the journey; tied her own shawl about my neck to save me from the morning air, and, thus accoutred, I started on the outside of a day-coach to join the Bar at the fourth town on the circuit. A friend of mine, who was in the habit of going (as it is designated in the North), the Bleacher's Circuit, attending the linen markets, had provided for me a quiet economical lodging; and I was distinctly assured that I got the young ladies' own bed, which, consequently, I felt assured was properly aired. It was too late to join the Bar mess on that day; but, on the ensuing morning, having arranged my habiliments, I proceeded to the judge's levee. The extraordinary shake of the hand, which I received from one of their Lordships, acted like an electric shock upon me. I concluded that now, indeed, my fortune was made, and lost but little time in communicating the happy intelligence to my poor solitary wife. I sate in court with all the dignity, and nodding ease of a Mandarin; signifying my assent to propositions I did not understand, in a manner well calculated to arrest the attention of those assembled in "vulgi stante corona." About ten minutes after twelve o'clock (for I never shall forget the event, with all its particulars), an attorney, once a neighbour of my father, presented with a brief, fee, 21. 2s. Od.!! to attend an inquiry before the sheriff, which was to be entered upon at one o'clock, on the same day, for the purpose of assessing damages in an action for seduction, the guilty party having taken no defence, and suffered judgment to go by default. How my heart beat; my tongue faltered. I ran home to my lodgings,pondered on the topics for a speech, and as it is considered incumbent on every young barrister, to be prepared for an emergency with specimens of the pathetic and sublime, the only difficulty I had to encounter was, to make a judicious selection from the group. The hour arrived. What an opportunity, thought I, of displaying my powers of eloquence! Thus Curran, Erskine, aad all the stars of the profession, burst into full splendour, and meridian glory. The fair one was a country girl, somewhat of the Amazon cast, who could have displayed abundant "vis vivida" with a churn staff, or a reaping hook. Her cheek appeared to be coloured with the ruddy bloom of health, rather than mantled by the blushes of modesty. In truth, she might not be inappropriately introduced in the descriptive language of "Paddy Carey" "Her brawny shoulders four feet square, Her cheeks like thumping red potatoes." The room in which we assembled had neither chair nor table. The jury, which was composed of twelve steady old Presbyterians, with sober shrewdness in the countenance of each, and stern stubborn honesty engraven in the Scottish angular visage, were arrayed in rank and file along a whitewashed wall. I placed myself close to the window, that I might have an opportunity of enforcing my points with manual emphasis, and proceeded to the task with extraordinary vigour and confidence. But really in the freshness of my feelings, I sympathised deeply with my unfortunate client. Her aged mother, a poor but respectable widow, was present, seeking the miserable re paration (the only penalty on seduction afforded by law) for the ruin of her child. There were circumstances of a very peculiar character connected with the transaction, which betrayed on the part of the defendant, some of the deeper shades of heartless and selfish villainy, and which made me feel sincere pangs of compassion for this hapless family. Alas, how sin coils itself round the human heart. Innocent companionship merges into hazardous familiarity; the sensibility of youthful modesty, at first shrinking from the contact of passion, unconsciously and gradually becomes paralysed; till at length, the small and fine thread, like that in which the hands of Thalaba were entwined, cannot be broken. The aged mother seemed worn down with grief; her trembling hand was wiping away the silent tear which stole down her sunken cheek, betraying an agony of heart more deep and poignant, than the transient ebullition of excited and violent emotion. "Oh!" said she, as she clasped her hands, and lifted her eyes to heaven, "How I thank the Giver of all good that my dear husband has not been spared to see his child come to this." And oh! thought I, how true it is, that the blessed tidings of good contain the promise of the life that now is, as well as that which is to come; how easy is its yoke, how light its burden, compared with the dead weight which sin flings upon its victims; the burden which must be borne by the votaries of vice. The character which the usual appeals to a jury on such an occasion have acquired clearly illustrates how pernicious to the sensitiveness of virtue is familiarity with the details of guilt; and how perilous it is, when the conscience has been once awakened, to wait "for a convenient season." The Jury with whom I had to deal, were homely Northerns-men who derived their light from the unfettered privilege of consulting Revelation the remnant of that race of pious and independent men, who still seem to breathe the atmosphere of Bible-reading Scotland, "Who soar, but never roam; True to the kindred points of heaven and home." They calculated how much the delinquent would be able to pay, and gave damages to the utmost extent to which his solvency might be practically liable. At the close of this case, I returned to the Court, heaving many an unconscious sigh, occasioned by the scene in which I had been engaged. How quickly the merriment and levity