Obituaries Australia

Died - on Tuesday last, at the Government House, Launceston, Edward Abbott, Esq. civil commandant at that station. Mr. Abbott had been formerly a Major in the army, and about thirty years ago was appointed commandant at Norfolk Island. He was one of the few Officers of the 102d Regiment, who escaped censure in Governor Bligh's affair. In 1816, Mr. Abbott was appointed Judge Advocate of this independency, which office he held until the arrival of Chief Justice Pedder, and the Charter of Justice, in 1824; and the old colonists have a particular regard for his memory, on account of his aversion to Lawyers, and to the ruinous consequences of their services to unfortunate litigants. It was always Judge Abbott's wish to hear a plain statement of facts from the parties concerned; he wisely concluded that the unintelligible jargon of lawyers only tended to make obscurity more obscure, and to confound the judgment of an honest man in his search after truth, and endeavour to do justice. Mr. Abbott was a man much and justly esteemed in the private relations of life, and though many had their jokes against the Judge, there were none who did not esteem the man. But we need not write his eulogium; for all who know him, bear testimony that he was an "honest man" and it is not our feeble pen that can elevate the noblest work of God. Mr. Abbott had a pension on the colonial revenue for his long services; but we do not think he died rich, for his indifference to wealth, and his hospitable disposition would not allow him to hoard.