fore, to quote at the outset the deliberate opinion of his life-long professional and political antagonist, Lord Selborne. Refer ring to Lord Salisbury's eulogy that Cairns "had an eminence not often granted to a single man, in that he was equally great as
more profoundly learned lawyer; but the de gree in which they severally excelled him in these respects was less than that in which he excelled them in other qualities, more necessary than statecraft or eloquence and not less necessary than learning for a great
LORD HATHKRI.EY.
lawyer, statesman and legislator," Selborne said: "Even that enumeration of his titles to greatness fell short of the truth; for he was also a great orator, and a man exem plary in private life. It would be difficult to name any chancellor, except Lord Hardwicke, who was certainly his superior, or indeed in all respects his equal. Lord Somers was a greater statesman, Lord Lvndhurst a greater orator, Lord Eldon a
judge; and the gifts which in them shone separately were in him combined. Lord Thurlow, Lord Rosslyn and Lord Westburv had not less ability; but he was more of a statesman, a more persuasive orator and on the whole a better judge than any of them. There have been chancellors, such as Lord Talbot, Lord Cranworth and Lord Hatherley, whose private virtues were not less con spicuous and whose public reputation was
