The Reminiscences Of Sir Henry Hawkins (Baron Brampton)

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Title: The Reminiscences Of Sir Henry Hawkins (Baron Brampton)
Author: Henry Hawkins Brampton
Release Date: December 6, 2003 [EBook #10392]
Language: English
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[Illustration: SIR HENRY HAWKINS AND "JACK." _Photo by Elliot & Fry_.]

THE
REMINISCENCES
OF
SIR HENRY HAWKINS
(BARON BRAMPTON)
EDITED BY
RICHARD HARRIS, K.C.

PREFACE.
As a preface I wish to say only a very few words--namely, that but for the great pressure put upon me I should not have ventured to write, or allowed to be published, any reminiscences of mine, being very conscious that I could not offer to the public any words of my own that would be worth the time it would occupy to read them; but the whole merit of this volume is due to my very old friend Richard Harris, K.C., who has already shown, by his skill and marvellously attractive composition in reproducing my efforts in the Tichborne case, what interest may be imparted to an otherwise very dry subject. In that work[A] he has done me much more than justice, and for this I thank him, with many good wishes for the success of this his new work, and with many thanks to those of the public who may take and feel an interest in such of my imperfect reminiscences as are here recorded.
BRAMPTON.
HARROGATE, _August 17, 1904_.
[Footnote A: "Illustrations in Advocacy" (fourth edition, Stevens and Haynes).]

EDITOR'S PREFACE.
This volume is the outcome of many conversations with Lord Brampton and of innumerable manuscript notes from his pen. I have endeavoured, as far as possible, to present them to the public in such a manner that, although chronological order has not been strictly adhered to, it has been, nevertheless, considering the innumerable events of Lord Brampton's career, carefully observed.
Apocryphal stories are always told of celebrated men, and of no one more than of Sir Henry Hawkins during his career on the Bench and at the Bar; but I venture to say that there is no doubtful story in this volume, and, further, that there is not one which has ever been told exactly in the same form before. Good stories, like good coin, lose by circulation. If there should be one or two in these reminiscences which have lost their image and superscription by much handling, I hope that the recasting which they have undergone will give them, not only the brightness of the original mint, but a wider circulation than they have ever known.
The distinguishing characteristics by which Lord Brampton's stories may be known I have long been familiar with, and have no hesitation in saying that one or other, some or all, may be found in every anecdote that bears the genuine stamp. They are
WIT, HUMOUR, PATHOS, AND TRAGEDY.
My claims in the production of this volume are confined to its defects, although Lord Brampton has been generous enough to attribute to me a share in its merits.
RICHARD HARRIS.
27 FITZJOHN'S AVENUE,
HAMPSTEAD,
October 6, 1904.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER
I. AT BEDFORD SCHOOL
II. IN MY UNCLE'S OFFICE
III. SECOND YEAR--THESIGER AND PLATT--MY FIRST BRIEF
IV. AT THE OLD BAILEY IN THE OLD TIMES
V. MR. JUSTICE MAULE
VI. AN INCIDENT ON THE ROAD TO NEWMARKET
VII. AN EPISODE AT HERTFORD QUARTER SESSIONS
VIII. A DANGEROUS SITUATION--A CASE OF FORGETFULNESS
IX. THE ONLY "RACER" I EVER OWNED--SAM LINTON, THE DOG-FINDER
X. WHY I GAVE OVER CARD-PLAYING
XI. "CODD'S PUZZLE"
XII. GRAHAM, THE POLITE JUDGE
XIII. GLORIOUS OLD DAYS--THE HON. BOB GRIMSTON, AND MANY OTHERS--CHICKEN-HAZARD
XIV. PETER RYLAND--THE REV. MR. FAKER AND THE WELSH WILL
XV. TATTERSALL'S--BARON MARTIN, HARRY HILL, AND THE OLD FOX IN THE YARD
XVI. ARISING OUT OF THE "ORSINI AFFAIR"
XVII. APPOINTED QUEEN'S COUNSEL--A SERIOUS ILLNESS--SAM LEWIS
XVIII. THE PRIZE--FIGHT ON FRIMLEY COMMON
XIX. SAM WARREN, THE AUTHOR OF "TEN THOUSAND A YEAR"
XX. THE BRIGHTON CARD-SHARPING CASE
XXI. THE KNEBWORTH THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENTS--SIR EDWARD BULWER LYTTON--CHARLES DICKENS, CHARLES MATHEWS, MACREADY, DOUGLAS JERROLD
XXII. CROCKFORD'S--"HOOKS AND EYES"--DOUGLAS JERROLD
XXIII. ALDERSON, TOMKINS, AND A FREE COUNTRY--A PROBLEM IN HUMAN NATURE
XXIV. CHARLES MATHEWS--A HARVEST FESTIVAL AT THE VILLAGE CHURCH
XXV. COMPENSATION--NICE CALCULATIONS IN OLD DAYS--EXPERTS--LLOYD AND I
XXVI. ELECTION PETITIONS
XXVII. MY CANDIDATURE FOR BARNSTAPLE
XXVIII. THE TICHBORNE CASE
XXIX. A VISIT TO SHEFFIELD--MRS. HAILSTONE'S DANISH BOARHOUND
XXX. AN EXPERT IN HANDWRITING--"DO YOU KNOW JOE BROWN?"
XXXI. APPOINTED A JUDGE--MY FIRST TRIAL FOR MURDER
XXXII. ON THE MIDLAND CIRCUIT
XXXIII. JACK
XXXIV. TWO TRAGEDIES
XXXV. THE ST. NEOTS CASE
XXXVI. A NIGHT AT NOTTINGHAM
XXXVII. HOW I MET AN INCORRIGIBLE PUNSTER
XXXVIII. THE TILNEY STREET OUTRAGE--"ARE YOU NOT GOING TO PUT ON THE BLACK CAP, MY LORD?"
XXXIX. SEVERAL SCENES
XL. DR. LAMSON--A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY--A WILL