The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-09
His Career in England-The Way He Rose
to Eminence and Wealth.

His Career in England-The Way He Rose
to Eminence and Wealth.
From Sketch of His Life.
He went to England in September, 1865, and
through the personal influence of Lord Cairns
was called to the bar in 1866, after keeping his
terms for one year only. He at once acquired
p large practice at Liverpool where the princi-
pal firms of solicitors have intimate relations
with the leading legal houses of New Orleans.
He received silk gown in 1872, and from that
date was engaged in almost every case of i'm
portance. Among his many arguments, the one
most generally known is that which he delivered
before the Court for Crown Cases Reserved on
behalf of the captain of the Franconia His
great nsi prius case was that of Arson and
others against the London & Northwestern rail
way. After this he entirely refused any briefs
except upon appeal, and was only to be
seen in the House Of Lords and the Privy Coun-
Gil. In the latter his knowledge of general juris
prudence gave him a great advantage. He was,
indeed, in the widest sense of the term, an inter
NATIONAL lawyer Mr. Benjamin retired from
practice in February, 1883. In 1868 he published
the first, and in 1873 the second edition of
Treatise on the Law of Sale Of Personal
Property"
No lawyer in all English history has left such
a mark of learning and authority upon legal
proceedings and records. His arguments are
quoted with the authority Of Judges. He came
to England penniess; in seventeen years he
cumulated a fortune. His fees in one case
reached $4,000. Litigants often marked his
brief with fee of $40 000 His success began
at once. He soon became the busiest lawyer in
all the kingdom. He was too busy for society,
His family was in Paris much of the tune MIR.
Benjamin lived in London.
An old Washington lawyer relates the follow
ing personal recollectons of Judah p Benz min:
When he a senator he had great many cases
before the Supreme Court. When it known that
he was to speak, either in the Senate the court
room, always tried to be present He was a hand
man. easy in his manners and polished in his ad
klbl ab m he
ease with which he seemed to grasp and explain the
salient points Of subject There appeared TO be
any effort in anything he did. With graceful gestures
easy dction and convincing logic his speech flowed
along without a halt a break 1t was fascinating
pleasure listen to him. In the Senate he appeared
TO be in his element Although quite young man he
never hesitated to throw down the gauntlet debate
to the ablest members of that body. His voice
neither high nor strong. 1t was clear, musical, and
sweet. In the old Senate Chamber there not the
confusion and nattention to business that there is in
the Senate There was quiet dignity in all
that done that the Senate of the present day
would do well to initiate. The only sound that L re
call now as having made an ndelibe impression upon
me was the scratching of Sam Houston's pen He
wrote with an immense quill, and the bigger it was
and the more noise it made the satisfaction it
seemed TO give him"
About year ago Mr. Benjamin said speaking
OF his health: My trouble is one which sooner
or later will result fatally. | have the ncurable
disease of the heart which may terminate my
days at any moment l must, my physicians
tell me, keep from all excitement, from all study
live the life of recuSe, full of solitude and
silence" Continuin- s talk with an American
correspondent who drew forth the preceding re-
mark he said: when / came here to London
seemed to drift easily into practice Mine
however was different experience than falls
to the lot of the young English barrister. l
was almost fifty years of age and brought to my
efforts here the ripe experience of thirty years
of active life The cause with which had been
identified in the States was in a certain circle
at least. popular here, and the result for me was
very helpful
,'Do understand by that Mr.. Benjamin, that
you entered upon lucrative practice im1nedi-
atelyl'
my best answer to that question is to show
you the summary of my Textbook, made up year
by year since 1867"
So saying, he opened large canvaScovered
book which lay on his desk, and indicated with
his fingers table of figures, The glance that
took of it showed me: 1857, fees, &4O5; 1882,
fees. E12 $780,"
II suppose" said 1, ''that this is your private
memorandum, and you might not be pleased to
have it go abroad
"Oh, l don't know why that should be, he
replied. Il took them from the people for
services rendered L have objection You
can copy them"
1t is needless to say that I at once availed my
self of this opportunity and secured copy
which reproduce below: