New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-06
LORD HERSCHELL.
HIS ACCOUNT OF HIS DUTIES AS LORD
CELLOR-PERSONAL TRAITS
THE DOCTRINE OF WORK
II.


London, November D
IT Is unusual In this country for public man
TO take the public into his confidence as Lord
Herschell did in his reply to the Morton depu.
taton, touching appointments to the magis-
tracy. The personal note is not often heard
Whatever is said is said with reserve. Lord
Herschelrs revelations the more valuable
because revelations are rare, and there is moth
ing in them which need be criticised or which
Is wanting in reserve dignity. They are.
nevertheless. almost pathetic in their tome and
the picture Of an overworked official is so drawn
as to give his hearers, and his much larger
number Of readers, a conception OF the
Lord CHARACTERISTIC.
No doubt Lord Herschell was correct in say
ing that many Of those who listened to him
looked upon the Lord Chancellor as man who
fills easy place and gets large salary. That
would be Mr. Alphcus Cleophas Mortons no.
ton. and Mr. Conybeare's. Mr. John Burns
is certain to consider salary Of $4,000 mon
strous He once laid down in presence of the
London County Council. Of which he Is q
member the rather strict proposition that -
man is worth more than $500 a year. He must
therefore regard the Lord Chancellor's salary
as at least si7.50o larger than it should be. Some
day Mr. John Burns will be appointed to Of
flee He will become an Under Secretary or q
Lord of the Treasury. and then we shall see
whether his views the salary question have
changed, or whether perchance Mr.. John Burns
be himself the exception which proves the rule.
The salary Of an Under-Secretary is three times
Mr. Burns's maximum
Lord Herschell does not discuss the question
Of salary, but he tells US how he earns It, Wheu
Parliament Is in session, the Lord Chancelloe
has to sit judicially four days in the week in
the House Of Lords. and very often another day
at the Privy Council. He says nothing OF the
nature Of his judicial duties, but they are, In
truth. OF the most onerous kind. The House OF
Lords and the Privy Council hear only appeal
cases, and as a rule very heavy cases. The
House Of Lords Is the final court OF appeal Tor
the United Kingdom, and for judicial purposes
consists of the law lords The Lord Chancellor
performs rhe duties of presiding judge over
the highest court of the land. He Is also pre-
siding officer Of the House Of Lords in its leg
islative capacity: a much less burdensome duty,
though he describes 1t taking up the whole
of the afternoon. No doubt IT sometimes takes
I'D the whole OF the afternoon. Not a moment
of his whole day is unoccupied. from morning
till evening, and often late in the evening. He
says plaintvely:
II am occupied with my secretaries whilst
am eating my lunch, and very often receive
populations whilst am eating my lunch. am
engaged with my secretaries whilst am dress
ing and undressing for the purpose of attending
the House of Lords. and 1t is very often the
case that am at work TIL o'clock In the even
ing and very often considerably later than that.
During that time l have to discuss every con-
ceivable question"
Physicians and Psychologists would certainly
protest against such a scheme of life this.
-, A.vfp ING nf
Lord Chancellor's occupations. 1t may be from
a sense of humor or from n want of 1t that LORD
HerscheIl says to this deputation with so much
emphasis: You must remember that l con-
stantly receive letters from lunatics TO say that
they are not lunatics" Into each of these he
has to inquire, a report has TO be made TO him
on each case and each report has 10 be con-
sid.ered He has jurisdiction not only over
lunatcs-who do not, however, always come IN
deputations-but over County Courts, and people
always complaining 10 him about these
courts, or about coroners. about magistrates,
or about some other form of administration OF
justice or injustice. Into all these, and many
more. he has to inquire himself. The mere
matter of appointing magistrates involves the
most laborious inquiry He has already dealt
with more than $50 boroughs-l forget the whole
number Of nominations, but l think some $500.
SITUATIONS and final decision. often difficult
and always responsible. Then during six months
of this year he was immersed in Indian cur
rency; subject he describes most laborious
and intricate "a task in itself sufficient to
trouble any man.
During the whole Of this year he has had no
holiday at ALL though his days work has been
one Of TO- II, -, and IS hours. No wonder
that he invites his hearers to consider that
there is a point beyond which human nature
cannot endure. and that the making of moro
magistrates has been physically impossible. No
wonder he assures them that the occupation OF
Sisyphus was a tri1ing compared with the
occupation of the Lord Chancellor under such
circumstances as these. "As far We know
about Sisyphus and his stone that was his sole
occupation and he could devote his whole ener-
ges to it." Whereas the modern Ssyphus,
the Lord Chancellor Of England. has to divide
and distribute his energies as best he may.
Now this Is the account not OF person or
leisure suddenly subjected to new duties. but
Of n man who mas worked hard all his life. who
has made his own way in the world against
constant competition. who obtained a great
place at the bar. who went into politics and be-
came a figure in the House of Commons. who
has won all the great prizes of the profession,
/ ending with the greatest of ALL the Woolsack.
/ II ifs the testimony OF expert Lord
/ Hetschell moreover. always seemed to do his
work with little effort; as If intellectual effort
| long continued were natural to him. He had
| one of the great secrets of rapid work, he was
never in hurry
Nor did he ever carry into social life the
anxietics of his profession, or any trace OF
them. An American who met him for the frst
time in a London drawing-room. and VINO did
not know him. would be sure to think ne be-
longed to the leisure class. He has always
had easy and leisurey manners. ana way OK
meeting mere acquaintances as If they were
friends. yet with simplicity and with no
! affectation.
AT the bar. and in the House, and in his
judicial worl, Lord Herschel has always been