Description
Forty-four. Senior Company judge, pompous, methodical, and given to quoting Blackstone at dinner. Twelve years in India, considers himself an authority on everything Indian, and speaks no Indian language whatsoever.
He sits slightly forward at St John’s of where his seniority strictly entitles him. Lady Anne arranged that.
Background
Sudder Dewani Adalat, the Company’s chief civil court of appeal in Bengal. Complaints that go nowhere in the districts sometimes arrive on his desk, and go nowhere there too.
Has not had an original opinion since Madras.
What Meg Says
Anne Pelham runs that household and that career. She decides who Roderick rules in favour of, not literally, but near enough.
Connections
- Anne Pelham — his wife, who runs him
- Charles Ashworth — a professional peer
- Supreme Court Calcutta · Writers Building
- Ashworth Dinner Garden Reach
In Play
Chapter 4, Session 9 (9 October 1814) — at the Magistrate’s table, quoting. He dined at Garden Reach with the party and was inclined to quote legal texts at length.
That afternoon Meg told Katherine that he has not had an original opinion since his Madras posting, and that his wife Anne Pelham effectively hands down half the city’s judicial verdicts from her own dinner table. His household’s bearer Ratan was caught stealing the Magistrate’s silver spoons during the second course.
Appearances
Connections
People
Family
- Anne Pelham NPC neutralShe manages him socially and professionally1 session: The Magistrate's Table
Knows
- Ram Mohan Roy NPC hostileRegards him as a mischief-maker; has never read him closely
Served by
- Ratan NPC hostileBearer in the judge's household. Aggrieved about his wages and loose-tongued about it1 session: The Magistrate's Table
Places
Visited
- Garden Reach Location1 session: The Magistrate's Table
Events
Participated in
Papers
Recorded in
- Surlish Petition Copies Document hostileEvery petition in the copies dismissed over his initials