gradual combination of civil and revenue cases requiring the aid of learned lawyers for their decision, it was determined to place the barons on precisely the same footing as the other judges; and consequently those who were appointed after the twenty-first year of Queen Elizabeth were selected from the serjeants-at-law, and were distinguished from their predecessors by the term "Barons of the Coif." It had always been common to take the Chief-Baron (first appointed in the reign of Edward II.) from the rank of the legal profession. From the time of the Stuarts the status of the barons may be said to have been considered equal to that of the other judges. They had an equitable as well as a legal jurisdiction, which, however, was taken away from them in 1814. In 1880 the Exchequer and Common Pleas were merged in the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice.
FACETIÆ.
"May it please your Honor, I desire to apply for a writ of supersedeas" said a lank, cadaverous-looking member of the bar. "A very appropriate thing for him to ask for," remarked a bystander, " for he certainly is the very picture of a super-seedy-ass."
"What do you understand by the term socage 1" asked an examiner of a youthful aspirant for the bar. "Well," replied the aspirant, hesitatingly, " I should say it meant an age of from one to three years, although older people sometimes wear them." An irate attorney who had made motion after motion to the court, all of which had been suc cessively overruled, unable longer to restrain his wrath, indignantly exclaimed : " Well, your Honor, grant me a writ of error, then, as that seems to be the only thing this court is capable of issuing."
GoiNu down the Chesapeake Bay on an excur sion when the wind was fresh and the white caps were tumultuous, Judge Hall, of North Carolina, became terribly seasick. 24
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"My dear Hall," said Chief-Justice Waite, who was one of the party, and who was as comfortable as an old sea-dog, "can I do anything for you? Just suggest what you wish." "I wish." groaned the seasick jurist. " that your Honor would overrule this motion." — Splinters.
When the late Chief-Justice Chase chose to unbend himself he could be witty as well as wise. At a social gathering at his house during the war, the subject of taxation having been mooted, a dis tinguished naval officer present said he had paid all his taxes except the income tax. "I have a little property," said he, " which brings me in a yearly rental, but the tax-gatherers have not spot ted it. I do not know whether I ought to let the thing go that way or not. What would you do if you were in my place, Mr. Chase?" There was a merry twinkle in the eyes of Secretary Chase as he answered archly, " I think it the duty of every man to live unspotted as long as he can." — Splinters.
"And so you have received a divorce from that vagabond husband of yours, Mrs. Smith?" "Yes, I am glad to say that I have." "Did n't you feel quite overpowered when you heard the decision of the judge?" "Not exactly. I felt sort of unmanned, so to speak." — New York Sun.
A lawyer's clerk wants to know if a crossexamination can be a good-natured one?
Great criminal lawyers are born, not made. They draw their inspiration not from musty tomes of black-letter lore, but from the fountains of their own native genius. As an example of this class we may refer to a story told of Mac Anderson, Esq., of San Antonio, Texas. On one occasion he was arguing an important felony case before the court, when the judge in quired if he had any authority to support his posi tion. " Not at hand, your Honor," said Mac, "but I can send and get one. Mr. Bailiff, will you step over to my office and bring me the book?" The bailiff immediately started, but re
