Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-09-03
JUDAH +. BENJAMIN.
English Legal HonOrs 10 she Ex'
Secretary OF slate of the Uonfed.
erHcy.

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The English Solicitors Journal, oi
August 3, says: "The Lord Chancellor
has conferred silk upon Mr.. j. P.
Benjamin, barrister-at-law, Of the North
ern Circuit Mr. Benjamin was born in
in 1911, in the British West Indies, and
commenced the practice Of the law in
New Orleans between thirty and forty
years ago. During the twelve years
which preceded the war between the
Northern and Southern States of Amer
ica, he was United States Senator Of
Louisiana, and during the same period,
or the greater part Of it, he led the bar
before the Supreme Court at Washing
tom In those days to be a Senator was
high distinction. He became, as is
we'll known, Secretary Of the State De-
partment to the government Of the Con-
fcderate States, under Jefferson Davis;
he afterward became War Secretary and
held that office at the battle of Bull
Run; he eventually became Secretary
of State Department again, In the lat
ter position he conducted all the CORE
spondence and negotiations with other
countries. He was with Jefferson Davis
at the end Of the war, and alter hume
rous hairbreadth escapes succeeded in
getting in an old open boat from Florida
to the Bahamas, where he landed in a
small port He was shipwrecked in GO
ing from thence to- Nassau in a. vessel
laden with sponge; was picked up by a
British man.ofwar; at last got to St.
Thomas, but the steamer lin which he
came home caught fire and put back
However. he arrived in England at length,
in 1865, and became pupil in October,
1865 (afser having entered at Lincolns-
inn), of Mr.. c. L. Pollock now @. c..
His fellow pupils we're Messrs. Kenelm
L. Digby (Yinerian professor of law at
0xford), and Morris Davies barrister.at-
law, and Mr.. Kenrick (of the firm of
Rocks, Kenrick 4 Harston) solicitor,
Lincoln slim. he was called to the bar
in 1866, er speciah gratia, waving the
usual period of studentship on account
of his high legal knowledge and eXpe-
rience. ,,..t,
His progress toward theattainment Of
a practice at the English bar was at first
slow, and though his abilities and expe-
rience fitted him for leading, his position
at the bottom of the juniorbar prevented
leading business from being given to him.
He gradually, however, obtained and in
creased practice, principally in Liver
pool and Manchester cases. He was re-
tanned for the defendants, and arguedin
Chancery, at Lincoln's inn, in the we'll
known cases of United States of Amer
lea VS.. Wagner (l5 w. r., l026). and
United States of America vs. Nj. Rae,
W. r., 1929, which were suits insti-
tuted by the Government Of the United
States for an account of property, ships
money and goods come to the hands of
the defendants as agents Of the Confed-
crate States His arguments in these
cases we're noticed at the time, as COM
bining strict legal accuracy with per-
suasive and adroit rhetoric, two attributes
which comparatively seldom run to-
gether, the latter being, indeed, some
what scarce commodity at the Equity
Bar. About this time he employed the
time which hung on his hands in COM
posing his now well.known book on the
Contract of Sale. About three years
ago Mr.. Justice Hannen, recognizing his
abilities and the difficulty Of his position,
gave him las Justice in Eyre has a
right to do), Palatine silk for Lanca-
shire. Mr.. Benjamin's position as one
of the first advocates and lawyers at the
Common Bar is now fairly recognized.
1t is understood that he applied for a
silk gown at the last creation OF Q. G.
his application, however, was not at that
time successful, probably on account of
the short period of his English practice.
1t is stated that he now receives his silk
gown in consequence Of the Lord Chan
eellor having been so impressed with the
ability of his recent argument before the
House of Lords in the case of Potter
VS.. Rankin as to consider that il would
be unj ust to withhold from him the pre-
nedance of q Gu