IF the Gentleman who has favoured us with the Groves of Peace will send the continuation of it, and some of the other promised pieces, we shall not fail to pay them every attention which their merits deserve. J. R. on Gratitude will not be inserted. W. S. will find the Solution of the Geometrical Query in our last. J. M. Putney-A Friend-R.-N. T. S.-S. W. X. Y.-and Philachæus, are received. $1λa2XM1QTNTOS—S. W. X. Z.-Piso—J. N.—S.-Gent's Monody, and P. G,'s Elegiac Stanzos, on the Death of the Right Hon. R. B. Sheridan, in our next. A. B. C.-H. T. and several other communications, as soon as possible. John Bull's Bowl of Punch not being properly mixed-The Adventurer with "his tale"-Generous-Antiquarius-H.-G-s-Eumela-Farewell-Juvenalis, from its personality-and the Observations on Major Dale's Essays, are inadmissible. We must again remind our Poetical Correspondents, and which they will have the goodness to observe, that when we take no direct notice of their communications, it is a tacit mode of declining them. ERRATA. In the enumeration of Mr. SHERIDAN's dramatic pieces, in our last Number, the "School for Scandal" was by mistake omitted, from the circumstance of that Comedy never having been printed with the name of its author, and consequently unacknowledged as a literary production.- Page 24, col. 2, line 11, for Sertiaries, read Tertiaries; page 25, last line, for valve, rend value. STATE OF THE BRITISH NAVAL FORCE ON THE 1ST OF AUGUST VARIATIONS OF BAROMETER, THERMOMETER, &c. at Nine o'Clock A.M. By T. BLUNT, Mathematical Instrument Maker to his Majesty, No. 22, Cornhill, 1816 Barom Ther. Wind Obser. 1816|Barom\Ther:] Wind Obser. Aug. 11 30.01 64 27 29.93 64 W Ditto 12 30.05 63 EUROPEAN MAGAZINE, AND LONDON REVIEW, FOR AUGUST, 1816. MEMOIR OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EDWARD LAW, LORD ELLENBOROUGH, LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE KING'S BENCH, AN OFFICIAL TRUSTEE OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM, GOVERNOR OF THE CHARTER-HOUSE, ETC. ETC. ETC. [WITH A PORTRAIT, ENGRAVED BY T. BLOOD, EXAME FROM AN ORIGINAL PAINTING BY SAMUEL DRUMMOND, ESQ. A.R.A.] High Emulation hath a thousand sons, XAMPLES of superior genius, and instances of pre-eminent ability, are not in any kingdom less rare, than in our highly-favoured England; and the pen of Biography is never more pleasingly, nor perhaps more beneficially engaged, than in recording their progress, when aided by emulation, and advanced by perseverance. Sedulous exertion is in itself most honourable to the mental powers, and indicates a certain superior manliness of feeling, which, in whatever science it is enployed, must augment the sum of pubfic utility, and command respect; but when talent forms the basis of its superstructure, and that glowing ambition which grasps at every attainable excellence urges the student forward to his destined eminence ;-every movement becomes interesting,—we retrace the progress of his elevation with a new delight, and add to the tribute of respect,―the homage of admiration. LORD ELLENBOROUGH is a native of the county of Cumberland, and was son of Dr. EDMUND LAW, the late Bishop of Carlisle. He was educated until he arrived at the age of twelve years by his uncle, the Rev. Humphry Christian, who resided at Bottsam, near Cambridge, and was then sent to the Charter-house; from whence he removed, in 1768, to St. Peter's College, Cambridge, of which his father had been appointed Master in 1756. SHAKSPEARE. : After he had taken his bachelor's degree with great credit, he was admitted a student of Lincoln's-inn, but was not, however, called at the usual standing, choosing to practise for a longer period under the bar. Lawyers in this situation are not allowed to appear in the character of advocates:-they assist in drawing up written pleadings, whence they are called special pleaders; but the fees they receive are much less than those given to gentlemen who have been admitted to the bar but the advantage attending this plan are.--practice at an early period, and the opportunities afforded of forming useful and eligible connections with clients - Of the profits attending it, the reader will not form a very high idea, from the following anecdote.