New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-15
TEE LAST wEsTBURy SCANDAL

While the memory Of the Edmunds case is
still fresh. the Lord Chancellor Of England ap-
pears q second time at the bar Of public justice
and before the House of Lords on a charge Of
corruptly and scandalousiy risapplyiug the
public funds. In both cases the charges amount
10 that, for in both ease, we iul Lord West
bury appointing to salariod positions or enrich
ing with pensions men whom ne knew to be
unworthy and dishonest. And in both cases,
though the Lord Chancellor is whitewashed by
Parliamentary Committee, he stands con-
dcmncd in the opinion of the Intelligent public.
II is Mr.. wilde, Mr.. Wcch, and MI Richard
Bethel, WHO figure with Lord Wcstbury I'm this
lat case. Mr.. Wilde was one OF the registrars
Of the Leeds Court OF Bankruptcy. Charges Of
mallca,aucc in office wc.e brought against him.
and were So far proved that the Lord CAancel-
lor directed his Secretary to notify Mr. Wilde
that unless he asked leave 10 resign, he would
be served with notice to appear and how cause
why be- should not be dismissed. But with
that tenderness for criminals which seems to
be an amiahle weakness in this highest judicial
lunci.onary Of Great Britain, be contr.yed Ia
intimate to Mr. Wilde that as he was on ill.,
valid he would have no difficulty in obtaining
such "a medical certificate under the 33d
Section OF the Bankruptcy Act, 1851.
Mr. Wilde tool, both hints. but seems to have
had difficulty in finding a surgeon equally
complaisant with the l.ord-C Aan.cllJr. for when
the papers came TO be oycgnauled, The medical
Ger, ,iicate has 50 unsatisfactory as To form no
basis for granting resignation. Lord West
bury urge, that he did not read The certificate,
hut signed an order in favor of Mr. Wide
without giving the ease that strict attention
which lie should have given.
SIN, tie business thus fir does not seem n
very bad ohc for tie Lord Chancellor; but now
come The czplauaiory md damaiug facts The
retirement %. Mr.. Wilde Oh cn inadequate med
zeal certificate obtained at the instance OF the
Chancellor. conferred Oh Mr.. Wilde a pension
aud vacated an Office Tor which Mr.. WEIGH had
paid Mr.. Richard Bethel, son 70 tie Lord
Chancellor the sum of 1890 and to which
he was Immediately appointed on the
resignation Of Mr.. Wilde. And in that
ugly colocaton Of facts. the intelligent
and sternly -yiltuous British public, enlightened
By the Edmrnds scandal r. able to discover
what perhaps cannot be legally proyed-tle
guilt of the Lord Chancellor While Mr..
Wclch was bargaining with the Chancelior's
son for Mr. Wildas place, the Chaucclor's
secretary was arranging with NJ. Wilde toreiirc
from his place on a pen ion. VI. Wilde rctres.
the charges against him are hushed IN n pension
Is secured him, Nj. Richard Bethel pockets
his 1850 and Mr.. WeIch steps into Mr..
Wildc's regstrarship. Everything was COM
iorably arranged-but Tor the unfortunate en-
cumstance that the arrangement leaked ont,
scandal cnsned, Parliamentary talk fol-
lowed and then came investigation, ex-
posure and shame. And the dear, good.
stupid British public, utterly unable to
comprehend that Lord Chancellor
oGn do anything wrong-not, certainly-slnce
the time Of Bacon, who took brides, or Of
Thurlow, who swore on the bench, or of Eldon,
who tortured his witnesses by imprisonment
this dear public waes its head IN hopeless