practice to browbeat opposing counsel
and witnesses, and through which he acquired his _sobriquet_. On one
occasion his opponent was a dark-visaged barrister who had made out a
good case for his client. Egan, in the course of an eloquent address,
begged the jury not to be carried away by the "dark oblivion of a
brow."--"What do you mean by using such balderdash?" said a friend. "It
may be balderdash," replied Egan, "but depend upon it, it will do very
well for that jury." On another occasion he concluded a vituperative
address by describing the defendant as "a most naufrageous
ruffian."--"What sort of a ruffian is that?" whispered his junior. "I
have no idea," responded Egan, "but I think _it sounds well_."

* * * * *

H. D. Grady was a strong supporter, in the Irish Parliament, of the
Union of Great Britain and Ireland, although he represented a
constituency strongly opposed to it; and he did not conceal the fact
that the Government had made it worth his while to support them. "What!"
exclaimed one of his constituents who remonstrated with him; "do you
mean to sell your country?"--"Thank God," cried this patriot, "I have a
country to sell."

For his Court work this anti-Nationalist barrister had what he called
his "jury-eye." When he wanted a jury to note a particular point he kept
winking his right eye at them. Entering the Court one day looking very
depressed, a sympathetic friend asked if he was quite well, adding, "You
are not so lively as usual."--"How can I be," replied Grady, "my
jury-eye is out of order."

He was examining a foreign sailor at Cork Assizes. "You are a Swede, I
believe?"--"No, I am not."--"What are you then?"--"I am a Dane." Grady
turned to the jury, "Gentlemen, you hear the equivocating scoundrel. _Go
down, sir!_"

Judge Boyd who, according to O'Connell, was guilty of sipping his wine
through a peculiarly made tube from a metal inkstand, to which we have
already referred, one day presided at a trial where a witness was
charged with being intoxicated at the time he was speaking about. Mr.
Harry Grady laboured hard to show that the man had been sober. Judge
Boyd at once interposed and said: "Come now, my good man, it is a very
important consideration; tell the Court truly, were you drunk or were
you sober upon that occasion?"--"Oh, quite sober, my Lord." Grady added,
with a significant look at the _inkstand_, "As sober as a judge!"

* * *