Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 2).djvu/355

Rh never suffered it to interfere with his argument, nor ever sought to shine or to captivate, when he could convince. His professional knowledge was universally acknowledged. All parties allowed him to be at the head of the bar. His industry, his liberality, his acuteness added to his capacity, procured him the personal confidence, reverence and attachment of almost all the great families, who always found him no less a gentleman than he was a lawyer. The only doubt was whether he excelled most at Equity or Common Law. There was none as to anybody's coming up to him in either. The fact is well known of the present Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, beginning a law argument in the absence of Mr. Dunning, but upon hearing him Hemm in the course of it, his tone so visibly changed that there was not a doubt in any part of the House of the reason of it.

"He had the most undaunted courage of body and mind, of which innumerable proofs must remain among the profession, from the daily instances he gave of it, in fighting up his own way against the frowns and arts of Lord Mansfield the cause of many a poor client against that judge's partiality and caprice, and the Law of England itself against the various novelties which Lord Mansfield's vanity and unconstitutional principles made him perseveringly attempt, which Mr. Dunning as perseveringly resisted. His presence of mind never failed him. His mind furnished him with resources on all occasions. His sagacity to distinguish and his spirit to seize an occasion showed itself in the advantage he took in conjunction with Mr. Barre to move Lord Chatham's public funeral and the provision for his family. He certainly had from nature great ambition, but his pride and his principle set him so far above it, that it may be safely affirmed, that no man living or dead, knew the object of it. His peerage was forced upon him, because he felt it a momentary deviation from his profession to accept the Duchy of Lancaster till the King's Bench became vacant, not being satisfied with the precedent of Lord Lechmere, and not at