CXLVIII. His intimacy with Garrick. CHAP. neglected him.'"*-However, we learn likewise from the inimitable Boswell that Lord Camden was on a footing of great familiarity with him "whose death eclipsed the gaiety of nations." "I told him," says this prince of biographers, "that one morning when I went to breakfast with Garrick, who was very vain of his intimacy with Lord Camden, he accosted me thus: 6 Pray now did you did you meet a little lawyer turning the corner, eh?' No sir,' said I. 'Pray "Why,' replied Garrick, standing on tip-toe, We have had a long His habits. His old age. Portraits of him. as Garrick talked very what do you mean by the question ?' Lord Camden is said to have been somewhat of an epicurean -indisposed towards exertion, bodily or mental, unless when roused to it by the necessity of business or the excitement of strong feeling; and to have taken considerable pains in supplying his larder and his cellar with all that could best furnish forth an exquisite banquet. It is certain that he was himself always extremely temperate, forming a contrast in this and other particulars with his immediate predecessor on the woolsack, for his conversation was ever polished and decorous. He seems to have been most amiable in private life, and to have had in a distinguished degree, — " that which should accompany old age— Honour, love, obedience, troops of friends." With many political opponents, he was without a personal enemy. Lord Camden was in stature below the middle size, but well proportioned and active. We have several exquisite portraits of him. That painted for the City of London, by CXLVIII. Reynolds, is one of the finest specimens of the English school. CHAP. Judging from these, his physiognomy, without marked features or deep lines, was more expressive of gentleness of disposition and frank good-humour than of profound thoughtfulness or stern resolution. With the exception of an occasional slight fit of the gout, he enjoyed uninterrupted health. He had never had the smallpox, and it is related of him, as a weakness, that he was always much afraid of taking that disorder - his terrors being greatly aggravated when his friend, Lord Waldegrave, died of it at the age of fifty. scendants. He left a son, John Jeffreys, who, in 1812, was created His deMarquis Camden and Earl of Brecknock, and who was not only distinguished for his public services, but for the disinterested renunciation of the legal profits of his tellership beyond a very limited amount,-to the great benefit of the public revenue. Lord Chancellor Camden is now represented by his grandson, the present Marquis, who out of respect for his own. virtues, and for the memory of his ancestors, has been decorated with the garter which his father wore. † * Nich. Lit." An. viii. 533. † Grandeur of the Law, 27. APPENDIX ΤΟ THE LIFE OF LORD CAMDEN. CHAP. Ir has often been stated that George Hardinge, the Welsh Judge, who was a CXLVIII. nephew of Lord Chancellor Camden, had written a Life of that great man, and collected for publication his speeches and judgments. While the preceding Memoir was going through the press, the present Marquis Camden has disGeorge covered, and kindly communicated to me, all that had been accomplished, Hardinge's or at least all that remains of this undertaking. The very lively and ingenious, Life of but rather eccentric and irregular, George Hardinge, famous for his solution Lord Cam- of the American question, by showing that "all Americans were represent den. ed in parliament by the Members for Kent, the lands of the United States being held of the Crown as of the Manor of Greenwich,". had seriously entered on this task, and had composed a "Table of Contents" from which he was to begin the work, and likewise a "Preface," as if he had finished it. These I give in extenso, and they will be found very curious. As to completing his plan, he seems to have proceeded raptim et sparsim. But several detached parts of the work which I subjoin are exceedingly graphic and interesting, and I strongly recommend them to the notice of the reader. The judgment in Shipley's case, though perhaps rather too highly praised, is likewise well deserving of perusal. He found a party of Whigs leagued in a deadly feud against Tories. My father at the head of it. They adopted him into their Cabinet. Whig and Tory defined and distinguished. but rather a cursory than a superficial reader. He applied with reluctance to the law. fond of convivial habits and convivial talents. but abstaining from vice. read, as before, at broken intervals. early and late made a rule of turning rules into their principles. formed an acquaintance with Hawkins Brown and with Henry Fielding. Short character of both as given by him. became intimate with Lord Northington, who took a fancy to him. I called to the bar. very little business. A most ingenious performance-recovered and republished by me. 1752. Writes a pamphlet in favour of the Jew Bill-a very admirable work. ton.* upon the Western Circuit recommended and pushed by Lord Northing made a King's Counsel. acquired great fame in Oxfordshire election. high in repute. tempted into the Court of Chancery, at a risk. Lord Hardwicke used him ill. would not hear him. in 1757 upon the verge of ruin (from this ill treatment). 1. The resignation of Lord Hardwicke. 2. Lord Chatham's passion for him. his veneration for Lord Hardwicke. The visit paid by Lord Chatham. opens all his great principles. They agree. makes him his Attorney General. puts him over Charles Yorke's head. Lord Chatham's character described. Lord C.'s principles and his conduct as Attorney General. † instances of his integrity. of his high spirit, and zeal for liberty. his memorable exertions to improve the Habeas Corpus. his declaration that the jury were judges of the libel before Ld. Md. who held the opposite opinion, but surrendered it in fact, though not in words, upon the next occasion. His character of Lord Mansfield. King's death. Tories come in. He is made C. Justice by force his words upon it. The good fortune of that change, and its wonderful effect upon his future character. § would have been lost under the shade of Lord Chatham but for this. Wilkes and general warrants. || Lord Ca's abilities and courage. This is the earliest part of the MS. which has been preserved. † p. 360. CHAP. CXLVIII. CHAP. CXLVIII. himself. his judgment on the seizure of papers. his argument in the House of Peers on a famous cause. character of Judge Gould. gives judgment upon a very curious point against Lord Md. his opinion as to General Warrants- confirmed at last by Ld. Md. his refusal to give new trials, and the consistency of it proved. a popular character Freedoms and gold boxes.* made a Peer by the Rockinghams. whence not partial to Lord Chatham. The Rockinghams not very partial to Lord Chatham or to the new Peer. His eloquence and spirit upon the right of taxing America- which he disputes in two capital speeches. One of them recovered, and published by me. He detects Lord Mansfield in a fiction. He continues to support the Americans. He never deserts them. Consummate performances. His opinion of Sir E. Wilmot. His character and style of speaking. His reprimand of a culprit forced upon him at the bar of the Lords. becomes a powerful champion for America. His eloquence and abilities on the subject of literary property. 1772. Another attack upon Lord Md. as to the right of juries over the libel. a debate upon it in the House of Commons. Lord Md. victorious. Ld. Chatham's death. American independence. Lord Cn's warning voice neglected, till it was too late. His great powers upon Fox's India Bill. Made Prest of the Council. His opinion of Lord Lansdown. 30 p. 361. This alludes to the legality of infringing an act of parliament and the "forty days' tyranny." p. 362. § p. 363. p. 363. ¶p 363. |