Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 06.pdf/568

 The Eloquence of Silence. "' It is doubtful, I should think, Mr. Blank, when Congress will adjourn; perhaps not for some time yet, as great bodies, you know, move slowly.' "' Do you hear anything important from that quarter, General?' "' Nothing, Mr. Blank.' "Mr. Blank by this time had become very dry in the throat — a sensation, I have been told, one is very apt to feel who finds himself in a embarrassing position, from

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which he begins to see no possibility of escape. He feared to advance, and did not know how to make a successful retreat. At last, after one or two desperate and in effectual struggles to regain self-possession, finding himself all the while within pointblank range of that raking eye, he wholly broke down, and took his leave, with out the least allusion to the matter of insurance. "He never returned to claim the money."

JUSTICE IN BRITISH HONDURAS. X/E went to the Grand Court. On the back wall, in a massive mahogany tab let, were the arms of England; on a high platform beneath was a large circular table, around which were heavy mahogany chairs with high backs and cushions. Five of the judges were in their places; one of them was a mulatto. The jury were empanelled, and two of the jurors were mulattoes ^ one of them, as thejudge who sat next me said, was a Sambo, and of the descending line, being the son of a mulatto woman and a black man. was at a loss to determine the caste of a third, and inquired of the judge, who answered that he was his (the judge's) brother, and that his mother was a mulatto woman. I had noticed the judges and jurors, but I missed an important part of an English Court. Where were the gen tlemen of the bar? Some of my readers will, perhaps, concur with Captain Hamp ton, that Balize was the last place made, when I tell them that there was not a single lawyer in the place and never had been; but, lest some of my enterprising profes sional brethren should forthwith be tempted to pack their trunks for a descent upon the exempt city, I consider it my duty to add that I do not believe there is the least chance for one. As there is no bar to pre

pare men for the bench, the judges, of course, are not lawyers. Of the five then sitting, two were merchants, one a mahogany cutter, and the mulatto, second to none of the others in character or qualifications, a doctor. This Court is the highest tribunal for the trial of civil causes, and has jurisdiction of all amounts above £t>. Balize is a place of large commercial transactions; contracts are daily made and broken, or misunderstood, which require the interven tion of some proper tribunal to interpret and compel their fulfilment, and there was no absence of litigation; the calendar was large, and the court room crowded. The first cause called was upon an account, when the defendant did not appear, and a verdict was taken by default. In the next the plaintiff stated his case and swore to it: the defendant answered, called witnesses, and the cause was submitted to the jury. There was no case of particular interest. In one the parties became excited, and the defendant interrupted the plaintiff repeat edly, on which the latter, putting his hand upon the shoulders of his antagonist, said in a coaxing way, "Now don't, George; wait a little, you shall have your turn; don't in terrupt me, and I won't you." All was done in a familiar and colloquial