Much interest, which is not exclusively political, attaches to a
View of the Political State of Scotland in the Last Century, by Sir Charles Elphinstoue Adam (David Douglas, Edinburgh). It is a confidential report on the "political opinions, family connections, or personal circumstances" of the 2,662 county voters in Scotland in 1788, pre- pared by some unknown person or persona for the purpose of enlisting William Adam and Henry Erskine in "managing the interests in Scotland of the Whig Opposition to the Administration of Pitt and Henry Dundee." Liberalism at that time meant a battle— and an exceedingly uphill battle—to free Scotland from the
political and, in a sense, also personal domination of the Dandases. It is plain from the general character of the notes appended to the names of the different voters in this book, which are arranged according to the different counties of Scotland, that a large number of these voters were small landowners or lawyers desirous of adding to their wealth or landed property, or of securing advancement of some kind for themselves or their relatives. Selfishness is the prevailing note of this book. Take, for example, these two entries, both under the head of the county which is here Spelt "Air-shire" :—" David Kennedy of Craigs—undeclared. Lord Cassilis may influence him by giving him a lease on easy
terms James Hume, Writer in Ayr, would like employ- ment and preferment. Vote for Sir Adam Ferguson." The notes in this volume occasionally also give indications of character and mode of life. Thus Mr. James Ferguson, of Pitfonr, in Banffshire, is described as "a man of real good sense, but indolent." John Christie, of Baberton, in Midlothian, is an " old man, dying ; made his fortune by a lottery.tioket." "Nabobs," doubtless of the peppery kind that Scott drew one of in " St. Bonn's Well," are very abundant, and we have a probably sordid Odyssey in a nutshell in the pithy account of Henry Rankine, of Knookdow, in Ayrshire, as " an oddity, begs on the highway, has amassed money." It is rather pleasant to read good accounts by this anonymous censor snorunt of men of whom one has been in the habit of thinking favourably. Professor Dugald Stewart is described as " a very learned and worthy man," and Lord Mosboddo is "an honest, upright judge, but whimsical in his opinions." Altogether, this is a book which no head of a " family," great or small, in Scotland, ought to be without, as he will probably find in it vignettes of his male ancestors, both on the paternal and the maternal side.
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