Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 10.pdf/431

gave up their hall for the occasion. When were very lengthy, remodelled. The annual I went into our tea room, before dinner, I meeting of the club was at hand, and the joined Benjamin and Lord Selborne, who time remaining was so short that two experi were conversing, and told Lord Selborne enced counsel, who had for some years past acted for the club, declined the job, although how the government was indebted to Ben some considerable fee was marked on the jamin for the opinion and not to myself. papers. Benjamin's name was mentioned, With reference to the peculiar circum stance in which Benjamin was placed, I and the instructions were sent to him late thought it in better taste not to ask him one evening. Most men would probably have questions as to his previous history, and the looked up the rules of other similar clubs in part he had taken in the Civil War; but he order to collate them and exhaust every spoke freely of these and other incidents of source of improvement. Not so Benjamin. the secession in the Pupil Room, where the His own knowledge of the requirements told conversation was often not only interesting, him what was wanting; and the very next but full of humor. Benjamin, however, often morning, commencing after an early break came to dine, or to spend an afternoon with fast, and never pausing for a mid-day meal, he worked on steadily, and, shortly before me at Putney, and then told us many anec eight, the hour at which he usually dined, dotes connected with the war, always cheer fully putting forward the amusing side of the rules were complete, written out in his things. The only two injurious acts done to own neat hand, currentc calamo, with scarce him by the Northerners, of which he spoke an alteration or correction from beginning to with anything like bitterness, were that they end, as if he had been composing a poem. burnt his law library, and drank his cellar I doubt if any draughtsman within the walls of old Madeira, a wine much cherished in of the two Temples could have done this so efficiently within the same time. New Orleans. In June, 1866, Benjamin was called to the One great and early advantage held by Bar by the Benchers of the Inner Temple, Benjamin as a lawyer was this — that he was and certainly no jealousy of a new and a native of, and educated within, the State dangerous rival prevented his receiving a of Louisiana, which was one of the French kindly welcome from all members of the pro colonies ceded to England, and, therefore, fession who had made his acquaintance, or the law taught and administered within it come to know of his singular position, and was that which took its origin in the Code the interest which belonged to it. It was of Justinian, and was afterwards adopted by some time before he could obtain suitable the nations of Europe, and continued to be chambers, but ultimately he settled down in the law of France until the Code Napoleon. Lamb Buildings, where he remained during The principles and practice of this great the whole period of his practice at the Eng system of law Benjamin knew and appreci lish Bar. Unlike most newly-called men, he ated thoroughly, and he was at all times was not long allowed to be idle, although ready to point out its leading features, and for some time he was more occupied in how they differed in principle from English answering cases and advising on evidence law. This also gave him a distinct position than by holding briefs in court. superior to his brother advocates when argu One of the first — if not the very first — ing, before our Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, appeals from those of the pieces of work which Benjamin did will il lustrate his great experience and untiring English colonies of French origin which energy. An old established Ship Insurance were ceded to England before the Code. Club was desirous of having its rules, which His power of applying the theory of law