answered him with a sarcastic remark (Parl. Deb. xcviii. 138). On the accession of the whigs to office under Lord John Russell, Brougham remained on the opposition side of the house, and in the session of 1849 strenuously opposed the repeal of the navigation acts. On 20 July he again reviewed the state of affairs on the continent, and, no longer moved with the sentiments he had expressed in 1824, blamed the government for sympathising with Victor Emmanuel, spoke strongly against the revolutionary party in Italy, defended the action of the French, and complained of prejudice against Austria and of unfair dealings with the King of Sardinia (Parl. Deb. cvii. 616).
Although Brougham gradually withdrew from politics, he continued active in the cause of law reform, urging his schemes in parliament, in the 'Law Review,' and through the Law Amendment Society. He took a large share in hearing appeals, and Lord-chancellor Truro left the administration of the appellate jurisdiction of the lords in his hands. This caused considerable dissatisfaction, and on 5 Aug. 1850 Brougham complained of the comments of the 'Daily News' as a breach of privilege and a libel on himself. The experiment of reinforcing the law lords by creating a peer for life brought him in haste from Cannes in 1856, and he greatly contributed to the defeat of Lord Wensleydale's claim. He took the opportunity of moving for returns to state his opinion on the movement for further parliamentary reform on 3 Aug. 1857. In 1850 he again turned to scientific studies. He read a paper on experiments in light before the French Institute, and in later years contributed various other papers on kindred subjects (Comptes Rendus, Nos. 30, 34, 36, 44, 46). He was also constantly busy writing, arranging, and editing literary work of various kinds. The wide and indefinite area which the Social Science Association proposed to occupy greatly pleased him. The committee held their first formal meeting at his house in Grafton Street on 29 July 1857; he was chosen president for the year, and on 12 Oct. delivered the inaugural address at the first congress at Birmingham. For some years the meetings of the association were held to be events of no small importance, and the prominent part Brougham took in the proceedings brought him great fame. He was again chosen president in 1860, and held the office during the five succeeding years. He was entertained at a public banquet at Edinburgh in October 1859, and two days afterwards was elected chancellor of the university. He delivered his installation address on 18 May 1860. In that year he received a second patent of peerage with remainder to his younger brother William and his heirs male, an honour conferred on him in recognition of his eminent services in the cause of education and in the suppression of slavery. Lady Brougham died at Brighton on 12 Jan. 1865. Brougham attended the meeting of the Social Science Association held at Manchester in 1866. The next year his mental powers, which had been gradually failing, gave way altogether. He died quietly at his château at Cannes on 7 May 1868. He was an honorary D.C.L. of Oxford, and a fellow of the Royal Society. In spite of a gaunt ungainly figure and an ungraceful habit of action he was a remarkably successful speaker. His memory was excellent, and his self-possession not easily disturbed. His words came readily, he had great powers of sarcasm, and an unfailing store of humour. Eloquent, however, as many of his speeches are, his perorations often bear the marks of over-careful preparation. Although his health was never strong, his power of application was extraordinary, and even when he appeared to be utterly worn out he was always able to call up a fresh supply of energy to meet any new demand upon him. His style of writing was slovenly, and, setting aside his speeches, nothing that he wrote can now be read with much pleasure except his private letters and some of his 'Sketches of Statesmen.' His attainments were manifold, and he wrote and spoke as a teacher on almost every subject under the sun. His mind ranged over so wide an area that he never acquired a thorough knowledge of any particular division of learning. It has been said of him that if he had known a little law he would have known a little of everything. Nevertheless he has left his abiding mark in the improvement of our legal system, and his work in the judicial committee of the privy council was of considerable importance both in upholding liberal principles in ecclesiastical matters, and in creating a body of precedents which have served as a kind of foundation of Indian law (Encyclop. Brit., art 'Brougham'). In almost all public questions—his speeches on foreign politics in 1848 and 1849 excepted—he upheld the cause of humanity and freedom; yet he had little moral influence; such weight as he had was simply due to his intellectual powers. Genial in society, with great power of enjoyment, a keen perception of what was ludicrous, and a ready wit, he was at the same time an unamiable man, a bitter enemy, and a jealous colleague. His temper was irritable, he was easily excited, and from whatever cause his excitement arose it led him to speak and act unadvisedly. Brougham was buried in
