MEMORANDA.

IN MICHAELMAS VACATION,

HENRY HOPLEY WHITE, Esq., of the Middle Temple; the Honorable Anthony John Ashley, of the Inner Temple; Henry William Cripps, Esq., of the Middle Temple; and William George Granville Venables Vernon Harcourt, Esq., of the Inner Temple, were appointed of her Majesty's Counsel.

IN TRINITY VACATION,

Robert Monsey, Baron Cranworth, Lord High Chancellor, resigned the Great Seal, which was delivered by her Majesty to Frederic, Baron Chelmsford, who thus became Lord High Chancellor for the second time.

Sir Roundell Palmer, Knight, her Majesty's Attorney-General, having resigned his office, was succeeded by Sir Hugh MacCalmont Cairns, Knight.

Sir Robert Porrett Collier, Knight, her Majesty's SolicitorGeneral, having resigned his office, was succeeded by William Bovill, Esq., one of her Majesty's Counsel, who shortly afterwards received the honour of knighthood.

John Rolt, Esq., one of her Majesty's Counsel, was appointed to the office of Attorney-General, vacant by the promotion of Sir Hugh MacCalmont Cairns.

Sir Frederick Pollock, Knight, resigned the office of Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer, and Sir Fitzroy Kelly,

Knight, was appointed in his room, having been previously advanced to the degree of the coif, when he gave rings with the motto "Constantiâ."

Sir Hugh MacCalmont Cairns, Knight, was appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal in Chancery, in the room of the Right Honorable Sir James Lewis Knight Bruce, who resigned in consequence of ill-health.

James Dickinson, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn; Robert Scarr Sowler, Esq., of the Middle Temple; Samuel Prentice, Esq., of the Middle Temple; Thomas Jones, Esq., of the Middle Temple; Charles Edward Pollock, Esq., of the Inner Temple; John Blossett Maule, Esq., of the Inner Temple; William Adam' Mundell, Esq., of the Middle Temple; Richard Garth, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn; Sir George Essex Honyman, Bart., of the Middle Temple, and John Richard Quain, Esq., of the Middle Temple, were appointed of her Majesty's Counsel learned in the law.

The Right Honorable Lord Chief Justice ERLE resigned his seat in this Court on November 26, 1866, the last day of Michaelmas Term.

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At the rising of the Court on that day the Attorney-General, presence of the whole Bench and of a numerous Bar, addressed his Lordship in the following terms :—

"I rise, my Lord Chief Justice, in the name and on behalf of "the Bar, to offer you our tribute of respect and veneration on "this the occasion, as we are given to understand, of your Lord

ship's finally quitting that Bench. If that tribute were due "from considerations arising exclusively in this Court, my experience here would not perhaps have been enough to justify me in coming forward to give it expression; but, my Lord, "it rests on broader considerations,-on considerations known "to, and appreciated by, us all; and I could not, therefore, as

Attorney-General and Leader of the Bar, deny myself the privilege of representing them on this occasion.

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'My Lord, we all feel and desire to acknowledge that, under "your presidency in this Court, the great judicial duty of "reconciling, as far as may be, positive law with moral justice "has been satisfied. The letter of the law that kills, and the "mere discretion of the judge, which has been well said to be "the law of tyrants, have been alike kept in due subjection. "Learning, experience in affairs, wise administration, have been so combined that, with the assistance of the eminent judges "associated with you on that Bench, the laws of England have "been exhibited in their true aspect as the exponent of the rights and duties of her citizens, and the guardian of their "liberties. The Court of Common Pleas under your presidency, "my Lord, has obtained the just confidence of the suitor, the "public, and the profession.

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“But, my Lord, I shall not be forgiven by my colleagues if "I stop here; I shall not be forgiven if I fail to express our "admiration for the simplicity and elevation of character that "have adorned that administration, and our affectionate regard "for the private and social qualities, the kindness and the cour"tesy that have been displayed on the Bench, and in the "intercourse of private life. Our homage is due, and is paid, alike to the worth of the man and the dignity of the "judge.

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"My Lord, it is no idle ceremony that induces us thus to "intrude upon you. We know that your Lordship would, "had it been possible, have retired from the Bench to-day without public observation. But it was not possible. There are "occasions on which the impulses of the heart must be obeyed; "and this was one. The universal feeling insisted on public expression.

"My Lord, it may be right, and since it is your will we "endeavour to think it so, that in the full possession of the

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greatest judicial qualities-in the maturity of your faculties, your Lordship should retire from us and leave the active

"duties of ordinary judicial life. They have no doubt been "incessant, severe, excessive; but we may be pardoned if we "bear in mind that your Lordship is still a member of one of

our highest judicial appellate tribunals; and express our hope "that the law and the country may still for long years to come, "so far as may be consistent with your Lordship's ease and retirement, derive the benefit of your great wisdom and expe

"rience.

"That in those future years your Lordship may enjoy every "consolation and happiness that can surround the maturity and "close of a valuable life, is the earnest, the ardent, prayer of "every one of us; and with this feeble and imperfect expression "of our sentiments, I now, addressing you as Lord Chief "Justice of the Common Pleas, and, happily, addressing you in "that character only, respectfully say to you, in the name and 66 on behalf of the Bar-Farewell."

His Lordship replied as follows:

"Mr. Attorney-General,-My words in reply must be few. "I return my earnest thanks to you and to all whom you repre"sent on this occasion.

"I have laboured to do justly according to Law, and to obey humbly The Power that gave me my sense of right. If "any duty in which I had a part has been well performed, the "honour is mainly due to those who, in their respective depart"ments, have had to co-operate with me in the noble work of administering justice.

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"It is eminently due to the Bar. I have seen a long succes"sion of advocates, and amongst them men of the highest worth, swaying important interests by their words, always speaking "with inflexible integrity, and making the way of duty plain "before the judge: men whom I delight to think of with con"firmed respect and regard. I have great happiness in know

ing that the estimation of the Bar is well maintained, and I "shall ever retain the deepest interest in its honour, for the sake "of its members and of the public.