smile from veterans, but juniors received it with a tempest of applause, whilst the author, unconscious of its singularity, retired like a Roman actor having proclaimed, "vos plaudite."
He was the last Englishman who filled the station of a common law judge in this country (save the late Judge Hewitt) and retired in 1770; whereas his predecessor was removed into the station of a puisne judge in the English Court of King's Bench without any pension. Irish salaries would however render such an exchange in our time a pecuniary loss; though similar removals had been the constant usage between both countries from the reign of James I.
The next event was the death of the Lord Chancellor, in July 1767. The Great Seal was placed in commission, and so held until the arrival of his successor in January, 1768. The reader will probably expect some observations on the Chancellor's personal, political, and judicial conduct, which shall be executed procul ira aut odio, and with a full sense that nos et nostra debemur morti. These remembrances may also have their use; for though the legal profession is so generally bound by precedent as to fetter, save in a few enlightened individuals, genius and political judgment, I know no body of men who attain so strong and imitative an hue of its leading members.
Lord Bowes came to this country in the train of Chancellor West. That gentleman having died the year after his arrival, Mr. Bowes had but two modes of attaining an independent station, each however sufficient to ensure him success were he destitute (which was not the case) of legal talents. He was an Englishman and might return thither, where he had a powerful patron in Sir Philip Yorke, then Attorney-General of that kingdom, or under that banner solicit Irish promotion. We therefore find him called to our bar in Michaelmas term 1725; and succeedihg Mr. Jocelyn, as third sergeant, in Trinity term, 1727. In a short time he was returned to parliament without any intercourse with constituents, or injury to his purse; the government having given to the boroughmonger, official compensation. Lord Jocelyn preceded him in all subsequent promotions, until his eleva-
