sentiments in that particular, I read that part of your letter to my son, in order to let Mr. Pitt know that Lord C.'s free consent and willingness were indispensable to this arrangement. And, indeed, he is under such obligations to his Lordship, that he is bound, by every tie of honour and gratitude, to leave the measure to his option and good pleasure; so that your Grace may be assured that there can be no impediment to your Grace's acceptance from that quarter. If that difficulty is removed, I should hardly allow your Grace's plea of disability, or fear to undertake so àrduous an employment, to have the weight of an insurmountable objection. If that was sufficient in your Grace, who are now in the very vigour of your age and the ripeness of your understanding, to warrant a refusal, what can it be said to me, who am in the last stage of life, when both mind and body are in a state of decline, and are every day tending downwards towards incapacity. In reality, such is my backwardness to embarking in business, that nothing but the comfort of your Grace's support and co-operation could have prevailed upon me to alter my determined purpose (for so it was till I was overruled) for final retirement. And I am afraid, if I know my own feelings, I should perhaps be pleased at my heart, and almost thank your Grace, if you should, by withdrawing yourself, give me an honest excuse for breaking off. But indeed, my dear Lord, there is a great difference between us; and the disadvantage of the comparison is all of my side.

It were very much to be wished that the Privy Seal might return to your Grace, and Lord Gower shifted to some great court office; but his Lordship, it seems, is too fond of the cabinet to quit that situation; and yet I heard lately, from Lord Sydney, that he was afflicted with a frightful and alarming disorder in his eyes, so as to become incapable of either reading or writing. He described it as a very serious malady; if it should continue, or grow worse, he must, whether he will or no, bid adieu to all business. I am again asked, whether your Grace is se absolutely determined against the post of the Home Secretary. I answered, as I did before, it was my opinion you was, though it was said, that office was now relieved from the single responsibility of India matters by the establishment of the Board of Control. As I have not seen Mr. P., all that has passed between us has been conveyed by my I hear no news, such is the barrenness of the present times; and the newspapers themselves are dry, and can hardly find scandal enough to fill the pages. I have read the Dean of St. Asaph's trial, and confess that I can see nothing libellous in the paper; and am besides more displeased with judge Buller's behaviour

son.

than I was formerly with Lord Mansfield's conduct. Something ought to be done to settle this dispute; otherwise the control of the press will be taken out of the hands of the juries in England, and surrendered up to the judges.

I am, my dear Lord,

&c. &c.,

CAMDEN.

These valuable letters are extracted from a MS. of singular interest, in the Duke of Grafton's possession, and to which we have had access. It is a narrative of his distinguished grandfather's public life, by himself, written in 1804, when he had attained a venerable old age, and was universally respected and beloved for his amiable qualities, as well as his eminently sound and practical judgment. Nothing can be more desirable than the publication of this excellent work; it is filled with letters from the most eminent persons of the day, and very unlike some very reprehensible publications lately made, and its being given to the world now would be wholly unobjectionable.

The last letter, which we avail ourselves of his Grace's kind permission to insert, relates to a very memorable event. Who does not know the "Death of Chatham ?" Here is an account of his fall in the House of Lords, by an eye-witness, and that eye-witness a man almost as illustrious as himself, his bosom friend Lord Camden, in a letter to the ex-minister, the Duke of Grafton, the old and attached colleague of both in the public service. Such a document is of inestimable value.

Lord Camden to the Duke of Grafton.

MY DEAR LORD,

April, 1778, N. B. Street.

I CANNOT help considering the little illness which prevented your Grace from attending the House of Lords last Tuesday, to have been a piece of good fortune, as it kept you back from a scene that would have overwhelmed you with grief and melancholy, as it did me, and many others that were present: I mean Lord Chatham's fit, that seized him as he was attempting to rise and reply to the Duke of Richmond; he fell back upon his seat, and was to all

