Memoirs of the Right Honourable Henry Lord Langdale

Front matter

Cornell University Library KD 631.L26H27

V.I

Memoirs of the Right Honourable Henry Lo

Preface

A MEMOIR of a man who did not mix in the turmoil of political life, can seldom be made interesting to the general reader; and in very few instances does the life of an Equity Judge, the Lord Chancellor excepted, present sufficient incident for the pen of the biographer. The following pages may not, therefore, prove interesting to those who expect the progress of the great to be marked by startling events. Lord Langdale's life presents none; — it was spent in the philosophic endeavour to amend the existing law, and in dispensing justice with an even hand.

Lord Langdale was not a conspicuous statesman, but he was a great Legal Eeformer, and from the commencement of his career at the Bar he never ceased to work in the uninviting field of reformation. His labours may not have been so apparent as those of Bentham, but they have been useful and beneficial, and it may be stated, without fear of contradiction, that some of the most advantageous changes which

a 2 iv PREFACE.

recently have been made in the administration of justice in the kingdom have been the result of his exertions and suggestions. In connexion with his ofi&ce of Master of the Eolls there is one branch of Law Eeform — the Record Service — which, if Lord Langdale did not originate, he entirely made effective, and for which the public are eminently indebted to him. But even admitting that these circumstances do not justify a publication like the present, his claim to such a distinction might rest on his high moral worth and great integrity, for his whole life was untainted by the practice of those arts, by which some men become dishonourably great. He may serve as an example to men in general, but especially to those of his own profession, as an instance of success effected by a stedfast and persevering spirit, and a reliance on the power of industry and integrity. I could have wished, however, that the task of pourtraying the character of such a man had fallen into more competent hands; but I have done the best in my power, and if I have not excited the reader's sympathy, or made him interested in my subject, I unreservedly admit that the fault has been my want of power in biographical delineation.

There is one point in Lord Langdale's character which demands particular notice — his faculty of identifying himself with the object immediately engaging his attention. Each of his numerous occupations appeared to engross his mind so entirely as to leave him neither

PREFACE. V

time nor thought for anything else * Hence arose a multiplicity of correspondence on various subjects;! all written in his own hand, and bearing the impress of his mind. I have thought it necessary, in many instances, to print his letters in full, as the better mode of exhibiting how thoroughly he entered into the matter before him, and how well he was acquainted with the minutest of its details. Whenever it was possible to let him tell his own story I have done so, thereby hoping to give these volumes as much as possible the character of autobiography.

The most pleasing part of my task now remains to be performed, that of thanking those who have so kindly assisted me.

To the Lady Langdale, and the Honourable Miss Bickersteth, I am under the deepest obligations, for their unbounded confidence and liberality, in affording me unlimited access to the whole of Lord Langdale's letters, manuscripts, and papers, and for other valuable assistance.

My thanks are also especially due to the Lord Lyndhurst, the Lord Campbell, Sir Charles Trevelyan, K.C.B., Sir Charles Young, Garter, King of Arms, — Mr. G. W. Sanders, Mr. Edward Stanley, Mr. Cosmo Innes,.

* Besides his onerous judicial duties at the Rolls, he was one of the most active memhers of the Privy Council ; Keeper-General of the Public Records; a Trustee of the British Museum; the Head of the Chancery Inquiry ; Chief Commissioner of Registration, &c.

t One subject alone — the Public Records — produced upwards of one thousand letters, and the others in like proportion.

VI PREFACE.

Mr. Panizzi, Dr. Alexander Henderson, Dr. Chapmari,* Professor Sedgwick, Mr. Eiohard Lambert, Mr. Roberts Chambers, Mr. Matthew Bell, Mr. Edward Tyrrell, Mr. Edwin Cbadwick, C.B., Mr. John Stuart Mill, Mr. Philip Martineau, Mr. Alfred J. Horwood, and many others, for their valuable communications and zealous and obliging aid.

CONTENTS OF THE FIKST VOLUME.

Chapter I

I Birth of Henry Bickeisteth. — His Brothers and Sisters. — Estimable Character of his Mother.— Early Traits. — Popular at School. — His High Principle. — Professor Sedgwick's Statement. — Mr. Dawson. — Letter to his Brother John. — Apprenticed to his Father. — Sent to London.— Memoir of his Uncle, Dr. Batty ....

CHAPTER n.

