by a barrier, on one side of which were arranged
the bench, dock, jury-box, and everything else appertaining to the
functions of Justice; and on the other side stood the general public.
But as yet the Court was not assembled, save for half-a-dozen be-wigged
barristers and a few policemen; and the public, crowded like cattle in a
pen, discussed in suppressed tones such matters as seemed good.

Presently, a door beside the bench opened, and a very fat bailiff,
preceding the Judge himself, who was followed by many minions of the
law, advanced into the body of the court, and cried, "Silence for His
Honor the Queen's Judge!" struck the butt of his long staff upon the
floor, and proceeded to deliver a long rigmarole, couched in early
English, the tenor of which was that the proceedings about to take place
were most solemn and dignified, and all men must keep silence in order
that His Honour the Judge might hear himself speak.

Then the Judge seated himself on the bench, nodded to all the
barristers, who thereupon immediately sat down likewise, and then the
policemen, looking fiercely at the harmless, herded public, cried in
angry tones for "Silence! Silence! Silence!" though not a man had so
much as coughed since the great Judge had entered.

There seeming to be no fear of a demonstration against Law, Order, and
Justice, a be-wigged gentleman who sat immediately in front of the
Judge, in the manner that the clerk used to sit before the parson in the
days of the three-decker pulpit, stood up, and after consulting various
little bits of paper, called and empanelled the Grand Jury, a most
important body of men, comprising all that was substantial and wealthy
in Timber Town--short, fat men; tall, thin men; men of medium height;
bullet-headed men, long-headed men, bald-headed men, and one man who was
known to dye his hair; men whose stomachs rested on their knees as they
sat; men who looked as though they had not had a full meal for a month;
men dressed in tweeds; men dressed in black broad-cloth as if for a
funeral; men with gay flowers in the button-holes of their coats;
bearded men, and shorn men; as varied an assortment of men as could
pronounce opinion on any case.

Each member of this queer company having been furnished with a little
testament, the legal luminary administered the oath, and they kissed the
book literally like one man, and sat down with a shuffling of feet that
was truly disgraceful in so sedate an assembly