blood of unoffending millions. Again, when in Europe the church cast its old slough, and re-appeared in somewhat of its pristine simplicity, the whole Continent was convulsed by civil war for a century and a half. Witness in France those battles, and massacres, and assassinations, of the Huguenots and Catholics. In Germany, that closing scene of thirty years' confusion, in which the grotesque and barbaric forms of Wallenstein and Tilly are seen struggling with the indomitable spirit of Mansfield, and the majestic genius of Gustavus Adolphus. Witness in England the downfall of her ancient throne, and the eclipse of royalty. Let me not be misunderstood: I hold, that there is no one who has rightly considered these events, who must not, even whilst he mourns over them, admit that it is better the changes took place, even with their terrible accompaniments, than that they should not have taken place at all. But while I avow this, I hope it is not presumptuous to breathe a fervent prayer, that India may receive the blessing without the misery; not faint-heartedness, that I tremble at the possibility of all Southern Asia being made a theatre of confusion; not luke-warmness, that rather than see Religion advance upon the rapid wings of strife, I would prefer to wait for her more tardy approach, preceded by Commerce and the Arts, with Peace and Knowledge for her handmaids, and with all the brightest forms of which human felicity is susceptible, crowding in her train: I confidently trust, that there shall one day be erect ed in Asia a church, of which the corners shall be corners of the land, and its foundation the Rock of Ages; but when remote posterity have to examine its structure, and to trace the progress of its formation, I wish they may not have to record that it was put together amidst discord, and noise, and bloodshed, and confusion of tongues; but

that it rose in quietness and beauty, like that new temple where no hammer or axe, nor any tool of iron, was heard whilst it was building;' or, in the words of the Bishop himself—

No hammer fell, no ponderous axes rung; Like some tall palm the mystic fabric sprung!'

"That such may be the event, many hands, many spirits, like his must be engaged in the work; and it is because of my conviction that they are rarely to be found, that I feel justified in affirming his death to have been a loss not only to his friends by whom he was loved, or to his family of whom he was the idol, but to England, to India and to the world."

Upon the close of this address, which produced a powerful impression on the meeting, the following resolutions were moved in succession by distinguished individuals present, and unanimously adopted:

"That upon the occasion of the death of the late Bishop of Calcutta, it is desirable to perpetuate, by some durable monument, the sense of public loss with which this community is impressed; and the feelings of respect and affection with which the Bishop was regarded by all who knew him.

"That the most appropriate course appears to be, to cause a sepulchral monument of marble to be erected in the cathedral church of Calcutta ; and that subscriptions be received for this purpose.

"That a committee of management should be appointed to superintend the receipt and application of subscriptions; and that they be desired to communicate with the brother of the late Bishop, Richard Heber, Esq. one of the representatives in Parliament for the University of Oxford, and to request that he will superintend the execution of the monument in England.

"That the following gentlemen should form the committee of management :

"The Venerable Archdeacon Corrie, Mr Secretary Lushington, the Honour able Colonel Finch, W. Prinsep, Esq., W. Money, Esq., Rev. Principal Mill, Rev. W. Eales, Rev. J. Young; and that the Rev. Mr Robertson act as secretary.

"That the committee of management, if any surplus should remain after the erection of a suitable monument, should consider the propriety of applying it to the foundation of an additional scholarship in Bishop's College, to be named, Heber's Scholarship.'

"That in addition to the objects already named the committee should be at liberty, if the funds should be found sufficient, to appropriate a portion of them to the purchase of a piece of plate, to be preserved in the family of the brother of the Bishop, as an heir-loom for ever."

Proceedings at Bombay. Pursuant to public notice, a very numerous and respectable meeting of the Society of Bombay was assembled in St Thomas's Church, on Saturday last, May 13, for the purpose of considering the most appropriate mode of evincing their respect and esteem for the late Right Reverend Reginald Heber, Lord Bishop of Calcutta.

The Honourable the Governor took the chair, and the meeting, having been addressed by his honour and other gentlemen, unanimously came to the following resolutions :

"That this meeting is penetrated with feelings of the deepest sorrow for the sudden and untimely death of the late Right Reverend Reginald Heber, Lord Bishop of Calcutta; and whilst they commemorate with the highest regard the goodness, the candour, and the charity which adorned his private character, they reflect with no less admiration on the lustre of his public life, distinguished as it has been by uncommon talents and extensive learning, and

consecrated to the unwearied labours of his high and important station.

"That a subscription be entered into for the purpose of raising a fund to endow one or more Scholarships at Bishop's College, Calcutta, for the benefit of this Presidency, to be called Bishop Heber's Bombay Scholarships.'

