Child, I was some years in the Temple; but the death of my brother robb'd the robe of my labours. Mrs. SIMPER. What a loss to the public! Sir LUKE. You are smart, Mrs. Simper. I can tell you, Serjeant Snuffle, whose manner I study'd, pronounc'd me a promising youth. Mrs. SIMPER. I don't doubt it. Sir LUKE. But let us to business. And first, for the state of the case: The parties you know are Hobson and Nobson; the object of litigation is a small parcel of land, which is to decide the fate of a borough. Mrs. CIRCUIT. True; call'd Turnbury Mead. Sir LUKE. Very well. Then to bring matters to a short issue, it was agreed, that Nobson should on the premises cut down a tree, and Hobson bring his action of damage. Mrs. CIRCUIT. True, true. Sir LUKE. The jury being sworn, and the counsellors feed, the court may proceed.--Take your seats--But hold--I hope no gentleman has been touch'd on both sides. ALL. Oh! fye! Sir LUKE. Let silence be call'd. Mrs. SIMPER. Silence in the court! Sir LUKE. But stop. To be regular, and provide for fresh causes, we must take no notice of the borough and lands, the real objects in view, but stick fast to the tree, which is of no importance at all. ALL. True, true. Sir LUKE. Brother Circuit, you may proceed. Mrs. CIRCUIT. Gentlemen of the Jury.--I am in this cause counsel for Hobson, the plaintiff.--The action is brought against Nebuchadonezer Nobson, That he the said Nobson did cut down a tree, value two-pence, and to his own use said tree did convert.--Nobson justifies, and claims tree as his tree. We will, gentlemen, first state the probable evidence, and then come to the positive: and first as to the probable.--When was this tree here belonging to Hobson, and claim'd by Nobson, cut down? Was it cut down publicly in the day, in the face of the sun, men, women, and children, all the world looking on?--No; it was cut down privately, in the night, in a dark night, nobody _did_ see, nobody _could_ see.--Hum--And then with respect and regard to this tree, I am instructed to say, gentlemen, it was a beautiful, an ornamental tree to the spot where it grew. Now can it be thought that any man would come for to go in the middle of the night, nobody seeing, nobody _did_ see, nobody _could_ see, and cut down a tree, which tree was an ornamental tree, if tree had been his tree?--Certainly no.--And again, gentlemen, we moreover insist, that this tree was not only ornamental to the spot where it grew, but it was a useful tree to the owner; it was a plumb-tree, and not only a plum-tree, but I am authored to say the best of plum-trees, it was a damsin plum.--Now can it be thought, that any man wou'd come for to go, in the middle of the night, nobody seeing, nobody _did_ see, nobody _could_ see, and cut down a tree; which tree was not only an ornamental tree, but a useful tree, and not only a useful tree, but a plum-tree; and not only a plum-tree, but the best of