The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-19

4 DeH no luck. Ills fathor-1n-faW, boaffotts
now succeeded Lyndhurst as Chief Baron.
thus relieving him from bis most formi-
dable rival ut the bar. The resignation OF
Sir Robert Peel restored him to his old po-
sition as Acknowledgement and TO con-
sole him for his failure to obtain the Master
ship Of the Rolls his wife. Lady Campbell.
was gazetted Baroness Stratheden.
Campbell's last years at the bar passed
smoothly and prosperously. but they came
to an end in 1871. when he was appointed
Lord Chancellor OF Ireland. taking at the
same time the title OF Baron Campbell Of
st. Andrews. He retained the Office, how
ever. only for some weeks. owing to Lord
Melbourne's resignation.
During the comparative leisure that fol-
lowed he undertook and completed down to
1889 his "Lives Of the Chancellors.' From
the moment Of Its appearance in print the
success Of this work was unmistakable.
The first edition, published in three thick
octave volumes, was subscribed for by the
trade before publication. and a second edi-
ton Of 1000 went of with the greatest
celebrity. In 1910 appeared the second series,
carrying the narrative to the death Of Lord
Thurlow; and the third, published In 1s47.
contained three additional biographies.
Then turning to the Chief Justices Of the
kings Bench, and working with tho same
extraordinary rapidity, he had by the n
OF 1Sf0 completed his second task as far as
the resignation Of Lord Mansfield. After
that date his leisure was brought to a sudden
termination. and the final volume of the
Lives Of the Chief Justices was delayed
until 1867. The only other literary achieve
ment Of Lord Campbell was q little treatise
published In 1850 on Shakespeare Legal
Attainments," which converted Macaulay.
among others. to the belief that the Swan OF
Avon must have been at some time or other
the occupant OF q desk In an attorneys
Office. As for the Lives OF the Chancellorsr
and Lives Of the Chief Justices" they have
been classed in recent times among "the
most censurable publications in our litera-
ture.' yet though riddled with criticism and
adding. as was said by contemporaries, q new
terror to death. they still remain q classic.
His works ~indisputably form an indispensa-
BILE part Of every lawyers library. and they
remain to this day eminently readable.
One of the gravest blots on his literary
'scutcheon is the carping. sneering tone
which he employs toward those who had
fallen short Of his own measure Of success.
He inherited Mrs. Candour's art Of tearing
the characters Of friends to pieces with the
utmost kindness. As q matter OF fact.
Campbell owed everything to the bar-his
title. his wealth. his fame. yet he speaks OF
his own profession In language ofconstant
and almost systematic disparagement.
In July, 1s4e. Lord John Russell On his
accession to the Premiership offered Camp
bell the CHARACTERISTIC Of the Duchy Of
Lancaster, with a seat in the Cabinet, and
in March. 1850, appointed him Chief Justice
Of England. At this date, although past
his SEVENTEEN birthday, Lord Campbell
was still in his prime, mentally and physi-
cally. .Thickset as a NAVY. as hard as
nails "a the graphic description Of him
given by Fitz james Stephen in 1851. Shortly
before his death Lord Campbell reoounted
that he had never lost a tooth and hoped
No sooner did he take his seat on
the Queens Bench as the chief law officer
Of the Crown than he showed complete
mastery Of his work, and the industry
to which he had owed 30 much Of his sue |
cess at the bar did not desert him,now |
Lord st. Leonards has declared hat Lord
Campbell brought to his task on the Queens
Bench a general knowledge Of the common
law which probably has meyer been sur
Moreover, long experience at the
bar had taught him the secret Of managing |
and. more fortunate than some
other eminent advocates. he did not lose
he gift on the bench. However impatient
o~verbearing he might show himself
10 counsel, he always treated juries with an
irresistible combination Of suavity and
When Lord Palmerston undertook the
formation Of his last Ministry, in June, |
1859. the disposal of the CHARACTERISTIC |
gave him a good deal OF trouble. and it
vas finally decided to offer the place to
he Lord Chief Justice. Our author thinks
here can be no doubt that for the first
ime in his life Campbell was astonished
It his good fortune. He anticipated when
palmerston sent for him that the Prime
wished to consult him about the
lew Solicitor-Genera To undertake at
moments notice The administration of a
lew branch OF the law with which he had
,ery little practical acquaintance was a
proposal to make TO a man Of
'ighty. With q just reliance on his own
great powers, however, Campbell accepted
he offer without hesitation. He held the
,fice OF Chancellor for a little under two
,ears, but though he was declared by
ord st. Leonards to have maintained in
Inn the great reputation which
he had acquired as a common law Judge
,e left little mark in the Court Of Chanoery.
another branch Of his judicial duties.
he appellate jurisdiction of the House Of
lords. he is admitted on all hands to have
,een entitled to unstinted praise.
v.
Some seventy pages OF this volume are
to Richard Bethel, ultimately
ord Westbury, who was born in June,
800, at Bradford-on-Avon, where his father
vas a medical practitioner. There was
little money in the household to spare
education. but Or. Bethel. who had carly
the extraordinary promise Of his
gave him the best that was in his power.
The boy received a SOUND classical ground
ngI at a private school In Bristol. and In
sIa his father took him up to Wadham
Oxford. which had close associa-
ions with the west Of England. Tho
at first pointed out that children
we're not admitted, md it was only after
conversation with the p~reoocious
'outh that he withdrew the veto, remark