- Details
- Transcribed by unknown author unknown author
- Edition: March 10, 1882 March 10, 1882
The younger generation will know nothing of Mr. Edwin JAMES, whose death
was announced on Monday; but a quarter of a century ago he was one of the
best known men in London. A member of the House of Commons and a Queen's
Counsel, he was not more distinguished by his somewhat high-flown eloquence than by
the strength of his Radical opinions at a time when Radicalism was by no
means so popular as it is now.
The friend and adviser of GARIBALDI, he reached the culminating point of
his career when he defended BERNARD on the charge of being concerned in a
plot to murder the Emperor of the French. He not only performed his duty with
success, getting his man clear, but he did it in such a manner as to give
great offence to the Emperor and the french Army. It was, indeed, after Mr.
JAMES'S speech at the Old Bailey, that the french Colonels solicited leave to
"clear out the den of assassins," so that in one sense Mr. Edwin JAMES might be
accounted the author of the Volunteer movement , as that movement undoubtedly
sprang from the famous address of the french Colonels. Very soon after this
stirring episode in his career, Mr. JAMES fell upon evil days. He made grave
professional mistakes, was disbarred and disgraced, and went to America. He
came back a few years ago, and vainly tried to reinstate himself.
We are sorry to learn that he has died, if not in actual want, at all
events in extreme poverty.