1826.] 
side. The high powers which he then 
displayed are yet fresh ‘in ‘the recollection’ 
of every: barrister on ‘the Western-Circuit. 
“The late Lord Ellenborough, at that time 
Lord Chief Justiceof the Court of ‘King’s 
Bench, ‘and? Lord Chief Justice Gibbs, who 
presided ‘in the Court: of Common Pleas, 
both remarked “and patronised his. rising 
talents.') Lord Hllenborough, in particular, 
was! much struck . with the knowledge 
he!) displayed’ of’ the law of property, 
a knowledge which, in common Jaw bar- 
risters, ‘is ‘generally slight!) From» that 
period his Lordship'took' lively interest in_ 
his’ fortunes: he applied for a silk-gown for 
him‘ without ‘success; ‘but it was /to ‘his 
recommendation that. he was ultimately 
indebted for his appointment as Solicitor- 
general. That appointment was made on 
the 9th of May, 1817; and in that capacity 
he was, on the 16th. of the same month, 
elected Master of the Bench of the Honour- 
able Society of the Middle Temple. While 
holding the office of Solicitor-general, he 
distinguished himself on the trial of Dr. 
Watson and his associates, for high trea- 
son; and also at the trials under the special 
commission at Derby. 
In July 1819, he succeeded Sir Samuel 
Shepherd as’ Attorney-general. This ap- 
pointment led to the most remarkable event 
in his professional life, the prosecution, in 
1820, of the late Queen Caroline... That, 
indeed, was nominally a parliamentary pro- 
ceeding; but it was the duty of the Attorney- 
general to conduct the business,’ and to 
furnish evidence’to the legislature on be- 
half of the crown. Sir Robert \Gifford’s 
opening speech was simple, unadorned, 
and, as some’ thought, ‘rather ineffective ; 
but his reply, which constituted the more 
difficult and important part of ‘his duty, far 
surpassed the expectations of all who heard 
him: it was replete with sound and con- 
vincing argument, distinguished eloquence, 
and felicitous expression. 
The year 1824 was a year rich in honours 
to Sir Robert Gifford. On the 30th of 
January he was raised to the peerage by the 
title of Baron Gifford, of St. Leonard’s, in 
the county of Devon; he was appointed to 
the office of Lord Chief Justice of the 
Court of Common Pleas; in ‘consequence 
of that appointment, he was, on the 16th 
of June, made a Sergeant ; and’soon after- 
wards, on the death of Sir Thomas Plumer, 
he was made Master of ‘the Rolls. 
Previously to his elevation to the peerage, 
his Lordship sat in the late parliament as 
M.P» for the borough of Eye, in Suffolk.» 
At the commencement ofthe ‘session of 
parliament in 1824, his Lordship was ‘ap- 
pointed Lord Deputy Speaker of the House 
of. Lords ; 
and the two succeeding sessions, he devoted 
himself most assiduously to the hearing of 
a -and writs of error, on those days 
hich the Lord Chancellor was engaged: 
* Pye of the: apt of cameo 
ee 
Biographical Memoirs of Eminent Persons. 
an office in which, during that» 
447 
This was the result of an arrangement 
made by the) House, ‘in:the session: ‘of 1823; 
for accelerating the disposal of a great arrear 
of causcs, especially Scotch’ appeal causes, 
then pending. His 'Lordship*was mot less 
strenuous in his| exertions to'dispose of the 
numerous causes’ which were then before 
the Privy Couneil ; it being ‘one ‘of ‘the 
duties of the Master of the Rolls'to: Bren) 
at the hearing of such appeals. 
In person, Lord Gifford, though welts 
portioned, was rather below the middle 
stature: his carriage was easy, his aspect 
mild without any admixture of weakness. 
His eye was quick and intelligent; his 
general manner and address) calm, frank, 
and engaging. His understanding was 
clear and sound—his assiduity great, his 
temper immoyeable, his integrity: spotless.. 
Lord Gifford married,» April 6, 1816, 
Harriet Maria, daughter of the Rev. Ed- 
ward Drewe, of Broadhenbury, in’ the 
county of Devon, by whom he had issue— 
]. Robert Francis, his successor, ‘born 
March 19, 1817 ;—2- John, born Novem- 
ber 27, 1821;—3. Charlotte’ Dorothy ;— 
4. Harriet Jane ;—5.. Caroline: 
His Lordship left London on the 23d of 
August, for his residence on the marine 
parade, Dover. He was at that) time 
labouring under a bilious attack, to which 
he was constitutionally liable ; in» other 
respects his health was good. On Saturday 
the 2d of September, however, symptoms 
of cholera morbus appeared; on Sunday, - 
he became much worse; and,: notwith- 
standing the unremitting exertions of his 
medical attendant, Mr. Sankey, he died at 
a little after six on Monday morning. On 
the morning of Sunday the 10th, his Lord- 
ship’s remains, in a hearse drawn by four 
horses, followed by one mourning .coach, 
arrived at the Rolls’ house, in Chancery 
Lane, from Dover. The body was placed 
on tressels in the library, where, by his 
Lordship’s particular desire,* it remained 
without any state or pomp till Tuesday, the 
morning of its interment. The manage- 
ment of the funeral was entrusted to Mr. 
Lamb, of Dover. The police, under the 
command of Mr. Townsend, prevented the 
assembled crowd outside the gates from 
forcing their way into the yard. ~The num- 
ber of persons admitted within the Rolls’ 
chapel was small. At a little after one 
o’clock the plume bearer entered the chapel, 
and was immediately followed by the coffin, 
covered, with black cloth, and bearing on 
its lid a brass plate with the following in- 
soaipticee: — 
Depositum: 
ROBERTI BARONIS GIFFORD, 
Sancti Leonardi 
In comitatu Devonie, 
Rotulorum Magistri, 
Qui obiit 4to die Septembris, 
Anno, Domini MDCCCXXVI. | 
Annum Agens 7 
Quadragesitmum Octayun. 
