London and Manchester Plate Glass Insurance Co. v. Heath Metropolitan Water Board v. Avery Monckton's Settlement, In re, Monckton v. Monckton 352 ... RECENT CASES (continued)- PAGE United States Steel Products v. Great Western Railway ... 222 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PRISONS, 1912-13 REVIEWS ... ... 320 177 STATISTICS, JUDICIAL, 1912: CRIMINAL, 275; CIVIL TAXATION, THE REFORM OF LOCAL 177 ... "TITANIC" LITIGATIONS 445 TRADE, THE STANDARD OF REASON v. RESTRAINT OF THE LAW MAGAZINE AND REVIEW. No. CCCLXX.-NOVEMBER, 1913. I. IN MEMORIAM: I.-IN (1) THE RIGHT HON. LORD ASHBOURNne. 'HE death of Lord Ashbourne, though he had for THE upwards of seven years ceased to be the official head of the Legal Profession in Ireland, has been mourned with deep regret in legal circles. In the period since his first retirement he maintained, as he had done in the intervals which separated his three Chancellorships, his kindly interest not only in the welfare of those who had served under him, but also in the aspirations and reputations of those who were engaged in the more strenuous fields of professional work. His pride in his connection with the profession was unabated. He continued actively to support and encourage the various associations, charitable and otherwise, in which barristers and solicitors are interested. Hence it happens that in mourning Lord Ashbourne's death, the Legal Profession feels that it is mourning the loss of one who had not merely occupied its foremost position with rare distinction, and for a longer time than most of his predecessors, but had also continued its friend and benefactor to the end. Edward Gibson was the second son of Mr. William Gibson, a solicitor who was for a long period on the Council of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, and was afterwards (1866) appointed a Taxing Master in the Irish Court of Chancery. The future Lord Chancellor entered Trinity College, Dublin, in 1854. He distinguished himself by obtaining in 1856 three times first of the first honours in Logics and History, and in 1857 at his degree examination the first Senior Moderatorship in Modern History, Political Science, and English Literature. He was an active member of the College Historical Society and a frequent speaker at its meetings. He served as Honorary Treasurer of the Society in 1857, and was elected its Auditor in 1858. He won the Society's three medals for Oratory, History and Composition-a feat in which he was anticipated by William Conyngham Plunket, but which has been rarely repeated since. The friendships formed by him in this Society afterwards stood him in good stead at an important juncture in his career when he sought the suffrages of the University Electors. Lord Ashbourne had always the kindliest feelings towards the Society: he took a lively interest in its prosperity: frequently spoke at its Annual Meetings, and ultimately in 1883 became its President in succession to the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Napier-a position which he filled until his death. Edward Gibson was called to the Irish Bar in 1860. He joined the Leinster Circuit and quickly acquired a considerable practice. In 1872 he took silk. Events were now occurring which gave him an opportunity of entering the political world. The Irish Church was disestablished by an Act passed in 1869, and in 1871 resumed her independEver since, the Church has been governed by her own Synods which consist of representatives both clerical and lay. Edward Gibson was elected one of the lay representatives in the Dublin Diocesan Synod of 1873, and his services in helping to shape the legal and financial departments of the Church were at once recognised by many of the leading clerical and lay representatives, while the meetings ence. of the Synod gave everyone an opportunity of observing his tact and ability in debate. In January, 1875, the Right Honourable J. T. Ball, the Conservative Attorney-General for Ireland was appointed Lord Chancellor, and a vacancy was thus caused in the representation of Dublin University. Three candidates entered the field-Dr. Traill, then one of the Junior Fellows, now Provost of Trinity College, Edward Gibson, and Alexander E. Miller. The University has nearly always been represented by practising barristers, but this monopoly has at times been challenged. Dr. Traill came forward partly relying on his academic standing, and partly on the Medical Profession. The other two candidates were both barristers, but with very different claims. Miller was a Dublin graduate who had adopted London as his residence and was in practice at the English Bar; and his claim was that his residence in London would enable him to look more closely after the interests of the University in Parliament. His friends also pointed to his distinguished career in the University where, after numerous undergraduate distinctions, he obtained the highest combination of honours that were ever conferred on a student at his Degree examination. Gibson relied on the Irish Bar and the clergy of the Irish Church as his main supporters. The Bar knew him: many of the clergy had known him of old in college, others were satisfied with what they had seen or heard of him in the Synod. His old friends in the Historical Society rallied round him and worked for him. The result was that Gibson was returned at the head of the poll, having secured nearly one-half of the total number of votes. Throughout this election the bearing of the successful candidate won the applause even of those who did not vote for him. His speeches delivered at the nomination and after the declaration of the poll are marked no less by the courtesy and generosity with which he spoke of his opponents |