inity was prevalent in the district,
the judge began his address to the jury with the significant remark: "Of
course, gentlemen, you will acquit your own relatives." In another case
of larceny of pantaloons which was clearly proved, but in which the
thief got a good character for honesty, he began: "Gentlemen, the
prisoner was an honest boy, but he stole the pantaloons."

"I merely wish to address your lordship on the form of the indictment,
if your lordship pleases," said a young barrister to the Chief Baron.
"Oh, certainly, I will hear you with mighty great pleasure, sir; but
I'll be after taking the verdict of the jury first," was the sarcastic
reply.

The brother of Chief Baron O'Grady once caught a boy stealing turnips
from one of his fields and asked his lordship if the culprit could be
prosecuted under the Timber Acts. "No," said the Chief Baron, "unless
you can prove that your turnips are sticky."

* * * * *

Yelverton, first Baron Avonmore, possessed remarkable rhetorical
ability and a highly cultivated mind. He rose rapidly at the Bar, until
he became Chief Baron of Exchequer. He was the founder of the convivial
order of St. Patrick, called "The Monks of the Screw," of which Curran,
who wrote its charter song, was Prior. Avonmore was a man of warm and
benevolent feelings, which he gave vent to in an equal degree in private
life, in the senate, and on the Bench.

Before giving an anecdote of Lord Avonmore it may interest readers,
especially English and Scottish, to quote here the charter song of this
famous Irish convivial club of the eighteenth century.

THE CHARTER SONG OF THE
MONKS OF THE SCREW

When St. Patrick this order establish'd,
He called us the "Monks of the Screw"!
Good rules he reveal'd to our Abbot,
To guide us in what we should do.
But first he replenish'd our fountain,
With liquor the best in the sky;
And he swore on the word of a saint
That the fountain should never run dry.

Each year when your octaves approach,
In full chapter convened let me find you,
And when to the convent you come
Leave your favourite temptation behind you;
And be not a glass in your convent,
Unless on a festival found;
And this rule to enforce I ordain it,
Our festival all the year round.

My brethren, be chaste till you're tempted;
While sober be grave and discreet;
And humble your bodies