The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-02-29
Mr. BenIanIn.s RFiIIiant sueeess
in England.


in England.
Al letter lust received from a friend
in Englan5, gives some Information
OF The Hon. J. p. Benjamin, former
u. S. Senator, and more recently
Confederate Secretary Of State. His
career as an exile is one OF the most
remarkable Instances on record Of
the triumph Of genius ard Rpplica-
tion over obstacles of the greatest
difficulty. He is now just sixty
years of age, and was consequently
about hfty-four when he landed in
Europe after making his romantic
escape from Florida, in the Confed
e, y. he resO.E1d to resort to the
English bar for maintenance, ap-
parently nothing daunted by the
loss of all his prospects and hopes
in America Though he had stood
in the first rank of the Louisiana
bar, and was confessedly the most
brilliant advocate before the u. :.
Supreme Court, and was versed as
very few, if any, English lawyers
are, in both the common and the
civil law, he had to so through the
same formal probation, before being
allowed TO plead, that is exacted OF
fedgling from one of the English
universities.
Absurdiy enough the candidate
for admittance to the gown has eat
a certain number of dinners at the
Temple, at stated times, and this, We
believe, takes three years TO accom-
plish. AIr. BENJAMIN went through
part of this irksome routine, en-
liveniRg his hours and eking out a
support by preparing articles FIR the
British press and magazines. After
a year or so the balance Of this alb
surd requirement was wHv q, and
the exile came to the bar. But here he
found new difficulties. All the cases
given to advocates, their only chance
for brief or retainer, came through
the attorneys. a pleader may have
ever so much reputation with the
general public, and yet he can not
get a case or earn a guinea unless he
is in with some one of these. great
law firms OF course, un0er such a
system, it is very difficult for a new
man or stranger to get his chance.
Business is given out upon cOnsid-
erations of family connections, in
GueHce, etc, and of this the new-com-
er had little. But at last he secured
his opportunity on one Of the cases
growing out Of the late civil war, in
which he was retained, probably on
the idea Of his possessing n special
knowledge in such case. The re
suit was a forensic triumph, which
elected from the bench very warm
encOmiHm upon his arguments. This
is rare distinction in England, aad
told. Other cases came, and then
other brevets from the bench; but
still his progress, owing to the causes
mentioned, was slow. While thus
struggling for his footing, Mr.. Ben
jamin deyoted himself to preparing
a special Treatise on Sales. When
the book was published it was great
ly admiral, not only for its clearness
Of style and method, in which Mr.
Benjamin so much excels, but also
for its full and exhaustive treatment
of subject on which no adequate
treatise then existed The bar of
both countries united in praise of
the book. This publication assured
Mr.. Beniamin's standing in his pro-
fession.
There was still another difficulty.
He could only be Junior counsel,
ard junior in England hardly ever
got change to speak. The eloquent
pleader had to sit silent while many
q stammering senior stated the case
to the court. This trouble was at
last surmouHted when Mr. Benjamin
was made Queens Counsel dis
tinction which give him at last an
equal chance to show what was in
him. These two eyents-his publ
cation and the honorary appoint
ment as. @. C.-put Mr. Benjamin /
fairly on the road to distinction and
a fair professional reward.
His income, previously small, has
risen to E4,000 per annuTn, and in
another year will doubtless bet3ouble
what it now is. Mr. Benjamin has
been offered the Opportunity OF GO
ing into Parliament, and it would be
a curious thing indeed to hear in the
House Of Commons the. same voice
which once rang out so clearly in
the L. \. Senate Chamber; but Mr.
b. has declined 10 turn aside from
the brilliant professional career
which awaits him. He now stands
second at the bar only to Sir Roun-
dell Palmer, and on any special oc-
easion offering a scope for his great
powers Of eloqueBce would undoubt-
eily eclipse even that distinguished /
jurist. 1t is true that there is the
Impress Of genius which goes with /
industry. patience, and brave, an
faltering purpose.-L0aisUiIIs Ledger.