Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-10-08

Justice, you will be the only judge on the
island. II will be your own fault If you
don't get on very well. The salary, on ac-
count Of the climate, (which is as good as that OF
England, II you live temporarily, is CO, 900 a year,
and at the end Of ten years service, you may retire
and come back to enjoy a pension of 1880 a year
for lite."
All this was very tempting. but Derenzy had
such considerable mistrust of his own legal capac-
ity, that, if the truth be known, he would have
preferred The moderate appointment Of barrack-
master IN q country town, for which he was quail
fled, to this rich Chief Justiceship, for which be
was not. lie therefore still threw out objections,
and asked how he was to learn his business Pr
why" said E,don, that is easy enough. All
the law courts are now open,-equity, nisi rrius,
and criminal. You will not be expected to sail to
Tobago for a month. Constantly attend the courts
in the meantime, to get the hang of the practice.
In a fortnight you will know all the forms. On
your voyage read Blackstone very carefully. For
the rest-trust to your own conscience, common
sense, and desire Of doing what is right and honest
in the face of God and the people, between man
and man. Moreover, and this you must imprint
upon your mind, as a perpetual rule Of action
listen quietly to what the Counsel say avoid gar
rulity never Jump at conclusions ; aim at being
dignifed without being austere and, above all,
whatever your decisions may be, take good care
nercr to gice a reason. for them. I see that you in-
tend accepting my offer. l shall send in your
name to the Prince Regent to-day. 1t is merely
q matter of form, for the Office is in my gift, and
you may as well order your judicial wig and
gown, as you will have to wear both, at the levee
next week, when 1 shall present you to his Royal
llighness. Kiss hands on appointment. You
had better call here on Thursday at II, and / shall
take you with me to St. James Palace, in my
own carriage" So saying, the Lord Chancellor
made a farewell bow. AMI shufied out Of the room.
Lady Eldon, who remained, next informed Deren-
zy that the appointment had been made at her
suggestion ; that on being appointed, he would be
entitled to draw on the Treasury for E500 as out
ft-and that she hoped he would favor her by
purchasing Judicial attire with the contents of an
envelope she then placed in his hand. This said,
she retired. The envelope contained a bank note
of GI00.
In due course, Derenzy was conveyed to Toba-
go, where his Office and large salary--the latter
equal to the emoluments Of the Governor in our
days, gave him a status among the highest. He
studied Blackstone, not only during his voyage,
but constantly afterwards, and, by following Ell
dOn's advice Of not committing himself by giving
a reason for any decision, and by making Justice
even above the mere letter Of the Law, an element
in each judgment, obtained the reputation of be-
ing a first rate Judge. lie pleased alike the bar
and the public. His reputation spread beyond
the limited scene of his own labors, and his decis-
ions we're frequently referred to in other Colonial
courts of law.
After he had been six or seven years in Tobago,
he obtained leave to visit England, where he ar
rived a few weeks before the coronation of George
", in July, 1921. His old patron, Lord Eldon
still held the office of Lord Chancellor, received
him with considerable warmth, and thanked him
for having so well justified his appointment. He
added that, in compliance with q memorial from
Tobago, that the King would mark his royal ap-
probation of the merits of the excellent Chief JUS
tice-the honor of Knighthood would be conferred
upon him by his Majesty. This was done-and,
the accolade received, the new Knight, now Sir
Richard Derenzy, was one Of the two Colonial
Judges who walked in the Coronation procession
of George the Fat. Nay, he had the honor of din
ing with that ponderous monarch, who having had
u ulut VI HIS dDttCcutbto, 1851 Ou ucuIlDR tDt
whole history of his appointment, with Ellon's
sage instructions, and to have heartily enjoyed it.
Sir Richard Derenzy returned to Tobago, in
due season, where, as the only titled man on the
island, for even the Governor was only a plain
Lieutenant Colonel, he became more and more
distinguished. AT last, one of the neighboring
and large British West India islands, fascinated
by his reputation, and possessing the right. by
charter, to nominate its own Judges, without ap-
plication to tho Crown, offered to make him its
Chief Justice. with q larger salary than he was
receiving at Tobago. The temptation was con-
siderable, but Sir Richard Derenzy had formed
family ties in Tobago, by marriage, and his
good sense told him that it was better to rem ain
where he had everything his own way, with "love
honor and obedience, and troops of friends" than
to hazard comparative failure elsewhere. He de-
cided to remain, and the Tobagans were so we'll
pleased that they subscribed for q service Of
plate, which was brought over from England, and
presented to him, with festivities, as a mark Of
their gratitude and regard.
About 1S2S-29, when the Duke of Wellington's
Ministry were cutting down Colonial and other
salaries, Sir Richard Derenzy resigned his judicial
Office, after fourteen years service, and became
the recipient in his native land, of a retiring pen
sion of Gl, 500 for life. This, with large proper
ty he had received with his wife, and his own sa-
} wings before marriage, made him a wealthy man.
and enabled him to pay of the mortgages on the
family estate, to which he had succeeded a few
years before. AS lately as 1913, Sir Richard Der
enzy was alive and prosperous. His example, as
a Judge, might be followed to advantage by his
brethren in this country, who, unfortunately for
human patience, and sometimes for their own rep
%utatiOn, are legally compelled lin this State, at
least) to give the reasons for their decisions.
They must obey the law, of course. but what oc-
casion is there for their being 80 terribly long
winded9 Is it requisite that a judgment, as in
the bred Scott and other cases, should assume the
length and have the tone of a political disserta-
linn z Ahnza all Ia IL rennisita TINT whiIe the