HENRY BROUGHAM, BARON BROUGHAM AND VAUX, LORD CHANCELLOR.
When Lord Brougham attained the position of Lord Chancellor he was greatly addicted to the habit of writing during the course of counsel's argument of the case being heard before him. On one occasion this practice so annoyed Sir Edward Sugden, whenever he noticed it, that he paused in the course of his argument, expecting his lordship to stop writing; but the Chancellor, without even looking up, remarked, "Go on, Sir Edward; I am listening to you."—"I observe that your lordship is engaged in writing, and not favouring me with your attention," replied Sir Edward. "I am signing papers of mere form," warmly retorted the Chancellor. "You may as well say that I am not to blow my nose or take snuff while you speak."
When counsel at the Bar, a witness named John Labron was thus cross-examined by Brougham at York Assizes:
"What are you?"
"I am a farmer, and malt a little."
"Do you know Dick Strother?"
"No."
"Upon your oath, sir, are you not generally known by the name of Dick Strother?"