ページの画像
PDF
ePub

having ascertained what was signified to him, indignantly turned to the Turkish commissioner, and, by the most energetic and unequivocal gestures, gave him to understand, that he would never remain under the dominion of the Pacha!

Three years afterwards, the Parguinotes were again assembled, and again expressed their determination not to live under the yoke of the Turks. At length, in June, 1819, it was determined to enforce the cession; and the British commissioner informed the Parguinotes, that, in conformity with the arrangements with Ali Pacha, a Turkish force was to enter their territory without delay.

The Parguinotes having held a consultation, sent to inform the commandant, that, as such was the determination of the British commissioner, they had unanimously resolved, that, should one single Turk enter their territory, before all of them should have had a fair opportunity of leaving it, they would put to death their wives and children, and then defend themselves against any force, Christian or Turkish, that should violate the pledge made to them, and that they would fight until one only should survive to tell the story.

The English commandant, perceiving by their preparations, that their resolution was irrevocable, despatched General Sir Frederick Adam to expostulate with them. The officer, on his arrival at Parga, observed a large fire in the public square, where the inhabitants had heaped together the bones of their ancestors, collected from the churches and cemeteries.

All the male population stood armed at the doors of their respective dwellings; the women and children were within awaiting their fate; a gloomy and awful silence prevailed. A few of the primates, with the protopata at their head, received General Adam on his landing, and assured him, that the meditated sacri

fice would be immediately made, unless he could stop the entrance of the Turks, who had already arrived near their frontier, and effectually protect their embarkation and departure.

Fortunately, Sir Frederick Adam found means to prevail on the Turkish commandant to halt with his force. The embarkation then commenced, and all the Parguinotes proceeded to Corfu. The Turks, on their entrance, found Parga a desert; and the only signal that marked their reception, was the smoke of the funeral pile, in which its late inhabitants had consumed the bones of their forefathers. The unfortunate emigrants waited at Corfu, as houseless wanderers, the distribution of the miserable pittance of £48 per head, which had been awarded to them, as a compensation for the loss of their property, their social endearments, and their country.

wwwwwwwww

LESSON SIXTY-THIRD.

The just Judge.

A gentleman, who possessed an estate, worth about five hundred a year, in the eastern part of England, had also two sons. The eldest, being of a rambling disposition, went abroad. After several years, his father died; when the younger son, destroying his will, seized upon the estate. He gave out that his elder brother was dead, and bribed false witnesses to attest the truth of it.

In the course of time, the elder brother returned; but came home in miserable circumstances. His younger brother repulsed him with scorn, and told him that he was an impostor and a cheat. He asserted that his real brother was dead long ago; and he could bring witnesses to prove it. The poor fellow, having

neither money nor friends, was in a most dismal situation. He went round the parish making complaints, and, at last, to a lawyer, who, when he had heard the poor man's story, replied, "You have nothing to give me. If I undertake your cause and lose it, it will bring me into disgrace, as all the wealth and evidence are on your brother's side.

[ocr errors]

But, however, I will undertake your cause on this condition; you shall enter into an obligation to pay me one thousand guineas, if I gain the estate for you. If I lose it, I know the consequences; and I venture with my eyes open." Accordingly, he entered an action against the younger brother, which was to be tried at the next general assizes at Chelmsford, in Essex.

The lawyer, having engaged in the cause of the young man, and stimulated by the prospect of a thousand guineas, set his wits to work to contrive the best methods to gain his end. At last, he hit upon this happy thought, that he would consult the first judge of his age, Lord Chief Justice Hale. Accordingly, he hastened up to London, and laid open the cause, and all its circumstances. The Judge, who was а great lover of justice, heard the case attentively, and promised him all the assistance in his power.

The lawyer having taken leave, the judge contrived matters so as to finish all his business at the King's Bench, before the assizes began at Chelmsford. When within a short distance of the place, he dismissed his man and horses, and sought out for a single house. He found one occupied by a miller. After some conversation, and making himself quite agreeable, he proposed to the miller to change clothes with him. As the judge had a very good suit on, the man had no reason to object.

Accordingly, the judge shifted himself from top to toe, and put on a complete suit of the miller's best. Armed with a miller's hat, and shoes, and stick, away

he marches to Chelmsford, and procured good lodging, suitable for the assizes, that should come on next day. When the trials came on, he walked, like an ignorant country fellow, backwards and forwards along the county hall. He had a thousand eyes within him, and when the court began to fill, he found out the poor fellow who was the plaintiff.

[ocr errors]

66

As soon as he came into the hall, the miller drew up to him. "Honest friend," said he, "how is your cause like to go to-day?" "Why," replied the plaintiff, "my cause is in a very precarious situation, and, if I lose it, I am ruined for life. Well, honest friend," replied the miller, "will you take my advice? I will let you into a secret, which perhaps you do not know; every Englishman has the right and privilege to except against any one juryman through the whole twelve; now do you insist upon your privilege, without giving a reason why, and, if possible, get me chosen in his room, and I will do you all the service in my

power.

[ocr errors]

Accordingly, when the clerk had called over the names of the jurymen, the plaintiff excepted to one of them. The judge on the bench was highly offended

"I mean,

with this liberty. "What do you mean, said he, "by excepting against that gentleman?" my lord, to assert my privilege as an Englishman, without giving a reason why.'

[ocr errors]

The judge, who had been highly bribed, in order to conceal it by a show of candor, and having a confidence in the superiority of his party, said, "Well, sir, as you claim your privilege in one instance, I will grant it. Whom would you wish to have in the room of that man excepted?" After a short time, taken in consideration, "My lord," says he, "I wish to have an honest man chosen in;" and looking round the court-" My lord, there is that miller in the court, we will have him, if you please." Accordingly, the miller was chosen in.

As soon as the clerk of the court had given them all their oaths, a little dexterous fellow came into the apartment, and slipped ten golden Caroluses into the hands of eleven jurymen, and gave the miller but five. He observed, that they were all bribed as well as himself, and said to his next neighbor, in a soft whisper, "how much have you got?" "Ten pieces," said he. But he concealed what he had got himself. The cause was opened by the plaintiff's counsel; and all the scraps of evidence they could pick up were adduced in his favor.

The younger brother was provided with a great number of witnesses, and pleaders, all plentifully bribed as well as the judge. The evidence deposed, that they were in the self-same country when the brother died, and saw him buried. The counsellors pleaded upon this accumulated evidence; and every thing went with a full tide in favor of the younger brother. The judge summed up the evidence with great gravity and deliberation;-"and now, gentlemen of the jury," said he, "lay your heads together, and bring in your verdict as you shall deem most just."

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

They waited but a few minutes, before they determined in favor of the younger brother. The judge said, "Gentlemen, are you agreed, and who shall speak for you?"- "We are all agreed, my lord," replied one; our foreman shall speak for us.' "Hold, my lord," replied the miller, "we are not all agreed." "Why?" said the judge, in a very surly manner, "what's the matter with you? what reasons have you for disagreeing?"

"I have several reasons, my lord,” replied the miller: "the first is, they have given to all these gentlemen of the jury ten broad pieces of gold, and to me but five; which, you know, is not fair. Besides, I have many objections to make to the false reasonings of the pleaders, and the contradictory evidence of the witnesses." Upon this, the miller began a discourse,

« 前へ次へ »