and distrusted his statesmanship. But years and health were on Lord Salisbury's side, and Cairns retired definitely from pub lic life. He died at Bournemouth on April
cinations as illuminations. Disregarding the slow, syllogistic processes by which ordinary judges arrive at their decisions, he goes straight to his mark, with the swift, strong, subtle instinct of a woman for truth, and 2, 1885. Earl Cairns was the most distinguished when the conclusion is reached, one feels as if the last word on the subject had been and not the least earnest of our great re And yet Cairns's mind was ligious Chancellors. A stern Protestant in spoken. his views of ecclesiastical polity, he disliked I severely logical — he had attained that with all the strength of his upright, austere perfect mental discipline which enables a nature, the excessive tolerance of modern man to " follow without reflecting upon the politico-protestant thought. He labored rule." In spite of these great intellectual faithfully to spread the growth of religious gifts, it is practically certain that the cir teaching, lent the aid of his voice and his cumstances which prevented Cairns from purse to Dr. Barnardo's Homes, frequently succeeding to the authority of Lord Beaconspresided at religious meetings at Exeter field were of good omen for the Conserva Hall, and was a Sunday-school teacher up tive party. His austerity, his stern selfto practically the end of his long career. repression, would have been fatal obstacles Mr. Gladstone is believed to have expressed to his success, and he never displayed the opinion that Sir George Jcssel, the late either the faculty for evoking popular Master of the Roll, was " the greatest legal enthusiasm or the capacity for leadership genius of the century." But there are few which the responsibilities of office have lawyers who would endorse this verdict. developed in his successor. By his pro Sir George Jessel undoubtedly possessed a fessional brethren Cairns was, and still is, legal intellect of the highest order. He regarded with almost superstitious venera disposed of the most complex legal prob tion, but without any of the perfect love which was poured without measure on the lems with the ease and vigor, although not without some of the coarseness, of a erring head of Cockburn. Lord Coleridge huge mastiff worrying an insignificant terrier. has told us that he had a strong, rich vein But he lacked what Cairns possessed, the of humor. But its pulsations were carefully cultured imagination and the vein of poetry concealed, and according to the traditions which are essential to the exercise of the of the temple, a curious fancy for im highest genius in the juridical art. In maculate bands and tie in court, and for a Cairns's best judgments Burke's idea that flower in his coat at evening parties, was the "all human law is properly declaratory" only human weakness that the great Lord is realized. They are not so much ratio Chancellor displayed. Lex.
