Herbert Stephen

“ Venables was called to the bar by the Inner Temple in May 1836, and joined the Oxford circuit, but eventually devoted himself to parliamentary practice, being made a queen's counsel in 1863. He is described as a cogent rather than a brilliant advocate, but capable on occasion of expressing himself with the most vigorous emphasis. His memory was so remarkable that he never made a note. He retired from practice with a considerable fortune in 1882. He died on 6 Oct. 1888.
The public work of his life was anonymous journalism. ”

“ It is inscribed ‘Conditori hujus ecclesiæ amicissimi quidam.’ Upon this occasion Sir James Fitzjames Stephen [q. v.] , in a letter of warm eulogy, saluted Venables as ‘a sort of spiritual uncle or elder brother.’ Thackeray is alleged to have founded upon Venables the character of George Warrington in ‘Pendennis.’ Lord Tennyson accepted from him a line in ‘The Princess,’ which is dedicated to Venables's most intimate friend, Henry Lushington. ”