Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 2 - 1819.djvu/329

Rh the writer felt himself in a very puzzling predicament.

Sir William spoke at length of his high value and regard for his dear young friend, the Master of Ravenswood, and of his very extreme high value and regard for the Marquis of A, his very dear old friend;—he trusted that any measures that they might adopt, in which he was concerned, would be carried on with due regard to the sanctity of decreets, and judgments obtained in foro contentioso; protesting, before men and angels, that if the law of Scotland, as declared in her established courts, were to undergo a reversal in any popular assembly, the evils which would thence arise to the public, would inflict a greater wound upon his heart, than any loss he might himself sustain by such irregular proceedings. He flourished much on generosity and forgiveness of mutual injuries, and hinted at the mutability of human affairs, always favourite topics with the weaker party in politics.