Shower, Sia Bartholomew

, an eminent lawyer, was brother to the preceding, but few particulars of his early life are on record. We should suppose him of very different sentiments from his brother. By the appointment of James II. he became recorder of London during the time that the city was deprived of its charter, but when that monarch’s fears compelled him to restore it, sir Bartholomew and the new aldermen were obliged to give place to the old recorder Treby and the legal aldermen. As a pleader he distinguished himself both before the House of

* None of his biographers have in- written, as it is said, by Swift, ri'.rl in

formed us of a letter he wrote to the a style which almost inclines>s Jo

high treasurer, lord Oxford, respect- doubt, whethe rt was sent, or seriously,

ing the occasional conformity hill, meant to be sent. It is, hiv/fter, a

dated Dec. 20, 1711. Tins letter may great curiosity, and o-.ie of Mjp choicest

be seen in Swift’s Works, vol. XI. p. specimens of Swift’s vituperative style. 201, with the l.ml treasurer’s answer, | Commons and at the bar. He opposed vehemently the Kentish petitioners, and pleaded strenuously as counsel for sir John Fenwick, that his conviction might not be made a pretence for ruining innocence. He died Dec. 1701, and was buried on the 12th of that month at Harrowon-tue-Hill, near to which he had resided, at Pinner-hill.

Two editions of “Cases in parliament resolved and adjudged upon petitions and writs of error,” by sir Bartholomew, have been published, one in 1698, and another in 1740, with many references, and a table of principal matters. These cases are learnedly reported, and the arguments of the counsel, as well as of the judges, are recorded in a very able manner. This mode of reporting, however, though valuable in itself, and particularly desirable to the profession, was. thought an infringement upon the privileges of the House of Lords, and the bookseller was called to the bar, for the publication of it. Sir Bartholomew also published his “Reports of cases in Banco Regis from 30 Car. II. to 6 William III.” 1708, and 1720, 2 vols. folio; bnt the second volume is first in point of time. A second edition was published in 1794, in 2 vols. 8vo, by Thomas Leach, esq. with additional notes and references. ¹