New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-23

small proportion Of which fell to the share of Attor-
ney General Coleridge.
AS PUBLIC SPEAKER AND IN PARLIAMENT.
As q public speaker and Parliamentary debater
the Lord ChiefJustics has always peen
distinguished for his classic eloqucnce. his
dean scholarship and unvarying courtesy
to opponents and friends alike. His
speech as counsel for the defendant great breach
of promise of marriage in 1855 is graceful and
nosbed in spite of the fact that in his capacity Oh
advocate he was forced to make most crushing at
tack upon the plaintiff. whose conduct had been
uuwomany in the extreme. His greatest Farha-
,nentarv speech was made In 1868 upon the Irish
Church Establishment question In the House OF
Commons. and was aftervard reprinted by the
Society for the Liberation of Religion from State
Patronage and Control 1t was most logical aud ex-
haustiye n the treatment OF the matter nnaer u,S
cussion and coming as il did from the lips OF man
known 10 be of deep aud fervent religious convic-
tions1t was \ model OF moderation IN VeXen CAUSE
Starting with the declaration that with the doc-
trne the discipline the inner life and divine cnaI-
acter of the Church, Parliament nad no claim What
ever to NEEDLE, on the ground that Iarnament uu
NOT create aud could not therefore after or Destroy
these things Lord CoerdRe went on to prove that
with the social condition, with the political sur
roundIngS with the temporal acclnents OF r ohe
Church with all that goes 10 make up the compu,,
Gated idea expressed by the word estaDiisnlneut
the State bad just as clear rght TO deal AZ
II had to deal with any other great lnsttutlon Oh
tho conntry The utterances OF the Lord Chlof-Jus-
tice if they DO not always prevail IN Leading lne
nupic TO his views, at least carry with them con-
vIction of the eanrstnesS and sincerity or purpose
which gave them birth In the speech just referred
TO- Lord Coleridge gives the key-noto OF MS own
character. 81 is our duty. he said IN MS CLOSING
WORKS when we know anything To- be rleht 10 go
on unhastug unresting as the great Herman phrases
IT, IN the path or what we know OF
h.,eve 10 be equity and uprightness korp-
inc fresh If We car keep them fresh, that
earnestuess and enthusiasm without which nothing
really good was ever wrought upon the stage OF hu-
man affairs" This spirit OF rqnty anu scdu2uaous
honesty of intention have always been a dlstln-
Rusbing feature of the Lord Chiei-Justce charac-
fer and were shown nowhere more consplcnousV
than in the recent prosecution OF freethinkers
wben ord Coleridge IN spite OF his strong High
Church procyltles, pronounced the most emphanc
condemnation of the continuation OF prosecutions for
blasphemy.
AS A WRITER.
To his gifts as an orator. judge and jurist
Lord Coleridgc adds those of WRITER and he has
contributed several articles OF considerable inn
portauce on the controversial questions of the
day TO The Edinburgh Rtrie,c and other periodicals.
An attack upon his father Tor a sentence on man
for basphemy written by Buckle, the historian
in Irdse's Magazine IN 1857 called forth an answer
from the pen OF Lord COleridgr whlch made tue
public iee thar Mr.. Buckle had gone out OF his way
TO make most unIusiiablo attack upon Iudge
whose decisions were unnupeachable. MS was tHe
first aud only time that the Lord Cmef-Juslce was
drawn into personal cop'f4Selsy, az" ano r
ustIiabie Dut perfectly warranted by the unca!Ied
Tor rancOr OF the calumnY.
SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL CuARACTEEIsIlCs.
Outside his profession, Lord ColerIdge is well
coined to tho social gatherings Of large circle OF
men DISTINGUISHED IN every branch OF life. lie has
never allowed himself TO be wholly engros'ed by
the ronfine of his leg duties but is a practical ex
annie of the course Of life which. in 1870, in his
speech to the Edinburgh Philosophical Institute.
hia VIZ eV
anart some portion of his time, however busy his
caIliog TO devote to genuine relax and to real
cultivation such az would widen the range Of
thought and lengthen the scope OF vision. IL Is
well known that the more interest a man taxes IN
matters outside bis own personal calling the
youngeraud happier will always he 10 hlmsrli and
the world. Lord Coleridge's interest IN matters
outside the law is keen and pcasurable.
Whether he IL speaking a body of students or ad
dressing a meeting on he Public Worship act. or
proposing health. or returning thanks at ban
ouet he has always something fresh aud something
encouraging TO say. Ills recent speech at the din-
ncr 70 Mr. Irving. when he testified to ma interest
i'm the guest OF the evening aud his sympathy with
the bistrlouic art by acting PRECEDENT Tor tho
occasion, will not soon be forgotten. llls pOshrh
ana academic style was manifest IN every Word lhat
he uttered as with the familiarity oil one long assn
ciacd with tie stage no briefly but brilliantly re-
viewed the actors and actresses OF the past ana
colnplImeu'ed Mi Irving upon ms cifciul ana &C.
co nplished representation of the greatest shake
speIau characters II l. these Kits OF speech, TINS
penlalltv OF 10 npefanrnt and this disposition 10
take part IN the ntelec ual relaXatous and gayshes
of members OF various professions that make LORD
Coleridgc the popular Lord Chief-Justice he Is
everywhere acknowledg d 10 be.
His physic 4 characters les are no less IN his
favor lie has "A commanding Dre.eucc. a singular
charm of voice and manner, tone Oi hgh breeding
and uubending honor. ami witha acrcuity OF dis
po,luon ami courtesy of demeanOr when impress
every one with the fact that he u scholar and
gentleman. He looks aud brnav like Lord Cbici-
Justice ~ his little world OF hsioners who feel that
in important trails they can rely upon MN TO bring
together disjOInted facts and weave them INTO
whole on winch opinion Can be satisfactorily
pronnunced and that they can put implicit fal III
him as an honest and impartial Judge. IL Is charac
torlsiic of the English to hOlu their Judges IN the
highest esteem. TIE widest Radical never assumes
that hey can be bought: and whether their ludg-
mems are Just erroneous they arc respected from
the profOuud conviction that at least thoy are non
est OF none more truly than Of Lord Coleridgo
could 1t be said
with an equal scale
He weighs the off betwIt man and man.
He IA not so roOthed VITA aduiatOn.
Nor moved with tears, 10 wrcst che cOurs' or justice
Into AN unjdst curTent 10 Cypress the Innocent;
Nor { make tine laws
Punish the man, but In the man tho cause.