Biographical Sketch Of The Late Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., &C,

law , ancl his signal qualifications for dealing * with the most complicated cases , he was soon brought prominently before the 2 DUblic , anc ^ ^ ie eai * ly attained a very honourable position at the bar , which he maintained till the close of his eventful

life . His success as a laAvyer may be said to have been meteoric , ancl that success is mainly attributable to the full strength of the attention and the energy which he devoted to it . In the year 1832 he was appointed an Advocate-Depute—a position

he enjoyed doAvn to the fall of the Wellington Administration in 1833 . In this capacity , though Sir W . Rae , then the Lord Advocate , led the prosecution in person , he drew out the indictment in the complicated case of Burke and

Hare , who played so infamous a part in the » annals of crime . He took a prominent part in the struggle Avhich was maintained with such remark-» able ability on behalf of these world-renowned » crimiuals , by Moncrieff , Jeffrey , and Oockburn .

During these years he collected the materials for his Avorks on the " Principles and Practice of the 'Criminal LaAV of Scotland "—volumes which , when first offered to the { public , were admired for their elegance , conciseness , and perspicuity of

. style , not less than for the ability displayed in the -treatment of the subject . The work is at present undiminished in popularity , ancl is a recognised authority not only in the Sheriff Courts of Scotland bufc also elsewhere . In December 1 S 34 , the Sheriffdom of Lanarkshire became vacant . Sir

Archibald's capacity and energy together with his claims to the of & ce were readily acknowledged . He was successful in gaining the appointment , which , in point of magisterial dignity ancl emolument , ranks next to the position of a Lord of

Session . The duties Avere comparatively light then , compared to that to which they ultimately extended , and he found sufficient time for the prosecution of those literary labours Avhich Avere so congenial to his taste . The first volumes of

his " Hisfcoiy of Europe " made their appearance , ancl it is almost superfluous to say , made a very creditable one . The other editions folloAved in

quick succession , and met Avith an equally favourable reception at the hands of a discriminating public . He had not been long in his new position when he had to grapple with a case Avhich called into play all his energies . Glasgow , as also other

parts of the country , in the autumn of 1836 , Avas labouring under a commercial paralysis of such an -extraordinary character as forced some of the

principal houses in GiasgoAv to temporary founder . The advance of Avages proposed to be conceded to the cotton spinners the ] 31 ' evious year Avas threatened to be withdrawn , and the workmen became so indignant at the proposal that they

immediately struck . On a rough estimate it is calculated that there Avere upwards of 10 , 000 individuals who suspended work at that time . The strike continued for four months , and the consequent loss to the city is computed at a little

beyond JE' 200 , 000 . A union Avas formed which prevented members from taking employment at the reduced rate . The controversy which ensued became so vehement , that one man was shot dead in Clyde-street , Anderston , ancl such was the

timidity of those who Avere agreeable to give evidence as to the charges of intimidation and murder to which this strike unfortunately led ,

that they positively declined to meet the Sheriff in his OAVU sffice , so that he was forced to conduct his investigations very often at night , and at unsuspected quarters . The patient and exhaustive enquiries Avere gone about with the utmost secrecy ;

the witnesses with a regard to their own safety , adopting the wise precaution of coming - and going alone by different routes . The Avitnesses , at their expressed wish , were kept in prison till the trial took place , at the conclusion of Avhich they Avere

despatched , in terms of agreement , abroad . The trial extended to eight days ; M'Neil and Robertson being entrusted with the defence . The charge of murder Avas not sufficiently proved as to warrant the infliction of punishment , but from the evidence

adduced , seven persons Avere found guilty of conspiring to intimidate , aud were transported for seven years . Sir Archibald at the close of the trial received

the well-merited encomiums of the judges and others interested in the case , for the judicious ancl business-like manner in which he had so well acquitted himself throughout the severe trial . As they spoke so loudly concez-ning his tact ,

shi'ewdness , ancl general ability , he replied to them in a speech characterised by singular felicity of expression , of which the folioAving is a brief resume : — " Numbers of the cotton manufacturers in this city have constructed cotton mills Avhich dispense

Avith spinners altogether . Others have succeeded , by machinei'y , in reducing the numbers required to one half . By the boasted rise of their wages , by the harassing repetition of their strikes , the cotton-spinners have dug the grave of their OAvn