HANC ICONEM
CAROLI PRATT, EQ.
SUMMI JUDICIS C. B.
IN HONOREM TANTI VIRI,
ANGLICÆ LIBERTATIS LEGE
ASSERTORIS,
S. P. Q. E.
IN CURIA MUNICIPALI
FONI JUSSERVNT
NONO KAL. MART. A. D. MDCCCLXIV.
GULIELMO BRIDGEN, AR. PRÆ. VEB.
This portrait, painted by Reynolds, was engraved by Baire. The corporations of Dublin, Bath, Exeter, and Norwich, paid him the like compliment; and in a petition entered in the journals of the city of Dublin, it was declared, that no man appeared to have acquitted himself in his high station with such becoming zeal for the honour and dignity of the crown, and the fulfilling his majesty's most gracious intentions for preserving the freedom and happiness of his subjects, and such invincible fortitude in administering justice and law, as the Right Honourable Sir Charles Pratt, knight, the present lord-chief-justice of his majesty's court of common pleas in England, has shown in some late judicial determinations, which must be remembered to his lordship's honour while and wherever British liberties are held sacred.
Higher honours, however, than the breath of popular applause awaited Sir Charles Pratt. On the 16th of July 1765 he was created a peer of Great Britain, by the style and title of Lord Camden, Baron Camden, in the county of Kent; and, July 30. 1766, on the resignation of Robert earl of Northington, he was appointed lord high-chancellor of Great Britain; in which capacity he, in a speech of two hours, declared, upon the first decision of the suit against the messengers who arrested Mr Wilkes, that "it was the unanimous opinion of the whole court, that general warrants, except in cases of high treason, were illegal, oppressive, and unwarrantable. He conducted himself in this high office so as to obtain the love and esteem of all parties; but when the taxation of America was in agitation, he declared himself against it, and strongly opposing it, was removed from his station in 1770.
Upon the fall of Lord North he was again taken into the administration, and on the 27th of March 1782 appointed president of the council; an office which he resigned in March 1783. On the 12th of May 1786, he was created Viscount Bayham of Bayham abbey Kent, and Earl Camden.
Whether we consider Earl Camden as a statesman, called to that high situation by his talents; as a lawyer,
defending, supporting, and enlarging the constitution; or as a man sustaining both by his firmness and unshaken integrity—in all he excites our general praise; and when we contemplate his high and exalted virtue, we must allow him to have been an honour to his country. He died on the 18th of April 1794 at his house in Hill-street, Berkeley-square, being at that time president of his majesty's most honourable privy-council, a governor of the charter-house, recorder of the city of Bath, and F. R. S.
He married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Nicholas Jafferys, Esq; son and heir of Sir Jeffery Jafferys of Brecknock, priory, knight, who died in December 1779, and by whom he had issue John Jafferys Pratt (now Lord Camden), born 1759, M. P. for Bath, commissioner of the admiralty, 1782, resigned and reappointed 1783; and four daughters, Frances, married, 1775, Robert Stewart, Esq; of Mount Stewart, county of Down, 1779, and M. P. for that county; Elizabeth, single; Sarah, married Nicholas Saintfield, Esq; county of Down, 1779; Jane, married 1780 William Head James, Esq; son and heir of Sir F. Head of Langley, county of Bucks. His seat at Camden place, Chislehurst, was the residence of the great William Camden; on whose death it came by several intermediate owners to Welton, Spencer, and Pratt, and was much improved by his Lordship. His remains were interred in the family burying-place at Seal, in Kent.