The Inner Temple Yearbook 2021–2022
From the Treasurer
FROM THE TREASURER
I Guy Fetherstonhaugh QC Photo © Garlinda Birkbeck
Not since 1688 has a Treasurer of this Inn had the privilege to serve two years running – and especially in such unusual (although not unprecedented) times. I am indebted to the Inn’s Archivist, Celia Pilkington, for revealing that the last Treasurer to serve when multiple terms were a formal option was not Grimbald Pauncefoot in 1715 but rather Sir Robert Sawyer in 1683, the Attorney General, who served for five years. Sir Robert was Treasurer following the pandemics in the 1660s and during the great rebuilding of the Inn after the Great Fire. The accounts from the time disclose payments to Sir Christopher Wren for various dinners at the Devil Tavern on Fleet Street, when the refitting of the Church was discussed. It does not appear that the Treasurer stinted himself: a typical small dinner resulted in the consumption of “Battalia pie, salad, 2½ dozen of best Pontack, one dozen bottles of best canary, 6 bottles of best Champagne”. It is perhaps not surprising that the Inn’s records go on to describe Christmas at the Inn in 1687 as a period of “licentiousness and disorder, the great offence of Almighty God, the scandal and dishonour of this society, the corrupting and debauching of divers young gentlemen, members of the same and unless timely prevented may endanger the total subversion of the good government thereof”. The only solution was to ban formal entertainments during the Christmas period.
Sir Robert also presided over the “Battle of the Organs”, when Middle Temple proposed an instrument in Temple Church made by Bernard Smith, the King’s organ maker, who had built the organ for Westminster Abbey, while Inner Temple supported a rival by Renatus Harris. The two instruments were erected at opposite sides of the church in 1683 by their respective builders and prepared for the judgment of the two Inns, each playing on alternate Sundays. This competition continued until 1685, when Inner Temple received an order of parliament from Middle Temple suggesting that a speedy solution needed to be found and that Inner Temple should be prepared to agree that the organ by Smith was the best “both for the sweetness and fullness of sound”. The parties were unable to settle, and the competition became ugly, with allegations of sabotage, and finally a reference to Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys (himself a Bencher of The Inner Temple) for his determination in favour of the Middle Temple. Today’s Treasurer has had nothing so momentous to occupy his time – and the Middle Temple are now of course our firm friends.
The two instruments were erected at opposite sides of the church in 1683 by their respective builders and prepared for the judgment of the two Inns. But enough of the historical parallels. My own extended time in post has afforded me the opportunity to think at some length about the Inn’s role in the education and accommodation of barristers, as well as the part the Treasurer has to play.
4
