Page:Chronicle of the law officers of Ireland.djvu/333

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OUTLINE OF THE

or thier works underwent a similar ordeal, or by what concurrence of accident they avoided the trying scene; the answer will be concise and satisfiictoiy. No private Irish lawyer ever incurred the penalty by publishing a legal report Sir John Davys and Chief Baron Gilbert deciphered with singular ability, and by a copious commentary, the leading decisions of their day. The case of tenures was also compiled by Baron Barry. The two former were Englishmen, who either had the countenance of government, or the protection of rank and character to circulate their works, and the last was a state compilation.

In 1738, Mr. Marshall was created a Sergeant, and in 1754, a Judge. A selection of that gentleman was extremely judicious; he had an active persevering mind, a warm intrepid temper, and a judgment sufficiently severe to distinguish between hollow professions and practical inclinations to tyranny. Such a person was well calculated to depress a guilty group not more by personal courage than undisguised contempt in the year 1799, Lord Wyndham resigned, to the regret of every honest or inteligent Irishman, having rendered a name memorable in England for wisdom, public spirit and eloquence, a subject of grateful regret to the Irish nation. His retreat was also unmarked by pension, place or reversion.

Robert Jocelyn, Attorney-General, became Chancellor; a gentieman of unimpeached political character, amiable private manners, and distinguished legal ability.

Lord Joclyn has higher and more lasting merit than obscure Chancery records usually convey. He united lettered taste with official integrity, and wbhed to redeem the darkened annals of this country from fable or falsehood. With this view he became the patron of Harris, whose industry was unabated, but which felled of suitable success from an anxious attention to the influence of existing power, and a proportioned neglect of posterity. Had the Chancellor met a lawyer of superior merit, turning from lucrative allurements to lettered pursuits, such an enlightened individual would probably be encouraged and rewarded with suitable care; yet the preceding exertion forms a