SIR ROBERT WISEMAN AND MR. HICKERINGILL.

Sir Robert Wiseman was Dean of the Arches in the reign of Charles II. Of Mr. Hickeringill, Rector of All Saints, in Colchester, and a staunch opponent of the Civilians, some account will probably be given in a subsequent part of the present work. He was cited before Sir Robert Wiseman to answer certain alleged irregularities in the performance of his clerical duties. The following is his own account of his appearance at Doctors' Commons.

"When Mr. Hickeringill came into the Hall at Doctors' Commons, June 8, 1681, he went up to the Doctors, habited in their formalities, and with their caps on, and he also put on his hat; which Sir Robert Wiseman no sooner espied, but he bade Mr. Hickeringill be uncovered. But Mr. Hickeringill replied to him in Greek, and to all Sir Robert's repartees; and discoursed for a considerable time Mr. Hickeringill discoursed still in Greek; at length Sir Robert's patience being spent, (and none of the Doctors would find more Greek to answer Mr. Hickeringill than Sir Robert did,) it was ordered, that this appearance, and answer in Greek only, should be registered as a non-appearance. Wherefore, then Mr. Hickeringill did repeat in English that he had said in Greek; telling Sir Robert that he first demanded to see or hear, their

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commission or authority for citing him thus from his family and home, and out of the diocese where he dwells, contrary to 23 H. viii. c. 9; and that till it did appear to him, that this was his Majesty's Court Ecclesiastical, he would pay no respect to it, nor be uncovered before men that were all, (except Sir Robert,) his juniors at the University, and most of them very much his inferiors in many other respects, not suitable to his modesty there to particularize; degrees, (so easily purchased,) and empty titles, being admired by none but women and fools. Whereupon, instead of shewing a commission, Sir Robert again bade him be uncovered, which still he refused; then Sir Robert made signs to an old fellow, a kind of sumner, to come behind Mr. Hickeringill and snatch his hat off, which he did; but Mr. Hickeringill forthwith snatched his hat from the said fellow, and clapt it fast upon his head, and there kept it during his stay there; throwing amongst them a protestation, which was read to the Court." (News from Doctors' Commons, p. 2.)

CHARACTER OF DUNNING.

"Never, perhaps, did nature enclose a more illuminated mind in a body of meaner and more abject appearance. It is difficult to do justice to the peculiar species of ugliness which characterized his person and figure, though he did not I

VOL. II.

labour under any absolute deformity of shape or limb. A degree of infirmity, and almost of debility or decay in his organs, augmented the effect of his other bodily misfortunes. Even his voice was so husky and choaked with phlegm, that it refused utterance to the sentiments which were dictated by his superior intelligence. In consequence of this physical impediment, he lay always under a necessity of involuntarily announcing his intention to address the House some time before he actually rose, by the repeated attempts which he made to clear his throat. But all these imperfections and defects of configuration were obliterated by the ability which he displayed. In spite of the monotony of his tones, and his total want of animation, as well as grace, yet so powerful was reason when flowing from his lips, that every murmur became hushed, and every ear attentive. It seemed, nevertheless, the acute sophistry of a lawyer, rather than the speech of a man of the world, or the eloquence of a man of letters and education. Every sentence, though admirable in itself, yet resembled more the pleading of the bar than the oratory of the senate. So difficult is it for the most enlightened intellect to throw off the habit of a profession. Dunning neither delighted nor entertained his hearers; but he subdued them by his powers of argumentative ratiocination, which have rarely been exceeded. They soon after

wards raised him to the peerage; just in time to attain that elevation, as his constitution speedily sunk under accumulated disorders, which hurried him prematurely to the grave. This extraordinary man, who was not exempt from great infirmity of mind, felt, or perceived so little his corporeal deficiencies, as to consider his person with extraordinary predilection. Fond of viewing his face in the glass, he passed no time more to his satisfaction than in decorating himself for his appearance in the world. He and Barré, who were fellowlabourers in the same vineyard, represented likewise the same borough, Calne; and belonged, or at least looked up, to the same political chief, Lord Shelburne. They consequently were animated by no common principle of union or of action with Fox and Burke, except one, that of overturning the administration. On all other points, a secret jealousy and rivalry subsisted between the adherents of the Shelburne and the Rockingham parties." (Wraxall's Own Times, vol. ii. p. 41.)

SIR JEOFFREY PALMER.

"After the happy Restoration of Charles II. Sir Jeoffrey Palmer was the first Attorney General, and held the place to the time of his death. He was a man of great ability in the law, and in that profession was what a lawyer should be, that is,

master of, and not superior to, so as to despise, the learning of his own profession: but yet his wisdom and generosity were incomparable. During all the troubles of the times he lived quiet in the Temple, a professed and known cavalier; and no temptation or fear ever shook his principles. He lived then in great business of conveyancing, and had no clerks but such as were strict cavaliers. One, I have heard, was so rigid, that he could never be brought to write Oliver with a great 0. And, it was said, the Attorney chose to purchase the Manor of Charleton, because his master's name sounded in the style of it. Such amusements may be allowed to please and divert a zealous old gentleman that lived to see and enjoy all the fruits of his honest ambition. When he was first made Attorney General he had means, by the universal renewal of grants, and the floating of all manner of concerns of the Crown, which settling must pass by him, to have amassed vast wealth, as others have done and do. But he was mindful of his old friends, the cavaliers, and generally gave them their fees, and not only to such as he knew poor, for a sort of charity, but to others that had less need, out of generosity, and as a mark of his friendship and recognition of their merits. It was affirmed, that the patents granted to General Monk, passing his office, came to near 25001. in fees, and for honour and gratitude he