The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-19

W.
4 Of the bridge across tho Thames. He hao
preserved his vigor and vitality to an ex-
traordinary degree. and after he had be-
come q nonagenarian he would vault the
gates in his grounds rather than allow the
bailif to open them for him. He died at
his country place. Boyle Farm, in June
1875. the Nestor Of the profession who, to
use the phrase Of Sir Alexander Cockburn,
haddone more to teacht the law and improve
the law than any man Of the age"
ii.
Robert Monsey Rolfe. who was to be Lord
Cranworth. wa born in December. 1870. at
| Cranworth, near Thetford. His father held
the perpetual curacy of Cranworth. in con-
junction with the rectory Of Cockley Clay,
near Swanham. The boys grandfather.
his great-grandfather and one OF his uncles
had also been in holy orders. Robert Rolfe
received his early education at the grammar
school Of Bury st. Edmunds. whence in 1908
he was transferred to Winchester College.
In due course he became a project at that
school and in 1908 entered Trinity College,
Cambridge, where he had a career OF con-
siderable distinction. In 1912 he was ad-
mitted at Lincoln's Inn, and was called to
the Chancery bar in 1915. For a time no
was unsuccessful in attracting briefs. but
eventually amassed a good Junior busine
in Chancery. while his appointment as
Recorder Of Bury st. Edmunds kept him in
touch with the Norfolk circuit. which he
had Joined on his call to the bar. In the
spring Of 1881 he tried to enter the House
Of Commons but failed. but in the following
December, at the first election after the
reform bill, he was returned for Penryn
and Falmouth. a constituency which re-
manned faithful to him during the seven
years Of his Parliamentary life.
Role was not destined to cut a c%onspicu-
Gus figure in the House of Commons. and
it was with q feeling akin to amasement
that in September, 1894. the public learned
Of his appointment as Solioitor-G General
The Government never dreamed Of utiliz-
ing him In the day of battle, and perhaps
it was in order to All his place with a more
efficient debater that in October, 1899. after
nearly FIVE years Of Office. SIR Monsey Rolfe
was made a Baron Of the Exchequer. Many
years afterward he wrote in s~eh-deprecia-
tory terms to Lord Chief Justice Campbell:
when I first came on the bench / was en-
tirely ignorant of the practice. but some
how one picks it up and no real difficulties
Rolfe sat in the Exohequer for
over ten years, and 1t turned out that
he possessed in a marked degree the quail
ties which contribute to judicial excellence
soberness. patience a~nddignity.
He had a wide and exact knowledge OF legal
decisions and was keenly apprehensive OF
the value and weight Of scattered pieces OF
evidence. For the first time in his life
Rolfe now tasted the sweets OF fame and
popularity and his fortunes. which had
been somewhat stagnant since his elevation
to, the Solicitor Generalship fifteen years
were now to undergo a sudden
change. In the summer OF 1850 he was
transferred from the Exchequer to the
yice-Chancellor's Court. and as an earnest
Of the future he was created a peer under
the title of Baron Cranworth of Cranworth.
Under the circumstances this was an unpre-
distinction. but Rolfe's great per-
popularity disarmed all jealousy or
cavilling.
In December. 1852. the coalition Govern
.ent Of Lord Aberdeen wa formed and
Cranworth received the Great Seal.
His promotion was universally applauded,
for he had gained greatly in reputation dur
ing his short apprenticeship as Vice-Chan-
cellor. Mr.. Atlay recalls that his decisions
in chancery rank very high among lawyers
and his judgments are conspicuous for their
precision Of language. He made a oour-
teous. dignifed and impartial Speaker OF
the House Of Lords, but long absence from
Parliament had naturally not rendered him
any more effective in debate than he was
he quilted the Commons. His most
---z.,,e,, gosl,ro h1-auar aroa about
over the attempted creation OF life peers.
who succedeed Lord Aber-
deem in 1855, appointed two law lords for
life. The suggestion OF this appointment
has commonly been fathered upon Gran
who under Palmerston retained
the place OF Lord Chancellor. 1t devolved
upon him to defend the patent Of one Of
these law lords. but though he stuck bravely
to his gun the result was fatal to the at
creation and distinctly damaging
to his W position as head Of the law. The
passage Of the Divorce and Matrimonial
act. which was carried through the !
House Of Lords by a majority OF only two
votes, was credited largely to the tact and
.pertinacity with which it was upheld by the
Lord Chancellor. In February. 1858, Lord
was driven from Office. the VIC
tim OF Orsini and Of the French Colonies,
and on his return to office in June, 1859, he
Campbell as his Chancellor. Why
Cranworth was passed over, Lord Selborne
could never understand. Our author thinks |
the mystery will not seem 30 great when we |
that with occasional exceptions
he had been a hindrance rather than a help !
10 his party in the debate.
After his retirement from the Chancellor
ship in 1859 Lord Cranworth's leisure was
passed at his seat at HOLLYWOOD Park, |
a house famous as having been once the
abode Of the younger Pitt. For Cranworth.
fortunes wheel had not concluded
It's full revolution. In July. 1895, when
under painful circumstances Lord West
bury resigned the Great Seal. PaItperston
delay or hesitation asked Gran
worth. then in his seventy-ffth year. to
resume IL. His satisfaction at the rein ,
so top,apf UNA amin mad hv tho ,ord;,I;.,,