CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY DAYS.

Sameness in the lives of lawyers-Character of Sir Joseph Napier

His birth-Educated under Sheridan Knowles-His precocity

-Enters Trinity College, Dublin-The Oratorical Society-

Revival of the Historical Society-Napier's connection with it

-Testimony of Lord Ashbourne-Influence of Napier over

young men-The late Earl Cairns-The Rev. Teignmouth

Shore-Protestantism and Conservatism of Napier-Opposition

to Popery-Marriage-Reads for the Bar-Gray's Inn-Mr.

Justice Patteson-Called to the Irish Bar-Early successes—~~

The Queen versus Samuel Gray-Skilful conduct of the case—

Takes silk-Lord Dungannon versus Smith-Member for Dublin

University-Speech on that occasion-State of parties in the

House of Commons-Opposed to abolition of capital punishment

-Speech on Tenants Bill (Ireland)-Opposes Jewish emancipa-

tion-Political conduct during his first Session—The National

Club-Speech at meeting of-Consistency of Napier's career

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1

CHAPTER II.

IRISH QUESTIONS.

Condition of Ireland-Suspension of Habeas Corpus Act-Napier

approves of it-Unofficial adviser of the Government-Champion

of the Irish Church-Foes in the Reporters' Gallery-Ministers'

money-The Rate in Aid Bill-Speech on the subject-Opposes

Marriage with Deceased Wife's Sister-Motion of Bernal Osborne

for reduction of Irish Church-Speech against-Irish Education

Bill-Advocates study of the Bible-Rises in estimation of the

House-His connection with Irish subjects-Opposes abolition

of Viceroyalty of Ireland-Death of Sir Robert Peel-Eccle-

siastical Titles Bill-Napier supports it-Inutility of the

measure

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CHAPTER III.

OFFICE.

PAGE

Fall of the Russell administration-Lord Derby Prime Minister-

His Cabinet-Appointment of Napier as Attorney-General for

Ireland-His satisfaction-Weakness of the Derby Government

-The General Election-Napier introduces his Land Bills—

Nature of the scheme-Speech upon the subject-The measure

opposed-Aid of Lord Derby solicited-Napier writes to the

Duke of Newcastle-The Land Bills are not passed-Subsequent

testimony of Mr. Disraeli and Mr. Gladstone to value of these

Bills-Resignation of Lord Derby-Napier quits office-His

delicate health-Relations between Lord Eglinton and Napier

-Irish policy of Lord Eglinton--The Aberdeen Cabinet-Dis-

gust of Napier with politics-The position of an Irish Con-

servative-The Canadian Reserves Bill-Opposed by Napier-

The Six Mile Bridge affair-Letter to Lord Derby on the

subject-The honorary degree of D.C.L. conferred upon Napier

-Letter of thanks to Lord Derby

81

CHAPTER IV.

THE TURNING OF THE TIDE.

Napier and the Crimean War-Advocates inquiry into convents-

Legal education-Favours establishment of special schools for

Inns of Court-Vindicates Protestant character of Dublin Uni-

versity-Opposes Marriage with Deceased Wife's Sister-Purity

of the Irish character-Speech against Lord John Russell's

Oaths Bill-Fall of the Aberdeen Cabinet-Political overtures

-Lord Derby-Lord John Russell-Lord Palmerston Prime

Minister-Napier to Lord Derby upon the position of affairs—

Dislike of Lord Palmerston-Department of Public Justice-

Speech in favour of it-Church Education Society-Retirement

of Bishops of London and Durham-Opposes opening of British

Museum and National Gallery on Sundays-Speech in favour

of observance of the Sabbath-Congratulations upon it—

'Speaks like a Napier'

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CHAPTER V.

LORD CHANCELLOR.

Our little difficulties -Case of the Arrow-General election-

Mr. Gladstone to Napier on state of affairs-Napier in favour

of a coalition-Ritualism-High Church and Low Church-

The Record attacks Lord Derby-Napier defends his chief-

'Lying scandals'-Triumph of Napier at the poll-Informs

Lord Derby of the fact-Result of the elections-Plot of Felice

Orsini-Indignation in France-Conspiracy to Murder Bill-

Supported by Napier-Tactics of Mr. Disraeli-Fall of Lord

Palmerston-Lord Derby again sent for-His Cabinet-Ap-

pointment of Napier as Lord Chancellor of Ireland-Vacillation

of Lord Justice Blackburne-Firmness of the Prime Minister-

Popularity of Napier-Congratulated by Lord Wensleydale,

Lord Chelmsford, Justice Patteson, Archbishop of Armagh,

and others Presented with an Address by the Irish Clergy-

Invites Mr. Disraeli to visit Ireland-Association for Social

Science held at Liverpool-President of the Jurisprudence

section-Address of Napier read by Earl Russell-Nature of

the address

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144

CHAPTER VI.

LEISURE.