-A late Attorney general, at a consultation, after discussing the subject before them, in his usual high and decisive tone, concluded with saying, "And, gentlemen, this is my opinion." -A solicitor present, who had the highest respect for the talents of the speaker, -but was roused by his peremptory and authoritative manner,-observed, "It is your opinion-and I remember when I could have had that opinion for five shillings!" (alluding to the time when he practised under the bar). -To which the Attorney-general goodhumouredly replied, "And probably, at that time, my opinion was not worth five shillings." After being called to the bar, Ma Law selected the northern circuit for his debut, most probably on account of the advantages of patronage and connection which he expected to derive from the influence of his father, the Bishop of CARLISLE. At this period, the principal causes were in the bands of Messrs. Wallace and Lee, men so distinguished, that the junior lawyers could aspire to practice only after they had declined it. Among the younger counsel then were, Lord Auckland, Lord Eldon, and Lord Alvanley. Lord Auckland soon abdicated the profession of the law for politics; Lord Alvanley was induced by the prospect of greater advantage to remove to the Chancery bar; while Lord Eldon and Lord Ellenborough remained to divide between them the rich harvest of that field, which the advancement of their great predecessors soon left open to their cultivation. Business in the country naturally leads to business in London; and Mr. Law was not without friends who assisted him on this more important theatre; among whom, the earliest and most useful was the late Judge Buller. In the Chief Justice Willes, Mr. Law also found another distinguished patron; but he was not a man of great powers, and most probably derived from the abilities and industry of his young friend, advantages fully equal to those which were imparted by the countenance he bestowed on him. Accordingly, our young lawyer was sometimes employed in hunting cases for the Judges-if not in more important ser. vices and by the aid of Judge Buller soon obtained the distinction of a silk gown. To accept this honour is thought a bold step in a junior practitioner, as its wearer must lead in every cause. The distinction, therefore, excludes him on all occasions when men of superior reputation are employed, who are not king's counsel. He must lead, or remain silent; if, therefore, he is inadequate to this duty, he does nothing, and is accordingly crushed under his own honours. Mr. Law, however, could have no reason to entertain apprehensons of this nature; he must have been confident in his own abilities, and only suitable opportunities were wanting to display them. A singularly able and learned defence For a Portrait and Memoir, vide Vol. LXIX. March, 1816. which he made in a difficult insurance cause, when his practice was not yet very considerable, drew upon him universal attention, and ranked him among the first pleaders at the bar. The subject was one to which he had always paid particular attention, and in which he shone with the most distinguished superiority. The impression produced by his management of this business brought him immediately a vast accession of business at Guildhall, and may be considered, in a great degree, the foundation of his present greatness and deserved good fortune. That His reputation was yet farther extended by the very active part he took in the defence of Governor Hastings. Into this trial he was introduced by Sir Thomas Rumbold, who married his sister. The cause had been offered to Lord Erskine, who refused it on account of the many unpleasant circumstances in which it appeared likely to involve him. This refusal was, however, judged unprofessional, and could have been ventured upon only by a man of his established celebrity. it originated from considerations such as we have mentioned, and not from any conviction unfavourable to the character of the client, is evident from his defence of Stockdale, who was indicted for a libel on the prosecutors of Hastings, as in the course of this defence he endeavoured to refute all the charges which were brought against the Governor-ge neral of Bengal. The reasons, however, which determined Lord Erskine's refusal, weighed as strongly with Lord Ellenborough, but did not induce him to decline the cause. The most serious inconvenience arising to him from it was, that it hurt his business at Westminster-hall. A counsel was not likely to be retained whose presence at the trial could not be depended upon, and who might be called away at a minute's notice to attend the house. He bad likewise a new set of antagonists to contend with-Fox, BURKE, ADAMS, and, worst of all, SHERIDAN, whose keen and sarcastic wit could not be exercised on a more sensitive temper. But the crosses, fatigues, and vexations, Mr. Law endured from this engagement were no doubt all amply compensated by its brilliant, addition to his fame. His abilities became still more widely known, and he was accordingly ranked by the opinion of the public, as well as by the judgments |