The newspaper., 1907-02-22
worked up to, but as an

immediate gift from court. he
therefore became petitioner 1or
court favors, and no disdain, no re-
buff, no disappointment could for a
moment check or repress him. He
had every reason for believing his
suits at court would be favorably
| received. His family connections
were of the highest standing. his
father for five years an honored SER
want OF the Queen, but Bacon
through jealousy OF his relatives, the
Cecils, was in a great measure de-
barred from preferment. His merits
however were strenuously urged by
the young Earl OF Essex, who at
that time possessed great influence
with the queen. Essex had discerned
Bacon's ability and had worked
hard to have him appointed Attor-
ney General, and when this failed, to
the lower but still honorable po-
sition of solicitor general and when
failure again met his efforts, he con-
soled his friend who was In deb by
making him a handsome present in
land, and yet, afterward when Essex
was on trial for his life, Bacon, simply
because the Queen had asked him,
took a leading part in prosecuting
the case against his former bene-
factor and friend, and by his skill
became the chief means of bringing it
to the conclusion that the Queen and
Court desired. Bacon in doing this,
did nothing which, in strict justice as
between himself and country, he as
the Queens counsel ought not to
have done, for Essex was guilty OF
treason. But II his finer feelings as
man had not been over-ridden by his
ambition to win the Queens favor,
and thus promote his own advance
ment, Bacon would not have taken
part in the trial at all. As it was,
he gained some reputation as IA law
yer and won, for IA moment, the
Queens favor, but he also gained, In
the Judgment OF all posterity the
character of "the wisest, brightest,
meanest of mankind.
In James reign, royal favor came
more freely to Bacon. In 1903 he was
made n Knight. In 1907, however at
the age of 46, he was made Solicitor
General. In 1913, he was made Attor-
ney General. In these offices, by his
industry as well as by his transcen-
dant ability, he showed both to the
Court and to the people that his
own estimate of himself had been a
right one and that he should have
been promoted to exalted public
service much earlier in life. By
Buckingham's influence he was
promoted to tine office of Lord
Keeper, the office that had once been
his fathers. In January OF the
following year, he was made Lord
Chancellor. In July 1918 he became II
peer. with the title OF Baron Vernlam;
In January 1921 he was made Vis-
count st. Albans. He was now the
highest subject In the realm. He had
now gained the most honorable post
in the kingdom. He was principal
ad wiser of the King, the head OF the
Kings government. and the chief
Judge in tae greatest, the most
honorable, the most powerful Court
in the Kingdom.
He had just published in October
1920, his "Novum Organum, the
first installment of his great design,
his "Instanratic Magma" Noman's
place could seem higher or more
glorious. The world OF literature OF
philosophy, OF science, lay at his feet.
Bacon had In 1896 courte unsuccess-
fully rich widow named Hatton,
who afterward married Sir Edward
Coke and did her best" as Macauiay
says "to make him as miserable as
he deserved to be-"
In May 1906 Bacon married Alice
Barnham, the daughter OF wealthy
merchant, of London. This was n
mercernary union and not a happy
one. At about this period he acquired
an extensive law practice. Lord
Campbell says, she had made him
self complete master OF the Common
Law OF England. No one ever sat In
Westminster Hall with finer judicial