422 HARVARD LAW REVIEW. 1871, Sir Roundel, undeterred by the frowning benchers, and sec- onded by Mr. Osborne Morgan, gallantly moved in the House of Commons "That in the opinion of this House it is desirable that a general school of law should be established in the metropolis, in the government of which the different bodies of the legal profession in England may be suitably represented, and that after the estab- lishment thereof no person should be admitted to practice in any branch of the legal profession without a certificate of proficiency in the study of the law, granted after proper examination by such general school of law." It went no further during that session, but the society printed and circulated reasons in its favor. February i, 1872, a deputation appointed by the executive com- mittee of the society waited upon Mr. Gladstone, then Prime Min- ister, to ask government support for the measure. The deputation was headed by Sir Roundel Palmer, and included Sir Edward Ryan, Vice Chancellor Wickens, Mr. Justice Quain, Lord Hobhouse, Mr. Justice Mathews, Baron Pollock, Sir Henry Maine, Professor Abdy, Professor Bryce, and others ; but Mr. Gladstone, though expressing his sense of its importance, doubted whether the pledges of the government already made would enable them to spare the time requisite for inquiry which must be made before they could commit themselves to any decided course of action. A most characteristic reply from the " old Parliamentary hand." However, on March i. Sir Roundel again moved his resolution, slightly modified so as to include in the advantages of the pro- posed school of law, not only persons intending to practise in any branch of the legal profession, but as well " all other subjects of Her Majesty who may resort thereto." Petitions in its support were presented signed by about 400 members of the bar, 18 of them Queen's Counsel and benchers of the Inns, and by about 7,000 out of the 10,000 solicitors then practising. Members of the government complimented Sir Roundel for his zeal, but wished to hear from the Inns of Court. Mr. Gladstone said he had fully mortgaged the time of the House, and intimated that the govern- ment could not give its support. Sir Roundel determined to take the sense of the House notwithstanding, and got 103 votes for his motion, but it was rejected by a majority of 13, the government voting against it in a body. Death and promotion are equally fatal to reformers. Sir Roundel almost immediately thereafter was raised to the Woolsack, becom- ing Lord Chancellor under the title of Lord Selborne, and was