Letter to his Father. — His Mother's judicious Training.— Letter to her. — Dislike to Medical Practice, but conscientious pursuit of it. — His Religious Views . . , . . . .15

Chapter III

Sent to finish his Medical Studies at Edinburgh. — His accounts of the various Professors. — Drs. Hope, Gregory, Duncan, the Monros, and Hamilton. — John Allen . . . . . .28

Chapter IV

His Life at Edinburgh. — Becomes a Member of the Royal Medical Society. — Letters to his Father and Brother. — Scottish Customs. — Further Notioes of the Professors . . . . .46

Chapter V

Appointed Clinical Clerk to Dr. Duncan.— Letters to his Father, his Brother, and Sister. — His Affection for them. — Criticisms on his viii CONTENTS.

PAGE

Brother's Poetry. — His attachment to the Baconian Philosophy. —

Letter to his Mother. — Return Home

Chapter VI

Journal of a walking Tour through the English Lake District. — Philosophic Preparation. — Kendal. — Bowness. — Windermere. — Amhleside. — Langdale Pikes.— Red Scree. — The Happy Valley. — Patterdale. — Ullswater. — Dacre Castle. — Lodore. — Bovvdar Stone. — Bassenthwaite. — Buttermere. — Mary of Buttermere. — Langstreth. — The Stake in Borrowdale.— Coniston. — A friendly Hostess.— Furness Pells. — Ulverstone. — Furness Ahhey. — Reflections on its Desolation. —Return . . . . . . . .80

CHAPTER Vn.

Correspondence with Dr. Henderson. — Thesis on the Vital Principle 96

CHAPTER VIIL

Letter to Miss Batty. — Accident to his Mother. — Letters to Mr. Henderson and to John Bickersteth. — The Vis Medicatrix Naturae . 110

CHAPTER IX.

Matriculation at Caius College, Camhridge. — Letters to Dr. Henderson and to John Bickersteth, describing his College Life. — Letters to his Sister ' . . . . . . . . 122

CHAPTER X.

Serious Illness. — Letter to his Mother. — Relapse. — Letters to Dr. Henderson. — Ohtains the appointment of Travelling Physician to the Family of the Earl of Oxford. — Goes Ahroad .... 148

CHAPTER XI.

State of Paris at the date of Mr. Bickersteth's visit. — Letters.

Personal Appearance of the First Consul. — Another account. — The National Museums ,....._ iq^

CONTENTS. ix

CHAPTER XII.

PAGE

Journey through France. — Mr. Biekersteth's courage and presence of mind.— Arrival at Pisa.— Letter from Florence.— Acquires the Italian and German Languages in a wonderfully short time . . 176

CHAPTER XIII.

Renewal of the War.— Detention of the English Travellers.— Generosity of the Queen of Etruria.— Lord Oxford's Family remove to Venice.— Spirited conduct of Mr. Bickersteth on the voyage.— Learns to manage a Gondola. —Use of the acquirement. — Accident, to his cousin, Rohert Batty. — Journey to Germany. — Dresden. — Letter to his Brother. — Return to England. — Letter to Dr. Henderson . . 187

CHAPTER XIV.

Letter to Dr. Henderson. — Power of analysis. — Illness of Lord Oxford. — Skill and attention of Mr. Bickersteth. — Letter to his Father. — Intimation of his dislike to his Profession .... 202

CHAPTER XV.

Determines to ahandon the Medical Profession. — Has thoughts of the Army. — Returns to residence at Cambridge. — Letters to Dr. Henderson. — Little desirous of a Medical Degree. — Lord Melville. — Returns to Eywood. — Letter to his Father .... 215

CHAPTER XVI.

His Parents disapprove of his entering the Army.— His Letter on the subject. — The Project abandoned. — Return to Cambridge. — Dr. Chapman's statement. — Becomes Junior Fellow of his College. — Letter to his Father describing his College Life. — Professor Sedgwick's account of his Studies. — Reading Shakspeare and the Italian Poets his only recreation ....... 224

CHAPTER XVII.

Becomes Senior Wrangler and Senior Smith's Prizeman.— His opponents.— Other eminent Judges who have obtained the same. —

X CONTENTS.

PAGE

Returns Home. — Abandons the Medical Profession. — Enters as a Student of the Middle Temple.— Becomes a pupil of Mr. Bell, the Chancery Barrister.— Sketch of Mr. Bell . . . • -236

CHAPTER XVIII.

Mr. Bickersteth as a Law Student. — Letters. — Finally settled in London. — Pleasant Chambers. — Patient expectations. — Mr. Bell. — Letter to his Sisters.— His brother John. — Anxiety for the Happiness of others . . . . . . . .244

CHAPTER XIX.

