drews in his book, _The Lawyer in History, Literature, and
Humour_, relates that a leader of the Bar on rising to address the
drowsy jury after a ponderous oration by Sir Samuel Prime, said:
"Gentlemen, after the long speech of the learned serjeant--" "Sir, I
beg your pardon," interrupted Mr. Justice Nares, "you might say--you
might say--after the long soliloquy, for my brother Prime has been
talking an hour to himself."

* * * * *

[Illustration: THOMAS ERSKINE, BARON ERSKINE, LORD CHANCELLOR.]

Thomas, Lord Erskine was the youngest of three brothers, who were all
distinguished men. The eldest was the well-known Earl of Buchan, one of
the founders of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, whose
eccentricities formed the subject of much gossip in the Scottish
capital. To an English nobleman he declared: "My brothers Harry and Tom
are certainly remarkable men, but they owe everything to me." Seeing a
look of surprise upon his friend's face he added: "Yes, it is true; they
owe everything to me. On my father's death they pressed me for an annual
allowance. I knew this would have been their ruin, by relaxing their
industry. So making a sacrifice of my inclinations to gratify them I
refused to give them a farthing, and they have thriven ever
since--_owing everything to me_."

Henry, the second brother, was universally beloved and respected, and one
of the most popular advocates at the Scottish Bar. He was twice
Lord-Advocate for Scotland--on the second occasion under the Ministry of
"All the Talents," when his younger brother was Lord Chancellor. He was
famous in the Parliament House and outside of it for his witticisms, a
selection of which will be given later.

Thomas, who became Lord Chancellor, obtained an unique influence while
practising at the Bar, and, like his older brother, he was a universal
favourite. "Juries have declared," said Lord Brougham, "that they have
felt it impossible to remove their looks from him when he had riveted,
and as it were fascinated, them by his first glance. Then hear his
voice, of surpassing sweetness, clear, flexible, strong, exquisitely
fitted to strains of serious earnestness." Yet although he did not rely
on wit, or humour, or sarcasm in addressing a jury, he could use them to
effect in cross-examination. "You were born and bred in Manchester, I
perceive," he said to a witness. "Yes."--"I knew it," said Erskine
carelessly, "from the absurd tie of y