ALABAMA CLAIMS. 141 



disposition of Sir Alexander Cockburn to stop and 

 turn aside in order to criticise Mr. Stsempfli. 



Mr. Stgempfli, in conformity with the vote of the 

 Tribunal, printed his 'provmonal opinions, and deliv- 

 ered them to the other Arbitrators from time to time, 

 and to the respective Agents and Counsel. 



Sir Alexander Cockburn disingenuously suppressed 

 his provisional opinions until the last moment, and 

 then filed a single copy only of the mass of matter, 

 general and special, entitled "Reasons," which appears 

 in print for the first time in the London Gazette. 



Now, in the provisional opinions of Mr. Staempfli, 

 it is quite possible there may have been some error 

 of statement. Sir Alexander takes pains to afiSrm it. 

 But, if there be any such, it is quite immaterial, and 

 does not affect any important conclusion either of fact 

 or of law. 



Sir Alexander also committed errors of this class in 

 the provisional opinions ivliicli lie read. Some of 

 them were noted at the time, and are still remember- 

 ed. These errors may have been corrected in the 

 print which we now have. Indeed, the manuscript 

 shows numerous corrections. Nevertheless, but for 

 the suppression of liis provisional opinions, his col- 

 leagues might have interlarded their provisional or 

 revised opinions with similar captious criticisms of 

 him. It is presumable that they did not think it be- 

 coming or fair to do this; and it was to the last de- 

 gree unfair in Sir Alexander to do it, in a document 

 foisted into the record, as it was, at the instant of ad- 

 journment, and imniediatehj carried off without being 