At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of Madras, held at the Government Gardens, on Wednesday, the 12th of April 1826:

The Hon. Sir Thomas Munro, Bart. K.C.B. in the Chair, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

"That as the character of the late Bishop Heber was regarded with universal love and veneration, and as his life was of inestimable value, from the works of piety and benevolence which were in a great measure dependent upon it, and which were prosecuted with ardour, and with the happiest effect, to the very hour of its termination, so his death has excited the deepest feeling of grief in this settlement, and is esteemed by the present meeting a calamity to the cause of religion and bumanity.

"That in order to perpetuate the sentiments entertained by this settlement towards the late beloved and revered Bishop, a monument be erected to his memory in St George's church, and that the Rev. Thomas Robinson, the domestic chaplain and esteemed friend of the Bishop, be requested to prepare the inscription.

"That a subscription be opened for the purpose of carrying the last resolution (that proposed by Sir G. Walker) into effect, and that any surplus fund be appropriated in the manner best calculated to do honour to Bishop Heber's memory.

"That a Committee of Management be appointed, consisting of the following persons :

and that the Rev. W. Roy and the Rev. R. W. Moorsom be requested to officiate as Secretaries, and Mr Gwatkin as Treasurer."

The following tribute from an Armenian to the late Bishop appears in the Harkaru of April 17:

"On Friday last, when the melancholy intelligence was made known among the members of the limited Armenian community of Calcutta, who have been treated by his Lordship with the greatest kindness and consideration, they were not only seized with poignant grief at the premature death of such an excellent character, but considered it a national misfortune to lose, in Bishop Heber, a sincere friend to the Haican race, and to the church of Armenia. Accordingly, yesterday being the sixth Sunday of Lent, conformably to the code of that ancient Christian church, high mass and office were performed by Ter Joseph Stephen, late Vicar of the Armenian church in Calcutta, for the rest of the departed soul of the departed Bishop. The congregation were more numerous than usual, and their countenances plainly expressed their grief for the loss of one so beloved, and who had their interest so much at heart. While the awful knells, corresponding to the age of his Lordship, fell mournfully on their ears, many of them were evidently overpowered by the solemnity of the scene, and regret for the loss Christianity has sustained. Indeed the whole of the community were assembled on this melancholy occasion, to pay a tribute of their gratitude to departed merit, and to offer their prayers to God for the

spiritual rest of him who was so unremittingly engaged in the cause of the Bible, and in promulgating its most pure and salutary doctrines."

The subscriptions to Bishop Heber's monument amounted, on the 18th of May, to 22,960 rupees; the Rajah of Tanjore subscribed 1000.

THE RIGHT HON. ROBErt Gifford, BARON GIFFORD, OF ST LEONARD'S, IN THE COUNTY OF DEVON; MASTER OF THE ROLLS; DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS; AND RECORDER OF BRISTOL.

Lord Gifford was born at Exeter, on the 24th of February 1779. The natural disposition of mankind to exaggerate the marvellous, has probably been the cause of several statements which have appeared of the very humble condition of his family. It was, however, perfectly respectable. Lord Gifford's father was an extensive dealer in hops, grocery, and drapery; and his uncle was a physician, resident in Exeter. The father of Lord Gifford was twice married, and had by his second marriage four children, of whom Lord Gifford was the youngest.

Robert received his education at a school at Alphington, near Exeter, kept by Dr Halloran, a man remarkable for his talents, and for his misapplication of them. From early youth, Robert Gifford, who was distinguished by the quickness of his apprehension, evinced a great inclination for the profession of the law, and was desirous to go to the bar; but his father did not think that, consistently with his duty to the other members of his family, he should be justified in incurring the expense of educating his youngest son for that branch of the profession; and accordingly, when Robert had attained the age of sixteen, he was articled by his father to Mr Jones, a very respectable

attorney of Exeter, in whose office he remained the usual period. Mr Gifford became a great favourite with Mr 1 Jones, and towards the latter part of his clerkship, in consequence of Mr Jones's ill health, the chief management of the business devolved upon him. While in this situation, the superiority of his talents, and the perspicuity of his judgment, did not escape the observation of many intelligent men; and various instances of the quickness of his penetration in unravelling legal difficulties, are remembered by his early acquaintance. One day the late Mr Baring, Member of Parliament for the city of Exeter, having some business of importance which required legal advice, called to consult Mr Jones on the subject. That gentleman, though well skilled in his profession, being somewhat perplexed by the difficulties of the case, turned to his clerk, and asked his opinion, which Mr Gifford gave with equal readiness, perspicuity, and modesty. Mr Baring was perfectly satisfied; and on leaving the house said to a friend whom he met, that he had just been talking with a young man, who, if he lived, would certainly be one day Lord Chancellor.

It is probable that Mr Gifford had been induced to entertain expectations of being taken into partnership by Mr Jones, at the expiration of the term of his articles; and it is also probable that the arrival of Mr Jones's nephew from London, to assume the management of his uncle's office, might have occasion ed him some disappointment.

