The Incorporated Law Society had a talk with Sir Benjamin
Hall the other day about the removal of the Law Courts—asking for a Committee of inquiry and so forth. Sir Benjamin replies modestly, that the-initia- tive does not lie with him; but it might come from the Judges speaking for the legal profession, or the Attorney-General speaking for the Go- vernment. This is a new " beginning ' which alarms one. We have have had inquiries before,—in 1853-'4 we had the whole result, and dis- cussed it in 1854; a Committee had sat, and reported. As to the Judges, they are quick enough to exercise the English privilege of grumbling about their own comforts, if a window is open or shut, or a door wants listing; but they are the least likely of all men to begin a useful move- ment. Nor have we much faith in any Attorney-General, who has plenty to do with the law of his post. The proper person to settle the matter—not to begin it now, but to close it—would be the Minister of Public Works, if his office were properly constitute& A private meeting of noblemen and gentlemen has recently been held at Lord Shaftesbury's residence to consider the best mode of testifying their personal esteem for Dr. Southwood Smith. The mode adopted was, to present a bust of Dr. Smith to some public institution, as a memorial of his services in promoting that course of legislative reform which has laid the basis of an administration to guard and improve the public health ; the bust to be executed by Mr. Hart, the eminent American ' sculptor. The movement is supported by the friends of sanitary reform in all parties and in all social grades ; and it is well so far as it goes, but it will not ffil up the measure of justice due to Dr. Smith. The paltry allowance meted out to him will never cease to be contrasted with the handsome annuity on which a fellow reformer has retired. Both did good service; but the contrast confirms the rule, that he gets best re- membered who in working for the public good looks after his own good too, and permits it not to be forgotten.
Previous page
