The English Bench and Bar of To-day.
279
isfy that portion of the public which hungers Minister of England, Webster was raised for and requires the appearance of some deus to knighthood and the Attorney-General ex machina in every legal biography. Ac ship. The appointment to this high office, cording to one set of story-tellers, Webster with its wide patronage and its adminis was apprenticed to a firm of solicitors who, trative and judicial functions, of a young turning his athletic powers to account, used man only forty-three years of age, who had him as a confidential messenger to other no intimate practical acquaintance with the firms of attorneys, and thus gave him an op criminal law, and who had appeared in no portunity, of which he promptly and pro cause ctfebre except the Belt libel action, perly availed himself, of forming a wide brought down upon the head of the responsi legal connection both within and without ble minister a perfect storm of public and, it the city of London; others report that the must be admitted, professional criticism. But absence of his leader in a heavy railway Sir Richard Webster adapted himself to his case and the remarkable ability and perti new duties easily and at once. He conducted nacity which he displayed under this trying the prosecution of Mr. Stead for his wellcircumstance gave the necessary impetus to meant but foolish abduction of Eliza Arm the future Attorney-General's career. Both strong, with a fairness and an ability which anecdotes, and especially the latter, which surprised the Old Bailey Bar. He has kept bears a curious resemblance to a story told the Law Officer's decisions in patent appeals of John Scott, afterward Lord Eldon, should up to the high level which they attained be received with becoming hesitation. under Roundell Palmer, Cairns, and HerSir Richard Webster's success is readily schelLj and although far inferior in parlia explained by his father's reputation and his mentary ability to the Solicitor-General, Sir own gifts and graces. Circumstances must Edward Clarke, he has done henchman's of course have furnished the occasion; but service to the Government in several critical these were undoubtedly the causes of his debates. During one of the famous Irish early and rapid victory over the difficulties nights, Sir Richard Webster compelled Mr. of the most arduous profession into which Gladstone (among whose great gifts patient any man can enter. 'Learned, persevering, tolerance of criticism is not included) to steadfastly faithful in his day of small things, hear him in silence; and there were pas and pertinacious in court beyond all his sages of exceptional power in his reply to rivals, he drew around him, not merely the Sir William Harcourt's onslaught upon his patent agents who remembered his father, conduct before the Parnell Commission. No account of the Attorney-General's pub but a constantly increasing circle of firstlic life would be complete without a somewhat class solicitors, who had heavy work to dis pose of, and were thankful to find so honest detailed criticism of his appearance before that august tribunal. That he was strictly and competent a workman. Richard Web ster was soon known for his own sake, among entitled to accept a brief for the "Times" cannot for one moment be disputed. The those in whose favor is life to a junior bar rister, as a safe and acceptable advocate; Attorney-General of England holds office and a tide of practice — patent, common law, only during the lifetime of the Ministry which privy council, and House of Lords — flowed appoints him, and the salary at present at in upon him, bearing guineas and reputation tached to his position, although eminently with it. substantial, is not large enough to induce In 1878, ten years after his call to the any of the leaders of the bar to abandon bar, he assumed the silk robe of the Queen's private practice, even although a goodly Counsel; and in 1885, when the Marquis measure of influence and honor and a re of Salisbury became for the first time Prime versionary interest in the Lord-Chancellor
