preferring the former. Then, as if afraid, lest he had for the moment been betrayed into anything like unqualified commendation of any person, he added, correcting himself "Not that there was not a deal of corruption in Kenyon's intemperance."* He had, however, other stores from which to furnish forth his talk; for he was a man of no mean classical attainments; read much Greek, as well as Latin, after his retirement from office; and having become associated with the Whigs, at least in the intercourse of society, passed a good deal of time in the company of Mr. Fox, for whom it is believed that he felt a great admiration, at least, he praised him in a way exceedingly unusual with him, and was therefore supposed to have admired him as much as he could any person, independent of the kind of thankfulness which he must have felt to any formidable opposer of Mr. Pitt, whom he hated with a hatred as hearty as even Lord Thurlow could feel, commingling his dislike with a scorn wholly unbecoming and misapplied.

When he quitted the Great Seal, or rather when Mr. Pitt and he quarrelling, one or other must go, and the former was well resolved to remain, the retired chancellor appeared to retain a great interest in all the proceedings of the court which he had left, and was fond of having Sir John Leach, then a young barrister, to spend the evenings with him, and relate whatever had passed in the course of the day. It seemed somewhat contrary to his selfish nature and contracted habits of thinking, that he should feel any great concern about the course which the administration of justice should take, now that he slumbered upon the shelf. But the mystery was easily explained, by observing that he really felt, in at least its ordinary force,

* This was an instance of his readiness to sacrifice truth to splenetic satire. Whatever might be said of Buller (whose conduct in a political cause tried before him while Mr. Pitt went the circuit really prevented his promotion) Lord K. was altogether pure.

the affection which men long used to office bear towards those who are so presumptuous as to succeed them; and he was gratified by thus sitting as a secret court of revision, hearing of any mistakes committed by Lord Loughborough, and pronouncing in no very measured terms his judgment of reversal upon many things in which the latter no doubt was right.

That his determination and clearness were more in manner than in the real vigour of his mind, there can be no doubt; for though, in disposing of causes, he may have shown little oscitancy, as indeed there seldom arises any occasion for it where a judge is reasonably acquainted with his business, and gives his attention without reserve to the despatch of it, yet, in all questions of political conduct, and all deliberations upon measures, he is known to have been exceedingly irresolute. Mr. Pitt found him a colleague wholly unfruitful in council, though always apt to raise difficulties, and very slow and hesitating of purpose. The Whigs, when he joined them, soon discovered how infirm a frame of mind there lay concealed behind the outward form of vigour and decision. He saw nothing clear but the obstacles to any course; was fertile only of doubts and expedients to escape deciding; and appeared never prompt to act, but ever ready to oppose whoever had anything to recommend. Šo little, as might be expected, did this suit the restless and impatient vehemence of Mr. Francis, that he described him as "that enemy of all human action."

Of a character so wanting in the sterling qualities which entitle the statesman to confidence and respect, or the orator to admiration, it cannot be affirmed that what he wanted in claims to public favour he made up in titles to esteem or affection as a private individual. His life was passed in so great and habitual a disregard of the decorum that usually fences high station, especially in the legal profession, as makes it extremely doubtful if the grave and solemn

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exterior in which he was wont to shroud himself were anything more than a manner he had acquired; for, assuredly, to assert that he wore it as a cloak whereby men might be deceived, would hardly be consistent with his ordinary habits, as remote as well could be from all semblance of hypocrisy; and so far from an affectation of appearing better than he was, that he might almost be said to affect, like the Regent Orleans, the "bad eminence" of being worse.*

* St. Simon relates a saying of Louis XIV., respecting his celebrated nephew, which, he says, paints him to the life, and, therefore, that skilful writer of memoirs is unbounded in his praise of this "trait de plume." "Encore est-il fanfaron des vices qu'il n'a pas."

194

LORD MANSFIELD.

CONTEMPORARY with these two distinguished lawyers, during the latter period of his life, was a legal personage in every respect far more eminent than either, the first Lord Mansfield, than whom few men, not at the head of state affairs, have in any period of our history filled an exalted station for a longer period with more glory to themselves, or with a larger share of influence over the fortunes of their country. He was singularly endowed with the qualities most fitted both to smooth for him the path to professional advancement, to win the admiration of the world at large, and to maintain or even expand the authority of whatever official situation he might be called to occupy. Enjoying all the advantages of a finished classical education: adding to this the enlargement of mind derived from foreign travel, undertaken at an age when attentive observation can be accompanied with mature reflection; he entered upon the profession of the law some years after he had reached man's estate; and showed as much patient industry in awaiting, by attendance in the courts, the emoluments and the honours of the gown, as he had evinced diligence in qualifying himself for its labours and its duties. His connexion with Scotland easily introduced him into the practice afforded by the appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords;* and the acci

*He soon rose to such eminence in this, that his biographer, Halliday, has mentioned him as engaged in thirty appeals during one session. A worse piece of biography than Halliday's, it may be observed in passing, hardly exists, notwithstanding its having so admirable a subject.

dental indisposition of his leader, a few years afterwards, having given him an opportunity of distinguishing himself before a jury, he speedily rose into extensive practice, not, however, so much in CommonLaw courts as in Chancery.

Ten years after he entered the profession he was made Solicitor-General and came into parliament, which he had hitherto shunned, observing, with the caution so characteristic of the man and of the nation, "That he had many respected friends on both sides of the House, and did not care to lose the patronage of both parties for the favour of one." If this principle be as great an honour to his public virtue as to his personal discretion, his biographer has done well to record it in proof of the praises which he lavishes upon him; and certainly nothing in the subsequent course of his life can be found which betokens a falling off from the wary circumspection of its outset.

His powers as an advocate were great, though not first-rate. In manner, which he had studied so much. that Pope was found one day superintending him while he practised before a looking-glass-in a sweetness of voice which by nature was almost unequalled -in clearness and skill of statement, which he so greatly laboured, that it was said his story was worth other men's argument,-in the wariness and discretion so necessary to one that represents another's interest, as an advocate does his client's,-in knowledge accurate, as far as it went, if not very profound, of the principles of the law; and in an enlarged view of general subjects, whether of jurisprudence or of a more liberal kind-he stood high, either above all his contemporaries, or in their foremost rank. A certain want of vigour, arising from the inroads which his constitutional caution made into the neighbouring dominions of its ally, fear, prevented him from ever filling the first place among advocates; and to anything that deserved the name of genius or of origi