In a case in which the member of St. Ives was petitioned against on the ground of treating, before Lush, J., I was opposed by Russell (afterwards Lord Chief Justice and Lord Russell of Killowen).  A.L.  Smith was my junior, and I need not say he knew almost everything there was to be known about election law.  There was, however, no law in the case.  No specific act of treating was proved, but we felt that general treating had taken place in such a wholesale manner that our client was affected by it.  So we consented to his losing his seat—­that is to say, that the election should be declared void—­merely void.  As the other side did not seem to be aware that this void could be filled by the member who was unseated, they did not ask that our client should not be permitted to put up for the vacancy, although this was the real object of my opponent’s petition.  He wanted the seat for himself, but knew that he had not the remotest chance against his unseated opponent.

His surprise, therefore, must have been as great as his chagrin when, the very night of the decision which unseated him, he came forward once more as a candidate.  The petition had increased his popularity, and he won the seat with the greatest ease, and without any subsequent disturbance by the former petitioner.

I have told you of a curious trial before a Recorder of Saffron Walden, and my memory of that event reminds me of another which took place in that same abode of learning and justice.  Joseph Brown, Q.C., and Thomas Chambers, Q.C., were brother Benchers of mine, and when we met at the Parliament Chamber after dinner it was more than likely that many stories would be told, for we often fought our battles over again.

At the time I speak of Knox was the Recorder of that important borough, and was possessed of all the dignity which so enhances a great officer in the eyes of the public, whether he be the most modest of beadles in beadledom, or the highest Recorder in Christendom.  To give himself a greater air of importance, Knox always carried a blue umbrella of a most blazing grandeur.  He was looked up to, of course, at Saffron Walden, as their greatest man, especially as he occupied the best apartments at the chief brimstone shop in the town.  When I say brimstone, I mean that it seemed to be its leading article; for there were a great many yellow placards all over and about the emporium, which, perhaps, ought to have been called a “general shop.”

There were three men up before Knox for stealing malt; a very serious offence indeed in Saffron Walden, where malt was almost regarded as a sacred object—­until it got into the beer.

“Tom” Chambers (afterwards Recorder of London) was defending these prisoners, and I have no doubt, from the conduct of Knox, acquired a great deal of that discrimination of character which afterwards so distinguished him in the City of London.  The degrees of guilt in these persons ought to be noted by all persons who hold, or hope to hold, a judicial position.  As to the first man, the actual thief, there could be no doubt about his crime, for he was actually wheeling the two or three shovelfuls of malt in a barrow; so there was not much use in defending him.