The Reminiscences Of Sir Henry Hawkins (Baron Brampton) | Page 8

a matter of course,
from all paternal control.
But I was never a "man about town." To be that you must have plenty
of money or none at all, and in either case you are an object to avoid. I
had, nevertheless, a great many pleasures that a young man from the
country can enjoy. I loved horse-racing, cricket, and the prize-ring. It
was not because pugilism was a fashionable amusement in those days
that I attended a "set-to" occasionally; I went on my own account, not
to ape people in the fashionable world, and enjoyed it on my own
account, not because they liked it, but because I did.
My rent at this time of my entrance into the fashionable world was £12
a year; my laundress, perhaps, a little less. She earned it by coming up
the stairs; but she was a good old soul. I remembered her long years
after, and always with gratitude for her many kindnesses in those
gloomy days. Her name was Hannem.
Of course, I had to buy the necessary books for my professional use,
coals, and other things, and after paying all these I had to live on the
narrow margin of my £100 a year.

This recollection is very pleasing. I never got into debt, and never
wanted; but I had to be frugal and avoid every unnecessary expense.
But the time at last came when I was no longer to rest on my lonely
perch at the top of Elm Court. I had kept my terms, and was duly called
to the Bar of the Middle Temple on May 3, 1843.
Just fifty years after, when I was a judge, and almost the Senior
Bencher of my Inn, our illustrious Sovereign, then Prince of Wales,
who is also a Bencher of the Middle Temple, favoured us with his
presence at dinner, and did me the honour to propose my health in a
gracious speech. On returning thanks for this kindness, I told the
crowded audience of my jubilee, and pointed out the spot where fifty
years before I had held my call party.

CHAPTER III.
SECOND YEAR--THESIGER AND PLATT--MY FIRST BRIEF.
In my second year I made fifty pounds, the sweetest fifty pounds I ever
made. I had no longer any weary waiting, for there was no weariness in
it, and I confess at this time my sole idea, and I may add my only
ambition, was to relieve myself of all obligations to my father. If I
could accomplish this, I should have vindicated the step I had taken,
and my father would have no further right, whatever reason he might
think he had, to complain.
My third year came, and then, to my great joy, finding that I was
earning more than the hundred pounds he allowed me, I wrote and
informed him, with all proper expressions of gratitude, that I should no
longer need his assistance, and from that time I never had a single
farthing that I did not earn.
I am sure I was prouder of that than of my peerage, for I experienced
for the first time the joyous pride of independence. There is no fruit of
labour so sweet as that.

But I no sooner began to obtain a little success than my rivals and
others tried to deprive me of the merit of it, if merit there was--"Oh, of
course his father and uncle are both solicitors in the county;" while one
of the local newspapers years after was good enough to publish a
paragraph which stated that I owed all my success to my father's office.
This, of course, does not need contradiction. An occasional small brief
from Hitchin was the beginning and the end of my father's influence,
while sessions practice was not the practice I hoped to finish my career
with, although I had little hopes of eminence. Certainly if I had I should
have known that eminence could not come from Hitchin.
I chose the Home Circuit, and did not leave it till I was made a judge. It
is impossible to forget the kindness I received from its members
throughout my whole career. There was a brotherly feeling amongst us,
which made life very pleasant.
There were several celebrated men on the Home Circuit when I joined.
Amongst them were Thesiger and Platt.
This was long before the former became Attorney-General, which took
place in 1858. He afterwards was Lord Chancellor, and took his title
from the little county town where probably he obtained his start in the
career which ended so brilliantly.
Platt became a Baron of the Exchequer.
Thesiger was a first-rate advocate, and, I need not say, was at all times
scrupulously fair. He had a high sense of honour, and was replete with
a