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New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 704, 12 January 1853, Page 3

The Vacant Vice-Chancellorship.—The few stragglers of the Chancery bar still lingering in London are occupying themselves in speculations on the vacancy in the office of a Vioe-Chancellor, caused by the death of Sir James Parker. The political right to this valuable and responsible judicial office is, of cours •, considered'to belong to Mr. John Stuart, Q.C., the new member for Bury St. Edmund's, and who is said, in his electioneering expenditure, to have barely exceeded the legal expenses in turning out Mr. Bunbury. Mr. Stuart, however, haughtily refused the offer of the Solicitor-Generalship on the formation of the present Government, and was reported to bo highly indignant that he did not receive the Great Seal, The lion, and learned gentleman roav not press his elahmin the present instance. Certainly his opposition to Chancery Reform and his notorious ultra-Toryism would render his appointment unpopular, however lie might reconcile acceptance to himself. Other names were mentioned in the clubs. It was said that Mr. Walpole might not unadvisedly descend from the Homeoffice and ascend the judicial seat. The right i Iron, gentleman's practice at the bar. so recently and gallantly abandoned for the uncertain tenure of political office, was considerable and increasing; and his elevation to the bench would doubtless be comparatively agreeable and popular out of doors and with the bench and bar. Lord St. Leonard's is known also to be well disposed to Mr. Swanston, Q.C., whom he regards as the most eminent equity lawyer of the day. Mr. Roundell Palmer would probably have been the choice of the Peelites, but they are hors de combat. — Globe, Aug. 17. Tun late Mr. Fletcher.—lt is with much regret that we announce the sudden decease of Mr. Joseph Fletcher, Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools. Mr Fletcher had established for him-

self a high reputation by his labours in the cau.se of humanity, as secretary to the handloom inquiry in the first instance, and afterwards to the Children's Employment Commission. The several reports of these commissions will remain an unfailing monument to Mr. Fletcher's earnest and indefatigable endeavours to ameliorate the condition of women and children employed in manufactures. In the termination of the Children's Employment Commission, whose startlirg disclosures excited so painfull the attention of the public, and forced upon o ■ Legislature the absolute and imperative necessity for Parliamentary control, Mr. Fletcher was appointed to the post of Inspector of Schools receiving grants under the Privy Council. His voluminous reports on the schools in his inspection are among the most valuable contributions to our educational statistics. Mr. Fletcher was for very many years ore of the honorary secretaries of the Statistical Society r>£ London,"in which post he had earned" for himself a wide-spread reputation among foreign as well as British statists for the zeal, industry, and assiduity with which he discharged the laborious duties of that office. He was also during the same period editor of the Statistical Journal, and to his talents and patient labour are due the collation and arrangement of the vast collection of valuable documents to be found in these volumes. Mr. Fletcher for several years acted as secretary to the statistical section of the British Association, of which he was also a member of the council. He contributed several valuable' memoirs to the series of the association reports. Our brief (numeration of Mr. Fletcher's labou:s will have given cause to our readers to imagine him a man advanced in years ; he expired, however, at' the comparatively early age of (JO. Ever since he was 10 his pt>n had been engage-! upon literary occupations. • Mr. Fletcher Ii d beet. i!l but a short time, and was at the time of his death ori'leave of absence at Chirk, in 2s T orth Wales,.