The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 370: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

a: ae ee EE 357 eee oo risters—there,was the witness-box—and thére was | cannot possibly subdue even when ‘putting on the a particular table set exclusively apart for the accom. | gravity of the judge: at all events if he were a real modation of those acting as jurymen. ho door of | judge, and presided at the Old Bailey, it would neod this room was kept by an usher wearing the official | but a single glance at his countenance to convince robe, and whose aspect was as grave and serious as | the culprit brought before him that justice would befitted the functions hefhad to fulfil. _At tbe numerous tables in this apartment, the assuredly be tempered with mercy. But to return to our narrative: the Lord Chief visitors were seated—discussing cigars, and drinking | Baron entered the apartment which we have above the liquors suited to their respective means or tastes. | describod; and with measured steps he ascended to Some were indulging’ in wine—pthers were paying ! the judicial bench. Thero he bowed to the bar, and their respects to the various compounds of whidh | the bar bowed to him: ao that if it were not for tho brandy, gin, rum, and whisky soverally formed the chief ingredients-»whilo othors, again, were slaking theie thirst with the excellent malt liquor dispensed at that house. Therp was a general air of blitho- ness—a making up of ti mind to enter into tho enjoyments of the evoning—and a pervasive feeling of certainty that these would prove of the richest and raciest description. Lord .Saxondale seated himself at a table near the judicial bench, and called evidences of conviviality abounding upon thu soveral tables, the spectators might really have fauciod themselves in the presence of all the, real coremony and grave formality of a court of justice. Having deposited himeelf upon the bench, tho Lord Chief Baron exclaimed, “ Waiter !”” 8 - e ‘ THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “Yes, my lord,” roplicd one of his own tavern. - fanctionaries, “A glass of brandy-and-water and a cigar,” said for a bottle of clampagno—an order whicl fas | the grent legal luminary :—and thereupon a gencral highly satisfactory to the waiter, and convinced the | laugh ensued throughout the room. guests who heard it, that the new-comer Was “a cut above the generality of them.” ° When tho judicial wants wero duly supplied, and the havgnnah in the judicial lips was emitting ita Three or fou individuals in gowns, wigs, and | fragrant vapours, the clerk of the court announcod white bands, and looking as if they had just arrived | tile caso that was for trial. It was a civil action from Westminster [Hall, now entered the apartment that was thus to occupy attention; and a number and took their seats at the table appropriated to the of the guests having been sworn in as jurymen, barristers. They carried in their hands bundles of : one of the gentlemon oflwiating as the barristers papers duly tied rgund with red tape, and having as ! opened the proceedings. It is not our purpose to completely the aif of “briefs” as if their connexion give any desoription of the subject-matter of tho with John Doe and Richafd Roe were an actual : trial: ebecause in a mere narrative form it would fact instead of an agreeable fiction. In a most : lose tho grater portion of its interest. But we lawyor-like style, top, did these gentlemen who per- | must observe sthat the persons officiating as bar- formed the part of barristers, untie the tapes;—ar- | risters, acquitted themselves with no ordinary de- range their papers before them—take great dips of | gree of tglent—delivering &peeches which for their | ink with long feathery pens—&nd make endorso. | easy and continuous flow, might havo mado the ments upon their peeuslo-briefs, writing down | orators the subject of envy on the part of many a imaginary fees in real figures. ° Presently the usher of the court rey the door wido open, shouting 1 a stentorian voyce, “Silence and hats off, for the Lord Chief Baron!” Those mandates were at once complied with: but thero was a general sensatign as the object of this ceremony, ascending the stairs, made his eppear- ance, if not as a real judge, at least inthe garb and with tho gravity of ono. This was Mr. Nicholaon— the landlord of the tavern, and the presiding genius of the Judge and Jury Society. No ordinary cha- atammering, stuttering, thick-pated practitioner at Weatminstor Hall. Witnesses were examined; and these xept the company in a continual rvar of laughter. Baron himself seasoned the proceedings with some witty interjections, which added to tho geuerul iner- riment. But the cream of the whole affuir was the judicial summing up. Sparkling wit, exquisite humour, sly sarcasm, and a "perfect assumption of the air and manner of the reul judge, characterised the Lord Chief Buron’s part of racter in his way, is the pérsonage just introduced. | the performance. Thore was one incident that Tie is a man of good intellectual acquigements, of | tuld admirably. It happened that the indivi- agreeab.ep mannera and of great conversational | duals acting as jurymen, drank somewhat wore powers. He has a readiness of wit, a facility of good-naturod sareasm, and a tact in seizing upon any passing incident to rendor it avgilable for his pur which admirably qualifg him for the judicial part which he thus enacts. He is a really cléver mdn, and as ready at his pen as with, his tongue. In private life he bears the character of a liberality, a generosity, and a kindness of heart, which have often made him lqse sight of his own ! than was good for them; and in plgin terms, grow very intoxicated. The Lord Chief Baron addressed them ad an intelligent and enlightened body of men —men reprétenting the wisdom of the country— men who indeed for the time being constituted “the country,” the matter at issue between the plaintiff and defondant being, in “legal parlance, ““tricd by God and their country.” The solemn gravity with which the Lord Chief Baron thus addressed his interests in ministering to the wants of others. | drunken jury—and the vacant staro as well as tho: Lord Chief Baron Nicholson is therefore not only : tipsy swayihg to and fro with which the said jury- “a capital fellow” in the man-about-town acceptance | men listened to the great funcjjonary—formed by of the term, but in its most true and literal meaning. | no means the least ludicrous portion of the comedy. In personal appearance he is short and stout-2a When we observe that though these proceedings living evidence of the good qualitios of his own | lasted two hours and a half, without for a single larder. Of convivial disposition, his ample coun- | moment flagging into dullness or waning into insi- tenanco beams witha natural bonkegmés which he | pidity—and when we add that from first to last the > es From time to time the Lord Chiof | LOAO© (C©) (CO)