Page:Chronicle of the law officers of Ireland.djvu/330

Rh Chief Justice Wyndham was raised from the Common Pleas to the Chancery Bench; a person whose conduct as Chief Judge of an Irish Court, gave a good earnest to the kingdom of the propriety of such promotion. Unlike most of his predecessors, or some of his successors, he tempered a natural disposition to justice with a correct knowledge of general equity, as exercised through Europe or ingrafted on the system of English law; his court, therefore, became an enlightened school, in which a mild and benevolent magistrate, by practice and example, animated the Bar to legal skill; he farther satisfied the nation by a marked discountenance of party views, or the personal interference of official attendants in any matter submitted to his decision. The ministerial situation of this country enabled him to exercise another quality equally correspondent to the purity and moderation of his temper.

A leading commoner managed the lower house, and upheld administration with vigour and integrity, whilst the link of official connexion with the English Cabinet was upheld by a prelate highly entitled to notice in a historical review of the legal profession. My opinion of Boulter's private virtues and public talents is guided by strict impartiality. The vices of a statesman become the more dangerous when clothed with exterior decorum, and an exercise of personal benevolence. Thus feudal ruffians consecrated crimes by donations to the church and clerical time-servers or tyrants, Wolsey, Ximines, Richelieu, and Boulter—affected to atone for injuries in each country which they managed, by an encouragement of particular charities or posthumous foundations.

The reader shall be gratified by the Primate's pen, with authentic proofs of his personal and ministerial integrity. A few quotations from that unexceptionable authority will justly supersede the fallible assertion of any man.—Page 3. "The independency of this kingdom is a very popular notion."Ib. "The parliament may fear the madness of the people." P. 11. "Whenever an archbishopric is vacant, it is necessary that an Englishman should fill it." P. 12. " As many Englishmen to be