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 LORD BEACONSFIELD AND THE BAR

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my counsel, and intimated my intention to raigned for one offence, and virtually pun two distinguished members of the Bar, one ished for another. My lords, I am not de of whom was the honourable member from sirous of vindicating the expressions used in Liverpool. My learned counsel did not that letter in reference to the profession, any come into the court with his hands tied. I more than the expressions used in reference had given him no limitation as to what was to the individual. My lords, I thought the proper to be done, except his own con profession had attacked me, and I wished to science. I had told him to act for me as show them that there might be a blot in their for himself, knowing that he would not put escutcheon. I have no hesitation in saying me in a false position, and my honourable that my opinion of the Bar of England in friend had said on that occasion everything my cooler moments cannot be very differ which he thought a gentleman should say, ent from that of any man of sense and or that another gentleman should have ex study. I must, of course, recognize it as a pected. He might have been unfortunate very important portion of the social com in the result, and might not have conveyed monwealth — one, indeed, of the lustiest all that he intended, or all that he wished, limbs of the body politic; I know, my lords, but I am sure my friend had wished to con to arrive at eminence in that profession re vey all that I wish to convey now, and he quires, if not the highest, many of the higher qualities of our nature; that to gain did not do it in a niggard spirit. "It is enough that I have injured a gen any station there needs great industry, tleman who was unknown to me, it is enough great learning, and great acuteness. I can that I have outraged his feelings and treated not forget that from the Bar of England him with injustice, but I hope not with in have sprung many of our most illustrious jury. I regret what I have done. I not statesmen, past and present; and all must only regret, but feel great mortification for feel, my lords, that to the Bar we owe the what I have done. I am sorry I should administration of justice to whose unimhave injured the feelings of any man who passioned wisdom we appeal with the con had not attempted 'to injure me. I am fidence which I do now. But, my lords, sorry, through misconception, I should have I have ever believed, I believe at this mo said anything that could for a moment have ment —- 1 see no libel in the expression of annoyed the mind of a gentleman of the that belief, no want of taste under the cir highest honour and integrity. I should my cumstances of the case, in expressing it even self be satisfied with that expression of deep here — that there is in the principles on regret and mortification. But, my lords, which the practice of the Bar is based a from the manner in which this declaration is taint of arrogance, I will not say audacity, couched, from several expressions that have but of that reckless spirit which is the neces fallen at various times during these pro sary consequence of the possession and the ceedings, from the animus which has char exercise of irresponsible power. acterised them within and without these "My lords, I am told, and have been told walls, I cannot help fearing that I am often in the course of these proceedings, brought here by one of those fictions of the that I have mistaken the nature of the con law of which I have read, and it is not so nexion that subsists between the counsel much for an offence against the law as an and the client, and of the consequent priv offence against the lawyers that I am now ileges that accrue from it. It may be so, awaiting judgment. My lords, under those but I have at least adopted that opinion circumstances I shall appeal with confidence after some literary, if not legal, research. to the Bench for protection. I am sure, my The question is one indeed of great deli lords, you will never allow me to be ar cacy and great difficulty; it has been mooted