The Lives of the Chief Justices of England
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This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com AW LIVES CHIEF JUSTICES OF ENGLAND. * ■ Z- > < r. X M 0 /. < — < C X " / «E /. S .J} —% o u /: - T H E L I V E S OF THE CHIEF JUSTICES OK E N GLA N D. \ LEU. 5 >T v'i\. • ..... ZV"{1f CON'il?:; ti '■ : : ' SIR JOSEPH ARNOUI.J). LATE jUi'liE l-'>" T!i! nl.:il 001' kT r>F I'OMbW. '. 1C. VOL. V. .tfbsey city, xr.ut JER.-;hY. FRED. D. LINK & COMPANY, Publ1shers. 1 S81. • • . f THE LIVES OF THE CHIEF JUSTICES OF ENGLAND. 1 LIBRARY* THE LELAKD STANFORD, JR., UMVEBSlTf LAW DEPARTMENT, CONTINUATION BY SIR JOSEPH ARNOULD, LATE JUDGE OF THE H1GH COURT OF BOMBAY, ETC. VOL. V. FRED. D. LI# & COMPANY, Publ1shers. 1881. PREFACE. THTf KWTR has been principally compiled from roateriaJs pbcd at the writer's disposal by various members of the \«.-t- LORD DENMAN'S family ; by his old friend, Sir JOHN W\%OR COLERIDGE; and by Mr. Herman Mer1valv7, v V. son of a friend still older. It is intended as mu ~h for general as for profes sional readers : for DEKM/ N, though of a high order . both as an advocate and a j \ \<p, was of a still higher order as a man and a citizen ; *i that a record, how ever imperfect, of his noble an.'', virtuous life may, it is hoped, be found interesting vci nseful even be yond the comparatively narrow liners of exclusively legal circles. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The Denman family, page I. Great-grandfather and grandfather of Lord Denman, 2. His paternal uncle, Dr. Joseph Denman, 2. His father, Dr. Thomas Denman, 2. His mother, nee Miss Elizabeth Brodie, 3. His maternal uncle, Rev. P. B. Brodie, 3. His first cousins, William, Peter, and Sir Benjamin Brodie, 3. Marriage of Dr. Denman and Miss E. Brodie, 1770, 3. Happiness of the union, 3. LordDeuman's twin sisters, Marga ret and Sophia, 4. Their husbands, Sir R. Croft and Dr. Matthew Baillie, 4. Agnes and Joanna Baillie, 4. Birth of Lord Denman, Feb. 23 1779, 4. Place of birth, 4. Narrow escape from fire when an infant, 4, Childhood of Lord Denman, 4. Sent to Mrs. Barbauld's school at Pal grave in 1782, 5. His progress and improvement there, 5. Mrs. Den man as a mother, 6. Her belief in the power of early training, 6. Love of the child for his parents, 6. Early and life-long piety of his character, 6. Dr. Denman as a father, 7. Takes a child with him on his profes sional excursions out of London, 7. Letter from him to his wife on one of these, 8. Burke's house at Beaconsfield, 8. The boy taken from Mrs. Barbauld's and sent to Dr. Thompson's at Kensington in 1786, 8. Re mains there till 1788, 8. CHAPTER II. Denman at Eton from 1788 to 1795, 9. Few recordsof his Eton career, 9. Notice of him (set. 13) during an Eton vacation at Winterslow, 9. Early love for music, 9. Early politics and talent for speaking, 9. Burnt in the leg for not "making a speech," 10. Greek and Latin scholarship, 10. English verse translations, 10. Denman at Winterslow 1795 to 1 796, 10. Rambles in North Wiltshire, 10. Stonehenge, Essay on, 10. Thorney Down, Verses on, 11. Denman goes into residence at St. John's Col viii CONTENTS. lege, Cambridge, Oct. 1796, 11. His pursuits and friendships at the University, 11. Merivale, 11. Shadwell, 11. Hodgson, 11. Drury, 11. Bland, 11. The "Greek Anthology" and its contributors, 11. Byron's praises of, in " English Bards and Scotch Reviewers," II. Den- man's translation "With myrtle my sword will I wreathe," praised by Byron in note to third canto of " Childe Harold," 11. Denman's un dergraduate life at St. John's, 11. Merivale's Diary, 12. Walking tour with Shadwell in Wales, 1797, 12. Plan for a winter excursion to Snowdon, 13. Walks with Merivale in neighborhood of Cambridge, 13. Literary talk, 13. Lord Lovaine, 13. Denman's readiness at capping verses, 13. Hismemory and love for poetry, 13. Akenside and Beattie, 14. "Ham let," 14. Similarity of tastes and pursuits in Denman and Merivale, 14. Denman's fondness for romances of chivalry, 14. His admirable Greek scholarship, 14. Denman's correspondence at Cambridge with his sister Mrs. Baillie,.i4. Extracts from letters to her, 15. Description of Dovedale, 15. And of Dorset and Devon coasts, 16. Early admiration for "Lyr ical Ballads," 17. For Joanna Baillie's dramas, 17. Mrs. Baillie's me moirs of her brother, 17. His early love of theatricals, 17. A taste that never left him, 17. Denman's political sentiments, 17. An ardent " Fox- ite," 18. His unswerving political constancy, 18. Early admiration for Dr. Parr as a staunch Whig, 18. Mrs. Baillie's speculations as to origin of her brother's political opinions, 18. Personal advantages of Denman as a young man, 19. 