Blake the Remembrancer

The legal education of a barrister was not in the first half of the nineteenth century considered complete unless he had studied at chambers in England. Blake (known as "Blake the Remembrancer") was a shrewd individual with a singular history. He began as an officer in the Galway Militia of which he became adjutant. On the exchange of militia, Blake went to England where he raised the reputation of the Galway regiment to the highest of any militia regiment, Irish or English. He made there a useful matrimonial alliance, and going to the English bar but having no qualifications as an advocate specialised in equity pleadings. Becoming legal adviser to the London Board of Catholic Noblemen and Gentlemen he soon acquired great influence, and became intimate with the chief Catholics of England. Many of the solicitors who had employed Blake had also Protestant clients on whose behalf they also consulted him. In this way he was introduced to the Marquess of Wellesley who formed the highest opinion of his abilities. The Marchioness of Wellesley being a Catholic may have influenced the Marquess in seeking Blake's advice on matters connected with his property.

Of distinguished appearance, elegant manners and a raconteur of no mean order, the Catholic lawyer became the intimate of many famous people, including Lord Eldon, the Lord Chancellor of England. In Ireland, however, save by some members of the bar, and by his County Galway friends, he was unknown, so that it was quite a sensation when towards the end of 1821 the approaching arrival of the Marquess of Wellesley as Lord Lieutenant with his friend and counsel, Mr. Blake, was announced. It was soon seen that Blake was a person of great importance and a dispenser of fortune at the Viceregal Lodge. William Saurin was at the time, and had been for fourteen years, Attorney General and principal of the Executive in Ireland. In the Dublin Castle Cabinet he was almost supreme. His authority was the more readily submitted to as it was exercised without being openly displayed. Saurin's anti-Catholic prejudices were distasteful to Blake as much as were the Catholic sympathies of William Conyngham Plunkett pleasing to him.

One example described at trivial clearly showed the power now possessed by Blake. Soon after his arrival Wellesley was invited by the Dublin Corporation to a public dinner and the Catholic lawyer was among the guests. Having come over with the Lord Lieutenant his health was proposed by the Lord Mayor but before Blake could stand to reply Wellesley started up to return thanks on his behalf but to the astonishment of all he was interrupted by Blake who expressed his gratitude himself. Through his influence the Government began to show marked sympathy with the Catholics. Saurin was dismissed from the Attorney Generalship and replaced by Plunkett in 1822. Blake, although the dispenser of Favours to the bar, was himself until the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 inadmissible to the bench. However, in 1823 he was made Chief Remembrancer of the Court of Exchequer, which then had an equitable jurisdiction.

The office of Chief Remembrancer has long since been abolished. Blake was the principal officer of the Court, and all bonds for the King's debts for appearances and for observing orders, were entered or lodged and he made out all the necessary reports on these. All informations on penal statutes, on forfeitures and escheats, either at law or in equity, all informations on commission out of the court to find out the King's title to any land forfeited or escheated to the Crown, especially to those which were forfeited in 1641 and 1688 as also several of the proceedings on the Acts of Settlement and Explanation, were filed in his office.

Blake, the wily politician was also an educational idealist.

1833 The wardenship of Galway was in the patronage of the Bishop of Tuam. The church revenue from glebe, rent charge, etc., amounted to 555. The statute acres of glebe amounted to 34; the cost of the Churches was 1,000, and provided accommodation for 5,000. The returns to the Commission appointed by the Crown showed that 978 members of the Established Church were in the benefice as against 45,225 Catholics. Shee. The Irish Church.

(Note by the Editor)

A Commission was, in 1833, appointed by the Crown to make a "full and correct inquiry" respecting the revenue, patronage, see-houses, demesne and mensal lands, belonging to the several archepiscopal and episcopal sees, cathedrals and collegiate churches, and to all ecclesiastical benefices, with or without cure of souls, in Ireland, on an average of three years ending on the 31st December, 1831, and to report from time to time thereon under the hands and seals of the Commissioners.

By the Bill introduced by Lord Morpeth on 25th May, 1836, it was proposed that in all parishes where the number of resident Protestants was below 50, the incumbent should have an income of 100; one of 200, where the number of Protestants was below 500; one of 300, where the number of Protestants was below 1,000; one of 400 where the number did not exceed 3,000; one of 500, where it exceeded 3,000; and in every case 30 statute acres of glebe.

1853 The Commissioners of National Education discontinued as offensive to Catholics, certain religious books which had been in use in the schools, and which had been presumed, to be of a non controversial character, and Archbishop Whitely, Lord Chancellor Blackburne, and Baron Greene at once resigned their places on the Board of Commissioners. Commissioners of National Education. Report 1854.

1869 Speech of the Rev. Nash Griffin:

"They would not suffer themselves to be robbed of their blood-bought rights. They were animated by the same spirit as broke the boom, as closed the gates of Derry; by the same spirit as chased the craven followers of James like timid sheep into the Boyne; and if one of the two parties should go to the wall, it would not be the Protestants."

Freeman's Journal, Jun 15, 1869.