law, a conveyance in writing of such things as cannot pass or be conveyed by word only; such as rents, reversions, services, &c.

Grant (Francis), Lord Cullen, an eminent lawyer. yer and judge in Scotland, was descended from a younger branch of the family of the Grants of Grant in that kingdom, and was born about the year 1660. When he commenced advocate, he made a distinguished figure at the revolution, by opposing the opinion of the old lawyers, who warmly argued on the inability of the convention of estates to make any disposition of the crown. The abilities he showed in favour of the revolution recommended him to an extensive practice; in which he acquired so much honour, that when the union between the two kingdoms was in agitation, queen Anne unexpectedly, and without application, created him a baronet, with a view of securing his interest in that measure; and upon the same principle, she soon after created him a judge, or one of the lords of session. From this time, according to the custom of Scotland, he was styled, from the name of his estate, Lord Cullen; and the same good qualities that recommended him to this honourable office, were very conspicuous in the discharge of it; which he continued for 20 years with the highest reputation, when a period was put to his life by an illness which lasted but three days. He expired without any agony on March 16th 1726.—His character is drawn to great advantage in the Biographia Britannica; where it is observed, among other remarks to his honour, "That as an advocate he was indefatigable in the management of business; but at the same time that he spared no pains, he would use no craft. He had so high an idea of the dignity of his profession, that he held it equally criminal to neglect any honest means of coming at justice, or to make use of any arts to elude it. In respect to fortune, though he was modest and frugal, and had a large practice, yet he was far from being avaricious. His private charities were very considerable, and grew in the same proportion with his profits. He was, besides, very scrupulous in many points; he would not suffer a just cause to be lost through a client's want of money. He was such an enemy to oppression, that he never denied his assistance to such as laboured under it; and with respect to the clergy of all professions (in Scotland), his conscience obliged him to serve them without a fee. When his merit had raised him to the bench, he thought himself accountable to God and man for his conduct in that high office; and that deep sense of his duty, at the same time that it kept him strictly to it, encouraged and supported him in the performance. Whenever he sat as lord ordinary; the paper of causes was remarkably full, for his reputation being equally established for knowledge and integrity, there were none, who had a good opinion of their own pretensions, but were desirous of bringing them before him, and not many who did not sit down satisfied with his decision. This prevailed more especially after it was found that few of his sentences were reversed; and when they were, it was commonly owing to himself: for if, upon mature reflection, or upon new reasons offered at the re-hearing, he saw any just ground for altering his judgment, he made no scruple of declaring it; being persuaded, that it was more manly, as well as more just, to follow truth, than to support opinion: and his conduct in this respect had a right effect; for instead of lessening, it raised his reputation. He would not, however, with all this great stock of knowledge, experience, and probity, trust himself in matters Grantham, of blood, or venture to decide in criminal cases on the lives of his fellow-creatures; which was the reason that, though often solicited, he could never be prevailed upon to accept of a seat in the judiciary court.—In his private character he was as amiable as he was respectable in his public. He was charitable without ostentation, disinterested in his friendships, and benevolent to all who had any thing to do with him. He was not only strictly just; but so free from any species of avarice, that his lady, who was a woman of great prudence and discretion, finding him more intent on the business committed to him by others than on his own, took upon herself the care of placing out his money; and to prevent his postponing, as he was apt to do, such kind of affairs, when securities offered, she caused the circumstances of them to be stated in the form of cases, and so procured his opinion upon his own concerns as if they had been those of a client. He was too true a lover of learning, and was so much addicted to his studies, that notwithstanding the multiplicity of his business while at the bar, and his great attention to his charge when a judge, he nevertheless found time to write various treatises on very different and important subjects: Some political, which were remarkably well-timed, and highly serviceable to the government: others of a most extensive nature, such as his essays on law, religion, and education, which were dedicated to George II. when prince of Wales; by whose command, his then secretary, Mr Samuel Molyneaux, wrote him a letter of thanks, in which were many gracious expressions, as well in relation to the piece as to its author. He composed, besides these, many discourses on literary subjects, for the exercise of his own thoughts, and for the better discovery of truth; which went no farther than his own closet, and from a principle of modesty were not communicated even to his most intimate friends."