first family, with the exception of his daughter, who died a few years
ago, having all died previous to the decease of their father. After
having pursued his studies with his accustomed assiduity, in chambers he
had taken in Stone Buildings, and eaten his terms, he was called to the
bar on the 9th of June, in the year 1788. (For these several dates I am
indebted to the kindness of Mr. Doyle, the greatly respected steward of
Lincoln's Inn.) When, having resided a few terms in London, he hastily
left the metropolis--the true and only sphere for the full development of
extensive legal knowledge and great abilities, such as his,--to reside
and practise as a provincial barrister in his native city; where, from
his previous reputation, not only as a lawyer well versed in common law,
with great knowledge in the practical parts of it, but as a most skilful
conveyancer, and great real property lawyer, with a deep knowledge of all
its intricacies and moot points, he, at once, obtained considerable
practice, and a fine income, which, I believe, by present provincial
counsel would be regarded rather as a fiction than reality. He was,
moreover, a fluent speaker, with diction pure, and most grammatical. I
ought, here, perhaps, to mention what will seem strange to the present
generation, that I have often heard my father say, that the first book he
began to study law from was "Wood's Institutes," a book that "the
Commentaries of Blackstone," rendering the study of the law far more
intelligible and easy to the student, has long completely superseded. In
Norwich he continued to reside up to his death, where he was ever applied
to by every attorney, without exception, far and near, if any very
difficult point of law arose; and, till within some few years prior to
his death, which happened on the 21st of July, 1836, when age as, is
usual, though it kindly spared the vigour of his intellect, yet brought
with it its physical weakness and ailments, he was employed as leading
counsel in many important causes, where legal knowledge and acumen was
required; and, in the courts, from the high reputation he had acquired,
he ever commanded the ear of the judges, and the respect of his brethren
at the bar. He had the joy, too, to live to see his son Henry rising
fast to eminence in the same profession, though the after pang and
anguish to sorrow for his death; and he grieved for him in heart, though
not his youngest, as did Jacob at the imagined