The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-11

NV IuitO bo cuI tiIht tbo " you iobho
hended will bring o man peace ut last"
ii.
Lord Erskino's witty sayings would MI
volume. but most OF them have found theiI
way into print. Some Of those. however
quoted in this book are wholly or compare
lively new. One day. dining at the Lord
Chancellor's. where he met tho celebrated
navigator. Capt. Parry. Lord Erskine asked
him on what diet he and his crew subsisted
when frozen UP In the Polar seas. "Ah!' re.
piled the Captain. "wo had no resource but to
1.-Two on seals" And very good living. too"
replied Lord Erskine. rejecting regretfully on
the lucrative Office Of Chancellor he had been
forced to resign. that is II you keep them long
enough" Previously to this. and while still
| Lord Chancellor. being asked whether he were
going to Join the whitehall dinner at Green
wien, he answered. "Of course l ami! What
| sort Of q fish dinner would II he without the
| Great Seal ?" The author Of these recollec-
lions has heard his father relate that when
Lord Erskine had succeeded in a cause in
which his clients were the directors OF n large
coal company. they gave a great dinner to cell
sbrate theirtriumph.m making Erskine the hero
OF the occasion. When. after dinner. lie was
called upon sor a toast. he gave the following:
"sink your pits. blast your mines. dam your
~rivers.' 1t is we'll known that what was re-
ported to be said of Rufus Chonte was actually
said OF Erskine. namely. that 80 ingenious and
effective were his defences that all the most
desperate characters were Immediately con-
cerned IL ANYTHING allied him: rs long as he
lived 1t was reputed safe to rob and murder.
Crabb Robinson has recorded that no once
heard Erskine when the lattor was unques-
tionablv on the wrong side: still he not only
got a verdict out of the jury. but Robinson
himself admits that SO irresistibly did the
pleader carry his hearers along with him that
had Erskine lost the cause he should have
went.
It may be remembered that Sugden. the
father Of Lord st. Leonards. was n fashionable
barber. The author OF these recollections
tells us that his father. when q young man.
used to have his hair dressed by Sugden. the
fee being five shillings. Old Sugden had his
p~aternnl ambition. but It aimed ut m alto
gether different result from that proposed by
his son: he never looked with any favor on the
proclivities which took his heir out OF the air
dressing line OF life for which he had destined
him. He used to say to our authors father.
with n sigh of mingled regret and resignation.
what can you do with a lad. sir. who "as a
will Of his own?' Ned's a clever boy. and 1
know could we'll 'nve got to the cad of his pro-
~fession: but 'e's got the law in his mind. and
nothing would satisfy him but l must put him
with a conveyancer. Lord knows what will
come Of it! And to think OF the patronage he
would have succeeded to! All. SIR he would
add. shaking his head mournfully. "e's no
genius for the profession" Lord st. Leonnrds
was once reminded of his barber-ous origin
by n colleague. who disdainfully called him the
son OF n hairdresser. but received the well
merited retort: Yes. but IL you had been the
son Of n hairdresser you would have been u
ln irI p - Az -nitron1f'
The story Of Charles Phillips and OF the con-
fess!on made to him by Courvoisier. the muir
dercr OF Lord William Russell. Is told by tho
compiler OF these notes in a way somewhat
different from the current version. Not only
had tho assassin confessed his guilt to his
counsel. but he had admitted that lin order
that no blood might be found on his clothes)
he had approached his sleeping masters bed
side absolutely naked. and alter the deed had
washed his hands at the sink. SO that there
was no circumstantial evidence to Xix the
crime on him any moro than on his fellow
servant. who would have been inevitably
incriminated had Courvolsier been pro-
nounced innocent. Yet Phillips went
out OF his way to put tho case to the
Jury so rs to suggest this alternative.
Gentlemen Of the jury" said he solemnly.
By way Of peroration. III you convict the pris-
oner the blood OF an innocent man will be upon
your head.' Baron Parke. the Judge to
whom Phillips in his embarrassment had COM
Courvoisier'sc ontession. and whom
he consulted as to the course he ought to
adopt. was extremely displeased at being
taken into this confidence. Seeing. however.
Phillips's perpleHity. he told him ne should
have refused to hear tho confession: but that
whatever his feeling 1t should make no diner-
ence in his conduct. and that he was bound to
defend his client to the best OF his ability.
Among other lawyers OF whom we hear
something in these recollections are John
Adolphus and his son. The former was often
happy in his replies. and on one occasion
availed himself OF this gift to take down
Scarlet. the great N'si Itius leader. who was
phus and Scarlet being on opposite sides.the
latter. not content with domlneering over the
court. turned to the opposing counsel and
asked: Are you aware. Mr.. Adolphus. that
you are not at the Ola Balley"' / am. SIR
nswer Adolphus. 1here II Is tho Judge
who presldes' and not the counsel The son.