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 L100 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.