Acquaintance v/uh Mr. Jones Burdett. — Sketch of Sir Francis Burdett . . . . . . . .254

CHAPTER XX.

Arrest and imprisonment of Sir Francis Burdett. — Riots. — Mi-. Bickersteth visits him in the Tower, — Accompanies him when leaving that fortress ........ 260

CHAPTER XXI.

Called to the Bar. — Becomes acquainted with Mr. Bentham. — Law Reformers unpopular. — His pecuniary difficulties. — Letters. — Sells his favourite Books.^-Mr. Bickersteth first employed by Mr. Bryan Holme. — Generous conduct of Sir Francis Burdett . . . 276

CHAPTER XXII.

Mr. Bickersteth's illness. — Letters. — His anxiety to relieve his Parents from expense on his account. — Becomes a Senior of his

College. — His noble conduct regarding the Perse Fund. Letter to

his cousin, Captain Batty ■••... 288

CHAPTER XXIII. l-

Legal Reform.— Notice of Jeremy Bentham, — Proposed uni' ,'with ' ' Sir Francis Burdett in furtherance of Parliamentary Reform drawn up by Mr. Bickersteth • • • . . ans

CONTENTS. xi

CHAPTER XXIV.

FAGB

The Westminster Election of 1818. — Tlie Candidates.— Prominent

part taken by Mr. Bickersteth. — Bentham's opinion of Burdett An

unpublished Letter of Bentham's. — Mr. Bickersteth is offered a seat

in Parliament. — His reason for declining it . . . . 325

CHAPTER XXV.

Trial of Sir Francis Burdett. — Letter transmitted through Mr. Bickersteth.— Sketches of the Politics of the time .... 334

CHAPTER XXVL

Death of Mr. Bickersteth's Father. — Chancery Reform — Mr. Taylor's motion on the state of the Appeals. — Parliamentary Committees. — Appointment of a Vice-Chancellor. — Commission of Chancery Inquiry.— Evidence of Mr. Bickersteth ..... 347

CHAPTER XXVII.

Result of the Chancery Inquiry Commission. — Sir John Copley's Chancery Reform Bill. — He becomes Lord Chancellor. — The "Jurist." — Mr. Bickersteth appointed a King's Counsel. — Letter to his Brother. — Rapid Increase of his business. — Letter from Bentham . . 367

CHAPTER XXVIII.

New Orders in Chancery. — Lord Lyndhurst's speech on Chancery Reform. — Nature of the Office of Master of the Rolls. — How discharged by Sir John Leach.— Sir William Grant.— Mr. John Tyrrell . 374

CHAPTER XXIX.

Retire ent of Lord Lyndhurst. — The new Ministry.— Mr. Bickersteth namr^ for the Office of Solicitor-General.— Chief Judgeship of the Court of rj new declined by him. — Barony of the Exchequer.— Declined by Mr. Bickersteth.— His Argument before the Privy Council against the Charter to the London University . . .386 xii CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXX.

PjAGE

Death of Sir John Leach. — The Lord Chancellor offers the post of Solicitor- General to Mr. Bickersteth. — Correspondence on the subject. — His interview with Lord Melbourne. — His reasons for declining the office. — Retirement of Lord Brougham. — Lord Lyndhurst again Chancellor ... . . . 3S7

CHAPTER XXXI.

Solicited to become a candidate for the Borough of Mary-le-bone. — Declines. — His Memorandum on Pledges from Candidates. — Foimation of the Melbourne Cabinet. — The Great Seal put in Commission. — Motives assigned. — Discontent of the public and the Profession. — Mr. Bickersteth's protest against the alteration in the hours of sittings of the Rolls Court . .... 406

CHAPTER XXXIL

Mr. Bickersteth's Memorandum on the Court of Chancery, drawn up by him for Lord Melbourne ...... 423

CHAPTER XXXIIL

Mr. Bickersteth's Marriage. — His Letter to his Brother. — Lord Melbourne wishes to bestow the Great Seal on Mr. Bickersteth. — Difficulties in the way.— Sir C. C. Pepys appointed.— The Mastership of the Rolls offered to Mr. Bickersteth. — Correspondence and interviews with Lord Melbourne. — His objection to the Union of Judicial and Political Offices. — Is willing to accept the Mastership without a Peerage.— Contrary Opinion of his Friends. — Generosity of Sir John Campbell. — Mr. Bickersteth takes office .... 444

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Mr. Bickersteth's disinterested conduct respecting the Rolls House.

