Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 3.djvu/209

 over the intricate details of the Finance Act of 1893. He was not so successful in his discharge of general parliamentary business. His unconventional ways, apparent lack of humour, and somewhat uncouth exterior at first provoked the ridicule of opponents. But the popularity which he enjoyed at the bar was ultimately assured him in the house. As solicitor-general he conducted at the central criminal court without success the prosecution of the directors of the Hansard Union. Rigby, who was entirely without experience of this branch of his profession, betrayed a bewilderment which was almost pathetic. The case, which lasted for twenty-four days, terminated on 26 April 1893 in the acquittal of all the defendants.

On the bench he did not altogether justify the high expectations that had been formed of him. He displayed his accustomed skill and ingenuity in the unravelling of complicated and contradictory statutes; he showed characteristic independence and individuality in coming to a conclusion, and his dissentient judgments were from time to time upheld by the House of Lords in preference to those of his colleagues. But his intellect, which was massive rather than flexible, failed to adapt itself to new demands. He resigned in October 1901, after showing signs of falling powers, the effect, as was believed, of a severe fall a year or two previously. He died on 26 July 1903 at Carlyle House, Chelsea, and was buried at Finchley. He was unmarried.

An oil painting by A. T. Nowell is in the possession of his family; cartoon portraits, by 'Stuff' and 'Spy' respectively, appeared in ’Vanity Fair' of 1893 and 1901. 

RIGG, JAMES HARRISON (1821–1909), Wesleyan divine, born at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 16 Jan. 1821, was son of John Rigg, a methodist minister there, by his second wife Anne, daughter of James McMullen, Irish methodist missionary at Gibraltar. Brought up in straitened circumstances, the boy was for five years (1830–5) a pupil and for four years (1835–9) a junior teacher at the Kingswood school for preachers' sons near Bristol. In 1839 he became assistant in the Rev. Mr. Firth's Academy, Hartstead Moor, near Leeds, and having made an unsuccessful effort to conduct a school of his own at Islington, London, he became in 1843 classical and mathematical master at John Conquest's school at Biggleswade. In July 1845 he entered the methodist ministry as probationer, and being ordained on 1 Aug. 1849, served in successive circuits at Worcester, Guernsey, Brentford, Stockport, Manchester, Folkestone, and Tottenham.

From an early date Rigg read widely and wrote much on religious and theological themes. A vigorous and clear style gave his writings influence in his denomination. He was a chief contributor to the 'Biblical Review' (1846–9), and frequently wrote in the Wesleyan newspaper, the 'Watchman.' Contributing to the first number of the 'London Quarterly Review,' a Wesleyan methodist periodical, in September 1853, he soon joined its editorial staff (1868), was co-editor with Dr. [q. v. Suppl. II] (1883–6), and ultimately sole editor (1886–98). Rigg explained his theological position in three suggestive volumes: 'Principles of Wesleyan Methodism' (1850; 2nd edit. 1851), 'Wesleyan Methodism and Congregationalism contrasted' (1852), and 'Modern Anglican Theology' (1857; 3rd edit. 1880). In the last, which showed a keen interest in the historical development of the Church of England, he ably criticised the broad-church teaching of Maurice, Kingsley, and Jowett, but his differences with Kingsley were so considerately expressed that Kingsley sought his acquaintance, and Rigg stayed with him at Eversley (cf. Life of Kingsley, ii. 317-8). In 1866 he republished many periodical articles as 'Essays for the Times on Ecclesiastical and Social Subjects,' and in 1869 he issued 'Churchmanship of John Wesley ' (new edit. 1879). His literary work was early valued in America. He acted as English correspondent of the 'New Orleans Christian Advocate' (1851) and of the 'New York Christian Advocate' (1857–76). In 1865 he received the degree of D.D. from Dickinson College, U.S.A.

In 1868 Rigg was appointed principal of the Westminster (Wesleyan) training college for day school teachers, and he held that post till 1903. In matters of education he acquired an expert knowledge and was an active controversialist. When the first elementary education act was passed in 1870, Rigg took the traditional Wesleyan view, opposing secularism and favouring denominational schools, although without sympathy for sectarian exclusiveness. From [q. v. Suppl. II] and [q. v. Suppl. II], both of whom supported the transfer of Wesleyan schools to the school board as created in 1870, he differed profoundly. He pressed his views,