Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-30

curious ptcuIlaFltN Is t1at. eNlnceu Dy
very many people, Of exaggerating the in
comes and professional gains of persons
whose wealth does not in the slightest degree
concern them. The recent death of Sir Fitz-
roy Kelly, Lord Chief Baron of England. has
led to a number of preposterous statements rs
to the gains of English professional men. As
u matter of fact. the emouments of English
lawyers have of late years been moderate
that il has become in some instances a serious
question whether peerage should be con-
ferred where means were so inadequate to
support it. Lord Chelmsford. for instance,
who for years led the common law Bar, was
Attorney and Solicitor General. lived to sc.
and had a pension of S25 900 year. left al
together $3.50, 900. 1t is true that he had
rather expensive wife, but even had she been
a Lady Eldon, he would probably have found
it hard to leave more than twice that sum.
Sir Richard Bethel, afterward Lord Chancel-
Tor Westbury, said, when IN the heydey of his
career. that he was making from 500, 900 to
1000 year, and that he had very good
reason for believing that no one was making
more He died rich, but this was chiefly due
to skillful investments made under the guild
ance of his brother in-law, an architect, in
London real estate. Lord Brougham, again,
who had an immense practice and was con-
cerned in the heaviest cases, notably that of
Queen Caroline, left but a moderate fortune,
although he lived to 30. The largest we'll
ascertained income at the common law bar
was that made one year by Scarlet. afterward
Lord Abinger-f22,00 600 A very few other
common law men have. perhaps. made oc-
casionaliy as much since, but never consecu-
lively for years. Lord Selbourne, the present
Chancellor. probably realized quite as much
when Attorney General, but for a wear or tw o
al LII Al.
MFR. Austin, the Hon. J. G.. Talbot. and Mr.
Sergeant Wrangham--to make before COM
mttees of the House of Commons. for few
years, incomes of from fl0, 900 to EGO, 900 a
year, but Mr.. Talbot. though a very careful
man, left an estate of only some S25, 900 a
wear. The great fortunes at the law fifty
years ago generally resulted from mans be-
ing promoted to one of the highest judicial
offices. and ON attaining il, and long holding it,
saving all the income arising from his accu-
mutations at the bar. The judicial incomes
were larger than in most eases. and the pur
chasing power of money ut least Is per cent.
more. but these Law fortunes were never real
" very considerable. and the present repre-
scntatives of nearly all the leading lawyers
who within century have been raised to the
peerage are poor mer, except where money
has come TO them through some other chan
have occasionally left large means-notably
Sir Henry Halford and Sir Ashley Cooper
the latter received the largest fee on record in
England--S5.o 900 thrown to him in night
cap from the window by a patient after Gtho-
tony. Sir Charles Docook, the Queens ac-
coucheur. returned income tax one year on
$1,000. which is believed to be the largest
income ever received by an English medical
man. Sir William Gull and Sir James Paeet
very likely made TODAY from fl0.0o0 to fl5.-
600 a year-the very large sums paid for
Journeys out of town largely swell their in
comes Sir William is said to have received
s., 900 for visit to Ireland. Probably the
excessive exaggeration about lawyers and
doctors incomes is largely due to the fact that
it becomes noised abroad that man in GER
tain year made fl0.0oo, and it is assumed
forthwith that this is his normal income.