scussion, and
that the astronomers parted without arriving at an agreement, Plunket
quietly remarked: "It must be a very serious quarrel indeed, when even
the seconds cannot agree."

Once applying the common expression to accommodation bills of exchange,
that they were _mere kites_, the judge, an English Chancellor, said "he
never heard that expression applied before to any but the kites of
boys."--"Oh," replied Plunket, "that's the difference between kites in
England and in Ireland. In England the wind raises the kite, but in
Ireland the kite raises the wind."

Everybody (says Phillips) knew how acutely Plunket felt his forced
resignation of the chancellorship, and his being superseded by Lord
Campbell. A violent storm arose on the day of Campbell's expected
arrival, and a friend remarking to Plunket how sick of his promotion the
passage must have made the new Chancellor: "Yes," said the former,
ruefully, "but it won't make him throw up the seals."

* * * * *

Mr. Frankfort Moore, in his _Journalist's Notebook_, relates how Justice
Lawson summed up in the case of a man who was charged with stealing a
pig. The evidence of the theft was quite conclusive, and, in fact, was
not combated; but the prisoner called the priests and neighbours to
attest to his good character. "Gentlemen of the jury," said the judge,
"I think that the only conclusion you can arrive at is, that the pig was
stolen by the prisoner, and that he is the most amiable man in the
country."

CHAPTER FOUR

THE BARRISTERS OF IRELAND

"'Men that hire out their words and anger'; that are more or
less passionate according as they are paid for it, and allow
their client a quantity of wrath proportionable to the fee
which they receive from him."

ADDISON: _The Spectator_.

CHAPTER FOUR

THE BARRISTERS OF IRELAND

The Irish counsel like the occupants of the Bench were, in early times,
eminent for their jolly carousing. Once, about 1687, a heavy argument
coming on before Lord Chancellor Fitton, Mr. Nagle, the solicitor,
retained Sir Toby Butler as counsel, who entered into a bargain that he
would not drink a drop of wine while the case was at hearing. This
bargain reached the ears of the Chancellor, who asked Sir Toby if it was
true that such a compact had been made. The counsel said it was true,
and the bargain had been rigidly kept; but on further inquiry he
admitted that as h