The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1881-04-30 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

LORD BEACONSFIELD'S LEGAL CAREER. The Setititerc Journel states that the facts relating to Lord Beaconsfield's connection with the law in early life are these:—" He was at ticled to Mr. William Stevens, solicitor, of the firm of Swain, Stevens, Maples, Pearce, and Hunt, of No. 6, Frederick's Place, Old Jewry. The articles of clerkship, which are still preserved by Messrs. Maples, Teesdale, and Co., the successors to the business of the above-mentioned firm, are dated the 10th of November, 1821. Mr. Disraeli, though articled to Mr. Stevens, was exclusively employed in the department of the late Mr. Maples, one of the other partners in the firm, who was an old friend of Mr. Disraeli's father and mother. It was indeed, through this friendship that Mr. Disraeli came into the office. Mr. Maples always described Mr. Disraeli as being most assiduous in his attention to business, and as showing great ability in its transaction. So marked, indeed, was his talent that Mr. Maples advised Mr. Isaac Disraeli that his son ought to be allowed to go to the bar. This advice was not followed, and Mr. Disraeli remained between three and four years in Messrs. Swain and Co.'s office; but left, we believe, about the beginning of the year 1825." The question whether Lord Beaconsfield, during his illness, revised for "Hansard's Debates " his speech on the murder of the Czar is set at rest by the publication of the following note :—" 19, Curzon-street, W., March 31, 1881. Lord Barrington presents his compliments to the Editor of 'Hansard's Debates,' and returns the proof.sheet of Lord Beaconsfield's speech on the Address of Condolence to the Queen, corrected by his own hand this day."  A solid silver casket was placed between the inner and outer coffins on Tuesday. The casket, which contains a recent likeness of the Earl of Beaconsfield, and bears an inscription to that effect, has long been in possession of the Disraeli, family. It was forwarded to Sheffield to be covered with a coating of nickel silver. The major portion of the wealth of the deceased earl has been devised to Coningsby, son of Mr. Ralph Disraeli, now aged about fourteen. It is said that six years ago Lord Beaconsfield remarked "That boy will come to the front. I will, when the time comes, give him a start." One little fiction in connection with the late Earl's first candidature has been exposed in the discovery that the large lion which stands on the portico of the Bed Lion Hotel, and suggests such stolidity of body and activity of tail, is not the original lion beside which Lord Beaconsfield—then Mr. Disraeli—stood, and on which he leaned when he addressed the electors. The fact" is that for two or three years the hotel was without its wooden sign, and the present lion is a modern substitute. Some of the anecdotes told of his Lordship are of the moat trifling kind, but the eager way in which they are retailed amongst the people shows how deep was the impression he made amongst his humble neighbours. It is, however, pleasing to hear the praise that is bestowed upon his memory by those who know how he used frequently to enter the cottages of his tenants and make practical inquiries as to the sanitary arrangements. When there were children in the family he would often have them called in, and whilst they stood in line before him he would put them through a short examination to teat their scholastic progress, giving them small rewards in recognition of she ability they displayed. Other stories related of the late Earl are solely of interest for the contrasting light in which they place his character. An anecdote is told of his remark when a labourer at Hughenden, addressing his Lordship's coachman, and not knowing that his Lordship was in the carriage, asked, "How is the old man today ?" "I'm quite well, thank you," said his Lordship, with a merry twinkle in his eye as he popped his head through the carriage window. Overtaken in his own grounds by two intrusive women who did nqt know him, and who asked whether this was "Dizzy's place," he courteously answered their inquiry, and directed them to a place from which they might get a good view of the exterior of the house. The women were considerably nonplussed to learn afterwards that they had been addressing his Lordahip himself.