Benchers are doing everything in their power to the Liberal Government has prepared a bill of a mo derate and conciliatory character; by conciliatory make the old Inn attractive; they have opened a I mean one calculated to allay the doubts of many Common Room to the members free of charge. of their English supporters, for of course Mr. Red There are successful Common Rooms in all the mond and his followers will not be satisfied with, other Inns, but the members have to pay a small and might even refuse to vote for, a scheme which annual subscription for the privilege. It is a good in their opinion would be inadequate. You may example which the Benchers of Gray's Inn have remember that according to the provisions of the shown, and the other wealthy legal corporations old Home Rule Bill the Irish members were for might very well follow suit. the future to be excluded from Westminster, Mr. The Scottish Bar is very prosperous this year; Gladstone in his historic oration affirming that it the cause lists at Edinburgh have been well stocked with cases, and I do not hear so many complaints passed the wit of man to contrive their dual posi tion as at once English and Irish legislators. This, of litigious destitution as formerly. Some mem too, was the strongly held opinion of the present bers of the Faculty of Advocates have been not a little piqued at a recent proceeding of the Edin Irish Secretary, Mr. John Morley, the oldest con vert to Home Rule among our public men; but burgh Town Council. The latter are engaged in an so powerful was the agitation which ensued for the arbitration with the Edinburgh Tramways Com retention of the Irishmen at St. Stephen's that the i pany, and instead of relying solely on the pro Liberal leader finally was induced to promise that fessional aid of Scottish counsel, the Corporation exclusion would cease to form a feature of his pro retained the services of Mr. Cripps, Q. C., a wellgramme. English Home Rule opinion is, however, known member of the London Parliamentary Bar. by no means unanimous on this point. Mr. La- Mr. Cripps has published a book on " Compensa bouchere, the editor of '•Truth," has been con tion," and is much in request for cases of the kind. ducting in his paper for some weeks past a vigorous I understand that Mr. Cripps will be duly wel controversial campaign on this very subject. He comed by his Northern rivals, but that some of them will hope to score off him when the arbitra exclaims loudly against allowing Irishmen to legis late for themselves and also for England; and he tion proceedings commence. The new Lord Chancellor, Lord Herschell, is warmly applauds Mr. Gladstone's original scheme, urging him to revert to it in this particular, at any credited with a very revolutionary proposal. They rate. Every serious politician here is agreed that say he contemplates the creation of stipendiary we are privileged to live during one of the most magistrates for the counties. At present, of course, interesting epochs of English history. county magistrates receive no remuneration what Not nearly so many young men are entering at ever, the duties being performed by gentle the Inns of Court just now as was the case a year or men without technical professional qualifications. two ago. It is really very difficult to say what regu Sometimes miscarriages of justice take place, lates a matter of this kind; I think, however, it has but with quite remarkable infrequency. It is at last filtered down to the mind of the aspiring common knowledge with what efficiency the University graduate that success at the bar is not a " Great Unpaid " discharge their functions. I matter of course, even to the habitual prize-winners have no doubt we shall some day or other see at school and college. An ever-increasing num this change in the administration of the Criminal ber of University men are attracted towards the Law carried out, but not just at present; public ranks of journalism; and not a few of those who opinion does not demand it, and the expense some years ago would have looked forward to a would be very considerable. forensic career now eagerly engage in the occu During the recess we had the finest Christ pation of the press. Gray's Inn has succeeded in mas weather experienced for years, — cold crisp again asserting its position as a vigorous Inn of weather, with plenty of ice, and opportunity for Court; more students are entering on its books recreating exhausted professional faculties. than has been the case in recent years. The
