e thin cocoa, which the doctor had
ordered instead of the "skilly" to stop my diarrhoea. The Governor
kindly allowed one of my friends to fetch me a little brandy. Then we
drove back to prison, where I had some more dry bread and thin cocoa.
The next morning, after an exactly similar meal, we drove down again to
the court.

Lord Coleridge's summing-up lasted nearly two hours, and, like my
defence, it was listened to by a crowded court, which included a large
number of gentlemen of the wig and gown. His lordship's address is
reported at length in the "Three Trials for Blasphemy," and a revised
copy was published by himself. His view of the law has been dealt with
already in my Preface. What I wish to say here is, that Lord Coleridge's
demeanor was in marked contrast with Judge North's. I cannot do better
than quote a few passages from an open letter I addressed to his
lordship soon after my release:

"How were my feelings modified by your lordship's lofty
bearing! I found myself in the presence of a judge who was
a gentleman. You treated me with impartiality, and a generous
consideration for my misfortunes. No one could doubt your
sincerity when, in the midst of a legal illustration which might
be construed as a reflection on my character, you suddenly
checked yourself, and said, 'I mean no offence to Mr. Foote.
I should be unworthy of my position if I insulted anyone in his.'
You were scrupulously, almost painfully, careful to say nothing
that could assist the prosecution or wound my susceptibilities.
You appeared to tremble lest your own convictions should
prejudice you, and the jury through you, against me and my
fellow prisoner. You listened with the deepest attention to
my long address to the jury. You discussed all my arguments
that you considered essential in your summing-up; and you
strengthened some of them, while deprecating others, with a
logical force and beauty of expression which were at once my
admiration and my despair. You paid me such handsome compliments
on my defence in the most trying circumstances as dispelled at
once the orthodox theory that I was a mere vulgar criminal.
In brief, my lord, you displayed such a lofty spirit of justice,
such a tenderness of humanity, and such a dignity of bearing,
that you commanded my admiration, my reverence and my love;
and if the jury h