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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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464 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. V.-ROBERT CORBET, the late Solicitor of Teinds, was born in Dumfries, of which town his father was for some time Provost. He passed advocate in 1777; and was appointed Solicitor of Teinds in 1816. This office he held till his demise in 1833, when he was succeeded by Sir William Hamilton. Mr. Corbet was for many years a very successful and popular pleader, especially before the General Assembly, where he was much employed, and for some time had almost the whole practice there. He is thus alluded to in the “ Faculty Garland,” 1785. ‘‘ The chief thing, said Corbet- Oh ! I cannot absorb it- Illiterate fellows to’ask in ; I’m afraid we shall see People take our degree, With no other knowledge than Erskine.”l He was a strong-built, vigorous man, with a large excrescence, or wen, on one side of his face. Corbet made what is termed a mes-alliance, but there was no issue of the marriage. VI,-GEORGE JOSEF‘H BELL, Professor of the Law of Scotland in the University of Edinburgh, was the son of the Rev, William Bell, one of the Episcopal ministers of Edinburgh. Mr. Bell was admitted to the bar in 1791. He early turned his attention to the study of the Mercantile Law -a part of the Scottish Jurisprudence at that time almost unregarded ; and, in the year 1800, he published his Commentaries on the Mercantile Law, especially considered in relation to the subject of Bankruptcy. This work passed through five editions, and is regarded as by far the most valuable and complete treatise on the subject. In 1822 he was chosen by the Faculty of Advocates, in whom the right of nomination is vested, subject to the approval of the Magistrates and Town-Council of Edinburgh, to fill the chair of Scottish Law in the University, then vacant by the promotion of Mr. Baron Hume to the Exchequer. About the year 1828 he published Outlines of his Lectures, at first merely intended as a text-book for the students of his class, but which, under the title of “ Principles of the Law .of Scotland,” proceeded through several editions, and became one of the most useful practical books on . the law of this country. In 1822 Mr. Bell was appointed a member of the Commission for Inquiring into Scottish Judicial Proceedings. He was selected by his colleagues to draw up their Report j and soon after he was called up to London in order to assist the committee of the House of Lords in framing the bill. He was subsequently named a member of another commission, appointed to examine into, and simplify the mode of proceeding in the Court of Session. The report of the gentlemen who formed this Commission was the groundwork of what is termed the Scottish Judicature Act (prepared by Mr. Bell), by which many important This was written in consequence of certain discussions on the Faculty of Advocates, as to preventing unqualified and objectionable persons from being admitted members.
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