The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-16
Great CommOtion Among the Pious and
Honest Lawyers of New YOrk-A Black
sheep Diseovcred-Purity of the New
York Bar In Danger-oh' Oh' OH
Mr.. EDWIN JAMES AND HIS ADMISSION TO THE BAR

DIX bar Oamger-Ohs Ons Oh'
Mr.. EDWIN JAMES AND HIS ADMISSION TO THE BAR
OF new YORK.
No 9o3 BROADWAY New York, Feb. Is, 1862.
To the candor and impartiay Of my brethren OF the
bar and to the feeling OF the American peope-prover
biaiy intoerant OF persecutonI submit without COM
ment the following correspondence. beg only atten-
ton the Of the events they occurred the in
exorabe logc of which will lead them just conclu
sion more irrssstiby than any arguments could ad
duce.
IN May and june 1861, the proceedings alluded to oc
Cured in England
In July ana August 1851, thoy were publicly known
and commented on in the English legal journals.
August. 1861, they were known here (see Mr.. Ed
In August 1861, arrived in this my adopted country
and paragraphs appeared in the leading journals that
should seek admission TO practice a. the bar Of New
York.
on the 9TH of November, 1861, admitted by the
Supreme Court
ON the Esd OF November 1861, TOOK the necessary
oath, and subscribed tho Counseliors' roll.
On the Goth day Of February, 1862 was admitted in
the United States Circuit Court.
In February, 1892 the following correspondence with
the honorable and high minded gentleman who moved
my admission took place.
In January and February, 1862 portion or the legal
press in England attacked and detained M. for the sen
mens expressed upon the conduct OF England towards
this country upon the Trent" question.
Since january and February, the Kindness of few
Iricnd5 TO me, stranger amongst them, has afforded
me the opportunity Of commencing my professional
career; and
me of any such intention, submitted TO the Court pal
affecting my character and my position the Bar the
contents and pnrport Of which am up TO this moment
kept in ignorance. EDWIN JAMES
CORRESPONDENCE.
LETTER FROM MR. Eoaosps TO MR.. EDWIN JAMES.
No. II IRyryG PLACE Feb. IL, 1852
SIR was waited upon yesterday BY member Of
bar, who called my attention London Jur,s for
july 81 August II and November % last appraised
me that upon those publications it intended
the Court to revoke license and thus notified
because the document on which had moved for your
admission your patent, namely, Qsceus Counsel was
an invalid instrument, ut the time hsd presented il
the Court as valid
know not how this may be- how Gar the proceed.
ings referred to in those publications annued your
patent aad all that do is simply say the Court
that was not aware of those proceeding. afford
you the opportunity of Offering any explanations that
J. W EDaoNDs
EDWIN JAMES Esq
LETTER FROM Mr.. EDWIN EDaovps.
The CLARENDON HOTEL, Feb. II, 1852
sR- beg TO acknowledge the receipt your letter this
morning, in which you state "th,t you were waited
upon yesterday by member OF your bar who called
your attention TO the London J for July 81 August II
and November % last and apprisod that upon
publications was intended to the Court revoke
my license because the document which you had
moved for my adpission-namey, my patent Queens
Counsel-was an invalid instrument ut the time present
ed it, In the first place beg of you. IN iscoto
myself to furnish without delay with the tho
individual who thus waited NJ on you Your feelings
as gentleman will prompt you to do this, and will NOT
believe induce you to extend any shelter ANONYMOUS
Islander. am entitled demand this OF you that the
individual whoever he may be, may he responsible TO
mo for any statement he has made, any OF
ton hs may think proper TO adopt As you did the
honor to propose me member OF the New York bar
you are emitted to IA explanation Of the facts which
On the 5th Of November last placed in your hands my
patent as Queens Counsel which granted by
Lord Chancellor that patent in force was then
valid is valid now and has been either cane .sd
or revoked Before my application to become member
OF tho New York barviz about tho Sd OF Sep,enbsr
last-I addressed letter this country to tho Lord
Chancellor Of England who has the power as the
representative OF the Queen, to revoke cancel
fAnfG md htz
application being made to him upon the subject, allow
me the opportunity Of being heard by my friends in
England, during my absence, against any such pro-
cseding, ana stating that appealed to him against
the relentless persecution prompted ny political Jealousy
and requested my friends to call upon the Lord Chan
cslor with this letter. They did So And 10 November
last received letter from his ordshps secretary,
written by authority OF his ordship stating that no ap.
