are man, with a Scottish, not an Irish, cast of
countenance. He was scrupulously neat in his personal appearance, faultless
in bands and necktie, and fond of wearing a flower in his button-hole. His
chilly manner, coupled with his somewhat austere religious principles, had
no doubt much to do with the fact that he was never a popular man. His
friends claimed for him a keen sense of humour, but it was not to be
detected by those whose knowledge of him was professional rather than
personal. Probably he thought the exhibition of humour incompatible with
the dignity of high judicial position. Of his legal attainments there can
be no doubt. His influence upon the legislation of the day was largely felt
where questions affecting religion and the Church were involved and in
matters peculiarly affecting his own profession. His power was felt, as has
been said, both when he was in office and when his party was in opposition.
He had been chairman of the committee on judicature reform, and although he
was not in office when the Judicature Act was passed, all the reforms in
the legal procedure of his day owed much to him. He took part, when out of
office, in the passing of the Married Women's Property Act, and was
directly responsible for the Conveyancing Acts of 1881-1882, and [v.04
p.0953] for the Settled Land Act. Many other statutes in which he was
largely concerned might be quoted. His judgments are to be found in the Law
Reports and those who wish to consider his oratory should read the speeches
above referred to, or that delivered in the House of Lords on the
Compensation for Disturbance Bill in 1880, and his memorable criticism of
Mr Gladstone's policy in the Transvaal, after Majuba Hill. (See Hansard and
_The Times_, 1st of April 1881.) His style of delivery was, as a rule, cold
to a marked degree. The term "frozen oratory" has been applied to his
speeches, and it has been said of them that they flowed "like water from a
glacier.... The several stages of his speech are like steps cut out in ice,
as sharply defined, as smooth and as cold." Lord Caims married in 1856 Mary
Harriet, eldest daughter of John McNeill, of Parkmount, Co. Antrim, by whom
he had issue five sons and two daughters. He was succeeded in the earldom
by his second but eldest surviving son, Arthur William (1861-1890), who
left one daughter, and from whom the title passed to his two next younger
brothers in succession, Herbert John, third earl (1863-1905), and W