of social intercourse beguiles the heart of the purer and graver sensations of religious feeling! I found myself in the evening in the midst of my professional brethren; the playful jest," the attic salt," the reckless gaiety of all around me banished from my memory the meditations which had so recently engaged me, and quickly I found myself puffed up with the empty ambition of displaying the extent of my powers of merriment and wit. The father of the Bar was a fine old gentleman; kind, courteous and agreeable. Beside him sate one of his Majesty's Sergeants at Law, who had recently become a politician. He was a man of a most amiable disposition, and naturally of a "generous clay;" but Radicalism had, with a harpy touch, profaned the fine material, and the coming in contact with a despicable faction, had occasioned a considerable decline of that respect and esteem to which he would otherwise have been entitled from his many private and domestic virtues.-A man of singular abilities and surpassing ingenuity as a lawyer, but with little or none of the grace and ease of polished life. A still more extraordinary character sate beside him. The head was venerable; it was adorned with the silver locks of declining years; "tristis severitas in vultu ;" he seemed as if cut out of a pillar of salt; possessing many of the qualities of the "Heauton-timoroumenos," There was a bitterness in his joke, an acidity in his smile, and a frosty sharpness in his ordinary conversation. He appeared in bold relief as contrasted with the Attorney-General of the Circuit, a little gentleman, with sparkling eye, of unruffled good-humour, and full of social merriment; never transgressing the limits of that decorum which is required by sensitive virtue, and never giving birth to a thought which might be only equvocally delicate. He commanded the esteem of the most intelligent, while he won the affections of the most playful; his wit did not possess meridian brilliancy, but it never generated corruption. The evening passed off pleasantly; enough of levity to give a zest to more serious meditation; enough of bagatelles' to unbend the intellectual energies. The same routine of circumstances occurred during my stay in this town, and the succeding great fete to accomplish was my journey to the next where the assizes should be held, on economical principles. For this purpose I selected two gaunt companions, of greater longitude than latitude, and having engaged a postchaise, we started. I never admired myself so much as in that postchaise. I am a dumpy little fellow. comfortably built, neither approximating to corporate capacity, nor rising to undue elevation. In the corner of the chaise I fitted myself most satisfactorily; my two companions had room enough for their lateral movements, but the roof of the chaise presented an insurmountable obstacle to their sitting with "crest erect," so much so as to oblige one of them to take the stiffner out of his cravat. The chaise was rather antiquated, bending forward in Grecian attitude; the horses were "untutored rustics," and the driver half seas-over. It is rather a point with an Irish driver, that the chaise should have this forward bend," in order to desave the baists" going down a hill. The plunging and kicking of one of the horses at the first declivity, reminded me of an anecdote related of one of our present Legal Functionaries, who travelling on circuit with the late Gervase Bushe, had the misfortune to be placed behind a very unruly pair of horses. There was a steep descent, going out of the town, and the violence of one of the animals caused some alarm to the learned Lawyers. "How long has that horse been in harness, Sir?" said Mr. Bushe to the driver, rattling down with great vehemence the front window of the chaise. "Jist hafe an hour, Sir," was the reply. I say, Sir," repeated Mr. B. Furibundus, "have you had that horse long in harness ?" "Jist hafe an hour, Sir. My master got him on trial jist afore hour honours started," replied the driver," and he'll buy the baist if he takes your honours safe to the bottom of the hill." "That's really a matter of the most vital consideration," said Mr. B's. companion, so down the hill of life, together we shall go." I and my friends were in a somewhat similar predicament, with this exception, that the price of a horse was not set upon our heads. In this happy and commodious manner we arrived at the fifth town on the circuit, had ourselves duly accommodated with lodgings and proceeded, as usual, to exhibit ourselves to the admiring gaze of all who chose to while away an idle hour by gazing at idle men. I had once been given a hint that instances had occurred, in which the Crown Judge, stirred up by some passing remembrances of his early days, had ordered the Clerk of the Crown to distribute a few indictments amongst the attendant junior bar, to sustain their drooping spirits. Accordingly I planted myself in the Criminal Court, and on the evening of the second day, my just expectations were fulfilled. One of my giant friends sate at the head of the seat; I was next to him. The Clerk of the crown, by his Lord ship's directions, handed him an indictment. He knew not what he was to do, his knees smote each other, his lip quivered, and he began to put questions before the witness was sworn. His Lordship kindly interposed to relieve him, by handing down a paper of most excellent sandwiches for distribution, which afforded an interlude of refreshing repose and innocent recreation. The evidence was altogether defective; "I think, Mr." said