am listening to you."--"I observe that your lordship is
engaged in writing, and not favouring me with your attention," replied
Sir Edward. "I am signing papers of mere form," warmly retorted the
Chancellor. "You may as well say that I am not to blow my nose or take
snuff while you speak."

When counsel at the Bar, a witness named John Labron was thus
cross-examined by Brougham at York Assizes:

"What are you?"

"I am a farmer, and malt a little."

"Do you know Dick Strother?"

"No."

"Upon your oath, sir, are you not generally known by the name of Dick
Strother?"

"That has nothing to do with this business."

"I insist upon hearing an answer. Have you not obtained that name?"

"I am sometimes called so."

"Now, Dick, as you admit you are so called, do you know the story of the
hare and the ball of wax?"

"I have heard it."

"Then pray have the goodness to relate it to the judge and the jury."

"I do not exactly remember it."

"Then I will refresh your memory by relating it myself. Dick Strother
was a cobbler, and being in want of a hare for a friend, he put in his
pocket a ball of wax and took a walk into the fields, where he soon
espied one. Dick then very dexterously threw the ball of wax at her
head, where it stuck, which so alarmed poor puss that in the violence of
her haste she ran in contact with the head of another; both stuck fast
together, and Dick, lucky Dick! caught both. Dick obtained great
celebrity by telling this wondrous feat, which he always affirmed as a
truth, and from that every notorious liar in Thorner bears the title
of Dick Strother. Now, Dick--I mean John--is not that the reason why you
are called Dick Strother?"

"It may be so."

"Then you may go."

The same turbulent spirit (Lord Brougham) fell foul of many other law
lords. It is well known that in a speech made at the Temple he accused
Lord Campbell, who had just published his _Lives of the Chancellors_, of
adding a new terror to death. Lord Campbell tells an amusing story which
shows that he could retort with effect upon his noble and learned
friend. He says that he called one morning upon Brougham at his house in
Grafton Street, who "soon rushed in very eagerly, but suddenly stopped
short, exclaiming, 'Lord bless me, is it you? They told me it was
Stanley'; and notwithstanding his accustomed frank and courteous manner,
I had some difficulty in fixing his attention. In the evening I stepped
across the House to the Opp