Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
OBITUARY .
QEftJEANT ADAIR ( whose death v 3 we announced iu our last ) was formerly of Peter-house , Cambridge , where he took the degree of B . A . 176 4 , and M . A . 1767 . In October , 1779 , he was clios- n Keeorder of London , which he resigned ia 17 S 1 ; . He was ihe author
of Thoughts on . he Dismission < -f Officers , Civil and Military , for their Conduct in . Parliament , 1764 , ' Svo . ; ' Observations on the Power of Alienation in the . Crown before the . stcfOu-cn Anne , suported by Precedents and the Opinions of many learned Judges ; together with some Remarks on
theConduct of Administration respecting 'he Case of the Duke of Portland , 1768 , ' Svo . Mr . Adair was not distinguished for luminous talents : but he possessed a solid judgment , with rectitude of principle , and a deep knowledge in ihe ia . vs of this country . He was a sound constitutional lawyer , and his opinions
might be safely trusted in all matters that concerned . he essential principles of our government and the genuine rights of . lie people . He first began lo distinguish himself at the bar about
1770 , aid tool : an acivj part in the political comen ' . ioiH of that period . In the memorable dispute between Messrs . Wilkes and Home , Mr . Adair sided with Wilkes ; in consequence of which he drew upon himself the resentment of Hor"e , who , among other remarks , is charged with having
ridiculed Mr . Adairin an account of a public meeting at Mile-lind . Home says , 'when Mr . Adair sat down , there was . " . general cry of—The Questi . mt—Tbe Question ! It always happens so where tills gentleman speaks ; eveiy man is . ifraid les ! he should speak again ; and it must be a most fatal question indeed
when any one of his hearers would not rather have it decided against his own interest or wishes than hear Mr , Adair ' s arguments for or against it . ' It is always the fate of Mr . Home ' s attacks to exalt the objects whom he attempts to degrade . Mr . Adair , far from being injured by this abuse , became more
known to the public , and rose into higher reputation . Wilkes answered Horne upon this occasion , and thus V 0 I . XI .
mentions Mr . Adair : ' after Sir Joseph Msnvbey , the parson is pleased to serve up Mr . Adair . ' When Mr . Adair sat down , there was a general cry of The Question ! The Question ! It always happens so when this gentleman speaks . ' True ( says Wilkes ) , but
never till be sits do-on . 1 have heard the question repeatedly and loudly called for while Mr . Home was slid standing , long before he would sit dozen . Mr . A . possesses his subject so entirely , that he often exhausts the matter , and nothing is left but to decide upon the Question . ' To this triflingcirci . mstai . ee
Mr . Adair was essentially indebted for much of his subsequent importance in life , as it attracted public notice more immediately upon him ; and , whatever deductions might be made from . he zeal of a party-leader in favour of his adherents , the character of Mr . Wilkes , for knowledge of life and judgment hi
discriminating talents , was so well known , that his panegyric could not but be . hough , to stamp some credit on the subject of it . Political ambition , though
it had some hold upon the mind of VIr . Adair through life , did noty however , detach him from' his profession ; and , though he was never considered as a striking example of forensic eloquence , yet he wasvery much esteemed and consulted , on account of his profound legal knowledge . His first struggle for a
public appointment was a competition with Mr . Howar . h , against whom he succeeded iu obtaining the recordership oi" London . This situation he kept some years , and discharged its duties with great ability , as well as justice ami humanity . Having , however , conceived disgust against some of the
leading common council , for complaining that lie did not regularly attend . heir courts , a drudgery he considered as beneath him , except upon matters of evident ¦ importance , he resigned a . situation that produced him 1500 I . ayear ; and ihe court of Aldermen voted him their . hanks and the freedom of the
city , for the dignity , rectitude , and benevoienee , with which he had conducted himself in hisoifice . Mr . Adairwas again seduced into the EC
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
OBITUARY .
QEftJEANT ADAIR ( whose death v 3 we announced iu our last ) was formerly of Peter-house , Cambridge , where he took the degree of B . A . 176 4 , and M . A . 1767 . In October , 1779 , he was clios- n Keeorder of London , which he resigned ia 17 S 1 ; . He was ihe author
of Thoughts on . he Dismission < -f Officers , Civil and Military , for their Conduct in . Parliament , 1764 , ' Svo . ; ' Observations on the Power of Alienation in the . Crown before the . stcfOu-cn Anne , suported by Precedents and the Opinions of many learned Judges ; together with some Remarks on
theConduct of Administration respecting 'he Case of the Duke of Portland , 1768 , ' Svo . Mr . Adair was not distinguished for luminous talents : but he possessed a solid judgment , with rectitude of principle , and a deep knowledge in ihe ia . vs of this country . He was a sound constitutional lawyer , and his opinions
might be safely trusted in all matters that concerned . he essential principles of our government and the genuine rights of . lie people . He first began lo distinguish himself at the bar about
1770 , aid tool : an acivj part in the political comen ' . ioiH of that period . In the memorable dispute between Messrs . Wilkes and Home , Mr . Adair sided with Wilkes ; in consequence of which he drew upon himself the resentment of Hor"e , who , among other remarks , is charged with having
ridiculed Mr . Adairin an account of a public meeting at Mile-lind . Home says , 'when Mr . Adair sat down , there was . " . general cry of—The Questi . mt—Tbe Question ! It always happens so where tills gentleman speaks ; eveiy man is . ifraid les ! he should speak again ; and it must be a most fatal question indeed
when any one of his hearers would not rather have it decided against his own interest or wishes than hear Mr , Adair ' s arguments for or against it . ' It is always the fate of Mr . Home ' s attacks to exalt the objects whom he attempts to degrade . Mr . Adair , far from being injured by this abuse , became more
known to the public , and rose into higher reputation . Wilkes answered Horne upon this occasion , and thus V 0 I . XI .
mentions Mr . Adair : ' after Sir Joseph Msnvbey , the parson is pleased to serve up Mr . Adair . ' When Mr . Adair sat down , there was a general cry of The Question ! The Question ! It always happens so when this gentleman speaks . ' True ( says Wilkes ) , but
never till be sits do-on . 1 have heard the question repeatedly and loudly called for while Mr . Home was slid standing , long before he would sit dozen . Mr . A . possesses his subject so entirely , that he often exhausts the matter , and nothing is left but to decide upon the Question . ' To this triflingcirci . mstai . ee
Mr . Adair was essentially indebted for much of his subsequent importance in life , as it attracted public notice more immediately upon him ; and , whatever deductions might be made from . he zeal of a party-leader in favour of his adherents , the character of Mr . Wilkes , for knowledge of life and judgment hi
discriminating talents , was so well known , that his panegyric could not but be . hough , to stamp some credit on the subject of it . Political ambition , though
it had some hold upon the mind of VIr . Adair through life , did noty however , detach him from' his profession ; and , though he was never considered as a striking example of forensic eloquence , yet he wasvery much esteemed and consulted , on account of his profound legal knowledge . His first struggle for a
public appointment was a competition with Mr . Howar . h , against whom he succeeded iu obtaining the recordership oi" London . This situation he kept some years , and discharged its duties with great ability , as well as justice ami humanity . Having , however , conceived disgust against some of the
leading common council , for complaining that lie did not regularly attend . heir courts , a drudgery he considered as beneath him , except upon matters of evident ¦ importance , he resigned a . situation that produced him 1500 I . ayear ; and ihe court of Aldermen voted him their . hanks and the freedom of the
city , for the dignity , rectitude , and benevoienee , with which he had conducted himself in hisoifice . Mr . Adairwas again seduced into the EC