his Lordship," you can scarcely push this case further," "Indeed, my Lord," said Mr. faultering, (with a mouthful of " cold round,") on consideration, I think not," and down he sate. All this time I was examining my indictment, inspecting the names of the witnesses, &c., so that I approached the task in full bloom, and convicted the prisoner with eclát. I then discussed the judical sandwich and left my young friend next to me, to try his case. Independent of this act of tender sympathy upon the part of the learned judge, there was much in his character to render him much esteemed by the bar. Manly, dignified, and energetic in his address to juries; no man could with more impressive vigour read a lecture to a county, or describe the consequences of turbulence and combination, amidst an agitated peasantry, with more forcible and striking eloquence, Possessing extraordinary patience in investigation of facts, acute discernment, and sound discretion, in procuring a full discussion by the bar of legal propositions; a fund of good sense in the application of principles of law to the facts; firm yet compassionate-dignified yet humorous, with all the zeal of an advocate, never strained beyond the subdued energy of judicial calmness. His learned brother was one of singular eminence and ability. The small twinkling eyes told of acuteness, intelligence, aud genius; the sparkling smile, a compound of keen sarcasm and dignified generosity. Integrity, experience, intellectual vigour, stern integrity, all combined to render him worthy of sincere regard, and capable of commanding admiration. The professional reader will recognise in these brief remarks, Lord Chief Justice Doherty and the Lord Chief Baron. The one replete with humour-well skilled in the tactics of the world-the source of never failing joke and merriment. The other, fond of anecdote abounding in the most acute and valuable observation of mankind-permitting familiarity, without ever placing in peril the dignity of his exalted station, The sixth and last town of the circuit was now to be visited. My two postchaise companions protested in the most solemn manner against being again packed up in a moving coffin, and upon consultation we agreed that it would combine œconomy with health and comfort, to procure an outside car, which having done accordingly, we started and arrived in due course at the close of the day "Erwigan. We procured lodgings, and as my physician had enjoined me to abjure that most pernicious and abominable heresy that tea is one of the necessaries of life, I demanded either cocoa or coffee to be got ready. The servant retired to confer with her mistress, who conceiving that the hour was too late for any such beverage, sent us the following answer to our request" Sir, the mistress bid me tell you, that there's no such thing as cocoa to be had in the town; the coffee's but very indifferent, and the tay's not worth making a sang about." It was at the assizes in this town, that a circumstance occurred to me, which is worthy of narration. I had observed at the town we had left, defending several prisoners, an attorney, who had at one time been my schoolfellow. A career of vice had destroyed all principles of independence within him, and he appeared to be in a constant state of intoxication, from the merry mood up to the condition of bestial stupidity, He pursued his journey to the town in which I now happened to be, and espying me in the court one morning, he staggered across, and recognized me with the most cordial salutation, expressed his deep regret that he had not known at an earlier period my intention to come this circuit, as he would take me by the hand, and give me an opportunity of shewing my talents. He thrust a brief into my hand with a guinea fee; "There," said he, "is a good case for you-this will do you credit, my boy, for you'll acquit the fellow; and, man dear, you'll be immortalized. He's indicted for picking a man's pocket, and he's as innocent as the child unborn!" "But," said I, What's the defence ?" "Defence!" says he, with a look of burning and jealous indignanation, "do you think I am going to interfere with the talents of counsel ? Sure, I told you it was a case for to shew your ability, and you'll surely acquit the fellow." By this time the prisoner was put forward and pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor appeared -swore distinctly, that in the hall of an inn, crowded on a fair day, he felt a hand picking his pocket; he caught the prisoner by the arm, just as he had abstracted his purse containing money; he held him till the police came and seized him, with the purse in his hand. There was a case in earnest for the talents of counsel; "Oh! how I laboured to be wise, By dint of browbeating, shouting, and bullying, I frightened the witness into one or two trifling inconsistencies in his details; but a verdict of guilty soon convinced me how desperate is the case which leans for its support on the virgin "ingenuity of counsel." The manual dexterity of my client was rewarded with a trip to Botanybay at the public expence; but he had the professional politeness to inform me, through the medium of my new patron, that he felt a gentleman-like gratitude for my energetic exertions in the cause of “injured innocence.” Unquestionably, I should have cut a lamentable figure at the bar-mess on that day, had not a circumstance occurred to save me" from my friends," which cannot be passed over in silence. The father of the bar, whom I have already described, was engaged to defend a prisoner of equal