moment, he says, a disaster on the west coast of Africa would affect the
prospects of popular education. That is as rational as it would be to
change your lawyer because you have had to discharge your cook.
Fitzjames, however, was under no illusions. He fully admits that
parliamentary government is inevitable, and that foreign systems are in
some respects worse, and, in any case, incapable of being introduced.
He confines himself to suggesting that some departments of
administration and legislation might be withdrawn from the influence of
our party system.

IV. CODIFICATION IN ENGLAND

Fitzjames had returned to act again as Commissioner at Wells. There he
had to listen to a vehement sermon from Archdeacon Denison, in favour of
auricular confession, and glancing, as his hearer fancied, at a certain
article in the 'Pall Mall Gazette.' He had afterwards a pleasant chat
with Freeman, 'not a bad fellow at all,' though obviously a 'terrible
pedant.' He hears from Coleridge, who has finally decided against
accepting the Mastership of the Rolls, and hopes that Fitzjames may
still be his colleague. The old Chief Baron is still charming, and says
('though I don't believe it') that he never knew what mental fatigue
meant, and that when he was Solicitor-General he was never in bed for
more than two or three hours for four or five nights a week ('which,
again, I do not believe'). However, it is undeniable that he can still
do his work as well as many younger men.

The chance of the Solicitor-Generalship was soon extinguished. Coleridge
was friendly, but explained that political considerations might prevent
any attention being paid to his personal wishes. In September, in fact,
Sir Henry James was appointed to the vacant post and the hope finally
disappeared. There was still, however, a possibility of a seat on the
bench, which would please him still better. He feels that his proper
place is out of Parliament. He could exercise more influence 'than all
the Solicitor-Generals in the world' by simply devoting himself to
writing, and he is full of plans for books. But he would like to be a
judge for the sake both of the money and the work. 'The administration
of justice is really the best thing which is going on in the nation.' On
January 9, 1874, however, he announces that his little 'bubble about the
judgeship, which looked a very bright bubble indeed, has gone where all
bubbles go.' Twenty people had congratulated him upon his