DOI Heft:
January to June, 1844
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16519#0077
60 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
PUNCH'S REVIEW OF BOOKS.
mr. roebuck's speeches at the bar, before and since his elevation
to the rank of queen's counsel.
The Bar of England has long been distinguished for its eloquence,
and the custom of publishing a collection of speeches is a common
one with popular advocates. Mr. Roebuck's elevation to a silk gown
has caused considerable curiosity to be felt as to what he has done
in his profession, and has led to the publication of his speeches at
the Bar in a pamphlet of sixteen pages, two of which are occupied
by the title, two more by the fly-leaf, four by an introduction, six by
a preface, and the speeches themselves occupy the remainder of the
space which is devoted to them. It is not for us to criticise these
splendid specimens of ratiocination mingled with law,—in which the
broth of research is seasoned with the pepper of eloquence. We
therefore give one of the speeches entire—the collection consists of
no less than two—in order that the reader may himself judge of the
merit of the production.
The speech we are about to quote was made in the presence of the
writer of this notice, who never can forget the impression which it
created on a mind then fresh in all the buoyancy of hope, and redo-
lent with that respect for genius, which time, alas ! mows down like a
8cythe among the buttercups. But we are forgetting the speech,
which we print, word for word, as it was delivered :—
"May it please your Lordships,—
" In a case of Doe on
the demise of Roe against Smith,
I am instructed to move for
a rule, which I think your
Lordships, when you have heard all I have to say, will not refuse
to me.
[Denman, C J.—" That depends upon circumstances, Mr. Roe-
buck."]
My Lord, we are all of us, I know, the creatures of circumstances ;
and, as the poet,—
[Williams, J.—"Pray, sir, don't tell us anything about the poet
unless he is a party to the rule."]
Your Lordship is right. You have brought me back from those
realms, where fancy, like the Lybian bird—
[Patteson, J.—"We can't notice the Lybian bird, unless he has
been served with a copy of the pleadings. Pray, sir, let us know
what you are going to move for !"]
My Lords, I wish for nothing but a rule to compute ; and in asking
for that rule—
[Denman, C. J.—" You can have it, sir ; and, indeed, you might
have handed that motion in."]
Indeed, my Lord ! Then I shall know what to do another time."
Such was the peroration of the speech of Mr. Roebuck; and as he
gave out the words, " I shall know what to do another time," he
looked like a lion whose mane had been ignobly pulled, and who was
smarting under it. The " other time " has not yet come ; but when
it does, we have no doubt Mr. Roebuck M ill be amply prepared
for it.
Irish Legal Intelligence.
We understand that the Irish Attorney-General is desirous of practising
pistol-shooting, as a preliminary to a new Collection of Reports, which he
intends bringing out when an opportunity offers.
AN IRISH MODE OF "CHALLENGING A JURY."—Vide "State T,ti.vi3."
PUNCH'S REVIEW OF BOOKS.
mr. roebuck's speeches at the bar, before and since his elevation
to the rank of queen's counsel.
The Bar of England has long been distinguished for its eloquence,
and the custom of publishing a collection of speeches is a common
one with popular advocates. Mr. Roebuck's elevation to a silk gown
has caused considerable curiosity to be felt as to what he has done
in his profession, and has led to the publication of his speeches at
the Bar in a pamphlet of sixteen pages, two of which are occupied
by the title, two more by the fly-leaf, four by an introduction, six by
a preface, and the speeches themselves occupy the remainder of the
space which is devoted to them. It is not for us to criticise these
splendid specimens of ratiocination mingled with law,—in which the
broth of research is seasoned with the pepper of eloquence. We
therefore give one of the speeches entire—the collection consists of
no less than two—in order that the reader may himself judge of the
merit of the production.
The speech we are about to quote was made in the presence of the
writer of this notice, who never can forget the impression which it
created on a mind then fresh in all the buoyancy of hope, and redo-
lent with that respect for genius, which time, alas ! mows down like a
8cythe among the buttercups. But we are forgetting the speech,
which we print, word for word, as it was delivered :—
"May it please your Lordships,—
" In a case of Doe on
the demise of Roe against Smith,
I am instructed to move for
a rule, which I think your
Lordships, when you have heard all I have to say, will not refuse
to me.
[Denman, C J.—" That depends upon circumstances, Mr. Roe-
buck."]
My Lord, we are all of us, I know, the creatures of circumstances ;
and, as the poet,—
[Williams, J.—"Pray, sir, don't tell us anything about the poet
unless he is a party to the rule."]
Your Lordship is right. You have brought me back from those
realms, where fancy, like the Lybian bird—
[Patteson, J.—"We can't notice the Lybian bird, unless he has
been served with a copy of the pleadings. Pray, sir, let us know
what you are going to move for !"]
My Lords, I wish for nothing but a rule to compute ; and in asking
for that rule—
[Denman, C. J.—" You can have it, sir ; and, indeed, you might
have handed that motion in."]
Indeed, my Lord ! Then I shall know what to do another time."
Such was the peroration of the speech of Mr. Roebuck; and as he
gave out the words, " I shall know what to do another time," he
looked like a lion whose mane had been ignobly pulled, and who was
smarting under it. The " other time " has not yet come ; but when
it does, we have no doubt Mr. Roebuck M ill be amply prepared
for it.
Irish Legal Intelligence.
We understand that the Irish Attorney-General is desirous of practising
pistol-shooting, as a preliminary to a new Collection of Reports, which he
intends bringing out when an opportunity offers.
AN IRISH MODE OF "CHALLENGING A JURY."—Vide "State T,ti.vi3."