Page:A memoir of Granville Sharp.djvu/12

8 years, and was gradually recovering, when his former master, David Lisle, met and recognized him one day in the streets. David Lisle immediately laid his plan; had Strong seized soon after by legal authority, and lodged in the Poultry Compter. The poor man made known his case, as quickly as possible to Granville Sharp. On the 18th September, 1767, the cause was tried at the Mansion House, and the Lord Mayor finding no evidence against him, told Strong that he was at liberty. "I seize him," grasping Strong's arm, exclaimed Captain Laird, who attended on the part of the prosecutor, "as the property of Mr. Kerr." "And I charge you," said Granville Sharp severely, tapping him on the shoulder, "for an assault." Capt. Laird, alarmed, immediately relinquished his lawless hold, and Strong went forth unimpeded. For this procedure, Granville Sharp, was charged with robbery, by David Lisle, and received a challenge to give gentlemanlike satisfaction. "You are a lawyer," said Sharp, "and you shall want no satisfaction which the law can give you."

But the lawyers whom Sharp consulted declared that the laws were against him. Sir James Eyre, Recorder of the City, whom he retained as his counsel, adduced to him, York and Talbot's opinion, and informed him that Lord Chief Justice Mansfield, agreed with these gentlemen.

Did he yield; No—Not "like the tender blossom, warm in summer bowers" was he—but like the storm-rocked oak, which "each assailing blast, increase of strength supplies." Eternal law was written on his bosom—the eternal law of righteousness and love. He would not believe that the laws of his country could be so utterly at variance with it, and he determined to probe the matter to the bottom. He began an intense and comprehensive study of British law; and his enemies, dubious of their boasted grounds, artfully protracting the trial, allowed him all the leisure which he needed. In this difficult task, he had no instructor but God—no assistant, except his own diligence—no encourager, except his conscience. The result of his research was a tract, "On the injustice and dangerous