The National Register. — London, England, 1816-07-08 00:00:00

I ••if gr , No. 439.—V0L. I X. Zest( e ilartlatt NI;N1111.11 I. THERE is no station in a free country like nun,—of more importance, true dignity, or permanent utility, than that of the Jonoes, by whom arc a►hninistered the laws of the land, as they are emphatically styled, to distingt.ish them from the ariiitrary aid variable decrees of a sole Monarch. _ _ _ By the Constitution, the King, who is the fountain of all honour, dignity, and authority, in the administering ef the law, has vested all his power in the Judges of his several Courts, and cannot create a new Court without the authority of Parliament. By an Act of the present reign, the Judges, who had been made irremoveable fix thelife of the King, except for just cause, on the ground of some misdemeammrs on their part, were finally ren d:Ted independent of the Crown, by being declared to hold their office for life, provided they conducted them selves uprightly, and were declared not to be removable on the demise of the Crown.. These additional securities fir the purity of justice, and the preservation of our li berties, are the fruit and immediate offspring of that happy revolution by which the House of Brunswick was placed on the Thome ; and, during the whole reign of that family, there has not the least suspicion attached to the character of any one of our Judges—or that any taint of corruption has insinuated itself beneath the ermine robe of justice. This is a proud and honourable reflection for the pre sent age ; and, at a time, when charges of extravagance are openly made against the Government ; when Parlia ment is accused of containing within its wills a majority,— influenced by the Crown, as Contractors, Officers, Place men, Pensioners, and Borough Representatives,—who, having bought their scats, are suspected of indirectly sell ing their votes ; the utmost latitude of malice has scarcely ventured to impute corruption to one of our Judges. A remarkable instance of a charge of partiality we shall hereafter be compelled to notice, only to repel it with indignation; but the exception is so rare, and the calumny so wild and presumptuous, that it serves only to confirm the truth of our genend position. The law is deemed so plain and open a path to ho nour and influence in the State, that we are persuaded we cannot, in the present tem of peace—when all eyes are turned upon our domestic situation, do better than lay bcrore our readers a concise, but clear, nuthenti", and we hope just and impartial account of the present Ilexen of JUDGES. We are the more induced to do this front the circumstance, that, within a short time, nearly the whole number have undergone a change, and three new ap pointments have been made almost at the same time. In executing this fask, we shall feel great and sincere pleasure in being enabled to unfold to the world, the characters of men whom we know to be possessed cf every virtue that can adorn private life, and in public to have given recent and splendid examples of talents fully adequate to the arduous situations which they are to fill. The duty of a Juke in England is halm' no easy task. The business cf the Terms occupies nearly ninety days in the year ; the long Circuits nearly seventy-six, and the intervals of Vacation are oecasionailv tilled up by the ex tra business which is done at chambers, - and the sitting on criminal trials at the Old Bailey The learning- ab solutely neces.cary to the making of a tolerable cppear anee upon the Bench in England, is _such, that no law yo r in fitll pratice has attained it much before flfty years of age, and latterly, fw base been deemed adequate to the task who have not passed that age. With a judg ment of competent maturity, it is riot always to be ex pected that vigorous health should be united after twen ty-five or thirty years' service in a laborious profession, which, during the wholes time, has kept all the faculties of beay and mind in WA exerticn. Yet such is the 'happy dispensation of Pro idence towards intim:try and activity, that we have sellim fOutul bodily imbecility attack our greatest lawyers a; an immature age. Lord MansiMd continued on the Ben,h thirty-three year's and died at the age of eiglisy-eight. The late Chief Jus tic e of the Common Pleas is still in full louses: ion of his faculties, and soaks and rides with much rigour at nearly the age of eighty; Lad we have several Judges on the bench, who have long parsed the gnus' climacteric, yet in whom we have never perceived any