ies [here, too, he indulged to an excess his
insatiable thirst for reading, that he would sit up the greater part of
the night for this purpose, to the neglect and injury of his health],
that at the termination of his engagement, his conduct was so acceptable,
and his services so manifest, and his influence, too, among the clients,
was found to be so extensive, that on his obtaining his certificate to
practise as an attorney, his principal was glad to offer him a share in
the business, and receive him as a partner; the reputation he had already
acquired became wide spread, and quickly raised the firm in the
estimation of the public, and clients flocked to it, and all would see,
if they could, and consult with Mr. Cooper on their affairs.

Some years thus passed, when, from some cause or other, a dissolution
took place in the partnership, and when, probably from the advice of
friends stimulated by his wife's ambition (a Miss Yarrington, a woman as
I have been given to understand, of masculine mind, vast energy, and
indomitable spirit, whom her son Henry has been often said by those who
knew her, to have resembled in more than features, for in face he
resembled his mother), he was induced to enter himself at Lincoln's Inn,
which he accordingly did in the year 1782, and is thus entered: "Charles
Cooper, of the City of Norwich, eldest son of Charles Cooper of the same
place, merchant, admitted 22nd of April, 1782." Prior to this, a
remarkable incident occurred in his life: he undertook the conduct of a
cause of great intricacy and importance for a pauper, a labouring
blacksmith. An extensive and valuable landed property, well-known as Oby
Hall, with its extensive demesnes, had been for a long time in abeyance;
the property was estimated at that period, at not less than 30,000
pounds; on failure of male issue, the descendants on the female side put
in their claim, among whom the blacksmith stood foremost; he came,
consulted with my father on his claim, who became after a time, convinced
of the solidity of his title; and after examining it with indefatigable
assiduity, he at length, after much entreaty, undertook to carry his
cause through every court, were it necessary, upon certain conditions;
the conditions were, that if my father succeeded in gaining the cause, in
consideration of taking upon himself all the risk, expenses, and labour,
he should enjoy the estate; whilst the claimant, having no relations but
the most dist