profession, and I should do violence to my own--if I did not take this opportunity, before your Lordship leaves that seat for the last time, to express, in the first place, my own sincere and unfeigned regret at your Lordship's unexpected removal from it; that I do most sincerely regret it your Lordship will give me credit when I add, that, with the close of your Lordship's judicial career terminates my public professional services in this Court; but what is of much more importance, I am fully authorised to express the sincere regret of the great body of the profession, and particularly of those who have been in the habit of attending this Court, at your Lordship's removal. I am further authorised to express their high sense of the public advantage which has been derived from the impartiality, unwearied diligence, and masterly knowledge of the business and practice of the Court, which distinguished your Lordship's administration of justice here; and I am also desired to convey to your Lordship the sense of the profession and the tribute of their applause for the almost matchless patience which you were pleased to show to every member of the profession, and for that courtesy which characterised your Lordship while presiding in this Court. CHAP. LX. Having thus expressed these, the sentiments of the profession, suffer me now to offer your Lordship our cordial wishes, that in your retirement, you may enjoy all the happiness this world is capable of affording, and that you may long feel pleasure from the consideration (which is perhaps the best that can be derived from it) that the functions of your high office were discharged with honour to yourself and advantage and satisfaction to all classes of his Majesty's subjects in Ireland.' There was something A touching very touching in this scene. On the Bench was the veteran Judge, about to leave the scene of his judicial labours, and at the Bar was the veteran Counsel, who, after a professional life of nearly half a century, was also leaving the scene of his honourable toil. In tones broken by deep emotion the Lord Chancellor replied :— scene. CHAP. The reply of the Lord Chancellor to Mr. Saurin's address. The Solicitor's address. The Lord Chancellor's reply. Legal changes. 'Mr. Saurin,-I had given myself some credit for my firmness (here he paused as though overpowered by his feelings) in all the vicissitudes of life, but I find it has quite failed me now. It is not the loss of dignity, nor of office that I consider of the slightest value, but the recollection of the time which I have passed here, and that it has been to me a period of such true social happiness. It is this which makes me feel the greatest reluctance in parting from such enjoyments. It is not, therefore, without the deepest emotion that I now must say, farewell for ever.' Mr. Josias Dunne, solicitor, then addressed his Lordship : 'MY LORD,-As President of the IRISH LAW SOCIETY, I am directed by the Solicitors of your Lordship's Court to return your Lordship their sincere thanks for the very kind attention they have received from your Lordship since your appointment as Lord High Chancellor of Ireland, and for the accommodation they now enjoy in the Court of Chancery; and I am further directed to state to your Lordship the prompt, able, and obliging manner in which Mr. Long, your Lordship's secretary, has always acted towards our profession in the necessary intercourse they have had with him.' To this address the Chancellor replied:- Mr. Dunne,-I am fully sensible of the great skill and integrity of the large majority of the solicitors of this Court, and I trust they have always been treated by me with that respect which was due to their rank, ability, and propriety of conduct. This testimony from so highly respectable a portion of the practitioners is gratifying to me, and I beg they will accept my thanks.' A number of legal changes took place on this event. LORD PLUNKET succeeded Sir Anthony Hart as Lord Chancellor, the Solicitor-General Doherty succeeded Lord Plunket as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and the Attorney-General Joy became Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in place of Chief Baron O'Grady, who retired on a Peerage and a pension.' The Whig Government made a curious selection of Law Officers. The Right Hon. Francis Blackburne was appointed Attorney-General, and Philip Cecil Crampton, K.C., Solicitor-General. Both had strong Tory predilections. As a sop to the Catholic party, the coif, vacant by Serjeant Blackburne's promotion, was conferred on one of the most distinguished members of the Irish Bar, Michael O'Loghlen.1 CHAP. LX. Ex-Chan cellor Sir 1831. The Ex-Chancellor, Sir Anthony Hart, did not long Death of enjoy his otium cum dignitate. He died in December 1831. Few Judges ever presided upon the Irish Chancery Bench A. Hart, who are held in more affectionate remembrance than Sir RecollecAnthony Hart. The