opposed in adverse politics; they insured to every effort of his abilities an attentive and favouring audience, and secured for him, as the result of all, a solid and unenvied reputation."

6

An early and very intimate friend drew up the following sketch of Mr. Horner for the Annual Obituary:'-"The characteristics of Mr. Horner's mind, if I apprehend them rightly, were clearness of perception, calmness of judgment, and patience of investigation; producing, as their consequences, firmness of conduct and independence of principle. Carrying these qualities into his public life, he evinced greater moderation and forbearance than are often found in the narrow and comparatively unambitious strifes of a less extended scene. He entered parliament at rather an early age, and soon became not only an useful and conspicuous man of business, but drew more respect to his personal character, and was regarded by both sides of the house of commons, with greater confidence and interest than any young member had attracted, perhaps, since the early days of Mr. Pitt. This will appear higher praise, when it is added, with truth, that no man coming into that house under the patronage of a whig nobleman, could have acted with greater liberality towards extended ideas of popular right, with more fairness and firmness to the persons of his opponents, or with more apparent latitude of individual judgment, on some of the most trying occasions, in all these scenes that have occurred in our recent parliamentary history. He took a considerable part in the important financial, and especially politico-economical, deliberations which have occupied public attention for the last seven years, and will be long remembered, as having in great part, if not wholly, constructed the farfamed report of the Bullion committee; of the doctrines and recommendations of that production, men's opinions differed at the time of its appearance, according as they were led, by a knowledge of the science, through which alone it could be rationally appreciated, by a sense of immediate expediency, or by the leanings of the leaders of their respective parties. But, considering the circumstances under which it was produced, the temper of the times, and the extent and varying aspect of those appearances and conditions which it had to reconcile into the shape of general principles, I may venture to affirm, that it abounds with more accurate evolution of important propositions and first truths in the science of political economy, than any document ever produced by a legislative body. Indeed, those who have been accustomed to note carefully the parliamentary debates since 1811, must have perceived that Mr. Horner had a better hold on the principles of that important science than any orator of his day. As a public speaker, he was not remarkable for the popular graces and attractions. If eloquence consists in rousing the passions by strong metaphor, in awakening the sympathies by studied allusions, or in arresting attention by the sallies

of a mind rich in peculiar association, Mr Horner was not eloquent. But if eloquence be the art of persuading by accurate reasoning, and a right adjustment of all the parts of a discourse, by the power of a tact which is rather intellectually right, than practically fine; Mr H. was eloquent. He spoke with the steady calmness of one who saw his way on principle, while he felt it simply and immediately through sobriety of judgment and good conduct, and never seemed to be more excited by his subject, or more carried away in the vehemence of debate, than to make such exertions as left one uniform impression on the minds of his hearers, that he spoke from an honest internal conviction, and from a real desire to be useful. In private life he was distinguished by an impressive graveness, which would have appeared heavy, had it not been observed in permanent conjunction with an easy steadiness of conversation, and a simplicity of manners very far from any thing odd, affected, or inelegant. His sense of honour was high and decided. His taste for literature, like his taste for conduct, was correct. As his acts of friendship or of duty were done without effort or finesse, so did he enjoy with quietness and relish, those tender and deeply felt domestic affections which can sweeten or even adorn almost any condition of life. He was one of that powerful band of able and distinguished men, with whom the Edinburgh Review originated, and was known as one of its contributors for several of the earlier years of its progress. He was not fitted to win popularity, but his habitual moderation, his unaffected respect for every thing respectable that was opposed to him, and the successful pains which he took to inform himself well on the grounds and nature of every business in which he bore a part, gained him an influence more valuable to a man of judgment, than popularity. In short, reckoning forward to the distance of probably a very few years, and to that change in his majesty's councils, which it was the object of Mr Horner's political life to accomplish, and under which he sincerely believed his country would be more free and more secure, than under any other probable event; no man seemed more likely to rise to high place and influence than himself. In a crisis of public affairs like the present, unbiassed and upright politicians will admit, that the influence of men like him is peculiarly desirable. And I would receive it as a consolation if any one could be at present named, to fill the space which he has left."

Sir Philip Francis.

BORN A. D. 1740.-DIED A. D. 1818.

SIR PHILIP FRANCIS was born in Dublin on the 22d of October, 1740. His father was Dr Francis, the well-known translator of Horace and Demosthenes. In 1750 he was sent over to England, and was in 1753 placed at St Paul's school, where he made great proficiency in classical learning. In 1756 Mr Henry Fox, afterwards Lord Holland, gave him a clerkship in the secretary of state's office. He was afterwards patronized by Lord Chatham, to whom he occasionally acted as