PAINTI

OF THE

LIBRARY

VILAN

RIGHT HONOURABLE

LIBRARY

PHILAO

** LONDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,
Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty.

1852.

27

LONDON,
Pripted by SAMURL BENTLEY and Co.,

Bangor House, Shoe Lane.

losion7-190

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER 1.

PAGB

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

portant Bills. — His independent Course. — Memorandum on Law

Taxes

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

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.

CHAPTER V.

PAGE

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 . . . . . . . . 76

CHAPTER VII.

Opinions of Lord Langdale on various subjects.— Anecdotes

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.

PAGE

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

e in progress. 143

143

CHAPTER XI.

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

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

able . . . .

. . . . . 159

CHAPTER XII.

Further Correspondence with the Government.--A New Building at

last determined on.-Comnienced. -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