The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-13
JUDAH P. BENJAMIN.
BARON ~POLLOCK's ri TNISUENGEs
OF TIE CONFEDERATE SECRETARY.

now ne Climbed Up tho Ladder-som
Stories About Him ana uIs Cases
Baron Pollock. the last Of the Barons," VIII,
died a few months ago. before being appointed Il
the bench made II e practice, MS is usual will
English barristors, Of receiving into his Office
young men preparing for the bar. or " pupils
as they arc called In England. Several OF Pol
locke pupils became lawyers OF eminenco, but
shortly after his nomination as Queens Counse
he took into his Office the most extraordinary
pupil an English lawyer ever had In Judah p
BENJAMIN. then 55 years OF are. who. though
he had behind him q long and distinguished
career at the bar Of the United States Su'
premo Court and at that OF Louisiana, had
! served two terms as United States Sen
ator, and had been Attorney.General, Sec
! rotary of War and Secretary OF State
of the Confederate States, was obliged, in
order to practice his profession In the English
courts. to begin at the bottom again, entering
himself as a student at Lincoln's Inn and read.
Ing law once moro in q practicing lawyers
office. Benjamin's probation lated for ak
months, two years and n half OF tho prescribed
time for preparation being dispensed with. and
he quickly worked his way TO the front at tho
English bar when once admitted to practice.
Shortly before his death Baron Pollock wrote
down some interesting "reminiscences OF his
"''"'h pupii' "hiCh dpHSuI III IL iubt huihotI
Of the Fortni0htlp Repie,n He was at first dis.
inclined to accept Benjamin as n pupil, but a
visit made by the latter to Pollock's father. then
Lord Chief Baron, made him change his mind.
The visit IL described thus by his sister:
"On Feb. 3. 1865. my father brought down Mr..
Mason and Mr.. Benjamin TO sleep for a couple Of
nights. and n few county ncighhors camc to
meet them. l had not seen Benjamin.. and had
pictured 10 myself an American of the Jefferson
Davis type. To my surprise. when he entered
the room I saw a short, stout, genial man OF de-.
cidedly Jewish descent. with bright. dark eyes,
and all the politeness and bonhommie OF n
Frenchman, looking as IL he had never had n
care in his life. Next morning I was down early
80 was he. and he gave me most interesting and
thrilling details OF his perilous escape at tho
end of the war. I was much struck by his gen.
orous candor. asked him what the Northern
ers would have done to him IL they had caught
him. and he said probably they would have put
him to death. When I exclaimed in horror at
such an atrocity, he said. apoloRetically. that
party feeling ran so high inst then that his side
might have doue the same had the circum-
stances been reversed"
Baron Pollock continues: THE day after this
visit my father. seeing me In court, sent down n
note, saying. Have you donc wisely in declin.
Ing to take Benjamin as your pupilf' Ignve him
my EchSOn u WHICH ne TeDlleu, fenlnnln mas
no need to learn law; ali hc needs is to see some.
thing OF the practice Of our courts and to obtain
some introduction to tho English bar On this
/ thought l had been wrong. and fortunately
was In time to revoke my first decision, and
within a week Benjamin was in my chambers,
Rrecuily devourfng every paper that came be-
forc him and writing sound opinions.
With reference to the peculiar circumstance
In which Benjamin was placed, I thought It in
bettor taste not to ask him questions as to his
previous history. and the part he had taken in
the civil war; but he spoke freely OF these and
other incidents OF the secession in the pupil
room. where the conversation was often not only
interesting. but full of humor. Benjamin, how
ever. oftcn came to dino. or to spend an after.
anecdotes connected with the war, always
cheerfully, putting forward the amusing side Of
by the Northerners OF which he spoke with any.
thing like bitterness were that they burned his
law Wild library Z sn ID drank his is cellar Of old Madeira,
In June. 1866, BENJAMIN was called to tho
bar BY tho Benchers OF the Inner Temple. and
rival prevented his receiving n kindly welcome
from AZ members OF the profession who had
singular position, and the interest which be.
longed TO It.
On great and early advantage held by Ben
1amin as n lawyer was this-that he was a native
of and educated within the State OF Louisiana.
which was ore Of the French colonies ceded TO
England. end therefore the law taught md adj.
ministered within It was that which took its
origin In the code Of Justinian. and was after.
ward adopted by the nations OF Europe. and con.
timed to DO The law Of France until the Code
s ssnG' ssstem Ta af priv Rsn Is m nnd k pr,S' lice Of this
Gated ihorouShl :S~ and np h. Wns at Kn all times hne I repdr
TO noint out its leading features and how they
offered IN principle from English law. This
brother advocates when arguing. before our
Judicial OF the Privy Council. ap.
French origin which were coded to England be-
His of applying the theory of law to
real pleasure to explain to others what be knew
and valued so much himself, Few works on
g ,Slnivefsaiiy Sssd es 'Benjsmiin a't on sal sse
"f BSso hf Pd SHHS st hiSs. several editions"
came weli siiod With br Ieh9S and sde eases for s opini oS.
BENJAMIN to be found. steadily dispensing Of ali
that came to him with as much zeal and energy AZ
The fret time earning his hveiihood. But for ali
This ne never closed his door to any friend who
n nfnI n tGr 2 OF She hnS or 70 4m obtain his views on some
once vent to him myself to ask for the explana-
non OF 2 new system which had grown up In the
gave me az once "a was his manner. a short and
clear account Of the practice, and also explained
This led to a curious ani an' s s1Tnes 70 9or tH wit Iar,i q TOW
weeks was retained for a plaintiff in Chancery
On for hearing before Vice Chancellor Mains. I
only from my own opinion OF the plaintiffs
tights. but according 10 the view exprsssed by
posed to me for one Of the defendants Sir Rounn.
dell Palmer. for the other Mr.. Benjamin. Pal
mer's case was postponed on the ground Of pcr-
sonsl convenienGe., but he told mo, while we
walled for the Judge TO como into court, that
the point was quite new 70 him. BENJAMIN and
ments, and tho vice-Chanceilor. after much
aonoting; d~eliyered a Judgment against the view
presented. by Benjamin and In favor OF that
sought his aid. N"N
!" Most juniors cooking their promotion to the
once OF queens Counsel write TO the Lord Chan
celior or the day. expressing their wish TO ac-
Snire the M position: and so obtain the right to
which follow. In B%enjamin's case It was other.
wise; while still a junior he held many briefs in
the House of Lords, and when Cairns was Lord
he was so struck with Benjsmin's
In a case before him that no wrote
him a note proposing, II Benjamin WAS willing.
70 appoint him one Of her Majesty's counsel. |
THIS was accepted. and from that time Benja.
min.s practice increased, and he soon held a high