—Congratulations of his Friends Sketch of Mr. Mill.— Review of Mr.

Bickersteth's practice. — His high integrity. — His opinion as to refusing Causes.— His industry.— A favourite at the Bar. — His selfsacrificing adherence to principle.— Interesting statement of his Clerk Mr. Le Dieu.— Sketch by a Contemporary.— Is sworn of the Privy- Council. — Created Baron Langdale .... 45R

MEMOIR

OF

HENEY LOED LANGBALE.

Chapter I

BIBTE OF HENET BICKEBSTETH. HIS BKOTHERS AND SISTERS.

ESTIMABLE CHARAOTEH OP HIS MOTHER. EABLT TRAITS. ^POPULAR

AT SCHOOL. — pis HIOH PRINCIPLE. — PROFESSOR SBDQWIOk's STATE- MENT. MR. DAWSON. LETTER TO HIS BROTHER JOHN. APPRENTICED

TO HIS FATHER. SENT TO LONDON. MEMOIR OF HIS UNOLB, DR.

BATir.

It is a matter of no slight difficulty to attain to any of the higher stations in the British empire without the influence of high birth or elevated rank. The .architect of his own fortune must possess no ordinary talent ; he must have the genius to invent, the energy to pursue, and the power to execute his design.

.There are many roads to the Temple of Fame, but some are so crowded with difficulties that few succeed in reaching the goal; and none are more dull, tedious, and uninviting than that of jurisprudence ; for, perhaps, there are more requirements and self-sacrifices neces-

VOL. I. B

2 MEMOIR OF HENRY LORD LANGBALE.

sary to gain eminence in the law than in any other science.

Among those who have distinguished themselves in the science of jurisprudence, Lord Langdale occupies a conspicuous place. His energy of character, his clearness of intellect, his persevering labour, combined with spotless integrity of spirit, elevated him to the high rank he held in his profession. He commenced his legal career without a single friend or connexion who could help his advancement, and with a disposition little inclined to push his own claims: and it is not a little remarkable that he should have acquired the eminent position of the Master of the Rolls without ascending any of those grades in his profession which usually lead to the chief official dignities of the realm. Nor does political influence appear to have served him in obtaining his rank, for he never was a member of the House of Commons, and could not therefore have assisted the government by his eloquence or support; indeed it is well known that he entertained views in politics decidedly adverse to both the ruling parties of his time.

He was raised to the peerage contrary to his own inclination, and accepted it only in deference to the opinion of several of his friends (the late Mr. James Mill, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Sutton Sharpe * especially),

* Sutton Sharpe was the eldest of the five sons of Sutton Sharpe, of Bridge Street, Blackfriars, and subsequently of Nottingham Place,, by a sister of Mr. Rogers, the poet. He was called to the bar by the Hon. Society of the Middle Temple, 21st of June, 1822, and adopted the equity side of the courts. He had for many years an extensive chamber practice, and was considered one of" the most who thought he would thereby be enabled to promote more effectually the cause of law reform. He made it, however, an express condition, when he consented to take a seat in the House of Lords, that he should be perfectly independent of party ties; his great ambition was to reform the abuses of his profession, and for that he chiefly laboured. On his own advancement he never bestowed a thought; had self-interest been his object, he would have profited by those defects which he strove to correct. His merits, however, were justly estimated by the prime minister and cabinet of England, who selected him, "from their knowledge of his deep sense of the primary importance to the community of the due administration of justice, and their conviction of his anxiety to remove errors, and supply defects."*

experienced Chancery draughtsmen. The honour of a silk gown was conferred upon him in Michaelmas Term, 1841.

Mr. Sharpe some time ago had a paralytic attack, but it was believed by his friends that he was in a fair way of recovery. His death was much lamented in Paris as well as in London ; for there were many men in the French capital, distinguished in science, literature, or politics, with whom he was on relations of intimacy. At the bar he was held in the very highest estimation for his many excellent qualities, and no man was a more general favourite in society. In politics, Mr. Sutton Sharpe was a decided Liberal, but such was the amenity of his manners, that even in the times when politics ran highest in the country, as during the period of the Reform Bill, his stout assertion of his principles never lost him a friend.

