political offences to conduct their defence, would imply him to be
well read in the institutions of his country. It was while at the
Scotch Bar that, in conjunction with the late Mr. Francis Homer and
Mr. Jeffrey, he planned and established the _Edinburgh Review_, of
which he was for many years a most able and constant supporter. About
this time also he became a member of the celebrated Debating Society
at Edinburgh.

Although professionally a lawyer, Mr. Brougham's ambition soon became
directed to the senate; and, observes a clever contemporary, "it is
an instructive example of the working of our admirable system of
representation, that, up to the 16th of October last, Henry Brougham,
the greatest orator and statesman that perhaps ever enlightened
Parliament, was indebted for his seat to the patronage of a
borough-holding Peer." He first took his seat for Camelford, a
borough in the interest of the Duke of Bedford. In 1812, he contested
Liverpool with Mr. Canning, and failed; and, in the same year, he
was nominated for the Inverkeithing district of Boroughs, and failed
there also. He was, however, subsequently returned for Winchelsea, in
Sussex. During the discussions in parliament respecting the Princess
of Wales, Mr. Brougham, we believe, was honoured with the confidence
of her Royal Highness, and espoused her cause with much effect. His
earliest efforts as a British senator were likewise distinguished
by the same regard to the rights of individuals, and the liberties
of the country, which he has uniformly manifested to the present
time. Nor was he then less firm in opposition to what he deemed the
encroachments of the crown, and the extravagances and abuses of
the government, than he has since proved. His bold denial of the
sovereign's right to the droits of the Admiralty, in 1812, will not
soon be forgotten.