ys, in his life,
and has always, 'in a way of his own,' 'truly and earnestly trusted in
God to help him in all the affairs of life.' He made his speech, and
suggested the theory already noticed, that the poisoning might have been
the act of the mad wife. The judge paid him a high compliment, but
summed up for a conviction, which accordingly followed. Fitzjames
himself thought, though he was not 'quite sure,' that the man was
guilty. He commented upon the case in another article in the 'Saturday
Review,' not, of course, to dispute the verdict, but to draw a
characteristic inference. Is it not, he asks, very hard upon a poor
prisoner that he should have no better means of obtaining counsel than
the request of the judge at the last moment to some junior barrister?
They manage these things, he thinks, better in France; though 'we have
no reason to speak with disrespect of the gentleman who conducted the
case.'

Whatever may have been thought of Fitzjames's judgment in this case, he
gradually, as I have said, came to be regularly employed upon similar
occasions. By slow degrees, too, more profitable briefs came to him; but
he was in the trying position of appearing on a good many occasions
which excited much interest, while more regular work still declined to
present itself in corresponding proportions. Now and then a puff of wind
filled his sails for the moment, but wearying calms followed, and the
steady gale which propels to fortune and to the highest professional
advancement would not set in with the desired regularity.

III. THE 'SATURDAY REVIEW.'

Here therefore I leave the story of his main profession to take up his
work in other capacities. When he left Cambridge, the 'Morning
Chronicle' was passing through a short phase of unprofitable brilliancy.
It had been bought by the 'Peelites,' who are reported to have sunk as
much as 200,000_l._ upon it. John Douglas Cook was editor, and among his
contributors were Maine and others of Fitzjames's college friends.
Naturally he was anxious to try his hand. He wrote several articles in
the winter of 1851-2. 'The pay,' says Fitzjames, 'was very high--3_l._
10_s._ an article, and I thought that I was going to make a fortune. I
was particularly pleased, I remember, with my smartness and wit, but,
alas and alas! Cook found me out and gradually ceased to put in my
articles. I have seldom felt much keener disappointment, for I was
ardently desirous of standing on my own legs and