than by the force with which he put forward his own claims. In one of these speeches he publicly avowed his feelings towards the Profession he had adopted: "The proudest circumstance of my life is that I have the honour to be enrolled in the distinguished ranks of the Irish Bar."

The new member threw himself with great zeal into Parliamentary life. As a private member, acting on behalf of the Incorporated Law Society, he introduced and secured the enactment of the Legal Practitioners (Ireland) Act in 1876. In 1877 he was appointed Attorney-General, and in that capacity had charge of the Irish Judicature Act in the House of Commons. The Conservatives went out of office in 1880, and he was again a private member. But he scarcely slackened his attendance in the House, so that during the Liberal Administration he became one of the foremost members of the Opposition.

In 1885, when the Conservative Party returned to office, Edward Gibson was raised to the Upper House with the title of Baron Ashbourne and was made Lord Chancellor of Ireland with a seat in the Cabinet. He resigned when the Conservatives went out of office in the Spring of 1886, and was reappointed on their return in Trinity Term of the same year. He resigned again in 1892 and was reappointed in 1895. His final retirement was in 1905.

In Ireland the Lord Chancellor usually presides in the Court of Appeal, but sits alone (on Saturdays as a rule) to dispose of lunacy and minor matters. The full Court of Appeal consists of the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls, the Lord Chief Baron, and the Lords Justices; but as the other members of the Court are usually engaged elsewhere, the Lord Chancellor generally sits with the Lords Justices only, and as a rule, all ordinary appeals are heard by the Court so constituted, and it is only on special occasions, in cases involving important issues or novel points, that the Court is strengthened

by bringing in other judges. Thus the Court over which Lord Ashbourne presided during his first two Chancellorships on ordinary occasions consisted of himself, his old college friend Lord Justice Fitzgibbon, and Lord Justice Barry; and during his third Chancellorship he had the assistance of Lord Justice Fitzgibbon, Lord Justice Walker (who had been, and afterwards again became Lord Chancellor), and Lord Justice Holmes. The Court was peculiarly well constituted. The dignity of the Chancellor's manner in presiding, and his unfailing courtesy increased the sense of responsibility in those whose duty and privilege it was, by their arguments, to assist the Court in its deliberations, and helped them to put forward their best efforts: his knowledge of men and affairs acquired in the wider world in which he had lived supplemented the longer judicial experience of his learned colleagues. Thus, owing to the happy combination of gifts possessed by the members of the Court, its reputation was never higher than during the years Lord Ashbourne was Lord Chancellor.

But it was perhaps when he sat alone-in lunacy and minor matters-that Lord Ashbourne's talents were seen at their best. His rare knowledge of human nature enabled him to judge of motives and character, while his tact removed heart-burnings and soothed family jealousies with wise conciliatory words. On these occasions Lord Ashbourne made one thing conspicuous, namely, that in administering these two Departments, the only matter the Court had to consider was, what was for the benefit of the subject of its jurisdiction. To ascertain this, and when it was ascertained to carry it out, he spared himself no pains.

Nor did his care for the subjects of his special jurisdiction end with deciding questions coming before him in Court. It is well known that he made it his duty personally to visit the Lunatic Asylums in Ireland when

opportunity and time permitted; and when making such a visit he did not confine his attention to such lunatics as were under his more express control, but made it his business to go through the whole asylum, and see all the arrangements, and speak to everyone in the place. As a result of these visits he was enabled to take steps for improving the comfort of some patients, and even for securing the release of a few.

An improvement in the Lunacy Jurisdiction made by I Edw. VII, c. 17, is due to his suggestion. In pursuance of this Act, the Letter under the Sign Manual in Ireland is now directed to the Master of the Rolls and the Lords Justices as well as to the Lord Chancellor, with the object of enabling the Lord Chancellor to obtain the assistance of these other Judges in cases of difficulty-a matter of considerable importance, as in lunacy matters the appeal lies not to the Court of Appeal but only to the King in Council.

Nor was it only judicial and administrative matters which claimed the attention of the Lord Chancellor. The policy of transferring the ownership of land in Ireland to the occupying tenants was first successfully launched by the Land Purchase Act of 1885; with the framing of this Act he was so intimately connected, that it is popularly known as "Lord Ashbourne's Act." The success of this Statute led to further enactments facilitating Land Purchase, which followed one another in such quick succession that from 1885 to 1903 there were passed no fewer than eight Land Purchase Acts. The burden of framing and introducing this legislation largely devolved upon the Lord Chancellor, and required his frequent attendance in London as a member of the Cabinet and in the House of Lords. Yet such was his industry and his capacity for work that it frequently happened that he was engaged in the House of Lords one day and sat in the Court of Appeal in Dublin on the

following day. Indeed, while Parliament was sitting there more frequent passenger on the cross-channel steamers than the Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

was no

After he was raised to the Bench, Lord Ashbourne maintained his old regard for the Irish Bar: he guarded its privileges and preserved its traditions: he generously supported its Benevolent Society, whose efforts he encouraged by his presence at its annual meetings. Even when his official connection with the Bar had determined, he lost no opportunity of inquiring as to the prospects and success of those amongst its members whom he had met in the practice of their profession.

The interests of the Solicitors' Profession also always had his sympathy. It has already been mentioned that his first venture in the paths of legislation was undertaken at the request of the Incorporated Law Society. When he became Lord Chancellor he supported other legislation promoted by the same Society. It was with his assistance that its president was by Statute made a member of the RuleMaking Authority of the Supreme Court. The Bill promoted by the Law Society for Regulating the Solicitors' Profession, which was passed into law in 1898, had his active support. He was a generous contributor to, and an active patron of, the Solicitors' Benevolent Society and the Irish Law Clerks' Benefit Society. The friendly relations existing between the Chancellor and the Council of the Law Society were evidenced by the fact that invariably during his tenure of office he was an honoured guest at the Annual Dinners of the Society. On his retirement in 1905 his portrait (by C. Russell) was presented by some members of the profession to the Society, and now hangs in their Hall at the Four Courts.

By his devotion to his work in every department of his great office and his unwearied industry, Lord Ashbourne set a high standard for every official who served under him. On

the Bench his impartiality was conspicuous: his demeanour when discussing questions in which warm feelings are apt to be aroused, was beyond praise. A great judge and administrator, he has by his conduct given an example which it will be hard to surpass. Loyal to his friends, and generous towards those who differed from him, he has left none but pleasant memories behind.

G. Y. D.

OF

(2) FREDERICK WILLIAM MAITLAND.

May 28, 1850-Dec. 19, 1906.

F ordinary men the final words may be spoken by their contemporaries. Of the very great man no final word can be spoken until the age in which he lived has passed into history. His contemporaries can collect his scattered writings and recall his memorable sayings; they can preserve all those characteristic traits which make up his personality; and they can in this way make it easier for posterity to picture the man whom it recognises as one of the factors which has helped to make its world. But that is all. That Maitland was, in the sphere of English law, one of these very great men would, I think, be admitted by all who have learned from his books, and attempted to travel along those paths which he both constructed and illuminated. And, if that is the case, I cannot but feel that I am less fitted than many others to write about him and his work. I never saw his face. Two very kind and encouraging letters were all the personal intercourse I ever had with him. It is true that his style of writing often allows the reader to catch glimpses of the working of his mind, and so gives him the impression. that he is listening to the witty conversation of a very human and a very learned friend. But the testimony of many witnesses shows that no amount of diligent reading