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ought to have been received, but this he denied. To us, from whom the proposition originated, belonged the right of defining it. If the Spanish government wished for a different arrangement, it was competent to them to propose it, but they could not alter the construction of that which we offered. Ours was a simple proposition of forbearance upon certain specified terms, but the Spanish ministry thought proper to term it a convention of neutrality. This term was, it was to be presumed, more grateful to them, and it would be captious to quarrel with them about words. We told them that we should consent to forbear, during a definite period for a definite purpose, to their advance of the subsidy alluded to, which purpose, if not answered, our forbear

ance must cease.

"The Master of the Rolls then entered into an elaborate detail of all the proceedings between the two governments, and concluded with a justification of the conduct of ministers."

Since that period he has opposed the impeachment of Lord Melville, with whom he has long lived in habits of intimacy, and who, if we are not greatly misinformed, was his early friend and pa

tron.

Sir William Grant has not risen by any sudden impulse of favour, but in consequence of a gradual accession of power. He has now run through the long career of Barrister, King's Counsel, Solicitorgeneral, Chief Justice of Chester, and finally Master of the Rolls. If his ambition had pointed that way, he might undoubtedly have become first in the court, where at present he is only second; but having no family, he has chosen to decline the honour of the Chancery bench.

Sir William, who is unmarried, lives like his predecessors, at the house occupied by the Master of

the Rolls, since the time of Sir Joseph Jekyll. He also possesses a residence at Beldorney, in Bamffshire, which county he has represented for some years in parliament, and which is the only shire in Scotland that, since the late change of ministry, had spirit enough to assemble under the auspices of James, Earl of Fife, the Lord-lieutenant, and pass a vote in favour of a trial by jury, the ancient constitutional mode for the attainment of justice in the northern, as well as the southern portion of · the empire.

CHIEF JUSTICE JAY.

THE bounds of the ancient world were comparatively narrow and confined. All not known was considered as almost uninhabitable; all that had not attained a considerable degree of polish, was reckoned unworthy of being visited.* Certain con

* We recollect, with a certain degree of wonder, a passage in a celebrated historian, purporting, that a Roman grandee having heard the herring or pilchard was of a superior flavor on the western shores of Britain, proceeded thither for the sole purpose of making the trial. His nets were accordingly spread on the coast of Cornwall, and the first draught having afforded him ample opportunity to try the experiment, by the test of his own Apician palate, he soon satisfied himself that the report was erroneous. On this, instead of visiting a new people, to contemplate their manners and customs, he ordered that his galley should bear away for the Mediterranean, and regain the classic banks of the Tiber, without so much as condescending to land.

centric circles, by degrees, were formed around two countries, each of which in its turn began to be considered as the germ, or rather the neucleus of civilisation. Accordingly, in that happy portion of the earth, where the arts and sciences flourished, and elegance, united with comfort, prevailed, the manners, the studies, the pursuits, the luxuries, and the genius of the inhabitants, augured a superior race of men. All that was not Greek was then deemed barbarian!

It was exactly the same, at a latter period, ia respect to another great people. Every thing within the limits of the republic began by degrees to be considered, and perhaps really was better than elsewhere. The allied cities and states were spoken of with a certain degree of decorum, but whereever their angry eagles flew, whether against Pyrrhus with his gold and his elephants, or the half-naked savages of Britain with their chariots armed with scythes, and their coin composed of iron rings, scorn and contempt awaited the bare mention of their respective countries. Every thing that was not Roman was at that period also, stamped as barbarian!

In modern times, a wider range has been given to civilisation, and more liberal sentiments seem generally to prevail. Whatever can refine or adorn the human mind, is perhaps still enjoyed in Europe, in a higher degree, and with a superior relish. But even if the dreams of Louis XIV. and the threats of Napoleon his successor, were to be fully realised,

and (horrid to contemplate!) that favoured portion of the earth were to fall under the dominion of one nation, and that nation be ruled by the iron rod of a single despot, still, even in such a deplorable case, all would not be consigned to Cimmerian darkness, as Britain, while in search of commerce, has not been wholly inattentive to science; for she has diffused light amidst the followers of Bramah and Mahomet in one hemisphere, and planted a great and a free nation in another, the inhabitants of which, glorying in their native woods and lakes, and fastnesses, at 3000 miles distance from the common enemy, would still uphold that cause in which they have already bled and conquered.

The interests of the mother country, and her ancient colonies, are now once more happily the same: they ought, therefore, to be animated with one common spirit, and we readily insert the lives of her celebrated citizens, among such of the subjects of the British empire, as may seem to lay

claim to our notice and observation.

John Jay,* late chief justice of the United States, is one, and almost the only one, among the men of eminence in that country, whose origin is not English. His family was French: his emigrant ancestor having crossed the Atlantic among the

* This article was drawn up by a gentleman who enjoys some celebrity both in Europe and America. ED.

protestant exiles driven away by Louis XIV. during a period of age and imbecility, on the revocation of the edict of Nantz. He, with a number of others, set sail from Rochelle, and arrived at New York about the time that this colony was ceded to Great Britain by the Dutch. These persons purchased a tract of new lands, about twenty miles to the east of the city; on which they settled, and called the place New Rochelle. Here they retained their language and customs for a long time; but their religion being the same with that of their English neighbours, and belonging all to the same political society, they amalgamated by degrees, so that for these two generations past they have become identically the same people, their families. being traced only by their names.

Mr. Jay was born in that little town about the year 1734. He received the best education that New York could afford at that time, and having been bred to the law, was in full practice at the head of his profession, when the dispute between the colonies and the mother country called him into public life in the year 1775.

He was deputed to the first Congress, and continued by re-election for several years, until, in 1777, he was elected president. To this post he was again named the following year, and when Spain had joined France in the war on the side of the revolted provinces, Mr. Jay was sent as minister plenipotentiary to the court of Madrid.

In this station we believe he continued, till he

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