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the last twenty years of his life. He was a good husband, a good father, and a sincere friend. In company, no man could be more attractive; he was so rich in anecdote upon all subjects, especially of literature, that his presence and conversation were productive of endless amusement as well as instruction to his auditors. His widow, three sons, and a daughter survive him; all of whom, by the most unremitting attention during his long and tedious illness, proved how much he was endeared to them by his domestic virtues.

Mr. Bonnycastle was interred at Charlton, in a vault expressly built for him. His funeral obsequies were attended by the Mathematical Masters of the Royal Academy, and several Officers of the Royal Artillery. General Ford, the LietenantGovernor of the Academy, bestowed a marked tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased: all the Cadets were drawn out, in two double lines, before the door, thus testifying their regard for the excellent man whose funeral procession was to pass before them.

Mr. Bonnycastle's publications are:

1. The Scholar's Guide to Arithmetic; 12mo. 1780.

2. Introduction to Mensuration and Practical Geometry; 12mo. 1782.

3. Introduction to Algebra; 12mo. 1782.

4. Introduction to Astronomy; 8vo. 1786.

5. Euclid's Elements of Geometry; 8vo. 1789.

6. General History of Mathematics from the French of Bossut; 8vo. 1803.

7. A Treatise on Spherical Trigonometry; 8vo. 1806. 8. Introduction to Arithmetic, being the First Part of a General Course of Mathematics; 8vo. 1810.

9. A Treatise on Algebra; 2 vols. 8vo. 1813.

440

No. XVII.

THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, WILLIAM LORT MANSELL, D.D.

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,
And fenced it with a little pallisade;

If you would know the taste of little Jow ETT,
This little garden won't a little show it."

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 entertained the highest regard and esteem.

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