ence on the perfons whom he addreffes. And whatever be the crime which is the subject of his animadverfions, he will not content himself with confidering it in a political light, and displaying its baneful effects on the happiness of fociety; but will direct the attention of his audience to thofe views of the nature and confequences of vice, which are revealed in the awful denunciations of the Gospel. In cafes of acquittal, a judicious address from the Judge to the prisoner may frequently guard the latter, if innocent, againft thofe indifcretions, and thofe connections, which might ultimately have led him into crimes; if guilty, againft fubjecting himfelf in future to the rifk of the punishment which he has now chanced to escape. It may alfo act as a falutary admonition on many among the audience.

Thofe principles which have guided the conduct of the Judge during the trial of the prifoner, will regulate all fubsequent proceedings refpecting him. Whether he allows him a refpite, as affording the means of better preparation for death, or poffibly of clearing up fome circumftances which contributed to his

conviction;

conviction; whether he grants him a reprieve; whether he recommends him as a proper object of royal mercy; he will form his determination on the folid grounds of equity and public good. A fubordinate regard he will undoubtedly pay to the welfare of the individual, both as being one of the public, and as being the person who in the present moment has the most at ftake. But he will feel the neceffity of withstanding improper folicitations, however refpectable the quarter may be from which they come: he will fortify himself against the effufions of indifcriminate compaffion operating in the breast of others; and, difficult as the task may be, against the emotions of improvident sympathy in his own.

II. It remains to fubjoin a few remarks on the general conduct of a Judge, which could not be conveniently interwoven among the preceding obfervations.

The repreffion of vice, the encouragement of virtue, the security of freedom, and the removal of impediments to the progrefs of national

Dd4

tional happiness; thefe are objects which the Judge is bound to promote, as well by the faithful difcharge of his judicial functions, as by the uniform tenor of his life. They are objects which will lie near his heart, if he is duly impressed with the recollection of that tribunal, before which he in common with all men is fhortly to appear. It will therefore be his conftant care that his private condu&t fhall not reflect difgrace on his public character, and impair the efficacy of his official labours. While confpicuous on the Bench as a chastiser of the wicked, he will ftrive to be eminent in private life as an example to the good. The venerable name of Hale, highly as it is refpected at the Bar, is defervedly no lefs dear to the friends of religion.

In his addreffes to Grand Jurors and Magif trates he will act under the influence of the principles which have been flated. He will not flatter them with profeffions of respect, which he does not feel: he will not fix their attention on trivial topics; nor weary it with vague and irrelevant declamation. He will be folicitous, that whatever remarks he fhail

direct to them may not only be suited to the occafion on which they are affembled, and the nature of the office which they are to execute; but may likewife have an immediate and plain reference to local objects, events, difcuffions, and concerns, as far as they properly fall within the limits of his jurisdiction, and appear entitled to his notice. He will endeavour to meet and difpel prevailing antipathies, whether political or religious; he will induftriously exert himself in allaying animofities and heats; he will strongly inculcate, and from his heart, not from mere ideas of decorum, the encouragement of industry and good morals, and the discountenancing of idleness and vice, and of every receptacle in which men learn to be idle and vicious. will strive to restrain gambling in all its various forms; licentious theatrical exhibitions; and all other amufements which have an obvious tendency to deprave the innocent and unfufpecting; nor will he be indifferent as to the continuance of cock-fighting, bull-baiting, and boxing, thofe unfubdued remains of popular barbarity. The fruit of his labours may not perhaps be very confpicuous at first; but

He

let

let him not defpair, nor be discouraged. Neither magiftrates in their public capacity, nor country gentlemen in their private proceedings, will continue to disregard exhortations repeatedly preffed upon them in open court by a Judge, who commands their respect by his talents, and wins their esteem by his affability and virtues.

Next to the denial of redrefs, the delay of juftice is the greatest hardship which an injured person can sustain. The multifarious and intricate forms according to which every legal process must be conducted, and the immense mass of bufinefs from all quarters of the kingdom inceffantly crowding our fuperior tribunals, neceffarily contribute to retard the conclufion of each individual fuit. The Judge who fhould flumber on his ftation, who should impede by his own dilatory floth the already encumbered courfe of the law, might juftly be deemed an encourager of the crimes which he wilfully forbore to chaftife; and a concurrent caufe of the grievances which he would not be prevailed upon to remove.