still continued to exercise considerable influence in the government of the country, and was an active promoter of the formation of the Brunswick club in 1828. His presence at a general meeting of the Brunswick Constitutional Club at the Rotunda, on 19 Feb. 1829, was hailed with rapture by the Orange party, and probably if the agitation had been successful in withholding catholic emancipation, he would have become chancellor of Ireland (cf. Gent. Mag. 1839, ii. 88).
Becoming father of the bar, and beginning to feel the weight of years press heavily on him, he retired from practice in 1831, and died on 11 Jan. 1839. His widow survived till 28 Jan. 1840. Of his children, the eldest son, Admiral Edward Saurin, married, on 15 July 1828, Lady Mary Ryder (who died in her 100th year on 5 Aug. 1900), second daughter of the first earl of Harrowby, and died on 28 Feb. 1878, leaving, with other children, a son, William Granville Saurin, esq. Somewhat below medium height, Saurin's physiognomy betrayed his French origin. His eyes, shaded by dark and shaggy eyebrows, were black and piercing, but their glance was not unkindly. His forehead was thoughtful rather than bold, and furrowed by long study and care. His knowledge of law was profound; his personal character beyond reproach; his manner of speaking, if not eloquent, was earnest and impressive; but in political life it seemed as if the shadow of the revocation of the edict of Nantes ever confronted his mental gaze.