Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 04.pdf/633

 596

Next, libells, gentlemen, present, Which all mistakes for to prevent I thus define : it is, to wit, Not what is spoke, but what is writ Or printed upon paper sheets And cry'd by wenches about the streets. A libell easily is writt No matter whether it has wit Or truth, for that is not the point

So they can say but something quaint. Next nuisances, but chiefly naming Such as is all unlawful gaming And cheats, which hydra-like arise, Sharpers with cards and loaded dice On silly callys still are sharking Only to keep themselves from working. Philip Yorke.

RECREATIONS OF LAWYERS. ANGLING (salmon-fishing, perhaps, excepted) is not a favorite sport with lawyers. It is, as old Isaac Walton calls it, "the contemplative man's recreation; " and the lawyer is the reverse of contemplative. Lord Bacon was, indeed, a notable exception; but his " contemplative planet " went near to marring his fortunes. Hence the average lawyer is inclined to indorse Dr. Johnson's uncomplimentary definition of a fishing-rod. What anglers there are are mostly Chancery barristers; yet Lord Westbury delighted in a day's trout-fishing; indeed, it was almost the only relaxation he allowed himself while Chancellor. Cricket, on the other hand, like Catholic truth, is received, semper, tibique, ab omnibus. To play it scientifically, to play in county matches, requires more time than the practising lawyer can afford; but to play it in an amateurish way is open to all. The present writer, then a very small boy, used to play at this invigorating pastime with the late Sergeant Parry, and he has a lively recollection of the portly sergeant tripping on one occasion in his fielding, and measur ing his length on the greensward. " Many a rood he lay." Only quite recently Mr. Justice Grantham broke his leg in the most honorable manner in assisting at a village cricket-match. Sir Alexander Cockburn's ruling passion was yachting. Mr. Justice Wills has achieved distinction as an Alpine climber. It was while bathing that the

lamented Lord Justice Thesiger was struck by a wave which caused his untimely death. Sir Frederick Pollock is an expert swords man. That " Admiral Crichton," Mr. Justice Chitty, is as much at home with the racquet and the oar as he is with the technicalities of equity, to quote only a few instances of the physical vigor and versatility of the English bar and bench. Riding, says the poet, Mathew Green (and rightly), "I reckon very good To brace the nerves and stir the blood." Lord Campbell rode every morning to Westminster Hall and back in the evening. So did Lord Abinger, though very corpulent; so did Malins, V. C, to Lincoln's Inn, till he broke his arm. Many a hard-worked barrister, Sir Horace Davey included, takes his morning gallop in the Row. In the old days, when judges rode the circuits, riding was a very necessary judicial accomplish ment; but in Lord Tenterden's time this had yielded to the post-chaise; and when Lord Tenterden was recommended horse exercise, he distinctly declined, saying he should cer tainly fall off, like an ill-balanced sack of corn, as he had never crossed a horse any more than a rhinoceros, — which reminds one of Lord Macaulay's remark when he was offered a horse to take him as minister to Windsor : " If her Majesty wishes to see me ride, she must order out an elephant."