Page:Scotish Descriptive Poems - Leyden (1803).djvu/207



author: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.