pcaton had been made by any person for the
cation or cancellation of my aent and that should be
heard upon tho subject before his lorshp would grant
any such application. wrote again England in the
latter part Of November to inquire whether any steps
had been taken any application made tho Lord Chan
that no application OF any kind had been made nor was
il probable that there would be.
The publications Of the London J.riT for July 81 An.
gust IL and November %, to which letter refers
have not do care to them. 1t very pro-
babls they contain attacks upon during absence
prompted by the. same motives which have induced
many Of the same character; but your own ssDse "
what 10 due 70 candor and fair dealing would should
have thought have induced you TO pay IL te attention
TO statmen made far back July and August last
to admit me al amsmber OF the bar on your motion,
the 5th OF November last. IL was then init
mated TO me thatsoms individuals whose names could
never ascertain expressed intention enter some
protest against my admission. Under the advice Of
friends here whom consulted, waited for q period OF
three weeks before took the oath and signed the roll Of
counseors, and thus completed my right practice
As could ascertain tho Of any person who
had given this ntmaon, could only adopt the course
which did, namely-by suggesting, through friend,
that was prepared TO meet any such opposition and
des with every such protest should any be made. and
IN aifuts a.;
object.
beg that you win read this letter TO the Court II the
at liberty to give any publicity which my friends may
advise or my professional interests may require am
sir, yours obediently, EDWIN JAMES
fOJ. W. EDMosps, Esq.
FRIDAY EvES1xG, Feb. Ii, 1852
DEAR sR-Yours OF to-day has just reached me- at a
moment when am particularly engaged beg you,
TO II. Respectfully, &C., j. w. EDM0NDS.
EDWIN JAMES, Esq.
DEAR SIR-Your note CT the 14h was perfectly salts.
factory TO me, and showed much my anxi ~ on
tho subject had arisen from my ignorance Of the regu
latons III the English courts for admission the bar
suspect share that ignorance with others OF bar
AND perhaps with some On the bench.
1 win avail myself Of your permission TO make what
usc please Of your letter. and lay N before the Judges
when have no doubt 1t will be as satisfactory to the
judges as II was 10 me.
have conveyed TO you erroneous impress
sion of the communication made 10 me, il il
has given rise 10 any thought Of personal hos
ty. II was simply information 10 me- having made
the motion for your admission, that it was intended
move 10 rescnd the license account Of the proceed
ings published IN the J0Fls.
on reading that publication can soc nothing neon
sstent with entire satisfaction from your statement
Fcr there Is in that paper relation OF the causes
which led TO the action VI disbsrrng you but simply
statement Of the fact complaint that the
not given and that our Court should admit. without
curing into the which led 10 the action London
10 all that, with the facts stated in your note sec
nothing TO warrant the motion Of which informed
and shall take occasion say In catng your
letter 70 the Judges.
May hope, under the circumstances You will not
press upon me your right TO the of my informant
and That you VIII pardon my delay ia answering your
n5tey My time has been filed Overlooking since Thurs
day with the necessity q preparing for my duty to-day
Respectfully yours ]. W, EDMONDS.
EDWIN JAsus, Esq.
Tux CLARENDON HoTEL, Feb ls-Eeveu O'Clock
DEAR Sm-l have just received your letter Of yes,ar
day s date in which you that my exviauatlon