“ His sense of justice was profound and if favoured a drastic administration of the criminal law with which modern sentiment is not generally in accord, at the same time it should be emphasized that he always leant towards giving a prisoner every chance, and it was this feeling that prompted his strong opposition to allowing prisoners to enter the witness-box, for feat that it would operate to their disadvantage. ”

“ As an enemy of loose thinking Stephen was unequalled as a controversialist, He always knew his facts; he was never rude; but his logic was merciless, and he never shrank from its consequences. In politics he was in theory at least a reactionary Tory; in Church matters a through-going Erastian with a good deal of his family's interest in religious matters, one of the odd manifestations of which was displayed in a sweepstake that he always promoted with his friends whenever there as an election to the papal See. ”