* Mr. Bickersteth, as will be hereafter seen, at the request of the late Lord Melbourne, had submitted to the cabinet his plan of dividing the office of chancellor, and though i^ was highly approved by Lord Melbourne, yet that of Lord Chancellor Cottenham, though it was not so desirable or effective, was nevertheless adopted, because he would support no other plan but his own.

B 2

Henry Bickersteth, Baron Langdale of Lar in the county of Westmoreland, Master of the EoUs, a Privy Councillor, and Keeper General of the Public Records, was born at Kirkby Lonsdale on the 18th of June, 1783, and was the third son of Mr. Henry Bickersteth,* of that place, by Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. John Batty, also of Kirkby Lonsdale.

His father was a surgeon, or general practitioner, of considerable local repute, and was the author of a work entitled, "Medical Hints for the use of Clergymen." His mother was highly gifted, and far in advance of the age she lived in. She was one of those few women of the period who understood, and strictly practised, the rule of right and wrong. She endeavoured to infuse into the minds of her children, those pure moral and religious principles which imbued her own ;

* Mr. Bickersteth had five sons and two daughters ; his eldest son, James, went to sea in the year 1796, and died abroad — at least his family never had tidings of him after his departure from England. John, his second, was originally a clerk in the General Post-office, in Ijondon, and afterwards studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, for the church. He is now, and has been for many years, rector of Sapcote. Henry, the third son, is the subject of the present memoir. Edward, the fourth, also commenced life in the General Post-office, but afterwards was articled to a solicitor, and practised in that profession some years. Having an enthusiastically religious turn of mind, he quitted the law, and obtained ordination without going to college. His life has been written by his son-in-law, the Rev. T. R. Birks. Robert, the youngest son> was brought up to the same profession as his father, and has acquired a considerable reputation at Liverpool, where he still practises. The eldest daughter, Mary Anna, married the Rev. J. Cooper, rector of Coppenhall ; and his youngest, Charlotte, became the wife of the Rev. R. Mayor, who was for many years a missionary in Ceylon.

and it was from her, principally, that the subject of the present memoir first acquired those exalted feelings, that pervaded every thought and action of his life, — she knew that early education forms the basis of character, and that the good or evil seed that is sown in the breast of the child, will grow up with its growth, and bear fruits in the acts of its manhood,- and therefore she carefully trained her children from infancy in the right way.

Her son Henry was accustomed to say, " that if the whole world were put into one scale, and his mother into the other, the world would kick the beam." His veneration and tender love of his mother was a marked feature of his youth, and many little anecdotes connected therewith, are recorded in the memory of his family. : The following illustrates the probity and conscientiousness of her character.

As Henry and his brother John, when mere children, were returning one evening from a visit to their grandmother, they found in the road a large log of wood, which they dragged home with considerable difficulty, thinking it would make an excellent plaything.

""Where did you get it?" asked their mother, as they triumphantly showed her their prize.

*' We found it in the road," was the reply.

" Then it is not yours," she said, " so you must take it back again, and replace it where you found it."

This lesson was never forgotten; Lord Langdale often related it in after years, and it probably passed through his mind when he adopted the significant and appropriate motto " Suum cuique."

One peculiarity of disposition manifested itself early in life. He never cared how much labour or anxiety it cost him, to please or assist his companions j but he would never trouble another to help them: this trait became a striking feature in his character as a man, — for though he would cheerfully undergo any personal inconvenience or trouble for the benefit of his friends, yet he was never known to ask a favour in their behalf. His disinclination to do so has been frequently and unjustly urged against him, and attributed to a lukewarm nature, and indifiference to the claims of friendship; but, in truth, it arose from the most delicate and conscientious spirit; he knew that every man had his individual friends to serve, and he shrank from intruding on patronage that was not his own; so strong was his feeling upon this subject, that he would as soon have encroached upon a man's purse, as his patronage. If he was averse from asking favours for his friends, he had a still greater objection to ask for himself. It is greatly to be deplored that sentiments similar to his are not more general: if men were more scrupulous in preferring requests, their friends would be spared the pain of refusing. " Where is the good of having friends if we cannot make use of them?" some may inquire; to such it may be answered,— ask your friend for what it is in his power to give; but you have no right to impose upon him the humiliating task of petitioning another.

Trifling occurrences are often indicative of strong afiections; a little incident which happened when he was quite a boy, shows his thoughtful love and reverence to his grandmother. He often used to visit her at Burton in Kendal, and one day, being there, as he persisted in going out, though the weather was cold and stormy, the old lady shut the door upon him, saying, " Henry, you make me tremble ;" very soon afterwards he came back, and opening the door gently said, " Do you tremble now, grandmother?" and complied with her wish to remain at home.

