ALABAMA CLAIMS. 91 



grand jury on one of tlie seml-pollticat' questions of 

 the day, and especially Avlien sucli cLarge is carefully 

 revised for the Press, with additions and annotations 

 by liiuiself. Then we have the most satisfactory 

 means of estimatinix the mental character of that 

 judge. And such is the case here, to the effect of 

 lowering greatly our estimation of the Chief Justice. 



A later incident in his judicial career also throws 

 some light on his character, and deserves notice in 

 this connection. 



When it was proposed to commence proceedings 

 against Governor l^yre, growing out of what had 

 Leeu done in Jamaica under the same i)roclamation, 

 Mv. Justice Blackljiu-n delivered a charge to the 

 grand jury, in the course of which he said: "As to 

 the judges of my own court, the Lord Chief Justice, 

 my brother Mellor, my brother Lush, and my broth- 

 er Hannen, . . . yesterday I stated to them the effect 

 of what I am now stating to you, and they all ap- 

 proved of it, and authorized me to say, — of course, not 

 relieving me from my resi)onsibility, or absolutely 

 binding them, for of course they have not considered 

 it so thoroughly and judicially as I have been 

 obliged to do, — still they authonze me to say they 

 agree in my view of the law, and thought it right." 

 A week later, when the case liad been entirely dis- 

 posed of, the Chief Justice, while sitting on the 

 Bench, denied, with imseemly warmth of lajiguage 

 and manner, that lie had assented to the law as laid 

 down by j\[r. Justice. Blackburn ; but explained the 

 alleged difference of opinion in such obscure Ian- 



