Wabash Decision, (See Inter-State Commerce) Waite, Morrison R., Ch. J., Portrait and Sketch, 205 Washington Territory, (See Suffrage) ADA M. BITTENBENDER 309 Woman in Law, Women, (See Bologna) Women, Married, (See Contracts) THE CHICAGO LAW TIMES. VOL. II.] JANUARY, 1888. [No. 1. LORD MANSfield. Most people are interested in the things which concern themselves their friends-their country. It is well. While selfishness is reprehensible, self-respect, or even self-love, is permissible. All are familiar with the history of our country. The story of its early struggle for independence, is ever kept fresh in mind by a national festivity. Reference to it, however, is not always refreshing-in winter. One hundred and twelve years ago the coming June, the thirteen colonies were still regarded as being subject to the British parliament, the British courts, and the British crown. On the throne was a narrow, passion ite, uneducated, jealous, obstinate, conceited "slave of deep-rooted selfishness." His treatment of the Americans and the Irish, and his hatred of his oldest son, indicated the depravity of his nature and the tyranny of his ambition. According to Henry, Lord Brougham, "The instant that his prerogative was concerned, or his bigotry interfered with, or his will thwarted, the most unbounded pride, the most bitter animosity, the most calculating coldness of heart, the most unforgiving resentment took possession of his whole breast, and swayed it by turns." With such qualities of head and heart, and the royal scepter in his keeping, it was simply impossible for him, like most sovereigns, to be a pliant tool in the hands of his ministry; and the only other alternative was for then in all things to be subject to his will, or by flattery and indirection, impercep tibly lead and control him in such a way as to induce him to believe that he was himself the leader. Under such a master, the good natured, humorous, fluent, witty, amiable and suave Lord North, the premier at the time, with no extraordinary endowments, learning or knowledge, and opposed by such aggressive characters as Chatham, Camden, Burke and Charles James Fox, could do but little more than to submit, freely or otherwise, and execute the will and the wish of him who held the royal scepter. But that wisdom which broods over the destinies of kingdoms and principalities, was busy, even during the reign of George III, in shaping the affairs of men and nations, and hence marked it as the period during which some of the most important events in the history of the race, transpired. At the time mentioned, there sat upon the woolsack, a plain, well-meaning, sober, honest man, with fair common sense, but probably with the least legal acquirements and the dullest intellect of any who have held the office of Lord High Chancellor during the last three hundred years. The sudden and unexpected death of the brilliant Charles Yorke, six years before, had created a vacancy. The appointment of Henry Bathurst to fill it, was the accident of an accident, coupled with a seeming necessity. All the great lawyers who were acceptable to the King, either from an aversion to such close relations as the office implied, or for other good reasons, declined; while the eminent lawyers who were anxious to be entrusted with the keeping of the great seal, were distrusted by the King and his ministers; so "the majestic sense of Thurlow," and the skillful eloquence of Wedderburn," were obliged, like Paul at Athens, to wait for a more convenient season. Under the circumstances, and at the suggestion of the subject of this paper, who had then, and frequently before, declined the office, it was decided to put the great seal in commission, with Heury Bathurst at the bottom of the list. This was done. Each of the three commissioners, realizing his own ignorance, agreed with his fellows, to hold his tongue during the hearing of causes, and then to consult with the Lord Chief Justice in the making of all important decisions, who, in the |