in succession the bishoprics of St. David's, Gloucester, and Ely. Elizabeth, the elder of the chancellor's daughters, married Admiral Lord Anson; and Margaret, the younger daughter married Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Bart. ; but both died childless.1 1 Cooksey's Sketch; and Lives by Mr. George Harris; and in Welsby's Collection; and in Lord Campbell's Lives of the Chancellors, &c. 198 GEORGE III. Reigned 59 years, 3 months, and 4 days; from October 25, 1760, SURVEY OF THE REIGN. THOUGH George III. reigned nominally near sixty years, his actual reign terminated nine years earlier. By the decay of his mental powers, a regency became necessary, and from February 5, 1811, George, Prince of Wales (afterwards George IV.), exercised the royal functions as Regent of the United Kingdom till his father's death. At the commencement of this reign the independence of the judges was still further secured. Although the statute 12 & 13 Will. III. c. 2, s. 3, enacted that their commission should be no longer "Durante bene placito," but "Quamdiu se bene gesserint," yet, by a most extraordinary interpretation, it was decided, at the accession of Queen Anne, that their patents terminated at the demise of the crown: and the practice had been adopted in the two following reigns. The inconvenience arising from this decision, which necessitated a renewal of the patents of all the judges as the first act of a reign in order to prevent a total failure of justice, had been partially remedied by the statute 6 Anne, c. 7, s. 8, which enacted that all officers, including the judges, should act upon their former patents for the space of six months after any demise of the crown, unless sooner removed by the next Now, however, by the express recommendation successor. of George III., full effect was given to the statute of William, by an act of parliament passed in the first year of his reign, chapter 23, continuing the judges in their office, notwithstanding the demise of the crown, with the enjoyment of their full salaries. These salaries were augmented by several enactments of this reign. In 1779 (stat. 19 Geo. III. c. 65) 400l. a year was added to the salary of each of the puisne judges and barons, and 500l. to that of the chief baron. Another act in 1799 (stat. 39 Geo. III., c. 110) made a further advance, and fixed the salaries of The master of the Rolls at 4000l. a year, The lord chief baron at 4000l. a year, and Each of the puisne judges and barons at 30007. a year. The same statute also contained a wise provision of adequate allowances on their retirement or superannuation; thus rendering unnecessary the discreditable bargains which had been too frequently made for the purpose of softening the downfall of an inefficient member of the bench. His majesty was empowered to grant an annuity of 40007. for life to a retiring lord chancellor or lord keeper; and the following annuities to the judges on retirement, subject to their having respectively served in one or more of the said offices for fifteen years, or being afflicted with some permanent infirmity: viz. 30007. to the chief justice of the King's Bench; 25001. to the master of the Rolls, the chief justice of the Common Pleas, and the chief baron; and 2000l. to each other judge of those courts, or baron of the coif; which sums were afterwards, in 1813, increased by 8007. to the chiefs and the master of the Rolls, and by 600l. to the puisne judges and barons (53 Geo. III. c. 153). In 1809 (stat. 49 Geo. III. c. 127) the salary of the lord chief baron was raised to 50007.; and of the puisne judges and barons to 40007. The second judge of the King's Bench had besides 407. per annum in respect to his labour and trouble in giving the charge to the grand jury in each term, and in pronouncing judgment on malefactors. The ancient rule that none but a serjeant can be made a judge had been invariably acted upon; and when the person intended to be promoted to the bench was not previously of that degree, he was always summoned to undergo the necessary ceremony, which could only be performed in term time. In the summer vacation of 1799, however, a vacancy occurred by the death of Mr. Baron Perryn, which, on account of the circuits, it was desirable to fill up immediately; and none of the existing serjeants being thought of for the place, a temporary act of parliament was passed on July 1st (stat. 39 Geo. III. c. 67) enabling the king to issue a writ returnable immediately commanding a barrister to take upon himself the degree of a serjeant; and to appoint such barrister to be a baron of the coif. The gentleman thus favoured was Mr. Alan Chambre, who was accordingly appointed. The expedient was found so beneficial that twelve days after another act was passed (stat. 39 Geo. III. c. 113) with a general power, whenever any new judge was required, to make a serjeant in vacation. The first appointment under the last act was John, Lord Eldon, as successor to Sir James Eyre in the office of chief justice of the Common Pleas, on July 18, 1799. It was only during the eighteenth century that the puisne judges began to be addressed by the title of "your lordship.” In the year-books they are constantly addressed by the title of "Sir;"-" Sir, vous voyez bien," &c. The late Serjeant Hill was, it is believed, the last who persisted in using the ancient fashion. But they are only properly designated"My lord" when on the bench or on the circuit. The author was in early days officially connected with a committee, of which one of the judges was a member, whom he addressed with the title, "My lord," and "Your lordship." The judge kindly took the author aside, and said to him, "I know you wish to be correct, and that you will therefore excuse my informing you that I am entitled to that address only while on the bench." Being about the same time in correspondence with another judge who was more fond of the title, it cost the author some trouble to avoid expressions which would lead to the use of the words. The complaints, which had long been made, of the delays in the court of Chancery, were so greatly aggravated by the continued increase of its business, that towards the end of this reign a remedy was attempted by appointing a new judge to assist the chancellor in his labours. An act was accordingly passed in March 1813 (stat. 53 Geo. III. c. 24), empowering the king to appoint a fit person, being a barrister of fifteen years standing, to be an additional judgeassistant to the lord chancellor, to hold during good behaviour. He was to be called vice-chancellor of England; and his decrees, &c. were to be subject to reversal or alteration by appeal to the chancellor. His rank was fixed to be next the master of the Rolls, and his salary was 5000l. a year, 25001. of which was to be paid to the Bank of England out of the fees due to the lord chancellor. The title of lord keeper was entirely disused during this reign; Lord Henley, who held it under George II., being immediately named lord chancellor by George III.; and it has never since been revived. In this long reign there were only eight lord chancellors, two of whom were restored to their office after retiring on a change of ministry. These two were the longest holders, one for the space of thirteen |