'Physical strength and activity, 19. Walks from Cambridge to London in twelve hours, 19. His magnificent voice, 19. Air of distinction and refinement, 19. Combination of sweetness and force, 19. Correspondence between Denman, while at Cambridge, and his parents, 20. Letter to his mother, February, 1799, 20. Honors in classics proposed and rejected, 20. Political torpor of Cambridge, 20. Letter to his father, June, 1799, 2°- Velleius Paterculus, "Diversions of Purley," 20. Letter from Dr. Denman to his son, 1799, 21. Dr. Den man on Horace, 21. His theory of what his son should be, 22. " The wisest and best man that ever lived," 22. Denman's dislike of mathemat ics, 22. Consequent failure to take honors, 22. Extracts from letters to Mrs. Baillie on this, 23. Extract from verses written in 1799 hi dispraise of mathematics, 24. Eagerness for active life, 25. Takes an ordinary degree and leaves Cambridge for London in Febuary, 1800, 25. CHAPTER III. Denman commences his legal studies, April, 1800, 26. In chambers with Merivale at Featherstone Buildings, Holborn, 26. A pupil of Charles Butler, 26. Works hard at real property law, 26. Separate chambers at 25 Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, 26. Pupil of Dampier, and of Tidd, 26. CONTENTS. ix His diligence as a law student, 27. In 1803 begins practice as a Special Pleader, 27. His first legal employment, 27. Denman keeps up his school and college friendships, 27. Merivale, Shadwell, Bland, Hodgson, Drury, etc., 28. The Rev. Robert Bland, 2S. His talent and wild wit, 28. His intimacy with Byron, 29. His marriage, 29. Richard William Vevers, 29. The serio-comic " training of Vevers," 29. Letter from Bland to Denman, 1803, 30. Bland at Old Burlington Street, 1803, 31. Dr. and Mrs. Denman on the virtues of their son, 31. Epistles in verse to Den man from Hodgson and Drury, 31. " Dear lawless Democrat with dreadful brow," 31. Hodgson and Drury both friends of Byron, 31. A dining club established by Denman and his friends, 31 . Letter from Bland at Eton to Denman, 1804,31. John Herman Merivale the most intimate of all Denman's friends, 31. Early letters from Merivale to Denman, 31. Merivale in love with Miss Louisa Drury, 31. Denman falls in love at firstsight with Miss Theodosia Vevers, 31. Parentage and familyof Miss Vevers, 31. Her maternal connections, 31. Lord Sondes of Rocking ham Castle, 31. The Anderson family, 31. Age of Miss Vevers at mar riage, 32. Merivale to Denman on the prospects of his courtship, 32. A young lawyer's notion of wedded bliss in 1804, 32. " Plain living and high thinking," 32. Dr. Denman consents, 32. Extracts of letters from Denman to Miss Vevers, 33. They are married at Saxby Church, Oct. 18, 1 So |, 33. Honeymoon spent at Rockingham Castle, 33. " Aunt Annie's" account of the wedding, 33. Congratulatory letters, 34. Note from" Fanny Anderson," born Nelthorpe, 35. Letter from Denman's mother to his bride, 35. First London residence of the young couple, 36. Dr. Denman's allowance of 400/. a year, 36. Dr. Joseph Denman dis pleased at the match, 36. Correspondence on the subject between him and Dr. Baillie, 37. Dr. Baillie's letter to Dr. J. Denman of Oct. 15, 1804, 37. Dr. J. Denman's answer of Oct. 27, 39. Dr. Baillie's reply of Oct. 30, 1804, 39. His favorable report of the bride and good augu ries for the happiness of the union, 39. Dr. Baillie's noble and disinter ested character, 40. His auguries verified, 40. Extreme happiness and long duration of marriage, 40. Person, manners, and character of the bride, 41. Numerous family (born between 1804 and 1824) of Denman and his wife, 41. CHAPTER IV. Special Pleading, 42. Periodical literature (the " Monthly Review "), 1804- 1806, 42. Cambridge election for Chancellor, 42. Lord Henry Petty, 42. Fox-Grenville administration, January, 1806, 42. Denman's de votion to Fox, 43. Letter to Sir F. Burdett shortly after Fox's death, 43. Denman called to the Bar, 1806, 44. Change of residence to No. 5 Queen's Square, Bloomsbury, 44. Joins Midland Circuit and Lincoln x CONTENTS. shire Sessions, 41. Leading members of Midland Circuit, 44. Mr. Ser jeant Vaughan, 44. Mr. Clarke, K.C., 44. Mr. John Balguy, K.C., 45. Denman's friends, 45. Reader, 46. Dwarris, 46. Empson, 46. Copley (Lyndhurst) and Francis Horner, 46. Denman's regret at Copley's political apostasy, 47.