Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-08-02

Iordship, when the judge interrupted
him, and said
Gentlemen of the jury, the learned
council has mistaken the law of Uhls
case. The law is SO and So"
To which Curran tartly replied
'If his lOrdship says so, the etiquette
Of the court demands that 1 submit,
though neither the statute nor common
law of the country should sanction MS
lordshiP's opinion but It is my duty,
and privilege, too, to inform you gen
ul6men of the Jury, that / have never
of my library"
Lord Robertson sneeringly replied
perhaps your library Is rather small,
Mr.. Curran."
Il admit, - said Curran, ''ny library
is small but have always found 1t
more profitable to read good books than
to publish bad Ones-boOlzs which their
very authors and editors are ashamed
to own"
ssSir, said the judge, lyon are forget
ting the dignity of the judicial charac-
ter"
To this Curran promptly replied
Speaking of dignity, your lOrdshlp
remind me Of a book I have read-I re
/ fer to Sristram Shandy-in which, if
your Iordship has read it, you will re-
member that the ri s b buffer, Roche,
/ on engaging in a sqUibble, lent his coat
I to a by-stander, and after the hight was
I ended he discovered that he had got a
4 good beating and lost his coat into the
/ bargain your l0rdshiP can apply the
4 illustration"
'sSir,'' said the Judge, very petUlantly,
/ eff you say another word I'l commit
/ you"
s'If YOU do, my lord, . replied Curran,
/ cOOlly, "both you and l shall nave tne
( pleasure OF rejecting that am not the
/ worst thjngv0ur lOrdship has c0nlH1ltted. y
I Curran was waited on, one morning
I before he had left his bed by a gentle
/ man whom he had ss-eNamlned with
( needless cruelty and uni justlnable 1nsO'
/ Ieuce on the previous day.
/ ftSir - said this lrst6 man, presenting
] himself in Curran's bedroom and rOUs-
/ ing the barrister from s1umber to a con-
seiousness that he was in very aVTkz
ward position, ct am the gentleman
whom you insulted yesterday, IN his
uaiesty's court of justice, in the pres
ence of the whole bar and come to de-
4 mand iusticel'
Curran measured at a glance the huge
/ person of the intruder, and concluded
that he had a poor chance in a combat
with him. So lying still, he asked:
surely, You wouldn't strike mar
when he's down 2''
ssNo, sir, no; certainly not"
''Then wish you very good morn
ing" said Curran turning over on his
side and pulling the cover closer about
his ears ppm going to take nap"
The scene was so ridiculous that the
stranger dropped his upHfted aEms burs
into a hearty roar of laughter, and ask
ed the counsellOrto shake hands witt
him. Of the genUineness of this Pt
4 aasd7st story the writer is compelled tt
entertain some unpleasant doubts, sine
he has found it in books. with numer
Tous minor variations, told OF half doZ
en- different Irish barristers.
7 Very sarcastic was Curran's reply t
a prOsy member OF Parliament, who hat
asked him
"Have you read my last speech2'
Curran replied, turning away; 6
hope I have"
More bitter still was his answer to tn
poet who, fishing for compliment
asked him:
''Have you seen my Descent int,
Hell p
"No,' said Curran, warmly, 81 SHOULD
be delighted to see it. -
Curran was once engaged in lega
argument. Behind him stood his col
league, a gentleman whose person wa
remarkably tall and slender, and Wh'
had originally intended to take orders
The judge observed that the case unde
discussion involved a question Of eccle
.siastical law. "Then, said Curran, Z"
can refer your lordship to ahigh authOri
ty behind me who was once intended
for the Church, though, in my opinion
he was filter for the steeple. '-Be1lcb an,
Bar