In 1832–3 Lord Corehouse is listed as living at 12 Ainslie Place on the Moray Estate in Edinburgh's fashionable west end.[2]
In January 1839, while apparently in perfect health, he was suddenly struck with paralysis, which compelled him to retire. He died 26 June 1850.
Associations and works
His accomplishments as a Greek scholar secured him the friendship of Lord Monboddo. While attending the civil law class in 1788 Cranstoun met Walter Scott, and a friendship continued through life. Scott read the opening stanzas of the Lay of the Last Minstrel to William Erskine and Cranstoun. While practising at the bar Cranstoun wrote a satire, 'The Diamond Beetle Case,’ in which he caricatured the manner and style of several of the judges in delivering their opinions.
Family
His second sister, Jane Anne, afterwards Countess of Purgstall, was a correspondent of Walter Scott; his youngest sister, Helen D'Arcy, was a noted poet and hostess in Edinburgh and was the wife of philosopher Dugald Stewart.