The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-27 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN.

Sin,,—The just solicitude, apparent in your
columns, to render honour to whom honour is due,
assures me that you will admit within them some
expressions of regret, from a member of the bar of
Ireland, on the loss to that country of the bright-
est ornament of the bench of the United Kingdom.
Lord Chancellor Blackburne having sent in his
resignation during the Christmas recess, the Bar
were prevented from presenting him with an ad-
dress—a ceremony which etiquette requires to take
place in court. Had it not been for this unto-
ward circumstance, that body would, as one
man; have come forward to record their admi-
ration of his judicial career—a career of which his-
tory knows no compeer. In the three most ex-
alted tribunals of Ireland he has presided with
equal honour, and in all stands unsurpassed.
Who, as Master of the Rolls, has discharged the
arduous duties of that office with the same ability,
rapidity, and energy ? Who, again, as Chief
Justice of Ireland, ever approached him in reputa-
tion ? I forget not the classical, eloquent, and
impartial Bushe, but yet I fearlessly aver that
never was that station filled by a lawyer so able
—never was the balance of justice held by a hand
so steady as that of Francis Blackburne. The
wisdom and beauty of his charges at Assizes, on
Special Commissions, and at State Trials, have
established for him an enduring fame. It was his
lot to preside in chief over the criminal courts at a
period when rebellion and murder stalked abroad.
Nobly he acquitted himself, and well the Irish
Government of that day knew the fact.
Early in 1852 he became Lord High Chancellor.
The business of the Court of Chancery was then
considerably in arrear.* That arrear, together
with the ordinary amount of business, he com-
pletely disposed of before the month of July had
ended. _ _

Distinguished men have held the Great Seal of
Ireland. We recollect with admiration the learn-
ing of Lord Redesdale, the colossal eloquence and
talents of Lord Plunkett, the knowledge and acute-
ness of Sir Edward Sugden ; but not one even of
those men was so perfectly adapted for the woolsack
as Mr. Blackburn°. He seemed to have been
created for the place. Extraordinary sagacity and
power of mental concentration, unrivalled experi-
ence and profound acquaintance with every branch
of law and equity, immoveable temper and pre-
eminent dignity of manner, a style nervous, terse,
and perspicuous, at times highly adorned—a dis-
tinct and charmingly melodious voice, a fluent de-
livery, courtesy almost chivalrous, inexhaustible
information, and a marvellous facility in the dis-
posal of business, formed the rare combination of
qualities which proclaimed his fitness for the Prm-
torship. Before him justice was always aided in
her struggle with technicality. The innocent pri-
soner hailed him as his judge—the guilty man
knew that his fate was sealed. Every lover of Ire-
land must deplore that such an intellect should, in
its zenith, be allowed to lie fallow. Remonstrance
is now too late ; but might not such a judge, a
statesman so moderate, the Attorney-General of
Earl Grey and Sir Robert Peel, have been preserved
for his country's sake ? The attempt, though per-
haps unsuccessful, would at least have reflected
honour on the new ministry, and gratified the na-
tion. Would that of him we could say as Chan-
cellor—" Sedet ceternumque sedibit." Respected
by the judges, and adored by the Bar, he retires,
after forty-eight years of uninterrupted public ac-
tivity, into private life, where he is as much be-
loved by his friends as he is popular with his fel-
low-countrymen.

YEQUITAS.

Dublin, Jan. 21, 1853.