American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-11-28
SKETCHES OF CHARACTER.

SIR JouS CopLEY, an American by birth, (son Of Mr.
Copey the painter has been appon ed by the King OF
England, Master OF the Rolls in the place Of Lord Clifford
deceased The following sketch of the characters of The
late add present Master, from Bells Weekly Messenger
Sept. H.
Nesu Legal qbbontmrnts-A considerable movement has
taken place in the law. account OF the premature death
ST LoRD GIrFonD. In last paper, we gave full ac-
count Of this nobeman whose rise and splendid progress
in his profession had attracted much attention We
cannot in candor, join with those who consider the death
of Lord Clifford public and ireparabe loss; and lit
tie are we disposed to concur with his caumniaors who
represent him of small and binary atajnnents,
add of servie and plant turn pushed by favorable
tngencies much beyond his deserts, and made the
Of annoying and supersedng men of superior qualifications
in order to crafty the imag med spleen and iw OF the
Lord Chancellor TO certain individual
Lord Clifford certainly not superior man in any
espec' but he pood deal above mediocrty; he hal
no elegant accomplishments oraorical powers but he
had considerable legal erdton, and great sagacty and
industry He acute and subtle, but far from being
wise and profound-he well read and solid lawyer
straight forward, downright and plain; he nothing of
statesman scholar, and whatever he possessed of
Parliamentary powers, he either wanted the inclination to
show them or waited for opportunity which never yet
arrived.
No man, believe ever more the child of fortune
than this young nobeman. Every man wondered his
sudden and astonishing elevation, and followed him with
surprise but all envy senced at observing the great
moderation of his temper and the simplicity, and
ming meekness with which he bore his lonors OF Lord
Clifford it might be truly said Foytnam revereater haJu
Sir John Copey the Attorney General the successor OF
Lord Clifford, very different man. This gentleman has
lately been chosen member of the University of Cam
bridge in a struggle which will not be forgotten.
ambition also to have sprung up in his mind
with his success and by his acceptance of the sa-
ton of Master of the Rolls it is evident that he looking
forward to the Great Seal any vacancy Sir John Cop
ley is Common Law Advocate; believe he prac-
tised in Chancery heard that he held single
brief in an Equity Court. He MEMBER we believe,
of of the Circuits, Midland Northern and had
obtained before his promotion great reputation special
pleader, and also advocate; it was rumored that
should i'll health compel Chief Justice Abbott to retire
from the Kings Bench Sir Joha Copey to have been
his successor; believe, indeed according to profession.
al rights, that he might have claimed the Office upon
vacancy How is then, that he has consented take
situation q Court of Equity? plain to the
question is that he may qualify himself TO be Lord Chance
Tor. We are far from condemnng this choice If Sir John
Copley, for we know likely to add lstre and
dignity to the office and, above all. relieve it from that
general odn, AID oppressive weight OF public indignation
under which the Court abors at present.
Sir John CopIey is, beyond all question: of the
eminent and distinguished Of his age aud far supe
rior to Lord Clifford Lord Clifford was superior to The
puny tribe whom he is reported 10 have displaced and
distanced upon his crcu in early life.
Sir John Copley, whilst at Cambridge was one OF the
most acute mathematician and scholars Of his age, He
owes his advancement in the law To his superior talents
alone An American born, the OF celebrated artist,
without English connexions Of any rank, and certainly with
very small paterna MEANS Sir john by vigorous industry,
Joined superior cast of intellect, which is rarely
with in the law, grasp every subject almost
nuitivey, find without the labor of search, and TO
prehcnd almost without the delay Of study lie expresses
himself in language at condensed, appuste, and forc
BILE, and never talks but to reason As orator, he is
never obscure subtle, refining but possesses the
happy art of stripping all subjects of their formal technical
and artificial distinctions and incumbrances, and placing
them upon their natural and proper grounds and in their
most plain and Ineligible modes.
Although this gentleman, therefore, las not been edaca