Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. III, No. XVII, October 1851Various
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. III, No. XVII, October 1851
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
I may here, however, mention that, during the interval between the
attack and this apology, Lord Brougham, on several occasions, aggravated
the outrage by further annoyances of Sir Edward while practicing before
him. I do not say that such annoyances were intentional--possibly they
may have been accidental--but, whichever way the fact lay, it is not to
be wondered at if Sir Edward, in the peculiar circumstances in which he
was placed, was predisposed to regard them as intentional. On one
occasion, while the learned gentleman was pleading before his lordship
in a very important cause, and just in the middle of what he conceived
to be the most essential part of his speech, Lord Brougham suddenly
threw back his head on his chair, and, closing both eyes, remained in
that position for some time, as if he had been asleep. Sir Edward Sugden
abruptly paused, waiting, no doubt, till his lordship should resume an
attitude which would be more encouraging for him to proceed with his
speech. On this, Lord Brougham suddenly started up from his reclining
position, and, resuming that in which he usually sat when on the bench,
apostrophized Sir Edward after the manner so peculiar to himself--"Go
on, Sir Edward; proceed, Sir Edward; what's the cause of the stoppage?"
"My lord," answered the latter, "I thought your lordship was not
attending to my argument."
"You have no right to think any such thing, Sir Edward; it's highly
improper in you to do so; go on, if you please."
Sir Edward resumed his speech, but had not addressed the court above two
or three minutes, when Lord Brougham, addressing the officer, said, in
his usual hasty manner, "Bring me some sheets of _letter_-paper
directly."
Of the folio size always used in court, his lordship had an abundant
supply before him.
"Yes, my lord," said the obedient officer, withdrawing for a moment to
execute his lordship's commands. He returned in a few seconds, and
placed some half-dozen sheets on the desk. His lordship immediately
snatched up a pen, and commenced writing, as if he had been inditing a
letter to some private friend. Sir Edward again paused in his address to
the court, and leaned with his elbows on the bench before him, as if
willing to wait patiently until his lordship should finish his
epistolary business.
"Sir Edward!" exclaimed the Lord Chancellor, in angry and ironical
accents, after the learned gentleman had been silent for a few
moments--"Sir Edward! pray, what's the matter now?"
"I thought, my lord, that your lordship was temporarily engaged with
some matter of your own."
"Really, Sir Edward, this is beyond endurance."
"I beg your lordship's pardon; but I thought your lordship was writing
some private letter."
"Nothing of the kind, Sir Edward," said his lordship, tartly; "nothing
of the kind. I was taking a note of some points in your speech. See,
would you like to look at it?" said he, sarcastically, at the same time
holding out the sheet of paper toward Sir Edward.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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