396 DEFENCE OF QUEEN CAROLINE. [1820. 



withstanding their repeated failures in other instances 

 of alleged misconduct. But if we, having succeeded 

 in defeating them in nine instances by unexceptionable 

 testimony, adduced a single witness who was manifestly 

 perjured, the Lords would have given the whole case 

 against us. When I met my colleagues next morn- 

 ing, they admitted that we had had a great escape in 

 not at once deciding, as they had wished, to call Oldi. 



We were repeatedly inclined to retire from the bar 

 upon some vote, proposed by our supporters in the 

 Lords, being given against us, but supported by a 

 respectable minority. Having that grievance to justify 

 us, we felt quite certain that the Lords could not pass 

 the bill in our absence, if a considerable body of our 

 members opposed it. But we never could obtain such 

 a movement on the part of the Opposition who some- 

 times assumed a party attitude, sometimes a judicial. 

 Of this mixed capacity individual peers gave remark- 

 able examples in displaying the talent for cross-exa- 

 mination. When successful, they were like advocates ; 

 but when they failed, straightway they became judi- 

 cial, and must only be considered to put the question 

 as judges anxious to draw out the truth. It is need- 

 less to say how eminently Erskine shone above all the 

 rest. His conduct throughout had all the excellence 

 of the judicial character, combined with the most per- 

 fect skill in eliciting the truth by his examination. His 

 leanings were all on our side, from his thorough con- 

 viction of the gross injustice and cruelty with which 

 the Queen had been always treated. 



At our repeated consultations my colleagues had de- 

 clared strongly against calling Mariette Bron, Demont's 

 sister, who was still in the Queen's service ; but they 



