The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-16

that what he lett would scarcely bo worth
having.
Scarlet was justified by his business in cir
cult and by his position at Guildhall and West
minister in applying for silk gown in 1907. but
he did not get ono until sino years afterward.
Lord Eldon. who was then Chancellor, was very
chary of making Kings counsel and no doubt
his wig would stand on end at the sight of the
array Of Queens counsel who now crowd the
front benches OF the courts. and Justify the
witty saying Of Lord Chelmsford. There Is so
much silk now that the distinction IL all stun"
Tho hardness OF his successive promotions
was one of Scnrlctt's bitterest disappointnents.
He saw many of his juniors. and even his som
in-law. Campbell put over his head How much
he had the start of Lord Lyndhurst will appear
from the following anecdote: In 1914 being UNI
able TO 90 to Northampton on n special retainer.
he was requested 10 recommend some other
barrstcr in his place. Hcnamcd SERGEANT Cop
ley. but the solicitor. afterta n day or twoto
consider. decided that. the case was of great
importance. he would not think himself JUS
titled III placing it in tho hands of
II gentleman 50 littlc known rs SERGEANT Cop
Icy. Thirteen years aftcrward. Canning, who
was himself younger than Scarlet. and had
succeeded him rs n SUDDEN, in the Office Of
Wood, tho special plcadcr. offered his senior tho
place OF Attorney General In his Ministry. with
expressions of regret that the superb claims Of
Lord Lyndhurst prevented tho offer Of the
Characteristic. II was not until 1886 that
Scarlet was rewarded for his CONVEX
sion to Toryism by being made Chief Baron Of
the Exchequcr and peer. by the title Of Lord
Abingcr. 1t is told of Brougham that on hear
ing of his Old antagonists elevation to tho
pecragc he extended his long. bony fingers
with menacing gesture. aud exclaimed. " Let
IA st..l a \
stick my claws into his tat Sides Tho chance
was never given. Lord Abingcr cautiously rc-
Trained from aiming at distinction in tho
Lords. In his seventy fourth year he married.
for his second wife. the widow Of tho Rev. II. J.
Ridley. "A lady Of less than half his age. Hear
Ing of the marriage Lord Alyanloy exclaimed:
" Kidley-Mrs. kidoy-why. II she's old enough
for Scarlet. she must be the widow OF the clcr-
gyman who was burned at ONford.'
Although his first speech was creditable. Scar
lott did not succeed in Parliament. and OF
course he had theory 10 account for the al
legged incompatibility of great achievement at
the bar and in the House " Commons. Equally
OF course. too. he quotes Burke's statement that
the best the lawyers bring Us in this House is
but the rinsing Of ihcll empty bottles" Tho fact
is that a plenty OF lawyers among Lord Abin-
gers contemporaries had succeeded both in
Parliament and at the har-Romilly. Dundas.
Pcrccyal. Brougham. Lyndhurst. for instance
Sir William Grants ability as Il parliamentary
debaior may be measured by the anccdotc re-
lated of Fox. who. finding his attention Dis
tractcd by the conversation " some members
near him while ho WAS listening to Grant.
sharply turned To- them. eXclaimng. " Do you
think 1t SO very pleasant thing to have To-
answer Il speech like that?' Erskinc's COM
parative failurc-it can only be called compara-