The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-28

Robert Monsey Rolfe Lord Cranworth.
The Atlantic telegraph announces the demise ct
London yesterday Of Robert Monsey Roife-rsised to
the British peerage In December 1850, By the tate Of
Baron Cranworth-in the seventy-siXth year Of his
age and the eighteenth Of his barona dignity Lord
Cranworth was born December Is, 1890. His father
was Rev. Edmund Rolfe. His grandfather Rev.
Robert Rofe. married to Alice Nelson, aunt OF Eng
lands naval hero. Lord Nelson. Robert Monscy
Role received his education at Bury St Edmunds at
Winchester and at Trinity College, Cambridge. The
degree OF Bachelor OF Arts was conferred on him a.
the age OF twenty-five, and in the same
year Qs19 he was elected . Fellow Of
Downing College. Four years subsequently In
1915, he was licensed o barrster; and In On
exceedingly brief time he acquired large practice,
as much by the learning and soundness Of Judgment
he early displayed in the solving Of exceedingly alb
struse questions Of law as by his perseverance. He
man, In political as in judicial matters. OF en-
larged mind, and early espoused the liberal side
aiming always at the extension OF the privileges OF
the people, his cardinal axiom being that there
should in the matter of government be no difference
between the poor and the rich, the weak and the
powerful as al were necessltated TO bow before the
1852 that he could be persuaded to take seat in Par
lament, and by his industry and talents aid the lbe
which were incubus upon the progress
OF the country. Accepting the nomination OF the
turned to q seat In the British Legislature. lie re-
manned In Parliament until he created one Of
the Barons OF the EXcheqner: In the year In whch
pointed Counsel TO the Throne and two years subes
quently In 1884, Solicitor General. The Ministry,
however, changing shortly aiterward, he resigned
his position and held no Office except that OF "a
legislator until 1885, when, the liberals once more
being returned 70 place, he was reapponted and
held the ONCE until elevated to the bench Upon the
resignation and retirement OF Lord Colienham
he was created one OF the commissioners for hold.
1851 when he was raised TO the Vice Cnancelorship
as the successor 90 Sir Iauncclot shadwell. In the
same year he was created, rs has been stated, peer
and In that following was named one OF the Lords
Justices OF the Court OF Appeal IN Chancery; and
High Chancellor OF England. As Lord High Chan.
cellor Baron Cranw ORTIZ succeeded in bringing law
practice many useful reforms, sanctioned by Par
lament, and among other important acts OF which lie
was regarded as the author were the Common Law
1855 and the bill for the establishing OF the Probate
and the Divorce Courts. Having effected all
the reforms II was possible In the then state
OF puoic enlightenment social and political cues
tions-the Cabinet OF Aberdeen being no longer sum-
cen,ly in force, although proessedly liberal one,
10 sustain itself against the repeated assaults ~ Par
lament went to pieces In ls65-he retired with his
CONDUCTORS. He was shortly afterwards recalled To
Wnstry and worked faithfully as LORD chancelor
for the liberal interests. Notwithstanding that Rus
sell, Gladstone and many others deserted him: On
tended faithfully TO his duties ~ legislator, refus-
Ing to compromise his high political character
power; and when the Lord Chancellor West
bury members OF whose family we're accused
OF certain heinous oGences that necessarily
reflected on Westbury, and their publication GER
tainly weakened the Palmerston- Russell Ministry
resigned LORD Cranworth was again called 10 the
Chancellorship in July, 1895, and upon the breaking
up OF the administration, caused by the defeat OF Glad
stones Reform bill year subsequently, ne retired
from public life full of years and honors Lord Gram
worth was In sense Of the word genius. lie had
a coInprehen i've mind and was Q hard worker His
chief merit as a lawyer and statesman lay In the
purity OF his motives. He was q reformer from con-
vlcton, and although IL would have served his pur-
pose better, had he been secretly AMBITIOUS man
dsslreus OF place and pelf. 10 nave progressed
advocefed the conservative side In politics. ne yet
advanced 10 the estimation Of the public and or those
WIN whom ne was necessitated to associate In Par
| nament and elsewhere perhaps far more rapidly
Than any other man Of his time. In his death the
cause OF human progress has lost true friend-one
with enlarged and friendly yiews believed Brmy In
the elevation OF he and In their par tcipa-
u0i 20 lar az was compatible with the perlnaDency
OF brtish institutions In the present state Of enlighf
cnoen am ng the lower orders OF tire people, IN all
governmental questions through their representatives.
cranwcrths political lie success although he
was NOT gifted win that quality OF speech which
adOrns tc senate; but he was wd calm and high
minded de'ater, ON VII simple statement his OPP
are respected and often quoied but his legal labors
viii never be ,. aced on the same book sbet with
those of st. Leopard aud other great ghts OF Eug
lish jurisprudence. Although exceedingly learned
aud thoroughly gcqi. IN al with The 'nglsh classics
ne nv Cr .ttenlt ,Cl ~ make Tor hnscR br iilnt
name 90 .g arena p! -. "a tr'. hs vas successful
ass s.. aad ..outc,A, sea 70 his lifetime re-