Select Biographical Sketches Form the Note-books of a Law Reporter

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G. Routledge and Sons, 1867 - Great Britain - 218 pages
 

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Page 180 - The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward, forevermore.
Page 97 - Tis pleasant, through the loopholes of retreat, To peep at such a world ; to see the stir Of the great Babel, and not feel the crowd ; To hear the roar she sends through all her gates At a safe distance, where the dying sound Falls a soft murmur on the uninjured ear.
Page 25 - ... occurred to disappoint their purpose, I never should have seen her. But it happened that on the preceding day she was one of an equestrian party which was made to visit this curious object. She overheated herself by her ride ; a violent cold and pain in her face was the consequence ; the father found it indispensably necessary to defer his journey for several days, and in the meantime I arrived.
Page xxxi - ... at the dictation of any section of their supporters. Yet, thus disgraced and trampled upon, they still condescend to hold the reins of Government...
Page 14 - it was which gave offence to his Lordship. The Lord Chancellor this morning in Court sent me down a note in these words: — " The Bill about sailors and soldiers will pass our House to-day. Lord Ellenborough objected to the word highly, and said he would attend to move the amendment. The preamble now stands that it is expedient to repeal, without the words highly expedient. There seemed to be a notion that this statute was impliedly repealed by some other — what I know not — but I did not think...
Page 28 - Bill to declare that a witness could not by law refuse to answer a question, on the ground that his answer might subject him to a civil suit. The Master of the Rolls, though he had declared himself an enemy to the Bill altogether, proposed a proviso, that it should still be open to a witness i Now Marquis of Lansdowne.
Page xxxii - In former times, amid such defeats, and unable to carry those measures which he considered essential, a minister would have thought that he had only one course to pursue. But these are antiquated notions : everything has changed. This fastidious delicacy forms no part of the character of the noble viscount. He has told us, and his acts correspond with his assertions, that notwithstanding the insubordination...
Page 72 - Gentlemen, what were the other particulars of the conversation that passed I am unable to state to you, but you will find the zeal and anxiety which a number of respectable persons acted with upon this occasion, made it very difficult for Mr.
Page xxxvii - Be it so. But, my Lords, if the calamity should come, if the conflagration should take place, what words can describe the extent of the calamity, or what imagination can paint the overwhelming ruin that would fall upon us. I shall be told, perhaps, that these are the timid counsels of old age. My Lords, for myself, I should run no risk. Personally, I have nothing to fear. But to point out possible peril and how to guard effectively against it, that is surely to be considered, not as timidity, but...
Page 95 - ... only from intercourse with courts and camps that a knowledge of the world can be derived. He had a sagacity almost unrivalled ; a penetration of mind at once quick and sure ; a shrewdness so great as to pierce through each feature of his peculiarly intelligent countenance ; a subtlety so nimble, that it materially impaired the strength of his other qualities, by lending his ingenuity an edge sometimes too fine for use.

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