diminution of that energy which is necessary for the funetions of their office. It is our intention to collet as muc h of t h e hi story o f these venerable characters, as i s v,ln he of importance fix She public to know. We shall not eater into the gossip atitinalf AlteLtitiftr+ Our tittq, e'onttitution anri 3Lain.s. MONDAY, JULY 8, 1816. of the day: we shall not endeavour by surly criticism or afii•eted candour, much less by heedless and perverse hu mour, to expose private infirmities, or extend trifling scandals, if any such were found to exist. It will be, on the contrary, our chief aim to direct the attention of the public to the curly progress of our great and eminent Lawyers, to point out the peculiar qualities in which they have excelled; to trace the Calliel of their elevation to their rank; and to exhibit to our readers a just and faith ful picture of their merits as Jervinas of the Crown and of the Public. . We have for some time mole preparations in collecting materials, but as there are :nuny circumstances of edu cation, and interesting anecdotes in early life, which it would be very desirable to know, but which cannot be often gathered from ordinary sources, we shall be grate ful to any of our correspondents who, by furnishing us with correct dates, will enable us to render our sketches more complete and accurate. We shall in our next number present our readers with a Memoir on the present Lotto Culler JusricE of the KING'► BENCH. _3IR. SHERIDAN. With deep regret the announce to our readers the death of the Eight Honourable Richard Minsk:. ~...heridan, who, after a severe and protracted illness, ex pima yesterday at norm, in the With year of his age. It is always interesting, w beaker gratify im• or paiiiful, to me ditate the history of a distinguished nano ; ;11111 11101 V especially of a Tan, from the materials of whose character es en more of warning, than of example, may be collected. From the mix ture and counteraction of high endowments, with vulgar in. hr . inities and unfortunate luibits , ordinary men derive lessons of candour and contentment. We cease to murmur at any seeming partiality in the ilistribulion of intellectual gifis among mankind, when we see the most useful iiimlities held from, or disdained by, those upon whom the most splendid ones have been munifivently lavished. It extends our charity, and abates :air pride, to reflect with calmness on the fan: 'of one %silo was equally the delight of society. and the 0r , 5...c litersitore %Own% it him been for many years the fashion to quote as a bold .leprover of the selffsli spirit of party; and throughout a petiud fruitful of able men and trying circum stances, as the most popular specimen in the British seimie of political consistency, iutrepidity, and honour. It is needless to say much on those intelk et ail powers whose living memorials are finale(' to command the admira tion of every future age. The astonishing talent thr obserea. lion, and knowledge of character, displayed by Mr. Sheridan in his dramatic writings, will surprise us Inure: VI hen we re collect that lie compo..eil Tits Ricoh whilst yet a boy; and that his School jhr Scandal was written at four and twenty. Those who are best acquaiiited uitli the history of the stage for an hundred years preet ding their app -it name, can best appre ciate the obligations of the public to an author, Wild.se dialogue lies the spirit of reality Without its coarseness—who neither wearies nor offends his :indicant—but whose sentiment is aid 'mai-dom.' his wit refined. ills opera is another specimen of various power, which has eclipsed all Mat one of those which which went before it, and all without exception, ut those which have followed. TA, Doco,u h.,s lint a single Cis al uu the stage : and if the broad licentimisuess of the lt, ,2 ege s flprru has given its author the means of indulgitir a tiers 011- aril pi egnaiit sea) of satire, to be found in tio other ,hr titian bat combined in the plot and langinige of his Malmo the charms of deliracy, elegance, and ingenuity and in his songs has dis covered a taste and pathos of hi poetical beauty. If we pursue Mr. Sheridan into political life, we shall have equal cause to admire the vigour awl versatility of his genius. The field on every side of him was occupied by the ablest men who hail appeared in Parliament ter wore than half a century. Burke, whose mature mind was Cuddy furnished from the iiitelbretual Or all aces and of all nations—Pitt and Fox, nut like She riff:li to chance, bat trained and moulded into ',roars and statesmen:-these were formidable cheeks to the Ilse of an adventurer Out retmetuniaMetl by character nor cute nesion—sever eoucatcd for public life--beset by a Thousand misebiet habits—crusted over milt indolence, and de pressed by fortune. Some n.0111114JII• internal power buoyed him Hp ; and a temper Metilocrable to ordinary . attacks lett I at a ll titres poso.essiiiii ut his unshaken Meanies. In co-operation nwrefore, or riv.thc, or hostility, with the hist men ut his day.he distinguished I • self: 11111 l nest them try wield ing with success the various weapons thr which they were e spectively celebrated. In haws of diction ye yielded not es en to Mr. Pitt—in force and acuteness he might justly be coin pa:To w'dli dm great I Jpeosition Leader—while as •plendeur 4,1 ii..agination be egualk it Moist, and its use and management tar ,execlled him. HIS sarcasms were tiller, but less set ere, than those by which Mr. Pitt indulzed his auger; and the wit displayed by Sberitiatt iu Parlimeent was, pedlar , . from the shay i•y his temper. mash less .harp than brilliant. Ism, tin quality' which Fr, doenivaird liVer ;all its elllv 011111.11 F is the mind of Hr. Slim - Wan was his eimeisite and Malay finished Susie. to this rare Litchi lie had no competitor; and inis it was %thick gave such inimitable grace to his expressions, mid %skirl*, in ...rguing or deciait ll ill a, in , hiogy or disposed his llaaNbt • %soli m clieet so Ail Nye c.inte,t ex patiate fa ion- 03 hr a twt:mea I gicaiide, i .:Is ; than by ob,terv nig, ilea he jeint d to the higtiel attribincs an..vesi olsen oh, the natant! aii‘iint4t s ca .m. and ineludams voice, a t, c.arliatic, and onager.' d at:i•!..ll.ee ; :11‘11 a ..r.anly and hey,. atm ai ton. As Mr. Stieriiiiin lias penises. , :1 re:nt.:ly which .atli be described as nearly the best in our lanzanze, so did be by PRICE 94d. speech WI II trial of cartons felicity of genii's put forth, his Hastings, the finest spiennen of En g lash senatorial eloquence of melt modern times can hOlll.l. (If this divine oratami,altliounh none hut thwe lino heard it can adequately jur ' ke enough le -11141115 tailettify Illlr*l - 41 , 34 the fragments boated dawn to its by the publication ot that peritel.and iu therecorded srniunettle us ulie Waders of all parties, who hung in wows: aud amaze ment on his %surds. Mr. Sheridan then reached the pinnacle of Ids tame. No lima th of days could add to the evicts" ity at that Moment poured around bin', as All orator and statesman of - preliensive and transcendent powers-414) human fortune could havesurpassed the expectations then formed of his flame elm . neuve. % Ity they base nut since been realised, is it question wilt+ posterity will nut tail to ask. We pass by the dytuils of Its partiametitarry prugress, from the discussions ou the regtatcy in 178 J, to those on the same subject in 1311. Many important questions, many dangerous crises, which arose in the long in terval between these ',triads, gas e Mr. Sheridan the means to establish tier 1 • •elf an occasional interest is ith the people of England, distinct from any that could have been dented from mere proofs of talent, or influence of party. On the mutiny at tit.: sore, he enjoyed the credit of essentially contributing to save the state. Whenever the liberty of the press was attacked. tis it bulwark of the constitutiou found is him its most zealous and consistent defender: and when the eat ly burst of Spanish patriotism had raised a s.rong sympathy throughout this-coun try, it was Mr. Sheridan who first gave form and expression to the reefing* which swelled every English heart and who traced in Pat !lament the natural relatiou hi tween (Se support. of Spain and the deliverance of Europe. ih about institutive a too severe or invidious set witty into the justice of those high etwomitans whi r ls h a v e i sasfed on Mr.Sheritlan's patriotic spirit, we shad merely ohscrie, that one object of our admiration is the exquiii;e judgement - the dexterity of tact •-with which he at all watts SelAell the full title of public sentiment, and turned ii into the proper channel. But it must be acknowledged, that fire lunges tie remained in the Horne of Co 11111 l ons, and before the politic, the more his pet tonal consequence declined. Mr. Sheridan had never in his happiest days effected any thing by steady application. Ile was capable of intense, bust nut of re gular st uily. IV lien public duty or private difficulty urged him, live dived the burden As if asleep under its pressure. At length, n the pain could be no longer borne, he roused himself • 11111 , mighty effort, and burst like a lion through the toils. • Ti ere are reasons for believing that his constitatienal indolence began its operation upon his habits at an early uce. ills very first thiunatic scenes were written by snatches, with consider able int. reals between them. Coils ivial pleasures had lively hari.