Border family, the Humes, or Homes, as it was occasionally written, of Marchmont, whose arms he consequently bore.* The practice of spelling Hume, the great English historian of that name remarks, "is by far the most ancient and most general till about the Restoration, when it became common to spell Home contrary to the pronunciation. The name is frequently mentioned in Rymer's "Fœdera," and always spelt Hume."†

Had the subject of these pages been of the elder branch of his family, he would have had an immediate claim to the dormant peerage above mentioned: a circumstance which he never regarded, for, having no son, but a large family of daughters, and a fortune inadequate to the rank of an Earl, he would undoubtedly have been deterred from preferring that claim. Nor does the elder branch appear to have been more solicitous about it. There is, with very many, at the present day, a disregard, real or affected, of ancient lineage, for which it is not difficult to account. We are disposed, however, to coincide in the remark of the historian above-mentioned, where he says:-"I am not of the opinion of some, that these are matters altogether to be slighted. I doubt that our morals have not much

* Vert, a lion rampant ar. Crest, a lion's head erased ar. Motto: True to the end. "A Selection from the Papers of the Earls of Marchmont, in the possession of Sir George Henry Rose, Bart., illustrative of Events from the year 1685 to 1750," in three volumes, published by Murray, in 1831, is a work of considerable historical interest.

† See a letter (date 1758) in Burton's "Life of David Hume."

improved since we began to think riches the sole things worth regarding."*

James Deacon, the son of James and Elizabeth Hume, was born on the 28th of April, 1774, in the parish of Newington in the County of Surrey. He had four sisters. The youngest, who survives, married the late Rev. Edward Smedley, M.A., Author of "Sketches from Venetian History," a "History of the Reformed Religion in France," and a "History of France from the Final Partition of Charlemagne to the Peace of Cambray,"§ with many other well-known publications. Before he had reached the period of middle age he became incapacitated by bodily affliction for the active duties of his profession, and devoted himself to literature in its highest and worthiest pursuits. His second daughter published some years since a volume of poems entitled "Songs and Ballads from English History." Not the least interesting is "Grizzel Hume," a poem founded upon the following passage taken from the Second Series of Sir Walter Scott's Tales of a Grandfather. The subject was very naturally one of personal and family interest.

* David Hume came from another branch, the Humes, or Homes, of Ninewells, and so was descended from Earl Home. The arms of Home of Ninewells are curious. Vert, a lion rampant argent, within a bordure or, charged with nine wells, or springs, barry, wavy, and argent.

† Murray's Family Library.

The Theological Library. Rivington.

§ The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.

The account is more fully given in "A Narrative of the Events which occurred in the Enterprise of the Earl of Argyle, in 1685," by Sir Patrick Hume.

"Sir Patrick Hume, of Polwarth, afterwards Lord Marchmont, was one of the leaders of the Jerviswood plot in the reign of Charles II. When this conspiracy was discovered, Sir Patrick, having narrowly escaped falling into the hands of those who were sent to arrest him, concealed himself in a vault in the churchyard of Polwarth, and remained there till his enemies had given up seeking for him in that neighbourhood. During his sojourn in this dark and melancholy lurking place, his daughter Grizzel, a girl about eighteen years old, conveyed provisions to him every night. She was obliged to go forth alone, at midnight, for this purpose; and great must have been her anxiety during each of these perilous expeditions; for had chance discovered her to any evil-disposed person, the secret of her father's hiding place must inevitably have become known, and there can be no doubt that he would have shared the fate of the noble Baillie of Jerviswood, who, having refused to purchase safety by becoming a witness against Lord Russell, suffered death about this time."

James Hume, after the birth of James Deacon, the subject of this volume, was appointed Commissioner of the Customs. But at the time to which we refer, he was the deputy of a noble duke, who had a patent place in that department. He obtained the appointment through the favour and influence of his uncle, Dr. Hume, Bishop of Salisbury. The duke's place was one of considerable value, arising from fees. The salary of the deputy did not exceed 300l. a year. Mr. Deacon Hume was greatly attached to his father, who

was a man of very amiable character, as well as of considerable ability. The Rev. Edward Smedley was accustomed to speak of him as "without exception, the best man and the most delightful companion he had ever familiarly known."

When the Secretaryship of the Customs, worth at that time above 2,000l. a year, became vacant, Mr. Pitt, the Minister of the day, selected Mr. James Hume to fill the office: a circumstance which surprised and gratified him, for he had no patron, and it was entirely unsolicited on his part. This deserves to be mentioned, as it is a sort of parallel to the manner in which his son was afterwards advanced; and a parallel to which Mr. Deacon Hume himself very often referred. He was fond of relating the following anecdote in connection with his father's appointment. "When Mr. Pitt gave him the place, he went to communicate the intelligence to the Duke of The latter, however, instead of expressing pleasure that one who had served him ably and faithfully for many years should have met with such good fortune, only regarded the matter as it affected himself; and he exhibited much dissatisfaction that his own interest had not been considered in the arrangement. While Mr. James Hume held the office first mentioned, his income being limited, he removed to Bideford, a retired village in Devonshire. It was in this neighbourhood that his son's career, in the seventh year of his age, was very near being cut short. Having to cross the long bridge over the river Torridge on his way to school, and finding one

day other boys loitering and amusing each other with the various feats which they could perform, he, being determined to outdo them all, climbed to the top of the parapet, and then letting himself down on the outside, hung by his hands over the water. Those who are acquainted with the height of the bridge, and the nature of the stream, will appreciate the danger of the situation. It was one from which a boy could not, by any possibility, extricate himself. When his little

hands were almost tired out, he was rescued, strange to say, by a stout washerwoman, who not only saved his life, but gave him at the same time a sound beating, in order to teach him not to risk it again in such perilous adventures.

At an early age he was sent to Westminster School, where the boys of his family, both before and after his time, have generally been educated, and have arrived, in several instances, at some distinction.* He was there during the successive head-masterships of Drs. Smith and Vincent; and of the latter he always spoke in that tone of admiration with which he was regarded by all his pupils.

Some old Westminsters will probably be gratified, as well as the general reader, by the following portrait of the Venerable Doctor, by the hand of Mr. Deacon Hume's brother-in-law, the late Rev. Edward Smedley:

His nephews, the Rev. Charles Dodgson, the present Archdeacon of Richmond, and Hassard Hume Dodgson, Esq., both from this school, were elected students of Christchurch, Oxford. The firstmentioned was a double first-class man in 1821, the latter a first-class man in 1825, and Dean Ireland's scholar in 1826.