purity of character and spotless integrity with my "gentle-handed" client. The prosecutor was a steady old northern, whose dim eyes and grey locks told the close of threescore years and ten, but whose honest indignation against the dangerous innovations of knavery and theft, supplied him with all the vehemence of youthful ardour. "My good man," said his Lordship, "take the crier's rod, and see if you can point out the person who lightened your pocket; begin now up here, and look all around the court," said the learned judge, pointing up at the head of the seat occupied by the bar. The old gentleman looked steadily along moving his eyes slowly and cautiously down the seat; at length with the fixed and motionless g lare of the rattlesnake, he planted himself opposite the worthy father, and laying the rod upon his hoary locks, exclaimed, "I'm thinkin' that's the chap!-eh! hould on a wee bit come up, Jack," he shouts, turning round to his son, who was amongst the spectators, "come up, mun, an' gie's a haun to thrapple the rubber (robber.”) how." 66 ་ Judicial gravity could not withstand this-it was truly electric. Very likely, my good man," said his lordship "that whiteheaded boy may have got some of your money in his pocket, but, will you swear that he's the lad that robbed you?" "Well, in troth, I'm no joost directly positive sure, but he's grey and like the chap that I gruppit by the cuff o' the neck ony Why, man," said his lordship, "that's the prisoner's council." Och! I kenn'd bravely," replies my old friend, "he was yin of a bad crap; he maun hae a lang shanked ladle that sups kaile with the deil." The dramatic effect of this dialogue quite threw into the shade the previous scene in which I figured; and thus were averted, upon our worthy father, the satiric shafts of my brethren, which otherwise must have been aimed at my exhibition. This supplied mirth and merriment enough to the Bar for the remainder of circuit; and truly I may, with Matthews, "It made a great laugh at the time." As the beauty of Rembrandt's paintings consist in the deep richness of light and shade, and I have been sketching a scene of humour, let me now depict a scene of sadness and sorrow. It had almost escaped the buoyancy of my circuit reminiscences, though calculated to make a deep impression on my heart. There stood arraigned for the wilful murder of her own child, a female of respectable appearance, and apparently beyond the meridian of life. She was a married female-her husband living in America; the little innocent, but hapless victim, was the offspring of criminal and illegitimate intercourse. To my young heart and fresh feelings, as yet unused to the realities of human barbarity, (for I never had before gazed upon a murderer,) the details of this trial were, indeed, appalling. I felt the convulsion of sensitive agony; I shrunk with horror from the thought of the endearing fondness of maternal affection being stifled by the ferocious cruelty of the loathsome murderer. Ah! thought I, was there not one smile upon the face of the helpless innocent, which might have disarmed even the savage recklessness of the midnight villain? Was there no cry, no lisping sounds, to conjure up the instinctive protection of a mother's fondness, and awaken the guardian-spirit of a mother's love? She had strangled the offspring of her unholy passion; and with a ruddy cheek, and steady and composed demeanour, awaited the verdict of the jury. The case had now closed; the judge summed up, and the issue paper was handed to the foreman. A breathless silence prevailed in the court-a pause of solemn stillness and anxious suspense. I watched the prisoner narrowly. No tear bedewed her cheek; her lip quivered not; no sigh betrayed a sinking heart. At length the jury handed in the verdict—it was, " guilty." The tear was rolling down the honest cheeks of several of the conscientious men who found the verdict. She was brought forward to the front of the dock, and sentence of death pronounced in a solemn and awakening appeal by the learned judge. I gazed upon the being the wretched votary of sin, the guilty slave of passion-soon to appear before a God" of purer eyes than to behold iniquity." Why is it, I cried within my heart, why is it that man should think himself (as the votaries of idle voluptuousness, and the advocates of a convenient system of negative virtue, imagine that they are) disentangled from a thraldom, by rejecting the doctrines of a Saviour's atonement and a Saviour's love? Bring such a one before me now; show him the being who, ere many hours roll by, is to stand face to face before a holy Creator; to stand in the unholy shroud of a felon murderer, and to be awarded her eternal doom; let him gaze upon that wretched victim of guilty passion, range over every spot in the wide extent of nature's vastness; let him command the page of science and philosophy, the promises of natural religion, the treasures of revelation;-in what spot, from what treasure, can he find peace for the troubled spirit, and the spiritual joy that could stifle despairing iniquity? That spot alone is, and must be, Calvary; that treasure alone is, and only can be, the unsearchable riches of the grace of God in Jesus. Is there no galling thraldom, no slavery to sin? What but the thraldom of sin stifled the struggles of maternal affection? and when the emotion of shame failed in preventing the commission of guilt, its natural progress was to precipitate into deeper crime than that which it was intended to have guarded against. This circuit closed, and I, with my |