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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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290 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. On the formation of the Royal Edinburgh Volunteers, Mr. Pringle was appointed Lieutenant of the Left Grenadiers, and afterwards promoted to a Captaincy. He lived at that time in “ the Society,” Brown Square. The Clerk seated at the table, of whom only a back view is afforded, is Mr. JOSEPH MACK, who for many years officiated as a Clerk in the Sheriff Court. His father was one of the officials of St. Cuthbert’s Church, under the late Rev. Sir Henry MoncreifT and Mr. Paul. As an amanuensis, or copyist, Mr. Joseph was remarkably expeditious. He died on the 1st of October 1801, the day on which the account of the peace of Amiens arrived in Edinburgh, He was a native of Edinburgh. No. CCLXVII. THE HON. SIR NASH GROSE, ONE OF THE JUDGES OF THE COURT OF KING’S BENCH? NASH GROSE, son of Edward Grose, Esq., of the city of London, was born in 1740. Admitted of Lincoln’s Inn in 1756, he was called to the bar in 1766 ; and, by the display of considerable professional abilities, speedily established himself in extensive business. After eight years’ practice as a barrister he obtained the degree of Sergeant, and for many years took the lead in the Court of Common Pleas. He was also allowed to be an excellent Nisi Prius advocate ; and, as a special pleader, he had distinguished himself by blending with the formal nature of his duties a degree of eloquence seldom associated with the office. The elevation of Mr. Grose to a judicial seat, in 1780, was generally regarded as a just appreciation of his talents and rectitude of conduct; and, while he continued on the bench, he is universally allowed to have maintained an uprightness, integrity, and freedom from political bias, which with one or two exceptions, has been the proud characteristic of the English judges since the Revolution. Shortly after his elevation the honour of knighthood was conferred on him by his Majesty George the Third. Sir Nash Grose retired from the bench in 1813, and died suddenly the following year. He was at the time (the 6th of June) on his return to his seat in the Isle of Wight, and had scarcely entered the room when he fell on a sofa, and expired in a few minutes afterwards, His remains were interred in the Isle of Wight. The Portrait of Judge Grose was taken by the artist when in London in 1800.
Volume 9 Page 385
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