The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-11-27

/ peror man III any respect, but he was Il
GOOD deal above mediocrity he had no
elegant accomplishments or oratoricaI
powers but he had considerable legal
erndiuon, and great sagacity and indus
uy. lie was acute and subtle, but far
from being wise and proiound--he was
a well read aud solid LAWYER, straight
forward, downright, aud plain he was
nothing ola statesman or u scholar, and
Whatever he possessed of Parliamentary
powers, he either wanted the inclination
to show them, or waited for an opportu-
nlly which never YET arrived.
No man, we believe, was ever more
the child of fortune than this young no.
bleman. Every man wondered at his
sudden aud astonishing elevation, aud
followed him with surprise but all envy
WIS silenoed at observing the great mod
Grafton Of his temper, and the simplici-
ty, and unassuming meckness with
which he bore his honofs. OF Lord Off
ford, ii might be uuly said, EoftuRam
reeerenter h0bmk
Sir John Gopicy, the Attorney Gem
, eral, the successor of Lord Clifford, is Il
very different man. This gentleman
! has lately been chosen member of the
! University OF Cambridge III Il struggle
which will not soon be forgotten. A
new ambition seems also to have sprung
up III his mind with his recent success,
aud by his acceptance OF the SITUATION of
Master of The Rolls, II is evident he is
looking forward 10 the Great Seal on
any vacancy Sm John Copley is a
Common Law Advocate we believe
he never praetlccd in Chancety we
never heard thai he held a single brief
III an Equity Court. He was member,
We believe, Of some one of the Circuits,
! Mldlandor Northern, and bad obtained,
before ms promotion, great reputation
is a special pleader, and also us an adj
yoeatc; 1t was rumored, that should III
he1lth compel Chief Justice Abbott to
retnc from The kng's Bench, Sir John
! Coplcy was TO have been ms successor
We believe, indeed, according to profess
sonal rights, that he might have claim
Cd the office upon vacancy. How is il,
! then, that hC has consented To take a
situation IN a Court OF Equity A PLAIN
answer TO the question is, that he may
qualify himself 10 be Lord Chancellor.
w are Ear from condemnine this choice
of Sir john Copley, lor We know no
man more ljkel " TO add luslro aud digni-
" TO The Office; and, above all, 10 re-
lieyo II from that general odium, and OPP
pressiye weight OF public indignation un-
der which the Gour labors al present
Sir John Coplcy IS, beyond all qucs-
| ton, one of the most eminent and distin-
pushed men Of his aye, aud rs far supe-
! rior TO LORD Clifford rs Lord Clifford was
superior to the puny tribe whom he Is re-
| ported 10 hove displaced and dislanced
upon his circuit in early life
Sir John Coplcy, whiIstat Cambridge,
WIS one Of the most acute mathemati-
eians and scholars OF his uee. He owes
his advancement in the law to his SUI
perlor talents alone. An American
orn, the son Of "A celebrated artist, with
aut English connexions Of any rank, and
cefainIy with very small paternal means,
| 81 john, by vigorous industry, joined To
= superior cast Of intellect, which is rare
| Il met wi'h IN tllc law, seems to grasp
every SUBJECT almost intuitiycly, TO find
wltho n tie labor Of search, and 10 com
preheud almost without the delay Of
study lie expresses himself IN language
at once condensed, opposite, and torci-
| bic, and never talks bur TO reason. As
! ~ orator, he Is never obscure, or subtle,
or refining, but possesses the happy art
OF stripping all subjects Of then formal,
technical, and artificial distinctions and
membranes, and placing them upon
their natural and proper grounds, and in
their most plain and ineligible modes.
Although this gentleman, therefore,
has not been educated to the Court Of
Chancery, and must Of course be mex
perionccd in lis practice and formal
! knowledge, he has a mind OF truly lion
! hike strength, which viii embrace and
command Equity with the same promp-
Trade and lntnitiye precision which he
has already displayed in the Common
LaW. And we will venture to predict,
that this gentleman Will no less distin-
gai,h himself in the House of Lords.
III. voice, his figure, and manner, all
concur 10 stamp upon the eye and mind
Of The hearcr the impression of The lofty
Senator: and these external qualities,
added to tins cloquencc, must raise him
lothe first eminence in the higher House,
10 which he is destined.
We truly think that the course which
Sir john Copley has taken, in prefer
rinp the honours oftie Court of Chancery
to those of Common Law, will be
public benefit; and We will venture TO
hazard prophecy, lhat the reforms of
the Cour' Of Chancery, under his eye
and oiiidancp will r,r..c.,J ~; Ia q. s;ncar.