The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-12-02 00:00:00

REMOVAL OF MR. RAMSHAY.

The official document authorising the removal of Mr.
Ramshay from the administration of the judicial functions
of the Liverpool County Court was received on Wednes-
day. It is as follows :
"Duchy of Lancaster, Waterloo-bridge, 25th Nov. 1851.
"Sir,—l am directed to inform you that the Chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster has thought fit to remove Mr. Ramshay
from the office of Judge of the County Court of Lancashire,
holden at Liverpool.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
"F. DAWES DANVERS.
"To Frederick S. Hull, Esq., Solicitor, Liverpool."
Although we forbore to give an opinion upon the evidence
adduced at Preston, while the subject was under the con-
sideration of the Earl of Carlisle, yet, now the decision
upon that evidence has been given, we feel called upon to
express our concurrence sith it. Mr. Ramshay's want
of temper, his inflated notions of his own dignity, and the
absence of that calmness and propriety of demeanour
which should ever characterise the judicial court,
made it impossible for him to execute justice

in such a manner as to give satisfaction to
the public or inspire respect for the law. Mr. Ramahay
was too discursive—he was indeed more of a philosopher
than a judge ; even his conduct during the last two or three
days when he sat upon the bench evinced such a want of

tact, such a desire for notoriety, such a defiance of con.

ventional rules, so much of the egotist, and so little of the
judge, as fully to warrant the course adopted by the Earl
of Carlisle in removing him. Admitting, however, that
Mr. Ramshay loved display—that he was too much im-
pressed with his own dignity, and even that for once he
had taken an erroneous view of the law, yet these are
venial offences, and if Mr. Ramshay has committed "griev-
ous sin," now that he " bath grievously answered it,"

we trust all rancour and asperity against him will
subside, and that no one will press upon a fallen man. On
the contrary, is is to be hoped that he may be allowed to
resume his profession as a barrister, with the cheering
confidence that his errors may be forgotten, and his ta-
lents and good qualities only remembered.
Mr. Ramshay is almost universally admitted to be a
good lawyer—suitors, solicitors, men of all classes, testify
to the pains he has used in unravelling difficulties con-
nected with cases brought before him, to his astuteness in
seizing upon all the merits of a suit, and to his desire to
protect the unprotected and the poor. Surely these are
qualities which may atone for those errors for which he
forfeits position, profit, almost all, save honour. As a
barrister, if due justice be done to Mr. Ramshay, he may
however more than retrieve his position in a pecuniary
sense, and he may learn to act less value upon the mere
title of Judge.
If thereforP, public duty may compel us to coincide with
the stern decree that drives Mr. Ramshay from the bench,
we appeal to all right-minded men who have the oppor-
tunity, to assist Mr. Ramshay in following his profession,
and in attaining such honour, emolument, and position in
it as his character and talents deserve.

Mr. Ramshay happens to be the first countycourt judge
whose defects or failings have met with retribution. We be-
lieve that if the sayings and doings of other county court
judges had been visited w;th the same scrutiny, some of
them would not be where they are, Cases have frequently
come under our notice where county court judges have laid
down strange doctrines and enunciated curious opinions.
Indeed it is generally admitted that county court law is
somewhat crude and undefined. The judges of these
courts are in an anomalous position, which may excuse
some little latitude on their part, and it is hardly to be
doubted, particularly after what has occerred reg:
Mr. Ramshay, that no long period will elapse before th

. .
powers of these judges will be better &fined, and the
whole machinery of these courts be amended, and made
more consonant with the general principles of law which
are enforced in Westminster Hall.

Mr. Pollocic, of the Northern Circuit, Judge of the Sal-
ford Hundred Court of Record, has been appointed to
succeed Mr. Rarnshay. Mr. Pollock has had considerable

experience both as a barrister and a judge. His manners
are exceedingly agreeable, and he appears happily to com-
bine kindness and courtesy with proper dignity and'firm-

From his experience in the Safford Court of Record

he will, no donbt give every satisfaction to suitors, and

decision and promptitude. The appointment of M
Pollock emanated from the Eqrl of Carlisle, without ar
solicitation on the part of Mr. Pollocl
Mr. Blair is to succeed Mr. P
Court of Record for Saltor
likely to give satisfact

as Judge of tl

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