REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSilAN. 87 



uncouth, and their cross-examination by Brougham 

 was beautiful ! The fellow who struck me, a sort of 

 "near London giant," — I can't liken him to the 

 straightforward labourer of more rural districts, — 

 having been very confused in his evidence, as well as 

 contradictory, was asked by Brougham, on his de- 

 laying to answer a question, " Come, Sir, perhaps 

 you can tell the jury while this was passing whether 

 you stood on your head or your heels ?" The man 

 hesitated to answer this, and, after scratching his 

 head vigorously, replied to the infinite amusement of 

 the court, "that a didn't know." Brougham said, 

 " I thought so;" Lord Tenterden put aside his pen 

 and stared at the witness, and Brougham I think 

 sat down. Now, though this seemed the reply of 

 an idiot, or a man so confused that he did not know 

 what he was saying, in justice to all parties I must 

 declare, that the man was actually on his head or his 

 back a great part of the time, and not on his heels ; 

 for he was one of those dragged over the sill of the 

 barn-door, and, because he would not let go his fork 

 or shovel, he was detained on his back among the 

 manure, as a sort of place whence he could achieve 

 no harm ; he had, therefore, a valid reason to hesitate 

 as well as for the reply, which he rendered in his 

 cross-examination. Witness after witness for the 

 prosecution afforded amusement to the court, on ac- 

 count of their size and stolid stupidity ; and I re- 

 member Sir George Seymour whispering to me, 

 " that we seemed to have foregathered with a race of 

 giants." One of my witnesses, who had volunteered 

 his testimonv, and which fact had become known to 

 Mr. Scarlett, caught it severely. This was Mr. 

 Cauty, the auctioneer. Mr. Scarlett, having obtained 



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