But testimony was borne to his judicial capacity at the meeting referred to by two who were peculiarly qualified to give it, by Mr. Ritchie, then Advocate-General, and Sir James Colvile, afterwards Chief Justice. Bábu Rámapersad Ráo had said that Mr. Colvin 'had done more for the improvement of the East India Company's Courts, and for the administration of justice generally, than any judge who had gone before him.' Sir James Colvile referred to his eminence in the Court. Mr. Ritchie added —
'To what has been stated by my learned friend Rámapersad Ráo, respecting Mr. Colvin's career in the Sadr Court, I can bear most cordial and willing testimony. In that Court, Mr. Colvin brought to bear, with characteristic energy and with signal success, his ripened faculties, upon the improvement of the law, and the advancement of justice — a task new to him, but not the less vigorously performed. During the first year of his career as a judge, he perhaps leant, as was natural to one new to the science of law, in his desire to correct a laxity he thought prevalent, to rigour sometimes bordering on technicality, in the application of the regulations according to the letter and the strict practice of the Courts. But it was to his honour that after he became familiar with and master of his subject, he retraced his steps in that respect, cast off technicality, except for the legitimate purpose of protecting the suitor from fraud or chicane, and administered the law of his Court, according to the sound principles of justice, and to the spirit rather than the mere letter of the regulations so as to command the admiration of all impartial men.'
The years which he passed on the Calcutta Bench were possibly the happiest in his life. He was among
