New-York tribune., 1872-10-17

lev United states Consul at Liverpool by man named
Acott, who enlisted seaman the priyateer Ala
bama compensation for his detention at Liverpool as
witness by order of Mr.. Dudley at the time the Ala
bama sailed has Just been brought TO conclusion and
resulted adversely 1.-THE plaintiff The Court decided
that the Geneva Tribunal had settled all questions CON
nectrd with the Alabama case and directed verdict to
he entered for tile defendant Five thousand abCrers on
the steamship piers in this city are on strike.
THE NEW LORD CHANCELLOR-CUARACTER OF
THE LATE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TO BE
UNDERTAKEN.
IPROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
LONDON, Oct. 3.-Exit Lord Hatherley, enter
Sir Rounde Palmer. Chorus Of newspaper praise,
pretty equally divided between the retiring and the in
coming Lord Chancellor. Both OF them deserve 1t rather
more than the objects Of conventional eulogy generally
do Lord Hatherlcy's name is, suppose, very little
known in America except among lawyers, and the man
himself was better known as Sir William Page Wood,
when he was Vce-ChanccllOr, and when men used 10
wonder how man who knew so much law could con-
tye TO nut his knowledge into such clumsy FORM His
opinions were almost always able but so involved ana
careless in phraseology that II sometimes needed all his
reputation for learning and painstakng conscientious
ness TO convince beaten lawyer that the Vce-Chan-
cellor had understood his side Of the case. The
story of his appointment four years ago to the
Office he about to Yacate Is wellknown Inc
predestined Lord Chancellor was Sir Roundel Palmer
him 10 take office with Government pledged to the dis
establishment Of the Irish Church II became necessary
10 hud man whose orthodoxy should not no iosS
capricous than ROundell Pamers. yet less fastdi'
o who should be acceptable 70 the Chancery Bar ana
n the same time able TO take charge Of the Irish Church
bill during the most perilou part OF Its career IL was
essential that the odor of sanctty should cling about
such man. and not less necessary that he should he
good tlctician Nobody combined all these qualhea-
tons on mature consideration, Mr. Gladstone con-
euded that he could more safely dispense with polite al
experience than with religious prestige, and sir William
Page Wood was chosen. He piloted tho Irish church
hin through the Lords with tact which nobody had ex
pected him 10 show; them TO complete the general dig
appoint ment, he utterly broke down as Law Reormer
where lie had been expected shine. He leaves Office
nominally in consequence OF failing eyesght really
because the time has when Sir Roundell Palmers
accession to the Cabinet is important and when the
Irish Church and Geneva Arbitraton-which latter has
for months past the only obsaceno longer inter
fere with his appointment.
OF Sir Roundell Palmer it is TO be said that he has
reached an eminence at the bar to which ewme ever
attain In one OF the jealous OF professions nobody
"a found to dispute his title to leadership while to tho
second place there may lie dozen lawyers who could
set ND plausible claim In his capacity for work and
his love OF 1t he rivals Lord BrouSham nor VIII II he
said OF him. It Of Lord BrOugham that If he only
knew a little law he would know little Of everything
Sir RoundelI Palmer does not his position TO mere
forensic power his knowledge OF uries and jurors
Mr. Edwin James did, indeed, at the Chancery Bar such
talents as those which gave Mr. Edwin James the
mast lucrative practice at the common law bar would
have no chance to shine. Sir Roundel Palmers knowl
edge Of English jurisprudence is as complete as any
mans well can be OF system which is more empirical
than scientific He is understood to be unusually well
yersed also IN continental systems and has studied law
"a universal whole, of which English law is but one
part aud, except to Englishmen and Americans. a
rather unimportant part. His practice is enormous
I have been told by men whose professional rela
tiops with him gave them means OF knowing
that Sir ROundel never opens bundle
Of napers for less than fifty guneastwo hundred and
1fty dollars From that minimum there is plenty OF
room for the Imagination 10 exercise itself before you
reach the maximum. His average income from his
pracce az the during the last five years is est
maed-I suppose it is only estimatc-at thirty thou
sand pounds--say sl5O,OOO; and 1t Is not an income
derived from speculative causes, not enhanced by
sharing the profits OF doubtful patents huge land
grants. There are, presume, American lawyers who
do as much professional work Sir Roundel Palmer
and do it at least weMr Eyarts, for instances but
that is only half view. His political life is hardly
less active and for many men would supply quite as
much excitement and toll they wanted. During six
months out Of the twelve such man Is probably in his
office at nine in the morning. and either in his Office
in CONT Is engaged till four IN the most exacting
and often harassing mental work. At four he
GOES down TO the House Of Commons, or perhaps he
has had 10 20 earlier to sit committee From four
m seven he is in the Hsuse, very likely dimes in tho
House. or II he goes home ~ dine back by nine, and
sits from nine till perhaps midnight, perhaps three
o'clock iu the morning; makes one or hafa-dozen
speeches according to circumstances breathes some OF
the worst air in the world and goes to bed after day Of
IS hours almost ncessant occupation with the prospect
Of getting I'D at nine next morning and beginning the
same thing over again IT, often happens the business
Of the House does not keep q man Ike Sir Roundell
Palmer I'm constant attendance the OF his law
bnsness never Few ever reach, and fewer
stl ever keep position oequa distinction in the House
and at the Bar Mental abilities alone will not answer
man must the constitution Of horse TO endure
the nero fatigue Most break down under it sooner
or later all OF them would but for the long English va
cation which lives exhausted powers time 10 recover
| in politics, Sir Roundo Palmer has held peculiar
place. His sympathy with the existing Ministry In al
most every matter except that which kept him ont OF
Office Was perfectly wc known yet the fact OK his re-
fusing the splendid prIe of tho Lord Chanoelorshp
gave hlm certain air OF independence and ppartiay.
The Hsuse respected him, believed him. would always
Istcu him aud In some remarkable instances yiedea