The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-15
obseryalions which followed .eemsd 10 suggest aIns q

observations which followed seemed 10 suggest trains OF
thinking rather than 10 draw coneusons and so rkii-
fully 0j he conceal hts that The carers thought ey
ioimed their opinion IN consequence oi lr workings oil
ID cir own minds when ruth i was The effect Of the most
refined dialecies For parliamentary ofatory he vas
considerable than any lawyer our polesslon could
boast of I'LL me appearance. oil Henry observation-disclosures
been Tor many years IN both houses in The very fret
rank OF debalers Lord Somers entered Parliament
ale in life, and could speak without long prep
ataon. Loid Cowper was much more ready; hui
he hsd mol had the benefit OF az acadAniesl cd.
ucaiion, and his political information was rather lin
tied. Lord HaIcour hardly aspired 10 rise above
lie level OF Tie tory s9unes b. whom he sur
roundeN. Lord Macceshed was unpublished, though
lorcble; and Lord King dali and uresUme Lord
n@u"ehe haa very moderate success IN me House oil
Commons and his weight ID The House OF Lords arose
rather rom his high judicial reputation than from his
eoquenee Lord Capden's set speeches IN the House OF
Lords admirable, but he had been found quite
qual 10 the noise and irregularities OF the House OF Com
mons Dunhing, amidst all this turbulence was IN his
clement, and was listened TO almost well as Charles
Fox himself; but he could not bear the stiffness Of the
upper house, and there he fell into insigncance Even
Lord Plunke caused disappointment when he spoke IN
the House oil Lords aite having been acknowledged IN
the House of Commons TO be superior TO Peel to Can
ming. Neither in the house nor in the other did
Efskine ever do anything at all commensurate to his
forensic reputation. Thurlow prevailed more by the
shaggyness OF his eyebrows and the loudness OF his vo
ceralon than by his sentiments or his expressions
and the effect OF WeddeTburns oralory which was lar
artistic, ruined by his character for nsnceriy.
When Lord Edon had broken down, in attempt he
made in the House OF Commons 10 be humorous he
never aimed al anything beyond the pitch OF an equity
pleader and LORD Redesdales speeches IN Parliament
would have been reckonei dull even in the court OF
chapcery. OF Lord Mansfelds three contemporaries
Lord Kenyon, Lord Peterborough and Lord Tenlerden-
the first affected knowledge of nothing beyond law,
except lew Latin quotations which he constantly ms,
applied the second, though scholar, and ripe and
good one, was only few months in the House OF Com
MONS during which he did nothing beyond bringing in
the Peers by violent ebullilions Of Indignation than
charmed convinced them by polished reasoning; the
last having devoted all his best years TO the drawing OF
special pleas, member OF the House OF Com
MONS aud the few times that he addressed the Lords he
seemed TO be opening TO the jury the issues joined on
some very complicated record. But when Murray was
in the House OF Commons the existence OF adminisra-
tons depended upon his giving withholding from them
the aid of his eoquence and in the House OF Lords he
listened to with increased respect and Difference Inc
combnalono this excellence with his other
is certainly much TO be wondered al for, while his compel
preparing Tor the approaching conflict oy coming
over the works Of and poets he was Obliged 70 DE-
himself to the Year Books, and 10 fill his mind with
the subees OF contingent remanders and execuory de-
vises. Who is there that could have argued against
Mr. Justice Blackstone in the morning concerning The APP
pcaon of the rule in Shelleys and in the evening
shown himself equal TO Lord Chatham on the question Of
the right OF the British Parliament 10 tax America, or the
policy of declaring war against Spain!
Nohing remains 10 be said for the purpose OF prov
ing that he the first Of common-law judges. Look
ing TO the state OF the court OF kings bench IN his time
not 10 me o.
aged by his sy and the bodest awed by his
authority. From his quickness, repetition and pol'xiy
were nexcusable; and there temptation 10 make
bad points, sophisiry was sure to b. detected and
sound reasoning was sure 10 prevail When the facts
ascerianed the decision might be with confidence
anticipates and the experienced advocate knew when Il
sill down. his being either or hopeless The
consequence was, that business done not only
with certainty, but celebrity, and men maxim. many
thousands year had leisure both for recreation and
elegant lite raure We need Wonder that. being pros
porous and happy under him, they were eager 10 pay
him homage and that they exulled in his paerna sway
We may form notion Of the love and respect with
which he regarded from The follow ing appeal TO hun
when we know that the speaker Erskine, the mos
fearless and independent OF men, addressing him in the
Case OF The Dean of ST. Asaph:
-. am OF hose said he, who could almost lul
my sef hy these reflections from the apprehension OF I'm
mediote m schef, even from the law OF libel laid dowr
! by your ordshlp II YoU were always to continue it
administer il yourself. should feel protection IN ,hs
gentieuets OF your character the love justice whct
ils intrinsic excellence forces upon mind enlgh
ed by science. and enlarged by liberal educaon and II
that dignity Of disposition which grows with the growtt
ui Ustrious reputation and becomes sor oil pedg
to the public for security But such security is
shadow which pas-eth away You cannot, nv Lord, b.
immoral and how yea answer for your successor
Il sou maintain The doctrines which se 10 overturn
you rendeI yourself responsible Tor all the abuses ha
may follow fiom them 10 our latest posleriiy'