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with the most violent quarrels on both sides, at least during the first fifty years or more. In the year 1469, (tenth of Edward IV.,) Thomas Talbot, second Viscount Lisle, great-grandson of the above Elizabeth, residing at Wotton-under-Edge, was killed at Nibleygreen, in a furious skirmish between some 500 of his own retainers, and about as many of those of William, (then) Lord Berkeley, (whom he had challenged to the field,) who likewise headed his men ; when, besides the brave but ill-fated young Lisle, (scarcely of age at that time,) about 150 of their followers were slain, and 300 wounded, chiefly of the Wotton party, who fled on the fall of their leader. Lord Lisle's sisters were his heirs, and their husbands (one of whom also got the title) followed up the suit, as their descendants did after them, till down to the time of the first James, when Henry, eleventh Lord Berkeley, obtained a decree in favour of his claims, and got full and quiet possession of the lands and manors in dispute.

A MR.

THE RULING PASSION.

a Master in Chancery, was on his deathbed-a very wealthy man. Some occasion of great urgency occurred, in which it was necessary to make an affidavit, and the attorney, missing one or two other masters, whom he inquired after, ventured to ask if Mr. would be able to receive the deposition. The proposal seemed to give him momentary strength; his clerk was sent for, and the oath taken in due form. The master was lifted up in bed, and with difficulty

subscribed the paper. As he sank down again, he made a signal to his clerk-" Wallace." "Sir ?" "Your ear-lower: have you got the half-crown ?" He was dead before morning.

GOOD ADVICE.

A LAW-STUDENT one day called upon Lord Mansfield with a letter of introduction; and, after some inquiries, the veteran judge asked him if he were perfect in Coke upon Littleton. He replied that he was not altogether perfect, but intended reading it over again for the third time. "Take a little rest, sir-take a little rest," said his, Lordship. "It is my advice that you should now take a turn with Enfield's Speaker."

A CONSCIENTIOUS FEE.

A GENERAL retainer of 1000 guineas was brought to Topping, to cover the Baltic cases then in progress. His answer was, that this indicated either a doubt of his doing his duty on the ordinary terms known in the profession, (one guinea particular, or five guineas general retainer,) or an expectation that he should do something beyond the line of his duty, and therefore he must decline it. His clerk then accepted the usual sum of five guineas, and he led on these important cases for the defendants.

THE CAP FITTING.

IN an action brought by a priest of the Church of Rome against Lord Doneraile, at the Cork Assizes, Mr. Curran had to cross-examine Mr. St. Leger,

LORD ELDON'S LIBERALITY.

35

brother to the defendant; and as it was his object to depreciate his evidence, he had described him in very gross and insulting language in his speech. In doing so, he had, however, not mentioned his name. When Mr. St. Leger came to the table, and took the Testament in his hand, the plaintiff's counsel, in a tone of affected respect, addressed him, saying, "Oh, Mr. St. Leger, the jury will, I am sure, believe you without the ceremony of swearing you; your character will justify us from insisting on your oath." The witness, deceived by this mild and complimentary language, (his irritation evidently diverted his attention from the very palpable trap laid for him,) replied, with mingled surprise and vexation, "I am happy, Sir, to see you have changed the opinion you entertained of me when you were describing me awhile ago." "What, Sir! Then you confess it was a description of yourself! Gentlemen, act as you please; but I leave it to you to say, whether a thousand oaths could bind the conscience of the man I have just described."

A duel followed, in which Mr. Curran evinced very great intrepidity.

LORD ELDON'S LIBERALITY.

Ar Dronfield, in Derbyshire, two anecdotes are related of Lord Eldon, which, as examples to lord chancellors and public-spirited parishioners, cannot be too widely known. Many years ago, the incumbent of Dronfield thought proper to propose an exchange with an incompetent clergyman, when a Mr. Butterman, as a friend to the church, and some of his respectable

neighbours, took alarm at the negotiation, and wrote to the Chancellor upon the matter. The other parties calculated upon the arrangement; but on applying to the Chancellor, he signified that he could consent to no exchange, and that if the parties were tired of their positions, they might respectively resign; and there were plenty of candidates. The determination was final, and the scheme of exchange was abandoned.

In another instance, a master had been regularly appointed to the grammar school at Dronfield, on liberal principles of education; but, within a few years, some prejudice was excited against him, and the churchwardens for the time thought proper to stop his salary. On this occasion, Mr. Butterman and some friends combined in an application to Lord Eldon, and his lordship instantly directed the churchwardens to render an account of the trust within a few days. They claimed time, and were allowed a month, when, without other form, the Chancellor directed the salary to be paid to the appointed master, with all expenses.

LAWYERS IN SOCIETY.

LORD GRENVILLE on one occasion remarked, that he was always glad to meet a lawyer at a dinner-party, because he then felt sure that some good topic or other would be rationally discussed.

PARLIAMENTARY REPRIMAND.

In the reign of George II., one Crowle, a counsel of some eminence, made some observation before an election committee, which was considered to reflect on

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the House itself. He was accordingly summoned to appear at their bar; and, on his knees, he received a reprimand from the Speaker. As he rose from the floor, with the utmost nonchalance, he took out his handkerchief, and wiping his knees, coolly observed, that "it was the dirtiest house he had ever been in, in his life."

THELWALL AND ERSKINE.

JOHN THELWALL, when on his trial for treason, kept up an incessant communication with his counsel. Dissatisfied with a part of his case, he passed a slip of paper, "I will plead my own cause;" to which Erskine scribbled, "If you do, you'll be hanged." To this Thelwall instantly gave the quibbling rejoinder, "Then I'll be hanged if I do." Thelwall was an extraordinary man. Very late in life, it is understood, he declared that, ab initio, his political principles had been entirely mistaken.

LORD THURLOW ON THE WOOLSACK

THE aspect of Lord Thurlow was more solemn and imposing than almost any other person's in public life; so much so, that Mr. Fox used to say, it proved him dishonest, since no man could be so wise as he looked. Nor did he neglect any of the external circumstances, how trifling soever, by which attention and deference could be secured on the part of his audience. Not only were his periods well rounded, and the connecting matter or continuing phrases well flung in, but the tongue was so hung as to make the sonorous voice