We have given elsewhere a sufficient estimate of the Lord
Chief Baron, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, who died on the 18th inst., but We have given elsewhere a sufficient estimate of the Lord Chief Baron, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, who died on the 18th inst., but we wish to add here a remark on the leading peculiarity of his life. Such a career could only have occurred in England. An excellent and learned lawyer, a persuasive advocate, and the most industrious of mankind, Sir Fitzroy succeeded in his pro- fession. English custom, however, bound him as a great lawyer to succeed also in Parliament, and the double obligation spoiled his life. He bad great difficulty in getting a seat, his opinions were so unpopular that his agents bribed for him, and his defeat on petition burdened his whole life with a huge debt. When, at last, he entered the House, he was found of little use in debate, and he had actually to wait till he was seventy for a seat on the Bench. The time necessary to serve for a pension made him too old for his work ; he could not resign without one, on account of the old election difficulties ; and so he out-lived both reputation and usefulness. No man was ever more luckless, and the reason was his unfitness for the political work which the English system fastens on every lawyer.
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