appearance in the agonies of death. This threw the whole House into confusion; every person was upon his legs in a moment, hurrying from one place to another, some sending for assistance, others, producing salts, and others reviving spirits. Many crowding about the Earl to observe his countenance-all affected-most part really concerned; and even those who might have felt a secret pleasure at the accident, yet put on the appearance of distress, except only the Earl of M., who sat still, almost as much unmoved as the senseless body itself. Dr. Brocklesby was the first physician that came; bút Dr. Addington in about an hour was brought to him. He was carried into the Prince's chamber, and laid upon the table supported by pillows. The first motion of life that appeared, was an endeavour to vomit, and after he had discharged the load from his stomach, that probably brought on the seizure, he revived fast. Mr. Strutt prepared an apartment for him at his house, where he was carried as soon as he could with safety be removed. He slept remarkably well, and was quite recovered yesterday, though he continued in bed. I have not heard how he is to-day, but will keep my letter open till the evening, that your Grace may be informed how he goes on; I saw him in the Prince's chamber before he went into the House, and conversed a little with him, but such was the feeble state of his body, and indeed the distempered agitation of his mind, that I did forbode that his strength would certainly fail him before he had finished his speech. In truth he was not in a condition to go abroad, and he was earnestly requested not to make the attempt; but your Grace knows how obstinate he is when he is resolved. He had a similar fit to this in the summer; like it in all respects, in the seizure, the reaching, and the recovery; and after that fit, as if it had been the crisis of the disorder, he recovered fast, and grew to be in better health than I had known him for many years. Pray heaven that this may be attended with no worse consequences. The Earl spoke, but was not like himself; his speech faltered, his sentences broken, and his mind not master of itself. He made shift with difficulty to declare his opinion, but was not able to enforce it by argument. His words were shreds of unconnected eloquence, and flashes of the same fire which he, Prometheus-like, had stolen from heaven, and were then returning to the place from whence they were taken. Your Grace sees even I, who am a mere prose man, am tempted to be poetical while I am discoursing of this extraordinary man's genius. The Duke of Richmond answered him, and I cannot help giving his Grace the commendation he deserves for his candour, courtesy, and liberal treatment of his illustrious adversary. The debate was

adjourned till yesterday, and then the former subject was taken up by Lord Shelburne, in a speech of one hour and three quarters. The Duke of Richmond answered; Shelburne replied; and the Duke, who enjoys the privilege of the last word in that House, closed the business, no other lord, except our friend Lord Ravensworth, speaking one word; the two other noble lords consumed between three and four hours. And now, my dear lord, you must with me lament this fatal accident; I fear it is fatal, and this great man is now lost for ever to the public; for after such a public and notorious exposure of his decline, no man will look up to him, even if he should recover. France will no longer fear him, nor the King of England court him; and the present set of ministers will finish the ruin of the country, because he being in effect superannuated, the public will call for no other men. This is a very melancholy reflection. The Opposition, however, is not broken, and this difference of opinion will wear off; so far, at least, the prospect is favourable. I think I shall not sign the protest, though in other respects I shall be very friendly. I have troubled your Grace with a deal of stuff, but the importance of the subject will excuse me. Jack will have the honour of spending his Easter at Euston. Is Lord Euston to have a commission in the militia? I have endeavoured to dissuade my son. I thank your Grace for the plover's eggs: it is plain you think me an epicure. I have hardly room to present my respectful compliments to the Duchess, &c., and to subscribe myself as I ought, with perfect esteem and respect,

Your Grace's, &c.

CAMDEN.

P.S. I understand the Earl has slept well last night, and is to be removed to-day to Downing Street. He would have gone into the country, but Addington thinks he is too weak.

It is known that the Earl died at Hayes a few days afterwards. The Earl of M., so discreditably mentioned in this letter, must have been Lord Marchmont. In the Lords' Journals for that day, April 7. 1778, he and Lord Mansfield are the only Earls of M. present; and Lord Mansfield was wholly incapable of suffering such feelings to be seen on such an occasion.

ART. VI. - ON THE LIEN OF SOLICITORS.

IN every profession there are some peculiar privileges, which it is the duty of its members to defend from infringement, and to transmit unimpaired to their successors. But to discharge this obligation with respect to any privilege, it is necessary to understand the principle of its origin, and the exact limits of its application; since any exorbitant or untimely assertion of such a right may be not less injurious than its undue dereliction. Rights of this nature are also liable to continual question and to frequent modification, according to the varying exigencies of society: and the subject of the present Article has of late years been so frequently brought into discussion before the highest tribunals of the land, that it seemed desirable to lay before the Profession a brief summary of the present law and practice affecting a privilege of such intrinsic importance and of such constant application.

Professional privileges have generally originated in public necessity or expediency: and they are in many cases highly conducive to the effectual discharge of professional duties. In this point of view, the privileges of solicitors, though nominally pertaining to themselves, have often been described, upon high authority, as the privileges of their clients : and such, we apprehend, is the real characteristic of the right or privilege now under consideration. The lien of a solicitor extends to funds recovered in a cause, and to all papers or documents received from the client for the purposes of the clientela. It is virtually a pledge, which the solicitor, upon his retainer, tacitly assumes or accepts, as a security for the future remuneration of his skill, industry, and integrity, and for the reimbursement of the heavy pecuniary outlay which the course of litigation usually imposes upon him. It is seldom that a client is called upon to advance the supplies for the conduct of his suit or business: and, were it not for