Resignation of Lord Derby-Offer of seat on Judicial Committee of
Privy Council to Napier-Proposal falls through-Letter from
Lord Campbell on the subject-Testimony from Lord Justice
Blackburne and Lord Eglinton-The Judgments of Lord Chan-
cellor Napier edited by Drury-Presentation of copies of the
work-Acknowledged by various persons of distinction-Visit
of Napier to Italy-Disapproval of the Russell foreign policy—
Meets Charles Lever-Opinion upon the state of Italy-Criticism
upon sight-seeing-Portrait of the Cenci-Visits Mrs. Elizabeth
Barrett Browning-Value of political consistency---Comment
of Mr. Disraeli upon it-Napier changes opinion upon the
Education question-Follows the lead of the Archbishop of
Armagh-Thoughts of Napier upon Education question---
Attacks upon him-Course pursued by him judicious
Addresses Social Science meeting at Dublin-Famous speech at
meeting of Church Missionary Society-Advocates admission
of the Bible in Government schools of India-Lectures on

PAGE

Edmund Burke and Butler's 'Analogy —Mr. Gladstone on Butler

-Attendance of Napier at Church Congresses-Opinion of Lord

Derby as to utility of these Congresses

CHAPTER VII.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

189

Attacks upon the Irish Church-Motion of Mr. Dillwyn-Letters

of Napier to Mr. Disraeli on Irish Church-Fate of Mr.

Dillwyn's Motions-Royal Commission to consider forms of

subscription required from the Clergy-Napier a member of it

-Pledges demanded from the Clergy before accepting prefer-

ment-Report of the Commission-Alterations effected by the

Commissioners-Prominent part in work of Commission taken

by Napier-Testimony from the Archbishop of York and Dr.

Goodwin to this effect-Passing of the Religious Tests and

Subscriptions Bill-Controversy between Napier and Dr.

Milman, Dean of St. Paul's-Pamphlet of Napier maintaining

necessity of subscription-Napier to Whiteside on state of

politics-Visit to Ryde-Lectures on the Irish difficulty '—

Alteration proposed in oath taken by Papists on admission to

Parliament Mr. Monsell's motion-Opposed by Napier-The

relief granted by measure of Sir George Grey-Napier to Mr.

Disraeli upon the subject.

CHAPTER VIII.

PASSED OVER.

Death of Lord Palmerston-Lord John Russell Prime Minister-

His fall-Lord Derby again called to power-Intrigues to defeat

the re-appointment of Napier-His deafness set up as an obstacle

to office-Story of his appointment to Court of Appeal in letters

to Mrs. Napier-Resignation forced upon him-Letter to Lord

Derby-Vindication of Napier-Extract from Solicitor's Journal

-Letters in the Daily Express—Letter from Sir John Coleridge

on the subject-Appointment of Dr. Lloyd as Provost of Trinity

College, Dublin-Napier created a Baronet-Canon Carus-

Speech at National Club upon Irish Church-Opinion of Napier

as to Commission inquiring into revenues of Irish Church—

Motion of Mr. Fawcett against Protestant character of Trinity

College, Dublin-Opposed by Napier-Papers descriptive of

constitution of Trinity College-Napier Vice-Chancellor—

Speech of Mr. Fawcett-Casting vote of the Speaker-The

motion lost

242

291

CHAPTER IX.

RITUALISM.

The Ritual Commission-Napier a member of it-Necessity of the

Commission-Vagaries of the Ritualists-The Bishop of Peter-

borough upon their conduct-Constitution of the Commission-

Views of Napier upon existence of English Church-Course in

his opinion which the Commission ought to pursue-Part taken

by Napier in the inquiry-Questions put by him to Mr. White,

of St. Barnabas, Pimlico-To Mr. Webb, of St. Andrew's, Wells

Street-To Mr. Nugee, of Wymering-And to Mr. Bennett, of

Frome-Publication of the Reports of the Commission-Nature

of their contents-The 'aggrieved parishioner'-Protests of the

Commissioners-Protests of Napier in the Fourth Report-

Resignation of Lord Derby-Mr. Disraeli Prime Minister—

Appointment of Napier to Judicial Committee of Privy Council

-Letter of thanks to Mr. Disraeli-Judgments of Napier in

Moore's Privy Council Cases

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328

CHAPTER X.

IRISH IDEAS.

The Irish Church-Views of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli re-

specting it-Resignation of Mr. Disraeli-Accession to power

of Mr. Gladstone-Disestablishment of the Irish Church-

Partition of its revenues- -Speech of Napier at Dublin upon this

alienation of property-Result of the measure-Mr. Gladstone's

Irish Land Bill-Mr. Disraeli to Napier upon it-Speech of Mr.

Disraeli-Motion of Lord Hartington-Napier to Mr. Disraeli

touching it-Motion opposed by Mr. Disraeli-Napier's Thesis

'The College and the University'-Case of Mr. Purser-Part

played by Napier in the Irish Synod-Opposes alterations in

the Prayer Book-Letter to Lord Harrowby upon the subject

-Value of labours of Napier to Irish Church-Mr. Disraeli

again Prime Minister-Irish Seal in commission-Napier Chief

Commissioner-His arduous duties-Presides for last time in

-Remarks of Lord
Court of Chancery-Illness of his eldest son-

Chief Justice Whiteside-'Headless Court of Chancery'-Com-

ment of Lord Justice Christian upon the remarks-Eulogium

upon Napier

355