The learned counsel for the prosecution sang a song very well, and entertained his brethren that evening at mess, and many evenings afterwards on circuit also, with the song of “The Dog and the Duck,” to each stanza of which was appended a remarkable chorus, which no type unadapted to music can effectually render. One stanza only I remember.
The witness swore he saw no dog,
The counsel said “So be it,”
But then you know there might have been a dog,
Although you did not see it.
Bow, wow, wow,
Tow, row, row,
Whack fol de riddle diddle,
Bow, wow, wow.
The story was told me by one of the counsel concerned in the case, who, however, took care to add (as I am told he always did) that he would not have me suppose that the plea put forward so successfully for the defence was an invention of the defendant’s counsel, but that it was contained in his instructions.