Oxford to preach the annual sermon for the Ratcliffe Infirmary, and was so unwell upon his arrival at that place as to excite much uneasiness in the minds of those about him.

When he returned to town he suffered acute pains in his loins and left thigh, which were attributed to inflammation in the lumbar nerves.

The pains were somewhat mitigated upon his leaving town for Weymouth, but returned upon him at that place with unabated violence, and continued with little intermission up to the day of his death. When at Weymouth he held a confirmation, and preached for the last time. Upon both these occasions he consulted his own active mind rather than the wishes of his family or his medical attendants. Upon the slightest release from suffering he resumed his accustomed occupations, breaking out in prayer and thanksgiving to the Almighty for his mercies. His diary is full of communion with his God, and expressions of submission to His holy will.

Upon his arrival at Bristol in January, his bodily strength was much abated by what he had undergone. He was then suffering from inflammation in the bladder, with all its distressing consequences; from an enlarged prostate gland, and the pains in the loins and thigh continued to harass him as before.

There were times when his strength of constitution, and the mitigated symptoms of the disease, gave a ray of hope that the life of this good man might be spared to adorn the station he filled; but his earthly pilgrimage was visibly drawing to its close. His pains towards the last were alleviated by the drowsiness which, by the merciful dispensation of Providence, often precedes the fatal termination of the disease under which he laboured. He expired, surrounded by his family, on the 28th day of September, 1834, at Rodney House, in Clifton, in the 73d year of his age.

In the relations of private life, this excellent prelate was an affectionate husband, a kind parent, and a sincere friend, — a lover of hospitality, but of most temperate habits. In his person he was short of stature, but of a countenance singu

larly intelligent and prepossessing: he was the friend and associate of many of the distinguished men of the day. His amenity of manners made him beloved by all classes, high and low, rich and poor; and more particularly by young persons, whom he had great delight in encouraging by well-placed commendation. He was humble minded, singularly free from selfish considerations; a warm patron of retiring merit, and ready supporter of every project which promised to benefit mankind. He was married in early life to Miss Camplin, daughter of John Camplin, Esq. of Bristol, who survives him, by whom he had a numerous family, six of whom remain to cherish the memory of his virtues and example.

Many works besides those enumerated were published by him; amongst which may be mentioned his "Tours through Parts of Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, in the Years 1791 and 1792;" and a small work entitled "Josiah and Cyrus," two great objects of Divine notice in the scheme of Revelation, the last production of his pen. Upon the death of Dr. Majendie he was offered a translation to the see of Bangor by the Duke of Wellington, which he gratefully declined.

The clergy of Bristol, who had taken a lively interest in the progress of his illness, walked in procession at his funeral, with the mayor and corporation of Bristol. All ranks of society were eager to pay a tribute of respect to the memory of departed worth. His remains are deposited in the burial ground of the cathedral, near the ruins of that residence which, but three years before, he was compelled to quit under circumstances of alarm and danger.

The following extract is taken from a Bristol paper, which, after describing the funeral, proceeds to say, -

"Thus ended the solemn and affecting ceremony of the interment of the late Bishop of Bristol, a prelate whose pious, firm, and consistent conduct was eminently calculated to adorn the station which he filled in the church for the space of seven years, ruling with all authority, yet with the utmost moderation, honestly and conscientiously employing his talents in firmly supporting the interests of religion, and the church

establishment of these realms, not only by his literary labours, but by his uncompromising firmness in the House of Peers, unawed by names, and uninfluenced by the popular politics of the present day; a line of conduct that has not only called forth the respect and admiration even of many to whom he was opposed in political opinion, but will long remain in the grateful recollection of those who conscientiously entertain a veneration for the apostolical church of England, and a regard for pure and undefiled religion, as the best evidence of the soundness of his judgment, and the integrity of his heart, Semper honor nomenque tuum laudesque manebunt. Of such a one it is not too much to say, when meditating on the promises of the Gospel, to those who have sincerely endeavoured to serve God in their generation, Verily he shall not lose his reward.' Or with the Apostle, There is henceforth (doubtless) laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give him at that day,' 2 Tim. iv. 8.- Requiescat in pace,"

"

We have been favoured with this memoir from the most authentic source.

265

No. XXI.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR JOHN LEACH,

MASTER OF THE ROLLS.

THE very eminent and learned person of whose life and judicial character we are about to give some account was, at the time of his death, one of the oldest judges on the bench, having preceded in his appointment most of his learned brethren. He belonged to the former generation of lawyers, and was the more remarkable at the present period, when, we believe, the judges of the superior courts are younger men, as a body, than at any former time. He has occupied a distinguished position in the legal history of the present century, and, had he chosen it, had the power of being known as a politician as well as a lawyer. Without further remark, we shall proceed to mention the particulars of his life which we have been able to collect.

John Leach is to be added to the long and glorious roll of lawyers who have risen to the greatest eminence in their profession by their own industry, talent, and honourable feeling, qualities without which great success in the law is unattainable. He was of humble, although respectable, parentage, and received little from his relations but a plain education. He was born at the town of Bedford, in the year 1760, where his father was a tradesman: he was one of several sons; and he, as well as his brothers, was intended to remain in that station in society. We have understood that one of his brothers (who was afterwards appointed his principal secretary, as Master of the Rolls,) was an enterprising man of business, having obtained a patent for making lace, which he brought to great perfection.

John Leach was educated at the Grammar School at Bedford, and placed in the office of Sir Robert Taylor, the eminent architect, to whose business he applied himself with great attention and perseverance. His not continuing in this profession has been attributed to accident: it is said, that, being engaged as a poll-clerk at a contested election at his native town, he attracted the attention of Mr. Piggott (afterwards Sir Arthur Piggott), who was engaged as counsel. He was so struck by young Leach's energy and acuteness, that he advised him to study the law. This is, however, one of those semi-dramatic incidents which are generally thrust into the biography of eminent men. We believe the fact to have

been, that in the office of Sir Robert Taylor he met, as a co-pupil, the late Mr. Samuel Pepys Cockerell, and on that gentleman commencing business for himself he requested the assistance of his friend; and it was owing mainly to Mr. Cockerell's recommendation and encouragement that Mr. Leach commenced the study of the law. Be this as it may, he entered himself at the Middle Temple on the 26th of January, 1785, and became the pupil of that eminent draftsman and judge, Sir William Alexander, then in great practice as a junior equity counsel.

In Hilary term, 1790, he was called to the bar by that society, and chose the home circuit and Surrey sessions. He did not immediately confine his practice to one court: the number of gentlemen who at that period confined themselves exclusively to junior practice in the equity courts was very few; and Mr. Leach, although probably disposed to make them his strong-hold, was not unwilling to fill up his spare time at circuit and sessions, as was then the almost constant practice of all junior barristers. He soon obtained considerable practice in these courts, and was distinguished for his neat, accurate, and forcible speeches, his pleasing and lucid statements of cases. The first important matter in which he was retained as counsel was the Seaford election, both at the election, and on the subsequent petition against it; being his first connection with that borough, which he