seniors regarded him almost as a tions of the brother barrister; and to the junior members of the Bar, cellor. he was more kind and encouraging than any of his immediate predecessors. Ex-Chan His cha racter as a Judge. It was a treat to be in Court when he presided. He heard the arguments patiently and almost uninterruptedly. When some matter of practice, which was not quite the same as that to which he was accustomed, was disclosed, he sought information from the Bar, and then when his turn came, he showed how nothing material escaped him. His judgments were lucid and most able, delivered in a ready flow of language, clear as a running brook, with a voice low yet strong, so modulated and articulate, that not a word was lost. He was very much pleased with the Irish Bar. When hearing a cause he said, 'When I feel His any leaning against the arguments at the Bar, I throw opinion of 1 Viscount Guillamore. 5 2 Afterwards Master of the Rolls, Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, Lord Justice of Appeals, and twice Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He died in 1867. He was appointed one of the Justices of the King's Bench in 1834. Died in 1846. This distinguished lawyer was a Baron of the Exchequer, and appointed Master of the Rolls in 1837. He was created a baronet in 1838. Died in 1842. His eldest son is also an eminent member of the Irish Bar, appointed Sergeant in 1867, and Judge Advocate-General in 1868. Vincent v. Hackett, 2 Irish Law Recorder, p. 297. the Irish Bar. CHAP. An Attorney's bon-mot. The Chancellor desires to accommodate suitors. out every objection I can in order to elicit what I am sure of getting-cvery possible information to set me right. This rule I adhere to generally, because I am always distrustful of my first impressions in any case, and more especially should this rule influence me in any question arising upon the local law of this country, of which I must necessarily be ignorant, and of which the Bar before me are so competent, and as willing as they are competent, to give me the fullest information.' Mr. O'Connell having suggested to the Lord Chancellor it would be more profitable for his client cestui qui trusts if certain trust-money was invested in landed security, which the deed allowed, instead of the Government funds, then very low, the Chancellor said, 'He would be glad to increase the interest for Mr. O'Connell's clients if he saw the security was good, but, from all he could learn, the lands of Ireland were more covered with Chancery suits than with corn.' An Attorney in Court rejoined, in an under-tone, True, Sir Anthony, and here are the reapers.' On an application to have a cause set down at the bottom of the list, the Chancellor assented, saying, 'I shall sit here as long as any Counsel will stop with me. I have no right to say to the plaintiff that he shall not have his cause heard. He has a perfect right to call on the Court to hear it. The defendant's Counsel will lose nothing by giving you reasonable time, for if you are not ready, I shall be obliged to have all the pleadings and proofs read.' This closes my account of this truly estimable man and eminent Equity Judge. CHAPTER LXI. LIFE OF LORD PLUNKET, FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS CALL TO THE BAR. AMONG these famous men, distinguished beyond their cotemporaries by the might of their minds, whose genius elevated and ennobled their country, must ever be placed WILLIAM CONYNGHAM PLUNKET. It was well said, 'There are men whose biography is the history of their country; the events of their existence, devoted to public affairs, cannot be separated from the events of the nation; and thus the recorded epochs in the lives of Cromwell, of Monk, of Hampden, of Somers, of Marlborough, of Walpole, of Pitt, of Fox, of Sheridan, of Grattan, of Wellington, of O'CONNELL, are the history of their country in their eras; and, to the roll of men who, for good or evil, have ruled the destinies of these kingdoms, we may add that of WILLIAM CONYNGHAM PLUNKET.'1 CHAP. LXI. Character of Plunket. The life I am about to narrate is that of a man whose aim was always to do his best, and assuredly there is great consolation in the consciousness of having done the best. Doing our The race is not always to the swift, or the battle to the best. strong, but it never is to the faint-hearted or the coward. We should lose no opportunity of gaining success, and it may come when least expected. We should try and gain a secure footing at every step, and remember the Spanish proverb The stone that is fit for the building will not be left to lie on the road.' Opportunity may present itself unexpectedly, and then the capable man surpasses the idle and incompetent. Even though life may nearly pass, and years creep on before the man of mind soars above the ordinary herd, if he has omitted no legitimate opportunity 1 Dublin Quarterly Review, vol. iv. p. 142. |