96 CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY: 



in London. The pediment of each wing, sustained aloft on fluted Ionic columns, seen on a flue 

 day against the pure azure of a northern skj, is something enjoyable. Great expense has 

 been lavished by the Benchers on this Canadian Palais de Justice; but the efl'ect of such a pile, 

 kept in its every nook and corner and in all its surroundings in scrupulous order, is invaluable, 

 tending to refine and elevate each successive generation of our young candidates for the legal 

 profession, and helping to inspire amongst them a salutary esprit de corps. The Library, too, 

 here to be seen, noble in its dimensions and aspect, must, even independently of its contents, 

 tend to create a love of legal study and research. The Law Society of Osgoode Hall was 

 incori^orated in 1822. The Seal bears a PiUar on which is a Beaver holding a Scroll inaoribed 

 Magna Charta. To the right and left are figures of Justice and Strength (Hercules). 



An incident associated in modern times with Osgoode HaU is the Entertainment given there 

 to the Prince of Wales during his visit to Canada in 1860, on which occasion, at night, all the 

 architectural lines of the exterior of the building were brilliantly marked out by long rows of 

 minute gas-jets. 



Here, too, were held the impressive funeral obseq^uies of Sir John Eobinson, the distinguislied 

 Chief Justice of Upper Canada, in 1862. In the library is a large painting of him in oil, in 

 wluch liis finely cut Reginald Heber features are well delineated. Sayer Street, passing north- 

 ward on the east side of Osgoode Hall, was so named by Chief Justice Robinson in honour of 

 his mother. In 1870 the name was changed, probably without reflection and certainly without 

 any sufiicient cause. 



The series of paintings begun in Osgoode Hall, conservative to future ages of the outward 

 presentment of our Chief Justices, Chancellors and Judges, is very interesting. No portrait 

 of Chief Justice Osgoode, however, is here to be seen. It may be satisfactory to know that 

 one in oil exists in the collection of Capt. J. K. Simcoe, R. N., at Wolford Lodge in, the County 

 of Devon. After flUing the office of Chief Justice in Upper Canada Mr. Osgoode was removed 

 to the same high position in Lower Canada. He resigned in 1801 and returned to England. 

 Among the deaths in the Canadian Review of July, 1824, his is recorded in the following terms : 

 "At his_ Chambers in the Albany, London, on the 17th of February last, Wm. Osgoode, Esq., 

 formerly Chief Justice of Canada, aged 70. By the death of this gentleman, it is added, his 

 pension of £800 sterling paid by this Province now ceases." It is said of iiim "no person 

 admitted to his intimacy ever failed to conceive for him that esteem which his conduct and 

 conversation always tended to augment." Garneau, in his History of Canada, iii, 117, without 

 giving his authority, says that he was an illegitimate son of George III. Similar tattle has been 

 rife from time to time in relation to other personages in Canada. 



A popular designation of Osgoode Hall long in vogue was "Lawyers' Hall :" 



" Farewell, Toronto, of great glory, 

 Of valour too, in modern story ; 

 Farewell to Courts, to Lawyers' Hall, 

 To Justice seats, both great and small : 

 Farewell Attornies, Special Pleaders, 

 Equity Draftsmen, and their Readers. 

 Canadian Laws, and Suits, to song 

 Of future Bard, henceforth belong." 



Thus closed a curious production in rhyme entitled Curiae. Canadenses, published anony- 

 mously in 1843, but written by Mr. John Rumsey, an English barrister, sometime domiciled 

 here. In one place is described the migration of the Court of Chancery back from Kingston, 

 whitlier it was for a brief iaterva] removed, when Upper and Lower Canada were reunited. 

 The minstrel says : 



" Dreary and sad was Frontenac : 



Thy duke ne'er made a clearer sack. 



Than when the edict to be gone 



Issued from the Vice-regal Throne. 



Exeunt omnes, helter skelter 



To Little York again for shelter : 



Little no longer : York the New 



Of imports such can boast but few : 



A goodly freight, without aU brag. 



When comes, 'mongst others. Master Spragge, 



And skilful 'Turner, versed in pleading, 



The Kingston exiles gently leading." 



To the last three lines the following notes are appended : 



