The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-09 00:00:00

,g,ESSIONS.—June 8.

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This morning, Mr. Po /mall opened the court, and
.
the following:magistrates 'were present .Mr. , H-11-
„
fir. Baylis, Mr. Faulcoi. pry
Harwood;Mr.Brooking,l
Mr. Hogarth, Mr. Baslii:tird, Mr. Marshall, Mr.
W. P, Bedkin, Mr. Halsey,, Mr. White, Mr. Wyatt
Mr. Charman, Mr. Beetha tn, Mr. Griffiths, Colonel
Elsey, and Mr. Burslem.
Mr. Bodkin, appointed assistant-judge, in the
place of the late Mr. Pasl dey, Q.C., having been
sworn in, was introduced to the chair by Mr. Pow-
nall, and was warmly con ;fratulatcd. After the
jurors had been called,
Mr. Cooper, the senior counsel present, said he
begged to be permitted, on behalf of the whole bar,
as well as of himself, first 1 o offer to the family of
the late esteemed assistant-iudge an expression of
their sincere condolence on Ale irreparable loss they
had sustained in his premature death, and then to
tender their warm congratulations on the appoint-
ment of Mr. Bodkin as his successor. The learned
gentleman went on to say--From your acknow-
ledged talent, judicial turn of mind and acquire-
ments, great and compreheimive knowledge of the
law, combined with that kindness of heart and
amiability of disposition with which we are all
familiar, we are all convinced that you will admi-
nister the law in this court with ability, imparti-
ality, and mercy. We can, too, but congratulate
ourselves on your appointment as recalling tomind
the well-known line
" Esther though line,
in robes, is Esther still,"
for we are convinced that, unlike some, you will
never forget, or appear to do so, that you have been
one of us, with us mingling in that friendly and
social intercourse which our profession so much en-
courages and promotes, and that we shall experience
from you that kindness and courtesy so essential to
the due and proper administration of the law, qua-
lities which, if so humble a person as myself may be
permitted to say, add so great a charm to the other
and high attainments possessed by the holder of the
highest judicial office in the realm at this time. And
after the wear and tear of an extended professional
career, in which you have gained much honour and
general esteem, that you may enjoy many years of
comparative otium cum diynitate, is our sincere and
fervent wish; and when you shall retire years hence
from active into private life, we doubt not that all
men will say :—may his successor be but as fair and
just as he. Having intruded upon you these few
remarks, we say once more that we heartily congra-
tulate this Court and the public on your appoint-
I ment, and may you long continue in the enjoyment
of it.
Mr. Bodkin said it would be impossible to over-
estimate the kindness which had induced these re-
marks from Mr. Cooper on behalf of the bar, as it
would be difficult for him to express adequately his
deep sense of the honour they had done him. He
assumed the chair of this Court under circumstances
of a serious and painful character. The loss of their
late friend, Mr. Pashley, was one of a public charac-
ter. for his great experience, legal knowledge—his
many varied talents and acquirements, combined
with his acquaintance with the general literature of
the country, rendered him an ornament to his pro-
fession, and a most valuable public servant. Suc-
ceeding one possessing such eminent qualities, who
was preceded by one no less eminent—the late Mr.
Sergeant Adams—he should have to rely upon the
kindness and forbearance of all in the discharge of
his duties, to which he should bring the best of his
energies. Personally, he wished to say, he had not
solicited this appointment ; it had been given to him
unasked by the authorised advisers of the Crown,
and he might be excused if he added, that the ap-
pointment had, he had reason to believe, met with
the cordial approbation of those whom he now had
the honour of calling his brother Justices, and over
whom he should have to preside as their judicial
officer. (Hear, hear, from the bench.) He bad prac-
tised before them for 33 years, and he had now
arrived at a time of life when a relaxation from the
more active duties of an arduous profession was not
undesirable, and he was very happy to say, and he
should ever retain the pleasing recollection, that he
never had any ill feeling with any one in the profes-
sion. The loss of Mr. Pashley so suddenly ought to
be a lesson to all as to the uncertainty of human
life. But a few days ago he was discharging his
duties in that very chair, and had every appearance
of a long and useful life before him. He was but
little over 50 years of age, yet he had passed from
amongst us. It should be a solemn warning. As
the successor of Mr. Pashley, he should bring to
the discharge of the duties a real honesty of pur-
pose, which he trusted would stand him in stead of
shortcomings in other respects, and he should ever
recall with pride and gratification the unmitigated
kindness, forbearance, and cordial good feeling he
had always met with, and to ensure a continuance
of which he should use every effort and endeavour.
The learned Judge then resumed his seat amid
cordial applause.
The cases tried during the day were unimportant.