[89] Roger assures us he did not purloin any part of the treasure, for which he takes infinite credit to himself.
[90] This was the title taken by Finch on promotion to the great seal. Nottingham is greatly lauded by Blackstone and other writers on jurisprudence as a “consummate lawyer,” and as the father of the modern English equity system. His abilities were unquestionable, but his political career, like that of so many other “consummate lawyers,” has some very black spots.—Ed.
[91] Here we have one of many English precedents of assault upon the right of petition—a thing by no means unknown in our American politics.—Ed.
[92] The same Parliament had already impeached Scroggs. See ante, p. 180.
[93] Here again is the old pretence of “levying war,” under which it has been attempted with us to convert hostility to the fugitive slave act into treason. See ante, p. 158.—Ed.
[94] Pemberton, though well aware that, to justify the grand jury in finding an indictment, a prima facie case of guilt must be made out, instructed them that “a probable ground of accusation” was sufficient.—Ed.
[95] By this word “pension,” I conceive we are to understand salary while the lord keeper was in office, and not, as might be supposed, an allowance on his retirement.
[96] Pemberton had been appointed to succeed Scroggs as chief justice of the King’s Bench, but not being found quite serviceable enough, was now removed into another court.—Ed.
[97] “Sir F. North being made lord keeper on the death of the Earl of Nottingham, the lord chancellor, I went to congratulate him. He is a most knowing, learned, and ingenious person; and, besides having an excellent person, of an ingenuous and sweet disposition, very skilful in music, painting, the new philosophy, and political studies.”—Mem. i. 513. Judge Kane is said to be quite an accomplished person.—Ed.
[98] The principal obstacle to law reform in America is the pecuniary interest which the lawyers think they have in keeping up old abuses.—Ed.