Dunning And Lord Mansfield


WHILST the celebrated Mr. Dunning, afterwards Lord Ashburton, was at the

bar, he by his conduct did much to support the character and dignity of

a barrister, which was frequently disregarded by Lord Mansfield, at that

time Chief Justice. The attempts of the Chief Justice to brow-beat the

counsel were on many occasions kept in check by the manly and dignified

conduct of Mr. Dunning. Lord Mansfield possessed great quickness in
br /> discovering the gist of a cause, and having done so, used to amuse

himself by taking up a book or a newspaper, whilst counsel was

addressing the court. Whenever Mr. Dunning was speaking, and his

Lordship seemed thus to hold his argument as of no consequence, the

advocate would stop suddenly in his address, and on his Lordship

observing, Pray go on, Mr. Dunning, he would reply, I beg your

pardon, my Lord, but I fear I shall interrupt your Lordship's more

important occupations. I will wait until your Lordship has leisure to

attend to my client and his humble advocate.



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