Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-30
EVENING STAR.
PETER FARLEY AT ABBorsFoRD.

In the year 1898 Mr. Goodrich made his first
visit to Europe, of which he presents several
agreeable "reminiscences in his " Recollections
of Life Time" Here is his account OF the
Court of Scien es in Edinburgh, where be first
met Sir W alter Scott:
We entered large Gothic hail. opening, as
L observed, into various contiguous apart
ments. Here saw q considerable number Of
persons, mostly lawyers and their clients
some ssuntering, some meditating, some gath
cred in groups and conversing together. L
noticed that many of the former, and more
especially the older members Of the bar, wore
gowns and wigs; others wore gowns only, snd
| still others were in the ordinary dress L af-
terward was told that it was wholly az the
option of individuals to adopt this costume. or
not-in general, it was regarded as going out
OF fashion. There was a large number Of
! people distributed through the several apart
ments, and in the grand hall there was q per-
| vading hum of voices, which seemed to rise
and rumble and die away amid the groinings
of the roof above.
Among the persons in this hall, man some
thirty years of age, tall and handsome, dressed
| IN gown, but without the wig, attracted my
| particular attention. He was walking apart,
| and there was a certain look of GOODNESS and
! haughtiness about him. Nevertheless, for
some undefnable reason, he excited in me
lively curiosity. l observed that his eye was
dark and koen, his hair nearly black, though
cut short, and slightly curled. He carried lis
head erect, its largely developed corners be
| hind giving him an air Of self appreciation
| his features were small, but sharply defined
his lips were close, and slightly disdainful and
| sarcastic in their expression.
| There was a striking mbination Of energy
and elegance In the general aspect of this per
son; yet over all, l must repeat, there was
| something also Of coldueSs and pride Upon
his face, expressive Of vigor and activity
mental and physical-there was visible tinge
of discomfort.
"Who is that gentleman ?" said l, to my
guide
That large, noble-looking person with a
gown and wig g7-that is Cranstoun, one Of our
first lawyers, and the brother-in Law of Dugald
! Stuart"
"No-that person beyond, and to,tho left
lie is without wig"
Cob, that's Cockburn-a fiery Whig, and
one of the keenest fellows We have at the bar "
Yes, but mean that younger person near
the corner
"Oh, that small, red faced, freckled man
| Why, that's Moncrief, very sound lawyer.
| His father, Sir Harry Moncrief, is one of the
| most celebrated divines liz Scotland" "
"No, not is that tall, handsome, proud
looking man, walking by himself "
"Oh, l see; that's Lockhart-Sir Walter
Soott's son in-law. Would you like to know
| him ?''
Eyes"
And so 1 was introduced to a man who, at
that time was hardly less an object Of interest
| to me than Scott bimself. Though n lawyer
( by profession, he had devoted himself to liter
! ature, and was now in the very height Of his
career. Peter s Letters to his Kinsfolk,"
d" Falerius,' and other works, had given him
| q prominent rank as a man Of talent; and be-
| sides, in 1920, he had married the eldest
| daughter Of the " Great Unknown My con-
| verss,ion with him was brief at this time but
| l aftcrward became well acquainted with him.
Ny guide row led me inlo one Of tho side
rooms, where | saw a judge and jury, and
lawyer addressing them. The latter was
very small man, without gown or wig, afpar-
emily about forty years of age, though be
might be somewhat older. He was of dark
| complexion, with an eye Of intense blackness,
and almost painfully piercing expression His
motions we're quick and energetic his voice
| sharp and penetrating-his general aspect ex
citing curiosity rather than affection. Hewa
speaking energelically, and, As we approached
the bar, my conductor said to me in Il whisE-
er--" jeffrey
We paused, and listened intensy The
| case in itself seemed dry erough-something
| HSiiCfS, hOOut SbuplaSO NH "tHSttH' Oul
Jefrey's pleading was irsblo-clear. pro-
| gressive, logical. Occasionally, in fixing upon
weak point Of his adversary, be displayed
| leopard-ike spring of energy, altogether start
| Ing He seized upon certain point in the
| history of the case, and insisted that the
property in question rested at that period in
| the hands Of the defendants agent for at least
a fortnight. This nc claimed to be fatal to
MS adversary plea Having stated the facts,
| with a cearnes2 which seemed to prove them,
he said, turning with startling guickness upon
| his antagonist Now, 1 ask my learned
brother to tell me, what was the state of the
soul during that fortnight" To a jury of
Scotch Presbyterians familiar with theoloyi-
metaphysics this allusion was exceedingly
pertinent and effective
| We passed into another room. Three full
wigged judges were seated upon lofty bench,
and beneath them, at little table in front,
| was large man, bent down and writing labo-
riously. AS l approached l caught side
| view of his face There was no mistakiDg-it
was Sir Walter himself?
| Was it not curious to see the most renowned
parsonage in the three Kingdoms, sitting at
| the very feet cf these men-they the court,
and be the clerk? They were indeed all
| lords" and their individual names were
| suggestive to the ear one was Robertson, son
| Of the historian Of Charles v; another was
| Gillies, brother of the renowned Grecian
scholar of that name another Mackenzie,
son Of the author Of the MAN Of Feeling 1"
These are high titles-but what were they to
| the author Of "Waverley?"
Mr.. introduced me to him at once, break
| ing in upon bis occupation with easy familiar
ity AS he arose from his seat, / was sur
prised at his robust, vigorous frame He was
| very nearly six feet in height, full ckested,
| and of farmer-like aspect His complexion
| seemed to have been originally sandy. but
now his hair was gray. lie had the rough,
| freckled, weather beaten skin Of a man who
is much in the open air; his eye was small
and gray, and pcered out keenly and inquisi
| lively from beneath heavy brow, edged with
something like gray, twisted bristles-the
whole expression Of his face, however, being
exceedingly agreeable. He wore gown, but
no wig 1t would have been sin to have
covered up that wonderful head, towering, as
we have all seen it in his portrait-the throne
Of the richest intellect in the world
lie greeted me kindly-the tone of his voice
being hearty, yet with very decided Scotch
accent. told him l had been to the High
lands "It is a little too early" said he; 81
always wish my friends to wait till the middle
of June for then the ash is in its glory. Hero