The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1882-08-30
BARRIsTER BENJAMIN.
AN Elk CONFEDERATE MINISTER'S SIC
CESS AS A LAWYER IN

doubt iflthere is in the South
one mar familiar. with his, country's
history forthe last thirty years, who
is not proud Of the career of Judah
T. Benjamin. In inquiring for his
chambers, / learned from a middle
temple barrister that Mr.. Benjamin
was regarded as to day the greatest
lawyer at the English bar. He IS iii
court all day till 4 in the afternoon,
then until 7:3o yreceives the solicit
tors in his chambers. After this he
goes home to dine at his club in tho
West End. His only leisure is Sun
day and an occasional evening"
Short of stature, thick setr with d
strong bright eye, be is a man Of
simple, natural manner, relating his
adventures, rcverses and successes
with the charming ease, grace and
naturaIness mingled with subtle
playfulness, characteristic of a good
reconteur. He said, In talking ofhls
adventures after the fall of Rich
mond, that the Confederate Govern
mcnt left Richmond in body. He
and Mr. Davis were together on their
way TO the Trans Mississippi De-
partinent, and Mr.. Davis left tho
party to meet his wife, en- route, and
it Was in her camp that he was CAP
tured. The Fe;lerals did not know
that Mr.. Davis was in the wagon
train which was transporting Mrs.
Davis and friend, and only approach,
ed cautiously to see what it meant,
Mr.. Ben continued on his Jour
ney alone, and hearing of the cap
tare Of Mr.. Davis, gave away his
saddle and bride, and securing an
OLD tree, threw over it sheep skin.
and uuder an alias, playing farmer
at length reached the gulf COAST
Here he took a small Boat, and.
coasting around until arriving at y
point near Key West, he embarked
in small sail boat, open and With
out deck, for Nassau, Here the
small, quaint-looking black and
bright eyes glistened as this remark.
able man related how, when the gulf
stream almost carried them out into
the open sea; when battling against
a head wind and out Of sight of land
for 100 miles was the distance, and
with one bnshel of sweet potatoes
raw, 10 iced three meu when almost
without hope, at the last moment The
WIND changed, filled their small sail.
carried them within sight of the
light house, and enabled them to eff.
feet a landing inst at the extreme
northern portion of the Bahamas
de landed in England in September,
1866. In June, 1866, he was admit.
ted to practice at the English bar;
his admission was granted by the
Benchers of Lincoln's Inn, in six
months insteod of three years, as the
rules generally require, on the ground
that he was an old member Of the
bar ola country governed under the
system of the common law, and the
fact that he was political exile. -
He published his Benjamin on
Sales" in 1868, having in the inter-
vening years supported himself by
writing leading aiticles for the news.
papers. The first year he made about
300 pounds, the next year about 100
land in the fourth year." he
said, my income was 1000 pounds.
1t increased rapidly after that, AT
the present rate Of NJ Beujamin's
income, he will, in u few years, il he
is not now, be the possessor of vast
wealth. "My book gave me my prac-
tice, and now, wonderful to relate, =
have" said he, "upon looking over
my cases yesterday, just one half Of
the cases from the realm, ii. e. the
whole of England, Scotland and Ire
land, before the House of Lords on
the appeal - London Letter to At
lanfa Constitution.