XVll 



also superintended the publication of a volume of Specimen-Tables calcu- 

 lated and printed by its agency. In 1856 Mr. Gravatt read to the Koyal 

 Society a paper upon the theory of the Gyroscope, which was at that time 

 exciting much interest in the scientific world. About the same time he 

 published a short pamphlet upon the propulsion of ships by means of a jet 

 of water, an application of power which seems now likely to be brought into 

 practical use. 



Mr. Gravatt's life was unfortunately terminated on the 30th of May, 

 1866, by the accidental administration of an excessive dose of morphia. 



Charles James Hargreave was born near Leeds in December 1820. 

 After leaving his school (Bramham College) he distinguished himself at 

 University College, London, and took the degree of LL.B. with honours 

 in the University of London. From 1843 to 1849 he was Professor of 

 Jurisprudence in University College. Having acquired a high reputation 

 at the equity bar, he was appointed in 1849 a Commissioner of the Incum- 

 bered Estates Court in Ireland. Those who know the nature of the duties 

 and the state of things for remedy of which the court was created, will be 

 aware that a singular combination of legal knowledge, sound judgment, and 

 imperturbable temper was required. All were found in Mr. Hargreave, as 

 was soon seen and acknowledged. The condition of those who came under 

 the jurisdiction of his Court was described, we believe by Mr. Hargreave 

 himself, in a manner which, all jokes being logical fallacies, has no worse 

 fault than the sophism of a part for the whole. Ho said that punch was 

 no longer known in Galway, only toddy ; for whiskey and sugar could be 

 got on credit from Dublin, but lemons required ready money. Of himself, 

 his colleague (Judge Longfield) wrote as follows : — '*It may be said that 

 his first experience in a court of justice [he had been a conveyancer and 

 draughtsman] was to preside in it as judge. But no person could observe 

 any deficiency. His patience, his learning, and his irapartiality''quickly re- 

 ceived the respect and confidence of the practitioners in his court, and his 

 unequalled sweetness of temper made him a general favourite. .... But he 

 was most in his element when an unusual combination of circumstances and 

 complicated deeds seemed to produce inextricable confusion. His habits 

 of order and his fine mathematical mind at once arranged the rights of 

 the parties with a certainty approaching mathematical demonstration. He 

 never seemed happier than when he was engaged in a subtle mathematical 

 analysis, or in determining the rights arising from a deed when every event 

 occurred except those contemplated by the conveyancer who drew the in- 

 strument." 



Judge Hargreave (so entitled from 1858, when the court was made per- 

 manent) died at Bray, County Wicklow, April 23, 1866. There is no 

 doubt that his constitution was destroyed by his junction of two severe intel- 

 lectual pursuits ; and there is too much reason to fear that the excitement 



VOL. XVI. C 



