Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-09-15
judah P. Benjamin.
AN EA-CONFEDERATE CABINET MEMBER
NOW LEADER OF THE ENGLISH BAR.

NOW LEA Gh OF The EN6Ll0d DAN
A London letter to the Atlanta, (Ga.)
"Constitution says: II doubt if there is
at the South one man familiar with his
country's history who is not proud of the
career of Judah P. Benjamin. In inquir-
ing for his chambers, learned from Mid
die Temple barrister that Mr.: Benjamin
was regarded to-day as the greatest law
yer at the English bar. He is in court all
day till o'clock in the afternoon. then
until 7:4O he receives the solicitors in his
chambers. After this he goes home to-
dine at his club in the West End. His
only leisure is on Sunday and an occasion
al evening. Short of statue, thick-set with
d strong, bright eye he Isl man of sim
pie, natural manner, relating his adven-
lures. successes and reverses with the
charming ease. grace sind naturalness,
mingled with subtle playfulness, of a
good reconteur. He said, in talking of his
adventures after the fall of Richmond,
mond in body. He and Mr.. Davis were
togeth er on their way to the trans Missis-
sippi department, and Davis left the party
to meet his wife en- route, and it was in her
camp that he was captured. The Federals
did not know that Mr.. Davis was in the
wagon train which was transporting Mrs.
Davis and friend, and only approached Gu
riOusly to see what it meant. Mr.. Benja-
min continued his journey alone and hear
ing of the capture of Mr.. Davis, gave
away his saddle and bride. and securing
on old tree. threw over it a sheepskin, and
under an alias. playing farmer, at length
reached the Gulf coast. Here he took a
small boat, and, coasting around until ar
irving at point near Key West, he en-
barked in small sail boat, open and with
out deck for Nassau. Here the small,
quaint-looking, black and bright eyes glls-
tened as this remarkable man related how,
when the Gulf stream almost carried them
out into the open sea when battling
against head-wind and out of sight of
land-for one hundred miles was the dis
tance-and with one bushel of raw sweet
potatoes to feed three men," when, almost
without hope, at the last moment the wind
changed, filled their small sail, carried
them within sight of the lighthouse, and
enabled them to effect landing just at
the extreme northern point of the BAHIA
mas. He landed in England in September,
1866. In June, 1866, he was admitted to
practice at the English bar. His admission
was granted by the benchers of Lincoln's
Ian in six months instead of three years,
as the rules require on the ground that he
was an old member of the bar of country
governed under the system of the common
law, and the fact that he was political
exile. He published his BENJAMIN on
Sales, lin 1868, having in the intervening
years, supported himself and his family by
writing leading articles for the newspa-
pers. The first year he made about $500,
the next year about e4OO, and in the
fourth year, he said. my income was
FL 900. It rapidly increased after that. ,
At the present rate of Mr.. Benjamin's in
come he will, in few years-if he is not
now-be the possessor of vast wealth. MY
book gave me my practice, and now, won
derful to relate, have,' he said, upon
looking over my cases, just one-half Of
them from the realm Il. e. the whole of
England, Scotland and Ireland) before
the House of Lords en- appeal Mr.. Ben
jamin's daughter has married a French
officer of the staff, and his wife and daugh-
ter live IN Paris.''