He was partial to those to whom birth or education gave a claim to the title of gentleman.  To those who derived no pretension to it from either of those sources, he never showed a want of attention, unless they exhibited any traits of vulgar assurance, or upstart insolence; to those he unsparingly dealt the full measure of contemptuous observance.  To the incorrect in morals or professional conduct, he was irreconcileably supercilious and invariably severe.

I recollect but one anecdote of any pleasantry which occurred before Mr. Justice Lawrence, in which he had any part, and at which he enjoyed a hearty laugh.  An Irish milkman was brought up to take the benefit of the Lord’s Act (by which Insolvents were then discharged.) He was suspected of concealing his property, having given no schedule, though he was known at not a very distant period to have possessed some.  He was asked by the counsel who opposed him, whether he had not some property, which he had omitted to insert in his schedule?  “The devil a bit of property,” says he, “have I at all at all.”  “Why, what’s become of your furniture and your cows?  Cows you were known to have, as you sold milk.”  “Yes, I had,” says he; “but I have none now.”  “Why, what have you done with them?” “I have signed away every thing I had.”  “How have you assigned them?” “I have made my will, and given them all away.” “What, are you dead, man?” said the judge.  “No, please your honour,” says Pat; “but I soon will, if you take away every thing I have to live on from me.”  He refused to make any assignment or schedule, and was remanded.

After his death, the following anecdote was circulated of Mr. Justice Lawrence.  A cause had been tried before him at York, in which he had summed up to the jury to find a verdict for the defendant, which they accordingly did.  On further consideration, it appeared to him that he had mistaken the law.  A verdict having been recorded against the plaintiff, he had no redress; but it was said, that Mr. Justice Lawrence left him by his will a sum sufficient to indemnify him for his loss.  This I give merely as a report, and give it willingly, as honourable to the memory of one of the most able, most independent, and most dignified of the judges who filled a judicial seat in my day.

The following anecdote I think I have seen in print, but without the name of the person to whom it happened.  I have heard Sergeant Bond relate it with great humour of himself, and he is to be relied on as the unquestionable original.  “I once,” said he, “bought a horse of a horse-dealer, warranted sound in all his points.  I thought I had got a treasure, but still wished to find out if he had any fault.  I therefore, when I had paid for him, said to the seller, ’Now, my friend, you have got your money and I the horse, so that the bargain is closed; but do, like an honest fellow, tell me fairly of any fault which he has.’  ‘Why, sir,’ says