Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 10.pdf/362

 Stephen Payn Nash, LL.D.

33*

clesiastical meeting and conference in Lon Houses of Parliament he gave testimony as don, where the modest learning, the courte a legal expert on American law, which satis ous intercourse, the magnetic presence, and fied the law lords as to the heirship of his the conversational tact and discourse of the client, General Maitland—that surname being American Nash, gave to British Bishops or the historic family name of the Lauderdales. London wardens a true sample of " kin be The readiness, acuteness and dignity of Mr. yond the sea." Nash made a profound impression upon the Another trip to London by Mr. Nash London Bar, brought in social contact with came in pursuance of legal employment. him : an impression deepened in both Lord He was retained as one of the counsel of Chief Justices Coleridge and Russell when the Maitland claimant for the Lauderdale they met him on his own Home Circuit, in peerage that a few years ago was one of the this city, upon their notable visits to it. aristocratic sensations of London. The Mr. Nash never forgot after he had risen peerage dates back to Stuart times, and to professional prosperity what so many readers of history bring to mind the original veteran lawyers seem to forget, viz., that he Lauderdale, who was in the Cabal of Charles was once a struggling junior in three untried the Second's time. legal fields—for he was conspicuous all during It seems that a son of the sixth earl his hey-day of professional success as indulg being in the military services of King ent and patronizing (without any of the George, early in the American Revolution, usual sting accompanying patronage) to at New York, married in that city. Also ward juniors of the bar. Several of these that by a descendant of this son becoming tried their maiden hands at bringing fresh during the eighties, presumptively a colla and often novel actions, sounding in eject teral heir to the Lauderdale title, that colo ment against Trinity church real estate by nial marriage became doubted and ques reason of the Anneke Jans claim. Some tioned on the part of the other claimants. of these he was known to invite to an There had been throughout this century a interview, after their causes of action had curious failure of heirs in the Lauderdale been stated and served, in which he sub line. The claim preferred was for the thir stantially said, " My dear confrere your ac teenth earlship; and the ninth, tenth and tion is annoying, but I have no wish to twelfth earls had each died unmarried, while spoil your employment or fees, but you mis the eleventh earl — himself a successor to the take your facts; give me a hearing and I title by distant cousinship — who had mar will give you the full facts touching your ried and had a son and heir, had lost the claim, for you have been erroneously in latter by death; and had himself died with structed as to the facts. out any but some collateral successor upon He did not " pooh-pooh " their suits nor whom the Lauderdale title could descend. treat the matter with contempt; but really The situation was this when Mr. Nash was wasted his own time in placing facts — so retained; if his client claimed through de well known under his researches — before scent of a lawful marriage he was collateral them, and with unmistakeable data. Indeed heir to the title and estates. How did the Mr. Nash was known to clients and court marriage laws of the English colony of New officers as practically endorsing the maxim York agree or conflict with those of Great " It is to the advantage of government to end Britain became the crucial question. To litigation." answer this Mr. Nash was retained. Mr. Nash died in the roseate month of He delved into records and colonial lore, June, at a rural resort, and of a disordered so that before the commission sitting in the heart; physically disordered, for in his