Curiosities of Legal Experience. 50 1 



ing- to throw down Ella at some game or other, Mrs. Sherborne ran 

 to them in the greatest agitation, slapped poor Fanny smartly on the 

 shoulder, and, hastily catching- up her child, hurried to her room, 

 where she gave way to a flood of tears. Mrs. D., though ready to 

 make every allowance for her situation, was not pleased to see her 

 children so treated ; but her resentment quite vanished, when, about 

 an hour after, my little favourite came down to Fanny with her best 

 toy, and hoped the slap had not hurt much, and that she would kiss 

 and be friends. 



Jan. 25. The suit has actually been commenced, and it is abso- 

 lutely necessary to decide on some plan, though what to advise I 

 do not know. The object of course is to extort money, but no sacri- 

 fice on our part can afford the least security against further demands; 

 the suit could be revived at any time as a pretence for fresh exertions. 



Mem. I will lay the case before Mr. M., and see if he can suggest 

 any thing. 



Jan. 27. Called on S.'s attorney. Sounded him as to the terms 

 expected. He told me broadly that a large sum of ready money 

 would be a sine qud non, and that mere income would not do. Here's 

 another difficulty ; the trustees will never give their consent, and 

 without it not a penny can be had. 



Jan. 28. Mr. M. has sent his opinion ; thinks no real defence 

 can be made, and recommends an arrangement, &c. Bah ! he does 

 not know the rascals we have to deal with. 



Saw the trustees about advancing money to S. ; they refused, of 

 course, without an order from the chancellor. An order from the 

 chancellor in such a business as this ! how can they talk such non- 

 sense ? 



Went again to S.'s attorney, and, on pressing for the exact terms 

 on which the suit would be withdrawn, he had the conscience to 

 demand 5000 for S., and 500 more to himself for law costs ! 

 " There had been heavy expenses incurred to procure evidence in 

 America, &c. &c. ; no bill would be given, but, on payment, a 

 receipt in full and bond not to sue," &c. Just waste paper, and the 

 fellow knows it. 



Feb. 2. Have had repeated interviews both with S. himself and 

 his rascally agent. The strange malignity with which the former 

 regards his wife, the certainty that he has her in his power, his 

 own desperate abandoned character, and the unprincipled venality 

 of his legal adviser, all have convinced me that, even if the present 

 claims were satisfied, only a temporary relief would be gained. Mrs. 

 S., however, has not the means to satisfy them, if it were desirable to 

 do so; and, under all the circumstances, I think it will be advisable 

 for her to withdraw for the present either to the Continent or some 

 distant part of the country, keeping her residence a profound 

 secret, while I endeavour to create delay by technical forms, or to 

 buy it by tempting S.'s gambling propensities with advances of 

 ready money. To gain time is to gain many chances of safety. 



Feb. 3. Long conversation with Mrs. S. I read to her Mr. M.'s 

 opinion, "that a marriage with the sister of a former wife was 

 clearly within the prohibited degrees, and that length of cohabitation 



