The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-11 00:00:00

DEATH OF SIR PHILIP CRAIIIPTON.

After a long and painful illness Sir Philip Cramp-
ton expired yesterday forenoon at his house in
Merrion-square, Dublin. For half a century the
lamented baronet was at the head of his profes-
sion, and at the time of his death had reached his
85th or 86th year. He is succeeded in the baro-
netcy by his eldest son, Sir John F. Crampton,
K.C. 8., British Minister at the Court of St. Pe-
tersburg.
There will be no successor appointed to the office
of Surgeon-General of the Forces, as the place, in
fact, was abolished many years since, the title being
only retained by Sir Philip Crampton as a matter
if form.

TIE RIGHT HON. MR. JUSTICE COLERIDGE.

The retirement of so eminent a judge as Mr. Justice
Coleridge, after a service of nearly 24 years, is a thing
that deserves more than mere cursory remark ; and
although he will probably never take a place in lega his-
tory by the side of the late Chief Justice Jervis for acute-
ness, by that of the late Sir William Maule for juridical
reasoning, or perhaps of the present Lord Chief Justice
for intense legal acquirement ; nevertheless, for general
knowledge, for a thorough mastery of his duties as a
.coftisss„,englseeusecientious_p_erformance of them, coupled
will long be regarded as one of those shining lights who
from time to time adorn the judgment-seat in our
courts of law. Mr. Justice, then Sergeant Coleridge,
was appointed judge by the late Sir Robert Peel
during his short ministry in 1834. He was then in fair,
tut not very large, business at the bar, and was one of
the leaders of the Western Circuit. On that arena he was
the constant opponent of Follett, Wilde, sad Erskine,
and there, although he held his own, he did not show
himself so pre-eminent as an advocate as he has subse-
quently proved himself as a judge. He was never in Par-
liament, although frequently solicited to stand for more
than one place on his own circuit; but modest and retiring
in disposition he did not feel eqaal to the harass and tur-
moil of political life. Always of a literary turn of mind,
he was far from being entirely engrossed, as is often the
case, by his:profession, although most conscientiously re-
gardful of the interests committed to his charge. He
undertook at one period, in addition to his other la-
bours, to edit the Quarterly Review, but that he found
it necessary to relinquish as business increased upon
him. Nor have his literary labours and tastes proved
otherwise than useful to himself, and instructive to
others, whilst discharging his duties on the bench.
Always gentle, always just, patient alike to young and
old, courteous to all, he has shed over the dull techni-
calities of legal decisions an elegance of diction and an
aptness of expression which is too often found lamen-
tably wanting in some of our ablest judges. Educated on
the foundation at Eton, afterwards a scholar of Corpus
and fellow of Exeter at Oxford, and standing in the
proud and singular position of being alone in the first
class of his year, he came to London with a name already
famous amongst his contemporaries. His uncle, the
poet, was then in his zenith, and through him his already
budding love of literature was brought into full bloom.
Through him he was introduced into circles, where
to one so young, the enactment of genius threw
a charm over every subject that was touched. And
amidst such mental intoxication, it is possible that
bad his means allowed it, he would have followed that,
to him, favourite occupation, and the bench would never
have been adorned with the graceful and luminous judg-
ments for which, especially whilst Lord Denman pre-
sided in the Csult of Queen's Bench, he became so
famous.
• But it was otherwise ordained ; and now for 24 years
the Court of Queen's Bench has had the advantage of
his great and popular talents.
To very few of our judges has so long a term in har-
ness been allotted. To few has health sufficient been
spared. Now, with mind unbroken, but with years
coming. uponliimeThe has determined to retire, and to
enjoy in private the well-earned honours of an arduous
and toilesome life. He will carry with him the good
wishes and love of all his brethren on the bench; and the
bar, whilst they will regret his loss, and recall, alas, too
often, by comparison the suavity and courteousness of
his manners, will not grudge him that repose which a
long life of bodily and mental labour so essentially de-
mands.—Daily News.

Miss Laura Baxter's concert, under the patronage of
the Earl and Countess of Mount Edgecumbe, will take
place at the Hanover-square Rooms on the 17th instant.
This young lady studied for some years under the late
Signor Crivetli, and other eminent performers at the
Royal Academy of Music. She sang with great success
at the concerts of the institution, and also at Exeter-
hall, in the oratorios. Miss Laura Baxter, who ha
recently visited Australia, appeared at several concerts
in the colonies with marked success. She possesses a
fine contralto voice. Miss Laura Baxter Is now a pupil
of the celebrated Madame Persiani, with whom she will
sing the duet " Fiero incontro," from "IL Tancredi "
The artists who will appear are Madame Persiani,
Madame Weiss, Miss Matilda Baxter (an accomplished
pianists, also from the Royal Academy of Music), Miss
Laura Baxter ; Messrs. Sims Reeves, Weiss, Matti,
Richardson, Thagrave, and the Vocal Association, com-
prising two hundred voices, conducted by Mr. Benedict,
who will be assisted in his arduous duties by Mr. George
Loder and Mr. G. H. Lake.
The Earl of Shrewsbury (Lord Talbot) arrived at
Chaster, on Tuesday, to make a formal demand fur
rents from the tenant!), cf the Shrewsbury estates, iii
prosecution cf his claim to the property to which big
lordship now considers him3elf entitled. The noble
earl was received with much cordiality in the neigh
bourbood. His lordship proceeded to Ifinderton, where
a
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THEATRE.
was crowded to witness the last representation of "Kin
after a c ireer of the most brilliant success,
ithdrawn to make room for the new
worthy of the unrivalled manage-
b
will be produced with an accuracy and richness
IrShLatreesaank:ep'ee,ewrnillaientvil revival. To-morrow the "Merchant
of
ronf(sncteonifc tihile"PtrrLticoenss's. It being the occasion cf the
annual benefit of Mr. and Mre. Ce.arles Kean, the
admirers of those distinguished leaders of their profusion
will enjoy an opportunity of offering their merited
homage to genius, industry, and refined taste,