particular circumstances those purchases should be made; -for if they went into the market 'slap dash,' and without any understanding together, the result would be that in so small a place as Chelmsford they would raise the prices; whereas, by operating slowly and in concert, that would be avoided. The second party pretended to approve highly of the suggestion, and further proposed, in order to show that neither had the start of each other, that they should all deposit the amount of money in the hands of the respectable landlord of the principal inn; taking care that they did so in the presence of witnesses, and that special instructions should be given to the landlord not to give up a farthing to either, until all three returned together to receive the whole; adding that if he did he would be held responsible. The London merchant, knowing the landlord of the inn to be a man of undoubted respectability, at once assented to the proposal, and each of the three parties accordingly placed in his hands, under the circumstances stated, two hundred and fifty pounds, making seven hundred and fifty pounds in all."

"Well," observed Mr. Sergeant Vaughan, "well, you certainly do interest me in your singular story. And what was the result?"

"Why this that scarcely had the three parties left the inn a minute, when one of the strangers came running back, and said, that on second thoughts they had all come to the conclusion, that it would be better to make their purchases as early in the day as possible, and that consequently the other two had desired him to return and get the money."

"And the landlord gave him the whole sum at once?" interposed Mr. Sergeant Vaughan.

"He did, indeed; unfortunately for himself and me," answered the other.

And what followed?" inquired the learned gentleman, eagerly.

"Why, the other stranger and the London merchant returned in about an hour after, and demanded their money."

"When the landlord, of course, told them he had given it to the other?"

"He did."

"On which, I suppose, they bring an action against the landlord?"

"Precisely so; and seeing that defense were useless, inasmuch as he delivered up the money to one when his instructions were peremptory not to deliver it till all three were present,-my friend is to allow the action to go undefended. The money must be paid to the sharper -for both strangers, as the event has proved, were sharpers and also to the London merchant."

"And you really have made up your mind to pay it?" "O certainly, because there is no help for it."

"I am a barrister; I am Mr. Sergeant Vaughan; and I will defend the case for the poor landlord gratuitously."

The other tendered him a thousand thanks for his intended kindness; but expressed the apprehensions that all efforts at defense would be perfectly useless.

"We shall see," said the Sergeant, significantly, “we shall see; you and your friend the landlord will call on me this evening at eight o'clock, to arrange for the defense to-morrow."

To-morrow came, and the case was duly called in court. The poor innkeeper, acting on the advice of Mr. Vaughan, but not perceiving in what way he could be benefited by it, defended the case. Everything proceeded so favorably for the prosecution for some time, that though every person in court deeply sympathized with the unfortunate

landlord, they saw no possibility of any other result than a verdict against him. Mr. Sergeant Vaughan, when the case for the prosecution was closed, rose and said"Now, gentlemen of the jury, you have heard the evidence adduced. You have seen it proved by unexceptionable witnesses, that the defendant received the most positive instructions from all three, not to deliver up the money, or any part of it, to either of the parties except in the presence of all. Gentlemen, my client has got the money in his possession, and is ready to give it when all the three parties come to demand it. Let the absent party be brought to his house, in company with the other two, and every one will have his money returned to him." The defense was equally ingenious and complete. The jury looked as amazed at each other, as if some new world had burst on their astonished gaze; so did all the spectators in court. The verdict was of course for the defendant. It is unnecessary to add, that the party who had absconded with the money never returned, and that consequently the poor landlord had never to pay a farthing of the amount.

THE

CHAPTER VI.

'HE Chief Justice WILLES, no other than the author of the admirable "Law Reports" which bear his name, was, nevertheless, a Judge of great humanity. It fell to his lot to try the colliers of Shropshire, for a serious riot, in a time of scarcity. Of thirty-seven, four died in prison, ten were convicted, but only two executed. The fate of the eight was nearly tragic. The Chief Justice had sent his report to the Attorney General, with an intimation that four should suffer death. This report was sent to the office of Mr. Pitt, Secretary of State, where it rested, not having been laid before the King. The day for executing all the ten arrived, but there was neither reprieve nor respite. Mr. Leeke, the Deputy Sheriff, was advised, upon this emergency, even by several gentlemen in the neighborhood, to leave all the prisoners to their fate. But he judged, and rightly, that the Judge could never have meant this, so that he boldly reprieved all but two, and sent off an express to London. The Lord Chief Justice was then a Commissioner of the Great Seal. He immediately wrote the following letter to Mr. Leeke. "Sir, till I saw your letter yesterday, I was under the greatest uneasiness, for I took it for granted that all the ten rioters had been executed on Saturday last, as that was the day appointed for their execution; and upon my return from the Home Circuit on Thursday last, I found, that by a shameful neglect in one of the Secretary of State's offices (I do not mean Lord Holdernesse's), no reprieve had been sent down, and, as it was then too late to send

one down, I saw no reason to hope that their execution would have been deferred to a longer time. But, though, to be sure, you have acted contrary to your duty, you have acted a wise, prudent, and most humane part, and you have not only my thanks, but the thanks of some of the greatest men of the kingdom, for the part you have acted on this occasion. I once more thank you for what you have done."

A remarkable incident is said to have occurred in the judicial life of his son, EDWARD WILLES. Lord Eldon has given us the curious incident. He "had many good qualities, but he was much too volatile and inattentive to reasonably grave behavior upon the Bench. He was, however, very anxious to do right. He condemned a boy, I think at Lancaster, and with the hope of reforming him by frightening him, he ordered him for execution next morning. The Judge awoke in the middle of the night, and was so affected by the notion that he might himself die in the course of the night, and the boy be hanged, though he did not mean that he should suffer, that he got out of his bed, and went to the lodgings of the High Sheriff, and left a reprieve for the boy, and then, returning to his bed, spent the rest of the night comfortably.

A learned Sergeant kept the Court waiting one morning for a few minutes. The business of the Court commenced at nine. "Brother," said the Judge, "you are behind your time this morning. The Court has been waiting for you." "I beg your Lordship's pardon," replied the Sergeant, "I am afraid I was longer than usual in dressing." "Oh!" returned the Judge, "I can dress in five minutes at any time." "Indeed," said the learned brother, a little surprised for the moment, "but