Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-08-21

4atSH1cA StsstceS Oh EnsIamS.
FROM THE LITERARY WORLD.
The second volume of Lord Campbell.
Liccs ofMe ChiJ Justices exhibits strik
ing contrast in the careers of Scroggs ane
Jef'reys, and Holt and MansGeld--the ,wt
former representatives Of every thing tha
is contemplate in the abuse of iudiciaI
power, the two latter every thing that i.
praseworthy and noble in its highest cx.
ercise. The readers of English history
are more familiar with the shameless ini
quitics Of Jcifreys than with the consum
mate wisdom Of Lord Holt or the univer.
sal learning of Lord Mansfield Jenreys
is more particularly historical character
in spite Of his desert Of the obscnrest infa-
my. Fortunately, however, his lie points
a moral which is not without It's use, and
serves as sort of beacon-light to warn
dishonest judges, who neither fear God or
regard man. Scroggs. his predecessor in
Office, and equal nvillany, appears to sim
liar disadvantage on Lord Campbell 5
pages. The accounts Of his abuses OF
power and judicial brutality almost sur
pass belief, and are fitly concluded by the
narrative of his impeachment and dis
grace.
CHIEF JUSTICE scEoGG's OLD AGE
"His disgrace caused general JOY in
Westminster Hall, and over all England
for as Jeffreys had not yet been clothed
in ernine, the name of Scroggs was the
hy-word to express all that could be con
sidered loathsomc and odious il Judge
"He was allowed small pension, ORE
tired allowance which he did not long
enjoy. When cashicrcd, finding no sym.
pathy from his own profession, or from
any class of community, he retired to a
country house which he had purchased
called Wealde Hall, near Brentw ood in
Essex. Even here his evil fame caused
him to be stunned. He was considered
by the gentry to be without religion and
without honor; while the pcasantry, who
had heard some vague rumors of his hav-
ing put people to death, believed that he
was murderer, whispered stories of his
having dealings with evil spirits, and took
special care never to run the risk Of meet
ing him after dark. His constitution was
undermined by his dissolute habits, and
in old age he was still a solitary selfish
bachelor After langushipgi in great mis-
cry I'LL the 25th day Of October. 1882, he
then expired, without relation or friend
to close his eyes. He was buried in the
parish church Of South Wealdc--thc I'M
deriaker, the sexton. and the parson ofrhe
parish alone attending the funeral. He
| lalt ,a-onnJo,,4z. .,I IL. II,
have been the last Of his race or his colat.
eral relations. ashamed Of their connexion
with him, had changed their name; for
since his death there has been no Scroggs
in Great Britain nor ireland. The word
was long used by nurses to frghten chill
dren; and as long as our history is studied
or our language is spoken or read, il will
call up the image Of base and bloody
minded villain. With honorable princi
pies and steady application. he might have
been respected in his lifetime, and left 3
historical reputation behind him. "He
was person of very excellent and nimble
parts and be could both speak and write
our language better than any lawyer o
the seventeenth century. Francis Bacor
alone excepted. He seems to have been
little aware oftheli light in which his iudicia
conduct would be viewed; for 1t is a Gu
rious fact that the published parts Of the
State trials at which he presided were all
revised and reiouched by himself; and Iii.
speeches, which fill us with anazemenl
and horror, he expected would be regard
ed as proofs Of his spirit and genius
| Thank Heaven, we have no such men If
our generation. It's better for us to con.
template dull moral nediocriiy than profit
gate eccentricity, however brilliant il may
be.
"Scroggs may be considered as having
been of some use to his country by max
ing the character Of a wicked Judge SC
fiigbifully repulsive that he may have de
TERED many from giving way to his bae
propcnsilies. Dean Swift says: 4 have
read somewhere Of an eastern king who
put a Judge to death for an iniquitcus sen
ience, and ordered his hide to be stuffed int
a cushion, and placed upon the tribunal 20
the son to sit on who was preferred to hi
| fathers Office. | fancy such memoria
might not have been unuseful to son O
Sir William Scroggs, and that both he an,
his successors wonld often wriggle in thei
seats as long as the cushion lasted"
"Lord Campbell has laid out his princi
| pal strengthen the lives OF Holt and Mans
field. his and all the worlds bean ideal
ofJudges. And commencing his " ork t
the leisure of professional readers, we dc
vote the rest Of our space in this notice :
extracts from his biographies Of those tw
great lum;narics Of the law.
Il CLERicAL Prx.--A young lady; engaged N VT
ting. observed to clergyman present that shc wa
4 Scribe To (which the man in ORDERS with "a
ac;tv and clerical discernmcnt truly crcdtable,