MELVILLE 293 - 1707. [Alexander Melville, sifted Lord RArrn, 1st s. and h. an., />. about 165S ; was Treasurer Depute [S.J, 1689-08, having, as such, tlie chief manage- ment of the public revenue. He in. in or before 1692, Barbara, 3d da. of Walter Dundas, of Dundas. He d. s.p.s. 27 March 1098. His widow d. 23 Feb. 1719. ... and J. David (iMelville, afterwards Leslie), Earl up Melville, Viscount Kirkcaldy, Lord Melville ok Mony.m.ull and Lord Kaith, Monymaill and Bal- weauie [S.j, 2d but 1st surv. s. and h. ; ft. 5 Mav 10C0 ; assumed the title of KARL OF LEVEN ami* LORD BALQONIE [a], on the death, 21 Jan. 1676, of his cousin, Catherine, suo jure Countess of Leven, Sec. [S.], but was not recognised therein, till the death, s.p.m., 27 July 1681, of the Duke of Rothes [S.], some of whose (possible) issue tnale had a prior right thereto. I!y the death of bis father, 20 May 1707, he sue. to his paternal dignities, as Eaiil ok Melville, S c. [S.] See " Leven Earldom [S.j, or. 1611, sub the 5th holder of that peerage, with which dignity the Earldom and Baron; of Melville continues uuited.(») Earldom [S.] II. Barony [S.] V. MELVILLE [U.K.] Viscountcy. j. The Rt. Hon. Henry Dujtdas, was 4th s. of Robert I 180° Dindas, of Arniston, co. Edinburgh, President of the Court of Session [S.], 1748-53, by his second wife, Anne, sister and coheir of Sir John, da. of Sir ( William ?) Gordon, ( ,J ) Bart., of Invergorden, lie was 6. 2S April 17-12 ; ed. at the High School anil the Univ. of Edinburgh ; Advocate, 1763; Solicitor Gen. [S.], 1766-75: M.P. for Midlothian, 1774-82; for Newtown, Isle of Wight, 17S2 ; for Midlothian (again!, 1783-90, and for Edinburgh (city), 1790 — 1802; Lord Advocate [S.], 1775-83; Joint Keeper, 1777-79, and Keeper, 1779—1800, of the Signet [S.] ; Rector of the Univ. of Glasgow, 1781-S3 j Chairman of the newly-established Board for Indian au"airs,( c ) 1781; Treasurer of the Navy Scotland were in his family for some years On the Queen's accession [1702], he and his son were dismissed from all their employments. He hath neither learning, wit, nor common conversation ; but a steadiuess of principle and a firm boldness for Presbyterian Government in all reigns hath carried him thro' all these great employ- ments, and his weakness made him the fitter tool, for my Lord Portland and Mr. Carstairs supported him. He makes a very mean figure in his person, being low, thin, with a great head, a long chin and little eyes ; is 70 years old." ( a ) " Iu the Leven charter of 1664," the dignities are limited to the second son of George, Lord Melvill and Catherine his spouse and the heirs male of his body with this qualification —that if he or they shall " succeed also to be Lord Melvil, in that case the said Countesse of Levin's honour and diguitie, &c., shall ipso facto pertene to the next air of taillie, in whose favor the pcrsou succeeding shall be holdcn to denude themselfis, omni habdi modo of the said Countess of Leven's Diguitie [" Riddell" p. 69]. "This is from the signature under the Caschet of which the Charter is a literal extension in Latin." Mr. Riddell adds, " Can this union [of the Earldom of Melville with that of Leven] continue in the face of the above prohibition or should not the latter rather diverge and separate accordingly ? " The question, however of "jumping or "revolting," peerages (i.e. such as should, according to their limitation, leave the person in whom they have once vested) is a difficult one. See vol, ii, p. 59, note " b," sub " Buckhurst " for some remarks thereon. ( b ) She was probably sister of Isabel who m. 23 Sep, 1724, George (Mackenzie), 3d Earl of Cromarty [S.] The christian name of her father is given as " William," " Kobert," or " John." A Sir John Gordon, Bart., of Invergordou, died 25 May 1783 [Ann. Reg.], and it appears that the mother of a certain Niel Douglas, who was tried at Edinburgh, 12 July 1816. was niece by her mother of Lord Melville's mother, both being, as the prisoner stated, daughters of a Sir John Gordon. [Ex inform. M. J. Shaw-Stewart.J (») " As the practical head of the Board of Control, the management of Indian affairs was in his hands for more than 16 years. For nearly 30 years he was the most powerful man iu Scotland, and, as the election agent for the Goverumeut, controlled the elections of the Scotch Rep. Peers as well as of the Scotch members of the House of Commons." [Nat. Bioyr.]
