424|The Green Bag.|}}

spelt revolution. He opposed the repeal of in the House of Commons and in the press of the Test and Corporation Acts, the emanci the day of the number of causes waiting after hearing for Lord Eldon's judgment, of pation of the Romans Catholics and the Re form Bill with equal bigotry and honesty, cargoes rotting while he considered to whom and the resolute itou possnmus which he op they belonged, and of frantic appeals from ruined families, that some end might be put posed to all the movements of his day con tributed largely to the defeat and disintegra to the fatal continuance of their suits . . . tion of the Tory party. As a judge he is The facts are indisputable that a common administration suit, where the parties were entitled to the high credit of having strength not hostile, took from ened the growing fixi three to five years; ty of the principles that eminent counsel of equity. "The doc stated that no man trines of this court," could begin a contest he himself said in ed suit and hope to Gee v. Pritchard (2 see its end; that cli Swan. 414), "ought ents were advised to to be as well settled compromise good and as uniform almost as those of the com claims and to plead mon law, laying down to bad ones rather fixed principles, but than risk a suit, and taking care that they that on the average are to be applied ac causes took at least cording to the cir three years to reach cumstances of each the top of the list case. I cannot agree after they were ready that the doctrines of for hearing. The de this court are to be lay after the causes changed by every were ready for hear succeeding judge. ing were the worst Nothing would inflict delays of all." on me greater pain In order that we LORD SELBORNE. than the recollection may overtake as that I had done any many occupants of thing to justify the reproach, that the equity the woolsack as possible, we shall treat the of this court varies like the chancellor's foot." remaining Lord Chancellors, whose names, This reproach certainly cannot be laid at even at the cost of some repetition, call for Eldon's door; what he may, however, be notice in this paper, in a somewhat more justly charged with, is the fostering if not cursory style than we have hitherto adopt the parentage of that terrible accumulation ed. Thomas Wilde, Lord Truro, the brother of arrears of which the equity judges are of Lord Penzance, the second son of a Lon only now getting rid. VVc have already don attorney, was born in 1782, educated noticed Lord Hardwicke's contributions to at St. Paul's School, and called to the bar the increase of this malign brood. Lord of the Inner Temple in 181 7. Overcoming Eldon was an even greater sinner. " It is by unremitting perseverance an impediment unnecessary," says Mr. Kerly (ubi sup. in his speech^ ( a defect, by the way from 270), "to dwell upon the complaints made which curiously enough Sir William Erie