ew by Mr. John Morley in the
'Fortnightly Review' (June and August 1873). Fitzjames replied to them
in a preface to a second edition in 1874. He complains of some
misunderstandings; but on the whole it was a fair fight, which he did
not regret and which left no ill-feeling.

III. DUNDEE ELECTION

The last letter of the series had hardly appeared in the 'Pall Mall
Gazette,' when Fitzjames received an application to stand for Liverpool
in the Liberal interest. He would be elected without expense to himself.
He thought, as he observes, that he should find parliamentary life 'a
nuisance'; but a seat in the House might of course further both his
professional prospects and his schemes of codification. He consulted
Coleridge, who informed him that, if Government remained in office, a
codification Commission would be appointed. Coleridge was also of
opinion that, in that event, Fitzjames's claims to a seat on the
Commission would be irresistible. As, however, it was intended that the
Commissioners should be selected from men outside Parliament and
independent of political parties, Fitzjames would be disqualified by an
election for Liverpool. Upon this he at once declined to stand. A place
in a codification Commission would, he said, 'suit him better than
anything else in the world.' Coleridge incidentally made the remark,
which seems to be pretty obvious, that the authorship of the letters
upon 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' would be a rather awkward burthen
for a Liberal candidate to carry.

For some time Fitzjames might hope, though he hoped with trembling, that
something would come of his various codifying projects. It was reported
that Mr. Bruce (Lord Aberdare) would introduce the Homicide Bill during
Russell Gurney's absence. Coleridge was able after many delays to
introduce the Evidence Bill. But it was crowded out of sight by more
exciting measures, and it was only upon its final withdrawal on the last
day of the session (August 5, 1873) that he could say a few words about
it.[165] The Bill was apparently ordered to be printed, but never became
public. It went to the parliamentary limbo with many of its brethren.

In the session of 1873 the Government was beginning to totter. The
ministerial crisis of March, upon the defeat of the Irish University
Bill, was followed by Mr. Gladstone's resignation. He returned to
office, but had to attend to questions very different from codification.
'My castle of cards has all co