 At an early age he became a junior clerk in the Tower Record Office.In or about 1819 he was appointed chief clerk, and afterwards a sub-commissioner on the Public Records.In the latter capacity he edited "Calendars of the Proceedings in Chancery in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth" in 3 volumes for the Record Commission (1827–32), for which he is said not only to have received the sum of £2,739, but to have claimed further remuneration.