Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 29.djvu/212

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Critic, x.). 6. ‘Poems,’ 1792, 8vo; 3rd edit. 1808. 7. ‘Audi alteram Partem: an Extenuation of the Conduct of the French Revolutionists from 14 July 1789 to 17 Jan. 1793, with Introduction and Postscript explanatory of the Author's reasons for the work,’ London, 1793, 8vo; a revised edition, 1796, and later. 8. ‘Extenuation and Sketch of Abuses … with a Plan for the better regulation of the Militia,’ London, 1794, 8vo. 9. ‘A Comprehensive View of Abuses in the Militia,’ London, 1797, 8vo. 10. ‘Regimental Companion, containing a relation of the Duties of every Officer in the British Army,’ London, 1799, 12mo; a useful little manual of regimental economy, which went through seven or more editions. 11. ‘New and enlarged Military Dictionary,’ with glossary of French terms, London, 1802, 4to; 1805, 8vo; 1811, 2 vols.; and 1817. 12. ‘Military Costumes of India, being an Exemplification of the Manual and Platoon Exercise for the Use of the Native Troops and British Army,’ London, 1813, 4to. 13. ‘Collection of Court-Martial Charges,’ London, 1820, 8vo, intended as a supplement to Tytler's ‘Treatise on Military Law.’

[Army and Militia Lists; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Brit. Mus. Catalogues of Printed Books.]

H. M. C.


JAMES, EDWARD (1807–1867), barrister, born at Manchester in 1807, was second son of Frederick William James, merchant, by Elizabeth, daughter of William Baldwin. He is incorrectly said to have been educated at Manchester grammar school. He served in a Manchester warehouse for two years, where he acquired knowledge which was afterwards useful to him in conducting mercantile cases. He matriculated from Magdalen Hall, Oxford, on 3 Nov. 1827, was a scholar of Brasenose from 1829 to 1832, and graduated B.A. in 1831, and M.A. in 1834. He was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn on 16 June 1835, and went the northern circuit, of which he became leader in 1860. He settled in practice at Liverpool, and was assessor of the court of passage there from 1852 until his death. In November 1853 he was advanced to be a queen's counsel, became a bencher of his inn soon afterwards, and in 1863 was gazetted attorney-general and queen's serjeant of the county palatine of Lancaster. By that date he had removed to London. On 14 July 1865, after a severe contest among four liberals, he was elected member of parliament for Manchester, and sat until 1867, speaking occasionally on legal subjects and on the reform of the representation.

James was a sound practical lawyer, with a great knowledge of commercial law, especially in its relation to shipping. His arguments before the courts were always pointed, and his management of cases admirable. He was excellent in cross-examination. Too prone to take offence, he brooked no interference in court, and often had unseemly disputes with the judges. James died of typhoid fever, while returning from a holiday in Switzerland, at the Hôtel du Louvre, Paris, on 3 Nov. 1867, and was buried in Highgate cemetery, London, on 9 Nov. He married in 1835 Mary, daughter of Edward Mason Crossfield of Liverpool. James was the writer of a pamphlet entitled ‘Has Dr. Wiseman violated the Law?’ 1851, which went to a second edition.

[Law Mag. and Law Review, February 1868, pp. 293–300; Times, 5 Nov. 1867, p. 7, 12 Nov. p. 9; Law Times, 9 Nov. 1867, p. 28, 16 Nov. p. 43.]

G. C. B.


JAMES, EDWIN JOHN (1812–1882), barrister, eldest son of John James, solicitor, and secondary of the city of London (d. 21 July 1852, aged 69), by Caroline, eldest daughter of Boyce Combe, was born in 1812, and was educated at a private school. In early life he frequently acted at a private theatre in Gough Street, Gray's Inn Road, London, and after taking lessons from John Cooper played George Barnwell at the Theatre Royal, Bath. His appearance was against him. It is said that he looked like a prize-fighter (Cyrus Jay, The Law, 1868, pp. 396-301). At the intercession of his parents he left the stage, and on 30 June 1836 was called to the bar at the Inner Temple,and went the home circuit. Owing to his father's interest he soon acquired an extensive junior practice both civil and criminal. He was engaged in the Palmer poisoning trial, 14–27 May 1850, the trial of Dr. Simon Bernard for conspiring with Orsini to kill Napoleon III, 12–17 April 1858, and the Canadian appeal case respecting the runaway slave John Anderson, 16 Feb. 1861. In dealing with common juries he freely appealed with conspicuous success to their ignorance and prejudices, but his knowledge of law was very limited. In December 1853 he was gazetted a queen's counsel, but his inn did not elect him a bencher. From 1855 to 1861 he acted as recorder of Brighton, and on 25 Feb. 1859 he was elected member of parliament for Marylebone. He was a steady supporter of Palmerston's government. In the autumn of 1860 he visited Garibaldi's camp, and was present at the skirmish before Capua on 9 Sept. (Illustrated London News, 13 Oct.