440 No. XVII. THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, WILLIAM LORT MANSELL, D.D. 1 LORD BISHOP OF BRISTOL, AND LATE HEAD OF TRINITY COLLEGE, Cambridge. THIS active and learned member of the Church of England was educated at Trinity College. He afterwards became a tutor. The late Mr. Perceval happened to be recommended to his care, and he was appointed his preceptor. To this fortunate circumstance he stood indebted in a great measure for his subsequent elevation to the mitre. No sooner did his pupil obtain the lucrative office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for himself, than he presented his quondam instructor to the rich living of Berwick in Elmet, valued at two thousand pounds per annum. He was also subsequently promoted, through the same powerful interest, to the see of Bristol, on the translation of Dr. Luxmore to Hereford, in 1808. In 1788, while only M. A., the subject of this notice was elected public orator of the University of Cambridge, which office he held for ten years, when he was succeeded by Edward Owtram, M. A. In 1790 he obtained the degree of D.D. and was elected Master of Trinity College, through the influence of Mr. Pitt; and, it has been said, with the express view to correct the abuses which had crept into that society, and endangered not only the foundation, but the credit of the University. In this capacity he took an active part against Mr. Friend, one of the fellows, on account of a pamphlet declaratory of his avowed aversion to the war with France, and contributed not a little to his expulsion. This has always been considered a hard case; but the times in which he lived, although they would not justify, yet served with some to excuse this voluntary instance of unbounded zeal. While a Bachelor of Arts, Dr. Mansell rendered himself at once famous and formidable by his satirical writings; and in particular distinguished himself as the author of several wellwritten jeux d'esprits. Dr. Jowett, of Trinity Hall, having amused both himself and the public by a pretty little fairy garden, with narrow gravel walks, besprinkled with shells and pellucid pebbles, the whole being enclosed by a delicate Chinese railing, somewhat in the style of the citizen's country villa, described by Lloyd, the following lines were written and circulated on this occasion by Dr. Mansell: On the Garden of Joseph Jowett, LL. D. “A little garden little JOWETT made, If you would know the taste of little JOWETT, Dr. Mansell died at Trinity Lodge, Cambridge, in 1820. He is the author of a "Sermon preached before the House of Lords, at Westminster Abbey, January 2nd, 1810.” No. XVIII. SIR ARTHUR PIGOTT, KNight. LATE ATTORNEY-GENERAL TO HIS MAJESTY, GEORGE III., M.P. FOR THE BOrough of ARUNDEL, AND A BARRISTER OF THE MIDDLE TEMPLE. SIR ARTHUR PIGOTT, who was born about the year 1750, may be considered to have been the father of the practising lawyers at the English bar. After receiving a good education, he became a counsel early in life; but perceiving no opening at home, he repaired to the West Indies. Having practised for some years in the island of Grenada, he rose into high estimation, and at length became Attorney-General there. Little did he dream, at that period, that he was afterwards destined to occupy the same distinguished office in Great Britain. On his return to England he was engaged in the celebrated cause of Somerset the negro, with Mr. Hargrave, and obtained the patronage of that Lord North who was Prime Minister many years during the war with America. As a man of business, his industry and talents soon found an honourable and extensive field of action, having been employed, in conjunction with Sir Guy Carleton, Mr. Anguish, and Mr. Neave, as a commissioner for investigating the public accounts. This opened an immense source of information, and proved highly beneficial to the best interests of the country. It is to the diligence, ability, and integrity of that board, we are indebted for the first accurate and intelligible explanation of our financial system. It was it that first detailed the resources and expenditure of the country with accuracy and correctness. Before the appointment in question, we could only guess at our pecuniary situation; but now every thing has become comparatively plain and intelligent. The labours of Mr. Pigott were at length duly estimated, and he soon after obtained a seat in Parliament. Following the fortunes of Lord North, in 1783, he joined and warmly supported the coalition. A silk gown now awaited him, and in the course of