MERCANTIE

LIBRARY

PHILAD

OF THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,

Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty.

1852.

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

Lord Langdale in the House of Peers.-Takes charge of various im-

portant Bills. His independent Course.

Taxes.

Memorandum on Law

CHAPTER II.

Lord Langdale's Speeches-On the Borough Courts Bill-On the

Bill to authorize Parliamentary Publications-On the Courts of Chan-

cery Bill-On the Attorneys' and Solicitors' Bill-On the Conveyance

and Landed Property Bill-On the Townshend Peerage Bill-On

the Common Law Courts Bill-On the Taxing Masters Bill-On the

Parliamentary Proceedings Bill-On the Vice-Chancellor's Bill

PAGE

1

17

CHAPTER III.

Lord Langdale's last Speech in the House of Lords.-On the County

Courts Bill.-His power as a Public Speaker.-His personal appear-

ance

40

CHAPTER IV.

Lord Langdale on the Bench.-His unremitting attention to his

Duties. No private matters suffered to interfere.-His Remarks on

"the Dignity of the Court."-Disapproves of Vacations.-His anxiety

to render assistance to the Chancellor

49

CHAPTER V.

Conduct as to complaints against Officers of his Court.-Hatred of

Trickery.-Anecdote.- High moral tone and decorum of the Rolls

Court. His indignation at any unfair mode of conducting a Cause.-

His Judgments commonly written out by his own hand.-His con-

duct in Consent Cases.-His confidence in the statements of Council.-

His wish to decide according to the Letter of the Law.

CHAPTER VI.

His readiness to allow of Appeal from his Decisions.-His opinion on

the Admissibility of the Evidence of an interested Witness.-Reflec-

tions on the subject.-His acquaintance with Civil and Canon Law and

Continental Codes.-Remarks in the case "Nelson v. Bridport."-

Attendance at the Sittings of the Judicial Committee of the Privy

Council

CHAPTER VII.

Opinions of Lord Langdale on various subjects.-Anecdotes

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63

75

. 90

CHAPTER VIII.

The Public Records.-Their antiquity, importance, and numbers.-

Appointment of various Record Commissions.-Their mismanagement.

-House of Commons Committee on the subject.-Lord Langdale

takes temporary charge of the Record business.-The Commission

suffered to expire.-The Public Records Act passed

111

CHAPTER IX.

Lord Langdale labours to carry the Record Act into execution.-

Deputy Record-keeper appointed. Lord Langdale's views for the

management of the Record Service

120

CHAPTER X.

State of the Record Service before the passing of the Act.-Enormous

Fees.-Defective Calendar.-Lord Langdale Reduces the Fees, and

forwards the formation of New Calendars.-General Index in progress.

-Difficulties and Obstructions

PAGE

143

CHAPTER XI.

Lord Langdale's exertions to procure the Erection of a General

Record Repository.—The Victoria Tower plan.-Found to be unsuit-

Further Correspondence with the Government.-A New Building at

last determined on.-Commenced.-Lord Langdale's Retirement.-

Address of the Record-Keepers

. 183

CHAPTER XIII.

Lord Langdale as a Trustee of the British Museum.-Meets with an

Accident there.-Appointed one of the Commissioners of Inquiry.-

His suggestions for their Report.-Surreptitiously Printed.-Sugges-

tions as to the Department of Printed Books.-Refuses to Sign the

Report of the Commissioners.-His Opinion of the British Museum as

a whole

194

CHAPTER XIV.

The Registration Question.-Early Acts on the subject.-Select

Committee of 1832.-Mr. Bickersteth's Evidence.-Lord Langdale is

placed at the head of the Registration and Conveyancing Commission.

-Their Report on Registration

.

212