PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
Alexander Hume, author of "The Day Estival," was the second son of Patrick, fifth Baron of Polwarth, from whom the family of Marchmont are descended. In the epistle to Dr. Moncrieff, royal physician, written about the 30th year of his age, he has mentioned some circumstances of his early life. After residing four years in France, he returned to Scotland, and applied to the study of law for three years, when disgusted with his profession, he retired from the bar, and exchanged the application of the lawyer for the assiduity of the courtier.
When that I had employed my youth and pain,
Four years in France, and was returned again,
I longed to learn, and curious was to knaw,
The consuetudes, the custom, and the law,
Whereby our native soil was guide aright,
And justice done to every kind of wight:
To that effect three years, or near that space,
I haunted most our highest pleading place,
And senate, where great causes reasoned were;
My breast was bruised with leaning on the bar;
My buttons burst, I partly spitted blood;
My gown was trailed and tramped where I stood:
My ears were deafed with macers' cries and din
Which procutors and parties called in:
Four years in France, and was returned again,
I longed to learn, and curious was to knaw,
The consuetudes, the custom, and the law,
Whereby our native soil was guide aright,
And justice done to every kind of wight:
To that effect three years, or near that space,
I haunted most our highest pleading place,
And senate, where great causes reasoned were;
My breast was bruised with leaning on the bar;
My buttons burst, I partly spitted blood;
My gown was trailed and tramped where I stood:
My ears were deafed with macers' cries and din
Which procutors and parties called in:
