satisfactory, have been assigned for this secrecy. But it is sufficient for us to know that Cowper afterwards acknowledged the marriage, and that Mary Clavering proved a very good wife to the first earl. Romance was also a large ingredient in the matrimonial adventures of the Scotts. Everybody knows the romantic story of the wooing of John Scott, first Earl of Eldon; how his fiancee was the daughter of a New castle banker; how her father strongly ob jected to the match; and, how one winter's night the young lady escaped through her bedroom window, descended a rope-ladder into the arms of her lover, and fled with him to Gretna Green, and was promptly married. This marriage proved a very happy one. When, in after life, Eldon was asked why he did not go more into society, he replied that, as his wife had given up society for his sake when she was young, he had now given it up for her sake when she was old. The marriage of William Scott, Earl Stowell, and brother to the Earl of Eldon, was a different affair altogether. Scott was an admiralty and ecclesiastical judge, and sat at the Old Bailey. On one occasion he had to try a young gentleman, a son of the Marchioness of Sligo, for enticing some naval men to desert and join his yacht in the Mediterranean. The marchioness hap pened to be in court when Sir William was delivering a homily to the young man on his duties and responsibilities as a citizen. So struck was she with the wisdom of the judge that she immediately jotted down an offer of marriage and handed it to him by the usher of the court. Sir William ac cepted it on the spot. This story, if not true, is at least ben trovato. Some doubt
has, indeed, been thrown on its accuracy by various writers; but it is quite certain that the acquaintance between Scott and the marchioness arose out of the trial. We may, however, be discreetly silent as to the happiness or otherwise which followed on this impromptu match. As an example of the eccentric in matri mony we might quote the case of Serjeant Hill. The serjeant was a very absent-minded man, and on the morning of his marriage went to his chambers as usual, having for gotten all about the ceremony. Some kind friends found him and brought him up to mark in time. He married a Miss Medlicott, who was as eccentric as her husband. By a special patent she retained her maiden name after her marriage, much to the good ser jeant's disgust. " My name is Hill, madam," he used to say to her; "my father's name was Hill; all my ancestors were called Hill. Hill is a good name, madam, and while you are my wife, you shall be Mrs. Hill, madam." But Mrs. Medlicott did not see it in that light. After her death the serjeant used to say to condoling friends : " Yes, yes, she was a good wife, a very good wife; but, mark my words, I'll never marry again for money!' Other eighteenth century lawyers had more or less romantic marriages. Erskine's second marriage with Miss Mary Buck was a Gretna Green affair. Ellenborough mar ried a famous beauty, Anne Lowry, whose attractions were the wonder of Bloomsbury and the talk of the town. Mansfield was a great favorite with the ladies, but, for a wonder, he only married once, Lady Elizabeth Finch, to wit, seventh daughter of the Earl of Nottingham. — The Law Times.
