180

HISTORY OB’ ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XIX.

1G!«.

was with good reason suspected; and the duties which, asSpeaker of the House of Commons, he had to perform duringfour or five months in the busiest part of every year, made itimpossible for him to be an efficient judge in equity. Everysuitor complained that he had to wait a most unreasonable timefor a judgment, and that, when at length a judgment had beenpronounced, it was very likely to be reversed on appeal.Meanwhile there was no efficient minister of justice, no greatfunctionary to whom it especially belonged to advise the Kingtouching the appointment of Judges, of Counsel for the Crown,of Justices of the Peace.* It was known that William wassensible of the inconvenience of this state of things; and, duringseveral months, there had been flying rumours that a LordKeeper or a Lord Chancellor would soon be appointed.** Thename most frequently mentioned was that of Nottingham. Butthe same reasons which had prevented him from accepting theGreat Seal in 1689 had, since that year, rather gained thanlost strength. William at length fixed his choice on Somers.

Somers was only in his forty-second year; and five yearshad not elapsed since, on the great day of the trial of theBishops, his powers had first been made known to the world.From that time his fame had been steadily and rapidly rising.Neither in forensic nor in parliamentary eloquence had he anysuperior. The consistency of his public conduct had gained forhim the entire confidence of the AVhigs; and the urbanity ofhis manners had conciliated the Tories. It was not withoutgreat reluctance that he consented to quit an assembly overwhich he exercised an immense influence for an assembly whereit would be necessary for him to sit in silence. He had beenhut a short time in great practice. His savings were small.

* Burnet, ii. 107.

** These rumours are more than once mentioned in Narcissus LuttreH'sDiary.