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in Mr Norton's published letter, respecting Lord Abinger; containing, I think, as strange a boast of protection as ever was made by an English magistrate, with respect to an English judge. Sir John Bayley had been subpoenaed as a witness in 1838, by one of my creditors; after having become acquainted as referee, with the real circumstances of our story: and this is Mr Norton's printed boast; taken from the "Times" newspaper of the 24th September, 1853:
"Lord Abinger, who tried the cause, upon a suggestion of my counsel" (Sir Fitzroy Kelly), "that Sir John Bayley had been my advocate and "referee, refused to hear his evidence.
Lord Abinger, in his summing up, alluding to one of the letters then "produced, says, 'How that bears upon the present case I really cannot see. I myself must say, as a gentleman, I do not think that letter ought to have been put in evidence.'"
And finally, Mr Norton terms his quondam counsel and referee —
"That advocate, who ought to have learnt his duty by having been rejected by Lord Abinger, as a witness in a Court of Law, in respect of the very matter which in a perverted state he now makes himself a party to publish."
I beg the attention of my readers to the circumstances preceding that rejection of evidence. When the letters signed "Greenacre," and others, were shown by Sir John Bayley to Lord Wynford, the latter expressed himself in the strongest and most contemptuous terms with respect to his former ward; and finally—for the express purpose of being shown to Mr Norton,—he wrote the following note; the original of which is in my possession.
"My Dear Bayley,
I have been thinking of the correspondence you read to me this morning. I am convinced that George Norton can have no defence to the actions, and that his defending them will be attended with loss of character, as well as great expense. He should agree to the arrangement that you propose, or any other that can be made. I will write to Grantley to tell him that I have advised a settlement on any terms.
Wynford.
Leesons, December 20 1837.
