ALABAMA CLAIMS. 141 
disposition of Sir Alexander Cockburn to stop and 
turn aside in order to criticise Mr. Steempfli. 
Mr. Steempfli, in conformity with the vote of the 
Tribunal, printed his provisonal 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. Stempfii, 
it is quite possible there may have been some error 
of statement. Sir Alexander takes pains to affirm 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 which he 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 fzs 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 Alexender to do it, in a document 
foisted into the record, as it was, at the instant of ad- 
journment, and immetintely compel off without being 