It is certain, however, that when Mr Gifford found himself his own master, his original inclination towards the bar revived with double force. Under the will of his father, who died during the second year of his clerkship, he had become entitled to some property; but it was scarcely adequate to meet those heavy and unavoidable expenses which must be contemplated by every young

man who determines upon making the bar his profession. Between him and his brothers, however, there had always been the strongest attachment, and they most liberally declared, that he should not want any assistance which they could furnish, in the pursuit of his favourite object. Thus assured, Mr Gifford entered himself as a student at the Middle Temple, in 1800.

On his first coming to London, Mr Gifford was two years as a pupil with Mr Robert Bayly, who was then prac tising as a special pleader, and who is at present one of the barristers belonging to the western circuit; and in 1803, he began to practise as a special pleader himself, his chambers being in Essex Court, in the Temple. Although unaided by any powerful connexion, yet his knowledge and his unremitting attention gradually brought him into extensive practice.

On the 12th of February 1808, Mr Gifford was called to the bar, where his abilities, and the assiduity with which he devoted himself to the acquisition of legal learning, soon attracted much notice. He joined the western circuit, and the Exeter and Devon sessions, where he almost immediately got into considerable business; and both on the circuit and in London he was steadily making progress towards distinction, when one of those fortunate circumstances which sometimes occur, brought his talents into full play, and drew upon him the attention of the public. He was retained to argue the case of Mogg versus Mogg, in the Court of King's Bench, involving a number of important and difficult points connected with the law of real property, with which he was peculiarly familiar; and on the argument he exhibited so profound a knowledge, and so much readiness in the application of it, that he attracted the attention of the late Lord Ellenborough, then Chief-Justice of the Court of King's Bench, who in

vited him to his house, and to whose strong recommendation, added to that of the late learned and venerable Sir James Mansfield, Chief-Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, he was principally indebted for his early and sudden advancement.

Soon after this event, another case occurred in which he added to the re.putation he had already acquired, and proved that his talents for dealing with numerous and complicated facts, were at least equal to his accurate knowledge of law. A commission of lunacy having been issued against a gentleman of the name of Baker, at the instance of his brother and sister, Mr Gifford was retained for the latter; and during an investigation which lasted nine days at the Castle at Exeter, and in which he had to contend with the late Mr Dauncy, one of the ablest advocates of his day, and Mr Abbott, the present Lord Chief-Justice of the Court of King's Bench, (who were brought down spe cially on that occasion,) Mr Gifford ex hibited powers, both of argument and of oratory, of the highest order, and which are still fresh in the recollection of every one who was present on the

occasion,

On the 9th of May 1817, he was appointed Solicitor-General. On the 16th of the same month he was elected one of the Masters of the Bench, by the Society of the Middle Temple, and shortly after took his seat in Parliament, for the borough of Eye, in Suffolk. After this, he left the Court of King's Bench, in order to practise in Chancery, which he continued to do till his elevation to the Bench in 1824. During this period he became the principal leader in the appeals to the House of Lords, and acquired that intimate knowledge of Scotch law, which he afterwards employed in so useful a manner for the country, in his capacity of Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords. On the resignation of Sir Vicary

Gibbs, Mr Gifford was chosen by the Corporation of Bristol to be their Recorder, an office which has never been held but by persons of the highest degree of legal merit. The duties of this station Mr Gifford discharged highly to the satisfaction of the Corporation; and he was requested by them to sit to Sir Thomas Lawrence for a whole-length portrait, to be placed in the Town-hall of the city of Bristol.

While Sir Robert Gifford was Solicitor-General, he distinguished himself on the trial of Dr Watson, in June 1817, and also at the trials under the Special Commission at Derby, in October of the same year.

In July 1819, on Sir Samuel Shepherd's being appointed Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Scotland, Sir Robert Gifford succeeded him as Attorney. General. In this important office, the due execution of the duties of which requires a happy union of firmness and prudence, Sir Robert Gifford deported himself in such a manner as to give ge neral satisfaction. He was so cautious to avoid prosecuting, except in cases in which he felt confident that conviction must be the result, that, we believe, not a single instance occurred of any failure on the part of the Crown during his continuance in office.

In the latter end of April 1820, Sir Robert Gifford prosecuted to convic tion the conspirators in the "Cato Street plot." But the most important cause in which Sir Robert Gifford was engaged as Attorney-General, was one of a very trying nature; and the more so, as it was wholly without precedent. It was the prosecution by a bill of pains and penalties of Queen Caroline. The opinions taken upon the subject varied in the extreme; and though a few were for a prosecution, others recommended silence and a compromise. There can be little doubt that the Attorney-General was on the temperate side; but, while deliberating, the demise of the