It was not on great occasions only, that his lordship's talents were conspicuous: they were equally discoverable in the common business of the courts. Par negotiis neque supra*, was never more applicable than to the discernment, perseverance, abilities, and-good-humour with which he conducted himself in this part of his office. The late earl of Sandwich said of him," that his talents were more for common 66 use, and more at his finger ends, than those of any "other person he had known.” But his highest praise is, that his private virtues were allowed by all, and his personal integrity was never called in question.

"tions, but conforming principles to the growth of our com"merce and our empire."-See the Report from the Committee to inspect the Lords Journals, in relation to the Proceedings on the Trial of Warren Hastings, Esq. Burke's Works, vol. xiv. p. 385. This report was penned by Mr. Burke, and may be ranked among the most valuable productions of his pen. It turns on a question of the highest importance both in legislation. and jurisprudence,-whether in cases, for which neither the written nor unwritten law of a nation has provided, courts of law may make a provision for it, by conforming existing laws and principles to it, or by subtracting it from their operation. The question arose on a nice point in the doctrine of testimony; and to this, the discussion in the report principally applies; but it embraces the whole of the subject, and abounds in learning and profound observation :-unfortunately, its title is far from alluring, and it has therefore been little read.

* Tacitus, in Vitá Agricolæ.

XI. 2.

Lord Hardwicke-Lord Camden-Lord Thurlow-Lord Rosslyn--Sir William Grant--Lord Eldon--Lord Kenyon.

1. Ar the period when the Reminiscent engaged in the profession of the law, the talents displayed by lord Hardwicke in the senate and on the bench, were the universal theme of panegyric. Some,—but faintly,-blamed him for too frequently permitting principles of equity to control rules of law: this charge was occasionally insinuated by lord Northington, his immediate successor. But the eminent merit of his lordship's general administration of justice in his court, was admitted by all. As far as we can form an opinion of it by the reports of the cases determined in his time, by Mr. Atkyns and Mr. Vesey, his style of speaking was easy, copious and dignified: He seems to have been anxious to bring every case decided by him within the application of some general principle; always taking care to express himself guardedly and perspicuously: the terms in which lord Mansfield, Mr. Burke and Mr. Wilkes described his judicial arguments, have been mentioned.

2. The Reminiscent distinctly remembers lord Camden's presiding in the court of chancery. His lordship's judicial eloquence was of the colloquial kind, extremely simple: diffuse, but not desultory. He introduced legal idioms frequently, and always with a pleasing and great effect. His manner is very

discernible in the anonymous "Treatise of the Process of Latitat in Wales," published in Mr. Hargrave's Law Tracts. In a note to Mr. Hargrave, which that gentleman communicated to the Reminiscent, his lordship acknowledged himself to be its author. Sometimes, however, his lordship rose to sublime strains of eloquence but their sublimity was altogether in the sentiment; the diction retained its simplicity, and this increased the effect*.

very

3. Lord Thurlow's speeches from the bench were different. They were strongly marked by depth of legal knowledge, and force of expression; and by the overwhelming power with which he propounded the result. But they were too often enveloped in obscurity, and sometimes reason was rather silenced than convinced.

4. The earl Rosslyn seldom had justice done to his heart or his talents: we have mentioned his dereliction of the whigs, to whom he first attached himself in politics, and its having raised against him

*It is known that his lordship, like many other distinguished personages, was a great reader of novels; and surely the hour of relaxation is as well employed in reading Tom Jones, or Clarissa, or any of the novels attributed to Sir Walter Scott, as in the perusal of the productions of party pens.

At a house of great distinction, ten gentlemen of taste were desired to frame, each of them, a list of the ten most entertaining works, which they had read. One work only found its way into list.-It every may amuse the reader to guess will not be surprised to find it was-Gil Blas.

it-He

If the Reminiscent may be allowed to give his opinion,― the Conjuration contre Venise of the Abbé de St. Réal, is the most interesting of publications.

a prejudice, from which he never recovered. Long, he ranked among the warmest and ablest friends of catholic emancipation; but in an evil hour, he sacrificed them at the commencement of lord Grenville's administration to the cry of "no popery," and instilled into the royal ear the scruples of the coronation oath. Of this, it is said, his lordship afterwards repented.

His judicial oratory was exquisite. The greatest detractors from his merit acknowledged the perspicuity, the luminous order, and chaste elegance of his arguments. Like lord Camden, he frequently and successfully introduced law phrases into them. His greatest failings were, that he too clearly showed his want of attention to much of what he heard from the bar, and his want of real taste for legal learning. With this taste, lord Mansfield, lord Camden and lord Thurlow were thoroughly imbued. Lord Thurlow, long after he descended from the bench, sought for legal occupation.

5. The most perfect model of judicial eloquence which has come under the observation of the Reminiscent, is that of sir William Grant.-In hearing him, it was impossible not to think of the character given of Menelaus, by Homer, or rather by Pope :that,

"He spoke no more than just the thing he ought."

But sir William did much more:-in decompounding and analyzing an immense mass of confused and contradictory matter, and forming clearand unquestionable results, the sight of his mind

was infinite. His exposition of facts, and of the consequences deducible from them, his discussion of former decisions, and showing their legitimate weight and authority, and their real bearings upon the point in question, were above praise: but the whole was done with such admirable ease and simplicity, that while real judges felt its supreme excellence, the herd of hearers believed that they should have done the same.

Never was the merit of Dr. Johnson's definition of a perfect style,-"proper words in proper places," more sensibly felt than it was by those, who listened to sir William Grant. The charm of it was indescribable ;-its effect on the hearers was that, which Milton describes, when he paints Adam listening to the angel, after the angel had ceased to speak ;-often and often has the Reminiscent beheld the bar listening, at the close of a judgment given by sir William, with the same feeling of admiration at what they had heard, and the same regret that it was heard no more.

6. The Reminiscent feels it impossible to quit this subject without paying his humble but sincere tribute of admiration to the noble earl, who now presides in the court of chancery. In profound, extensive and accurate knowledge of the principles of his court, and the rules of practice by which its proceedings are regulated,-in'complete recollection and just appreciation of former decisions,-in discerning the just inferences to be drawn from them, -in the power of instantaneously applying this