552 MEMOIR OF 
popularity, that three thousand copies were sold upon the day 
of its publication. ; 
In the year 1801, a vacancy occurred in the Bench of the 
Court of Session, by the death of Lord Sronerrerp. The 
‘ friendship of Lord Mrtvite had a new opportunity for its 
display ; and the friends of Mr Tyrrer had now the satisfac- 
tion of seeing him elevated to the highest honours of his pro- 
fession. On the 2d of February 1802, he took his seat upon 
the Bench with the title of Lord Woopuovuseter. 
Of Lord Woopnovseter’s qualifications for this important 
office, it would be presumptuous in me to offer any opinion ; 
and I feel, with gratitude, that it is unnecessary, as, of all the 
honours which the Government of this country has to bestow, 
those which have been in the estimation of the public most 
purely won, and most honourably. worn, are those which belong 
to the Administration of Justice. He brought not the Bench, 
indeed, either that profound acquaintance with the details of 
law, which nothing but continued and extensive practice can 
give; nor that metaphysical acuteness, which so often seeks to 
distinguish itself by subtlety of distinction, or novelty of inter- 
pretation ; nor that impatient eloquence, which loves to find in 
the most trivial cases, an opportunity for ifs own display. But 
he brought to it qualities, in a country like this, of higher va- 
lue, and of more genuine usefulness,—a just and enlightened 
adiniration of the laws he was called to administer,—the most 
conscientious patience in the investigation of truth,—and a 
mind incapable either of being intimidated, in the discharge of 
duty, by the dread of censure, or of being misled by the love 
of praise. In his conduct on the Bench, the characteristic in- 
tegrity and modesty of his nature were apparent. In this, as 
in all other situations, his highest ambition was to be par ne- 
goltis, non supra,—to be able to fulfil his duty without seeking 
for 
