Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-07-04

&tLVloftb ufSt year tn6 elnQlQmouto OF
Fellows gradually increase till fhe place b
worth $50 or f6oo annually. DeclipiDs. how
ever. to comply with one OF the cgnditions OF
his fellowship, namely, that he should take
orders, Mr.. CopIey surrendered fhe honor with
in the stated time, and, returning 10 London,
entered himself on the books OF the Temple,
as student at law. The writer Of this sketch
has the good fortune TO be acquainted with
two Of Mr.. Copley's contemporaries at this
period. One Mr.. Waggot, = gentleman Of
great professional attainment, and Recorder
Of Cork; tho other. Mr.. Richard Farrell, as
sstant barrister for the county Of Clare. Both
the gentlemen concur in stating. that, at this
period, the present chancellor was ultra lib
eral in his political opinions, but that he also
applied himself to the study Of his profession
with vigor and assdpy worthy qf al com
mendation.
In / 800, Mr. CopIoy was called to the bar.
and adopted the Common Law Branch of his
profession. All his cotemporaries agree in
stating, that in the early part Of his profession
al life, he was a very industrious and diligent
student he commenced his labours unostenta.
tiopsly, in different chambers in Brick Court,
and obtained his first brief from Messrs Willet
4 Co. Mr.. Cooley was afterwards befriendod
by Mr.. Murray an eminent solicitor, and il
must be recorded, TO his credit, that the first
act of hIs Chancellorship was to appoint Mr..
Murray's son his principal Secretary The
subject of this sketch never obtained much
character as a special pleader; but he has al
ways been alowedto be man of varied and
comprehensive knowledge in his profession,
combined with general scholarship and good
taste. Mr.. Cop!ey chose the midland circutt
and on il, as woll as at the Sessions, dis.an.
ced most Of his competitors, among the ,aost
a DI "a IT file T. II
Rough
Thus, having obtained good share Of busi-
ness, without any id save the exercise Of HE
own DEMONSTRATING no Government connec-
tioHs--ahd. at this period, being mi,hou, The
expectation OF any such patronage, MIR. Cop
ley resolved en- assuming the Golf; nni N
Trinity term 1918. he was called 20 the de.
gree of Sergeant at Law. The motto or .hrs
rings was appropriate and signigcant. Studns
pigiiare sereris
Hitherto, Hhoash in good reputation " ith
the public and the solicitors, 10 the latter of
whom, be IL remaTkipg, he rendered biuse 1.
agreeable by his frank and cordial n,anners.)
Mr.. Copley remained unnoticed by ms ,aaJes-
tty's ministers, no great public occasion slay-
ing presented itself, in which talents were cal
led into action. Tho opportunity, no weyer,
was not long wanting TO S.ing the Chancellot
under the notice of Ministers; and. like se,er-
el of his brethren, (among others Lord Erksina
Sir Weary Gibbs. and Mr.. Justice Best, y Mr..
Copley was first known 10 the Government,
by his efforts IN favor Of the highest order OF
criminals those charged with high treason.
Little however, did the radicals Of those dave
think that the very WalherelI and Coploy.
whose heal,hs they were toastlng at the period
Of the trial Of Watson, Preston & Co. would
so soon after become the one, tho High
NhanCclior, and the other, Attorney General
But, as Ophclia says, " we know what VIZ arc
though we know not what we may come to-
Be this as it may Mr. Cooley, on the trial of
Watson performed his duty with so much dex-
terity ard tact though engaged for the pris-
oner, that Lord Liverpool expressed his
slaciion, and henceiorward the SERGEANT
was marked as one to be promoted. The pub
hc and the profession, too, were not less visia
bly, satihed; and he, who. but few weeks
before the tral of W atson, received feo Of a
guinea with thanks, was now sought for by all
parties, and briefs began to pour in with ra-
pidty truly astonishing. Good fortune, like
bad, always comes ia lump. At this period,
the increasing deafness Of Sir s. She ephcrd rcn:
dered him quite incompetent TO discharge the
duties of Attorney General He was removed
10 the Scottish Bench, and Clifford, the Solici-
tor General = promoted in his room. Sergeant
Copley was the new Solicitor General, nom:
na,lon which gave treat pleasure to the Bar,
hut which. six months b.s,re, was wholly uhey:
pected, well by the public as by the gentle-
man who had the good fortune TO obtain the
appointment. Mr.. Coplcy now though, OF
changing his condition IN life, and he married
the neice Of the late Attorney General, ST
Samuel Shepherd This lady's maiden name
was Burnsiead; she was the daughter of IA c.
tor OF that name in Basinghall street, and ib
March, 1924, had been united TO Colone.
Thomas. in the month Of June, iE the same
year, however, Colonel Thomas was forced to
Join his regiment, and he was killed at tho
battle ,of Waterloo.
Sir John Copcly was now (lSl9) introduced
90 parliament for AslbuIton, under the auspc:
es of the Governmsnt which soon bad urgent
occasion for his services in the affair OF the
late Queen. As council for the prosecution,
Sir John evinced more talent and krowledgo
than the Attorney General GiilGrd, whose
speech was a complete failure; whilo he cs-
capped the obloquy 80 which both Clifford and
Sir John Leach had been exposed The Gov.
ernnrent we're SO pleased with his services, that
they determined TO make him Attorney Gene
cral, an opportunity for which was offered 90
G,hords beng made Chief Justice of the Com
mon Pleas. -- t.- ...f ....'
Mr. Copely having obtained the Office OF At
torncy General, soon after offered himself for
Cambridge, and, after an arduous struggle, no
was returned, with Lord Palmertson, for that
University. Clifford. Who had been promoted
TO the Rolls, now suddenly died at Dover, and
Sir John Copoly succeeded him, with the pros
pect OF the Seals full IN view before him. Hth-
crto it had been imagined, tiai Sir John look
ed up to lar. Canning as bis load star. and that
hs was willing to stand or fall with that Min
istcr. The event proved the reyerse; while
Master Oft Rolls. he deemed it necessary 10
purge sinseli Of all tam, Of popery. The dese
siung Mr.-Canning TO the quick,- but il sccur-
ed TO the sspuant the sesls ut which he had
been graspipg. Events known 10 our readers