The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-07-14 00:00:00

)ur years

within

Hod—in 1799—he took the degree
A.M. in 1802. In the former year he was eighth wran-
gler and senior Chancellor's medal-list. In the month of
October, 1801, he was elected a fellow of his college, and

taking his master's degree, he became a student of Lin-
coln's-inn, by which society he was eventually called to
the bar. His connexion with Lincoln's-inn probably gave
rise to the common error that he nad been a Chancery
barrister ; but,-on the contrary, his practice was limited
to the common law courts. Shortly after his admission to

•
was among the number of his pupils. There can be no
question that a young law student could hardly have cho-
sen a safer guide, for a man more thoroughly learned
than Mr. Tindal even then was, in every department of
the law, could scarcely be found within the range of
the profession ; and he was especially celebrated for
what is called " black letter learning." His high re-

early age he thought it safe to go to the bar, and accord-
ingly we find that he was called Trinity Term, 1809.
In the same year he married the youngest daughter of the
late Captain Thomas Symonds, R.N., and, of course, re-
signed his fellowship. A numerous family were the issue
of this marriage, but the wife of Sir Nicholas died many
years ago. In the Court of King's Bench, and on the
Northern Circuit, every year brought Mr:Tindal addi-
tional reputation as a lawyer, but very little fame as an
advocate. He was never at a loss for a case; he could
always expound a principle ; he could give the history of
any statute, and with great perspicuity set forth its pro-
visions ; he could argue any point, however apparently
hopeless, and impeach the validity of any legal document,
however apparently sound ; but a knavish witness could

elude his examination, and an apathetic jury were never
warmed by his eloquence : yet he had what the profession
calls a " capital business ;" and a large income rewarded
his learning, his industry, and his high reasoning faculties.
The natural process by which lawyers seek advancement
in their profession is to get into parliament. Mr. Tindal,
however, enjoyed a distinguished opportunity of appearing
before one house of parliament long before his election as
a member of the other. A bill of pains and penalties
was preferred against the Queen and George IV., and
in one of the most extraordinary proceedings that our
history records Mr. Tindal was called upon to bear his

the Queen

s a matter not very apparent at that period.
That he was capable of giving valuable hints to his more
showy brethren, Lords Brougham and Denman, there
can be no doubt; but his oratory was not of the order to
neutralize the dazzling ingenuity of Copley, or to cope
with the wily manoeuvres of a cloud of Italian witnesses.

w far his astuteness and knowledge ren.

General

ence, t

he enjoyed t

being a

lueen's

now follow him to the House of Commons, to which as-
sembly, in the year 1824, he was returned by the Wigton
district of burghs; and here also we can say but little for

a public speaker.

cold, dry, and unimpressive; his political and historical
knowledge displayed itself to small advantage ; it bore upon
few questions, and not even upon those with much power.
One would have expected that his talents and learning as
a lawyer must have often entitled him to enlighten the
House on legal difficulties, yet he had not a popular mode
of discussing even questions of law. Nevertheless, a better
man for the office of Solicitor-General could not be found
amongst the Tory lawyers in the month of September,

At that tin

Mr. Tindal became Sir Nicholas, but he still
remained without any very material increase of profes-
sional fame, nor was he called upon during the tenure of
office to assist in any important prosecution on behalf of
the Crown. Sir J.. Copley, who had represented the
I_Tniveraity of Cambridge, became Lord Chancellor in the
year 1827, during the Canning Administration ; thereupon
a vacancy occurred in the representation of that constitu-
ency, and Sir Nicholas Tindal solicited its suffrages. Mr.

sankes,

'ory, wen

479 for Sir Nicholas Tindal, and 378 for Mr. Bankes. He
had been chosen for ilarwieli-.41--the-comeral election in
7826, but of course readily withdrew from tint borough

to enjoy the honour of

Eventually, however, he_ beCame perfectly satisfied with

Gout, irritability, and Sir Thomas Wilde, combined their
united virulence to drive poor Lord Wynford almost be-
side himself. The chief seat in the Common Pleas there-

fore became vacant, and a prize within the grasp of the
Solicitor-General. Sir Robert Peel represented Oxford,
Sir Nicholas Tindal, Cambridge; the one was leading
Minister in the lower house, and the other second law
officer of the Crown ; the one proposed Catholic emanci-
pation, the other supported it; the one retained his place
in the Cabinet and lost his seat for Oxford ; the member
for Cambridge gave up his seat for that university, but
obtained a seat upon the bench ; and in the month of
June, 1829, became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas,
which position he occupied durivg the lone period of 17
years; although, under the 6th of George IV., cap. 83, he
have claimed exoneration

Is of that high station. Death, however, has
at length deprived him of its honours and relieved him of

its labours