The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-05 00:00:00

LORD GIFFORD.

We copy the following notice of this successful Lawyer
from the last number of the Literary Observer, a clever
and entertaining weekly miscellany :
This newly-crested Nobleman affords a striking illustration of
the position, that, in this country, talcuts and perscverani y will ad-
vance their possessor to the highest honours of the state. Certainly,
there is no profession which affords so many opportunidis for per-
sonal advancement as that of the LAW. •In uself, it contains a
plentiful sprinkling of honours and eniclitmen:; and Ps, besides, a
sure preparaion to many more. Crowded, trio, as the leh-rd benc!ies
now are, the talented and itith.striuus lae:yer may yet Justly bore
for a proihot table and otirable reward.
ilt s little more than twenty years since. that Lord Gifford was
an areicted clerk to an attorney at Exeter. Ire believe the r saw of
this gentleman was Jones. After being in the office of this country
solicitor for the tistial time, young tiiflord came to town, and yolk
his scut in the office of a must respectable rtnwney, with the inten-
tion of preparing himself for admission as an attorney. It had.
before this, been arranged that he ahrsild in due tiny: vinyls to
Devonshire, and take a share of the betel:ors of the gentlenian
whom he was articled; but in a short time after his arrival in
London, ciontmstances oceurrisd, which induced Mr. Jones '0
! abandon any ilea of a partnerahip. Findirghis hopes of estabfrii•
ing himself in his profession thus defeated. Mr. Gifford tome.: 11 •
attention to the liar, and coon resolved on changing his finiieseiord
course. With this view, he became the pupil of an eminent sowed
pleader on the NVesternl ircuit. and afters ands praccised for several
years under the Bar. Mr. fliffiiril possessed acuteness and aunts-
tion,--qualities which very Mien staid well t. it a lawyer. ii tic
room of splendid powers. On his call to the Bar, Mr. flifferd nos
the ‘l'estern Circuit, and distinguished himself on several ocrwoons
in matters of pleading and points of practice. This sort of
knowledge, though it dues not give a man fame, produces what is
more substantial; by setting the lawyer right with the profession.
it gives hint—business. bath wan the case with Mr. Githird. At
this period, the patronage of Sir Vicars Gibbs (himself, we believe.
an Exeter man), did much fur a Junior Cont-sel ; and. indeed, it
soon procured him the Solicitor liencralship, alter a very short
standing at the Bar. This ea-ly advancement was looked at with
much jealousy by the profession; and we believe that few mei
have acquired less erciiit than the present Chief Justice ache Co,r -
!non Pleas for those qualities tor which a good law •n shout.' be
distinguished. With regard to the more recent autvaneentent of
Lord Gifford, perhaps he owes it to 're to circtinistaxces, than to any
merit of his own. It is will known in the political and legal circles,
Mat some anxiety was manifested for the retirement of his Lenten,
from his late official station ; and, on the sow of the peernge. it is
equally well known, that nothing but the literality of derpetay, the
arrears of appeals, would have given Kan his title. lint as it is, Ire
scarcely see anything now in the way of Lord Gilford's pregn""
the Scala, although we have lately beard it whispered, that, shoo:4
a vacancy occur op the llookrick, 'Ministers will think 1'64" ¢t".431
they Oriel Barba Gifford is that high station.