To those whose habit it is to judge of a man rather by his actions than by his words, Crawford will appear to have been a selfish, cruel politician, who was not at all the dupe of his own cant, and whose zeal against episcopal government was not a little whetted by his desire to obtain a grant of episcopal domains.

In excuse for his greediness, it ought to be said that he was the poorest noble of a poor nobility, and that before the Revolution he was sometimes at a loss for a meal and a suit of clothes, [310] The ablest of Scottish politicians and debaters, Sir John Dalrymple, was appointed Lord Advocate.

His father, Sir James, the greatest of Scottish jurists, was placed at the head of the Court of Session.

Sir William Lockhart, a man whose letters prove him to have possessed considerable ability, became Solicitor General.
Sir James Montgomery had flattered himself that he should be the chief minister.

He had distinguished himself highly in the Convention.