the succeeding year he was nominated SolicitorGeneral to the Prince of Wales. His practice was at first chiefly confined to the Court of King's Bench. He also became a leading barrister on the home circuit, until, having attacked an attorney with all the severity of forensic animadversion, the lawyers associated against him, and he was actually left without a brief! In 1793, he removed into the Courts of Chancery, and, notwithstanding his transplantation at a mature age, flourished with no ordinary degree of prosperity. On the death of Lord North, then become Earl of Guildford, he became a devoted follower of Mr. Fox; and in 1805 he was appointed Attorney-General to the King, and obtained the honour of Knighthood. Sir Arthur, however, did not long enjoy his prosperity; for this short-lived administration scarcely exceeded one year in point of duration. His practice, however, continued to increase, and having been nominated counsel for the Bank of England, he was consulted by that great body and all its dependents on every occasion of difficulty. Sir Arthur Pigott, after attaining a good old age, died at his little villa, near Eastbourne, in Sussex, on the 6th of September, 1819, at a period when he had become the oldest member of the bar. With the late Sir Samuel Romilly, whom he greatly esteemed, he lived in unreserved intimacy for many years, and it was to his advice that the present Vice-Chancellor became indebted for all his honours. At his special recommendation Sir John Leach was called to the bar; and so accurate was his discrimination of character, that from the first he prognosticated his future rise. As a member of the House of Commons he was listened to with great attention; for his speeches were always ingenious, modest, and unassuming. He distinguished himself on many critical occasions, particularly on the impeachment of Warren Hastings and Lord Melville, at which latter he assisted his friend Mr. Whitbread, with great ability, in the quality of one of the managers for the Commons. As an advocate he was clear and impressive; his discrimination shone conspicuous, and this enabled him to compress the merits of his cause into a small compass. In private life, he always appeared mild and conciliatory; and, in politics, he was a staunch Whig. Sir Arthur, while Attorney-General, exerted himself exceedingly in behalf of the celebrated West India Bill, of which Lord North wittily observed, "that it contained a good receipt for knocking up an administration." He possessed the full and entire confidence of Mr. Burke, and is supposed to have drawn up, or at least assisted his friend in forming, preparing, and arranging, the principal clauses of that bill. Indeed, the great orator would trust none of the Crown Lawyers, the subject of this memoir only excepted, for whom he always 444 No. XIX. REV. CYRIL JACKSON, D. D. DEAN OF CHRISTCHURCH, oxford. 1 CYRIL JACKSON was born in the year 1742, at Stamford, in Lincolnshire, where his father had practised, for many years, as a surgeon and apothecary; but, having obtained a diploma for the degree of M. D., he subsequently acquired considerable reputation as a physician. At an early age, young Jackson was sent to Westminster School, where he was presented to a studentship by one of the canons. He soon became noticed, and his company courted by persons of the highest rank and greatest genius, at that time, in Christ Church; and a cordial friendship was contracted between him and the Archbishop of York, which subsisted to his death. His connection with Dr. Markham, and other persons of interest and rank, paved the way for his acquaintance with the Prince of Wales, in the regulation and direction of whose studies he enjoyed considerable share. Having been appointed his sub-preceptor, he became much attached to him; and the respect continued mutual. By honourably filling this office, he opened to himself a speedy way to preferment; and, accordingly, he was almost immediately raised to a canonry of Christ Church, which he enjoyed till the removal of the late Honourable Dr. Bagot to the bishopric of Bristol, in 1783, when he was appointed to the deanery, a place which he seemed eminently calculated to fill. Upon coming to the headship, Dr. Jackson resolutely applied himself to inspect more narrowly the conduct of the students, and also to correct those deficiencies, and restrain those irregularities, which his mild and less discriminating predecessor had overlooked. The effects of his reforming hand were felt and acknowledged. Christ Church was soon cleared |