He was educated at the free grammar-school of his native place, under the tuition of the Eev. John Dobson. There is some tradition that he studied mathematics under Mr. Dawson at Sedbergh, which his brother, the Eev. John Bickersteth, rector of Sapcote, partially confirms. "To the best of my recollection," says Mr. Bickersteth, " my lamented brother, Langdale, before he went to Cambridge, received some mathematical instruction from Mr. Dawson at Sedbergh ; and had passed through the usual tuition at the Grammar School, Kirkby Lonsdale, under the Eev. John Dobson." Professor Sedgwick, however, has no remembrance of it. — " Henry Bickersteth," he writes, " never, so far as I know, read mathematics with Mr. Dawson of Sedbergh. I was at the Grammar School of Sedbergh from 1801* to the autumn of 1804, when I went to college. During two or three short school vacations I read with Mr. Dawson, and so did Dr. Bland. We knew all Mr. Dawson's pupils, at least by name ; and I am certain that during those years Henry Bickersteth was

* Henry Bickersteth went to Edinburgh in 1801 : consequently, if he ever was a pupil of Mr. Dawson, it must have been before Professor Sedgwick's time.

not one of the number. I am also certain that he never read with Mr. Dawson during the time of our undergraduateship. But he did at one time go over to Sedbergh to receive private classical lessons from Mr. Stevens, Master of the Grammar School ; but this was unknown to me while I was a schoolboy: neither do I know the year in which he paid his occasional visits to Mr. Stevens ; for I never remember his alluding to the subject after I became acquainted with him. I knew Mr. Dawson from my earliest childhood till the time of his death. He was a man of great simplicity of character, a great mathematician, and a profound self-taught philosopher. He had many Cambridge pupils during the long vacation; among them counted ten or eleven senior wranglers, but Lord Langdale was not one of the number, but I do not think that I have anything to tell of him that could be directly or indirectly connected with the life of Lord Langdale."

Of Henry Bickersteth's school days but few reminiscences are preserved. He was what is commonly called a popular boy; and though he was always diligent in his studies, and exact in his duties, yet he generally found time to enter into all the games and sports of his schoolmates; one of his favourite summer amusements was bathing in the picturesque river Lune, and he became so expert and daring a swimmer that more than one boy was indebted to him for his life.

In after life he used to talk of his school days, " when foot-ball was a favourite game, and often gave occasion to broken shins. At the end of the field where they played foot-ball was a railing, and on the other side of the railing was a precipitous descent to the river," and he said, " to see the way the boys jumped over the railing and rolled down the descent after the ball was astonishing;"

One only of his school letters has been preserved ; it was written when he was fourteen years old, and addressed to his brother John, then a clerk in the General Post-office of London, but who afterwards entered holy orders. It runs thus :—

Kirkby Lonsdale, July bih, 1797.

" Mr DEAR John,

" I ought to blame myself for not having satisfied your wonder what I should have to spout before now. As to spouting I had none, but then I had something far worse. I had one of Martial's ' Epigrams ' to translate into English verse, which I thought was enough, of conscience; but, however, Mr. Dobson thought otherwise, and so soon as that was finished he set me a paper out of the * Elegant Extracts,' to translate into Latin, which when I had done I was so much gratified with having finished my exercise, that I for awhile forgot they were to be shown before* the governors of the school, but it was only for awhile. The time passed on, the day came, and we were all to go to school at ten o'clock, and those who had repetitions to say had to repeat them before the usher. As soon as they had all done, the time when the governors were to come grew so near that thought became dreadful to the boys, and they all started up as if with one common consent, and began shoutings singing, and rattling against the seats, which altogether made a noise that was sufficient to drown all thought. At last, however, the gentlemen were seen coming down the yard, and all was quiet in a moment. They came into the school, sat down, and the exercises of the first class were called for. Then the suspense was terrible, but much more so, when I heard Dr. Barrow, who was there, say, ' This is best,' I did not know which he meant. After this the boys said their repetitions : when they had all done we were sent into the yard whilst the determinations were to be made. They began at the lowest, and proceeded upwards to the head, when the prize was adjudged to me. As the books were not ordered, the successful boys had every one a ticket given them, which was to entitle them to reward when the books came. I know you like this tittle tattle, or 1 should not have written it. I hope you did not forget I was to enter into the shop on the 24th of June.