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over more than a quarter of a century.
Abinger is said to be rich, and to love money very much.
How is he as a judge now?
Deplorable! I hear but one opinion; and recently I was with a party of lawyers who compose the Oxford Circuit, on which Lord Abinger is at this moment, and of which my friend Talfourd is the leader, when they all deprecated Abinger on their circuit. . . .
As ever yours,
C. S.
To Judge Story.
London, July 23, 1838.
my dear Judge,—I start on my circuits to-morrow morning; but, before I go, I have a request to which I wish to call your attention at the earliest convenient time.
My friend, Joseph Parkes,—the author of the famous work on ‘Chancery Reform,’ and one of the ablest and best informed men that I have met,—is engaged in preparing a work on the ballot and the extension of the elective franchise.
In Rhode Island they have lately discussed, in newspapers, pamphlets, and public meetings, the extension of the suffrage.
I feel anxious to get what there is for Mr. Parkes, as he is a thorough man, and most friendly to our country, and has the confidence of the first men of England,—I may say, the special confidence of Brougham and Durham.
The present ministry is quite liberal; but still it does not adopt the great radical measure of the ballot and the extension of the suffrage. . . . Peel is prudent, and with his forty thousand pounds a year can afford to wait; whereas Lyndhurst is desperately poor, and wishes office for its lucre.
Peel is feared by the Radicals, on account of his prudence.
I told the editor of the ‘Spectator’ (Mr. Rintoul）1 that I thought the better way was to work on under the present ministry, constantly getting liberal peers and bishops, as long as possible, rather than to make war against them.
Day before yesterday, I was regretting that I was obliged to decline a second invitation to dinner from Lord Denman, on account of a previous engagement.
At my dinner, however, I met the old Earl Devon,2—the representative of the great Courtenay family, celebrated by Gibbon,3—Lord Plunkett,4 the Attorney, the Solicitor, Sir Frederick Pollock, and Sir William Follett.
I sat between Follett and Pollock.
To the first I talked about 