The National Register.
London, England, 1818-11-09 00:00:00

561.—V0t. XI.

VQLITICAL insw isrram

SIR SAN:ULL ROMILLY.

A VERY disgusting article appeared in the Couricr
of Friday night, aiming to lower the reputation of the
late Sir Samuel Romilly. It is not often that such
virtue, independence and disinterestedness, united with
eminent talents, as were evinced by this lamented
person through life, are seen among us. What must
be the constitution of that mind which can employ itself
in vilifying and debasing them when they de appear P
It would he a foolish way of defending him, to say that
be was as great and good as this man or that. Did the
death of any, even the most illustrious of those to whom
he is said to have been unequal, occasion a more gene-
ral expression of profound sorrow in all ranks of people,
than that of Sir Samuel Bomilly ? He who works for
the public is said to labour in the service of an ungrate-
ful master. Sir Samuel knew this; yet he was not
therefore prevented from making the most extensive
sacrifices of health and professional emolument for his
wintry's good. The work of politics is the daily em-
pd.yment of some 111,211. They have recourse to it as a
refuge from listlessness, or pursue it as a road to fame.
'lke natural path to entiectice, srhich lay open to Sir
Samuel, WAS that of l.is profession ; and how far he
ce all others in this is well known, and will
be lastingly remembered in time Court to which he be-
longed. But whatever of time or thought was dedi-
cated by Sir Samuel Romiily to infirm the councils,
or humanize the laws of his country, according to the
sincerest convictions of his conscience, was withdrawn
from the calls of a laborious profession, or stolen from
the endearments of domestic happiness ; it was ob.), if
he had looked to personal advantages or family emolu-
ments, absolute loss. And where is the man to be
found who has made 83 large a surrender in this re-
spect as the lamented subject of these remarks ?
With respect to talents also, as well as to public v ir-
tee and disinterestedness, no one has pretended that
Sir Samuel Romelly was-the greatest statesman or orator
that ever live]. He must be compared with the men
of his day : he is attached to the period in which he
lived : and among the illustrious of that period he will
always be spoken and read of with honour. We may
observe, that it has been said of some of the persons
introduced in invidious comparison by the assailant of
Sir Samuel's fame, and of many other public men also,
that they would have succeeded at the bar, if they
had not confined their talents to the senate ; and
inversely, that they would have been distinguished
members of Parliament, hail they not sought their
fortunes at the bar. But Sir Samuel's praise was
not of this hypothetical kind : one half of his te-puta-
lion did not rest upon conjecture ; far he actually ob-
tained great and merited eminence in both the walks
of public life—in both the kinds of oratory ; and,
above all, he was virtuous and good : and it issonae praise
of the age in which he lived, that while he was ad-
mirea for his talents, and approved for the uses to
which he applied them, he was loved, universally loved,
because he was virtuous and good.

The late Sir Samuel limuilly is supposed to have
annually netted from 10,0001. to 17,0001. by his pro-
fessional exertions. Sir Samuel Romilly's law library
is said to have been the m.nt valuable of any possessed
by the profession.
It a fact well known in the legal circles, that the late
Sir Samuel notuilly was in the constant habit of giving
his able opinion upon etts:s lad before him, whoa the
parties were in the humbler walks of life, wiihont fee or
re ward, and in several instances, the worthy Barrister
has given sums of money oat of his v.,n porse,
to
enable distretisel objects to carry on their suits with
success
The new writ for Westminster cannot be issuci till
aftir the assembling of nail the election of a
Speaker.