Saturday at noon
NOTE 3 , p. 102 The account given by Mr. Pleydell of his sitting down in the midst of a revel to draw an appeal case was taken from a story told me by an aged gentleman of the elder President Dundas of Amiston -LRB- father of the younger President and of Lord Melville -RRB- . It had been thought very desirable , while that distinguished lawyer was king 's counsel , that his assistance should be obtained in drawing an appeal case , which , as occasion for such writings then rarely occurred , was held to be matter of great nicety . The solicitor employed for the appellant , attended by my informant acting as his clerk , went to the Lord Advocate 's chambers in the Fishmarket Close , as I think . It was Saturday at noon , the Court was just dismissed , the Lord Advocate had changed his dress and booted himself , and his servant and horses were at the foot of the close to carry him to Arniston . It was scarcely possible to get him to listen to a word respecting business . The wily agent , however , on pretence of asking one or two questions , which would not detain him half an hour , drew his Lordship , who was no less an eminent ban vivant than a lawyer of unequalled talent , to take a whet at a celebrated tavern , when the learned counsel became gradually involved in a spirited discussion of the law points of the case . At length it occurred to him that he might as well ride to Arniston in the cool of the evening .