••• • l . 4.. olio .11,75, wit ..n. th e mail of the table and the sparkling glass—the medium of social tntercuurae—had no small share of his affection. These were joys to be indulged without effort : as such, they were too well calulated to absorb the time of Mr. Sheridan, and sootier or later to make large encroach ments on his character. His attendance in Parliament became every Year mete languitl—the ris inertia more incnrable —the plunges by which his genius had now and then extricated him in former times less frequent and more feeble. We never witnessed a contrast much more nalancholy than betweesgthe brilliant and commanding talent displayed by Mr. Sheridan throughout the first regency 11i5C11.14111115, and the low Beale of nerve, actin ity, and celerity, to whirl he seemed reduced, when that sub ject was more recently agitated in Parliament. But in dolence and inttinperimite must banish reflection, if not cor rected by it ; since Ito mun could support the torture of per petual self-reproach. .% zgrai a ted, we fear,!by sonic such causo.4, the list,,! ally careless temper of Al r. Sheridan became ruinous to all his better hopes and prospects. Without a direct appe tile for spending money, he thought sot of eiteeking its es.pets- . (Mare. The llluny' of time was as mach disregarded as that of money. All tiw miliv.ments, punctualitics, and minor obligations of life, were forzotten ; and the household of Mr. Sheridan was always in a state of nature. His domestic feel. lags were origioally kind, and his mannuni• gentle: brit the , same bad habits seduced him from the I lease 411 Commons, and from home ; and equally injure/11nm as an agent of the public g 11l id, tuna as a dispesiser of private happiness. It is paintit:,• it it IllurtifyillZ, bat it is our sacred July, to pursitertis Idstat v to the end. Pecuniary tonharramient; often lead men to sh:fts 411.1 s pt tlient.---these exhausted, to others of a less. deald sl colour. Blunted sensibility—renewed ekeellSCS —1049411 . C:14111 Stleit•tv--follow ear - grottier in melancholy succession, moil soli tude Mut starkness close Jbe scene. It has been made a reproach by sonic persons, in lansentise, Mr. Sheridau's cruel destiny. that '• his friends!' had not dons more for him. Vs a reedy and conscicationsly declai eit a• oat . opinion, that had Mr. Sheridan c oi o y ed tea receisersh:ps ot Cornwall, instead of tine, he would not base died ill illtatall'e. He never a.0111411A% e Attained tit comfort Itrin,leprildruce 111 his fiwtoitic. .1 • ain matt tnay become rich, Lee:nisi Its vaulty tisisy• thirst for ugh - it single inoile of gratiticat ion. Au anibinuiss mare. a buneiraat, a sportsman, nosy seserally controui tlici; caption a; but a man who is inveterately thoughtless ot cuasequeuce•, , and callous to repr.a,t'_-woo knows not whets he salaams dens money, because he feels not those mitigations wlech constitnte or direct its uses -such a man it is impossible t.• recur from destruction. We go farther -rat profess ant tO • conjecture to what individuals the above reproacii of forgotten friendships has been applie d. If against ' moan's of illustrious rants, there nes er wAS A more uufouudt ac casation. Mr. Sheridan, th.oughout his w bole litC, stood as high us he otiglit to ha yedmic in the elliarters alluded to. He ret ised the most substantial proofs ot kind and noxious attach ft OlTl.tlite3 perStalllgeS; 311.1 It is to his Credit that he was tin: iaseiwille.k• their reoliril. If the mistaken advocaats of Mr. stwriiin were • so mach his maritiiesas to wish that he had been rased Ia sou se elevate d cattier, are they oat aware that even one month s .te l ise sitteih!.eice out Or twelse he was rt Ali times utterly kw. p.ll9ir of eiiing? But what ti tends are blamed for het.l tisg .Ntr. Sheridan? 1t hat,/ it nr:*'.ip , did he ever form? N r 0... e. 'ham diraht •si Uctlii•r "mild t'airiy claim the tit:tit• of frietalYiap with any !e, It r,•f the Itlig •:ikuisilstratian, aqse.fril Mr. Fos. to he his hitua, viol that lie ;no ant:: wills ato.:11 eloco. uce cn the 5 5..N.ts aa d eo:a y a behis „f c.,:nuexioo: but it ILL, 111:1ler :4erll Ilia ter tom. Ia tizai opt