Although the character of the young earl, differed in many important
respects from that of his father, still, in one great feature there was
an exact resemblance between them. The disposition of the old earl was
stubborn, artful and avaricious, whilst that of his son, was frank, open
and generous. In temper, the former was cunning, revengeful and
unforgiving, whilst that of the latter, though hasty and violent in its
outbreaks, would a moment afterwards pass away, leaving no lingering
trace of its harsh and cruel effect upon the young earl's strong and
vigorous mind. Here, the wide contrast between the characters of the
father and son ended,--for the same vaulting ambition which had animated
the father, through a long and eventful life, descended upon the son in
its full and unstinted measure, whilst in blind and extravagant
adherence to the house of Stuart, and the Roman Catholic religion, the
son greatly outstripped the father, who had been moderate enough in his
political and religious machinations to ensure to him his titles, and
cause his estate to remain unconfiscated, and in his own particular
keeping.
Instead, however, of copying the temporizing and crafty policy of his
father, the young earl, soon after his accession to the title and
fortune of the former, began openly to hold a correspondence with the
court of the pretender, which finally resulted in his becoming one of
the first noblemen to assist in raising the rebel banner in Scotland, in
the year 1715.
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