Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 13.pdf/400

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Century of English Jtidicature. singularly attractive personality. The au thority of judicial station never dimmed the finer sensibilities of his nature. He was a man of the broadest culture; he seems to have taken all knowledge for his province. The classics were his familiar companions,

365

L. J., C. P. 321, in answer to the suggestions of counsel that the dignity and privileges of the court were involved, may be taken as a true index to his judicial character: 'T take leave to say that I am not conscious of the vulgar desire to elevate myself, or the court

BARON MARTIN.

and he found time to master all the spoken languages of Europe. The tone of his mind is largely reflected in the poetry of Words worth, of which he was a diligent student and admirer. In the unremitting performance of bis judicial duties and the indefatigable pur suit of knowledge his over-worked mind finally gave way. and, in a moment of tem porary insanity, he committed suicide. His remarks in the Fernandez contempt case, 30

of which I may be a member, by grasping after pre-eminence which does not belong to me, and that I will endeavor to be ever val iant in preserving and handing down those powers to do justice and to maintain truth which, for the common good, the law has entrusted to the judges." Some of his most elaborate and exhaustive opinions are Beamish v. Beamish, 9 H. L. 274, an examination of the ecclesiastical