Were not disgust almost incompatible with amusement, the stage to
which the Irish State trial has come would be entertaining— the taking of evidence for the prosecution; with the cross-examina- tions for the defence. But the unimpassioned bystander is divided
betwixt laughter and dislike, at the ease, the festivity, the cool im- pudence, the bitter recklessness, which share the scene. Now a witness details how, in sending reports to a newspaper, he vamped them up to make them " spicy." Then some barrister browbeats a witness, or passes the time with some buffoonery about the wit- ness's personal appearance, with insinuations about supposititious ladies, and miserable word-catching and punning, to distract at- tention and trap the unlettered man into exposing his ignorance of military tactics. And the Judges look on as quietly as if it were all the properest thing in the world! An attorney's obtruded wish that the Chief Justice may know his duty, proves too much, however, for the judicial indulgence ; so does some mysterious in- terference with the High Sheriff; so does the cavalier French leave taken by the traversers at the bar. This was the coolest thing of all: Mr. O'CONNELL is before a jury to be tried for his proceedings, at, among other places, the Repeal Association ; while the trial proceeds he actually walks out of court, goes to the Repeal Association, and does a little more of the very business that is the subject-matter of his trial. Imagine the Artful Dodger just stepping out of the dock at Bow Street, and walking into the street to take a handkerchief, by way of stretching his legs and keeping his hand in, and then being fetched back that the trial may proceed ! Precise and tyrannical Attorney-General SMITH almost apologized for bringing back the truant ; who re- sumed his seat without a word of reproof. Impudence is not con- fined to the precincts of the court. It will be remembered that Mr. BOND HUGHES, the short-hand-writer, was ferociously denounced as the "perjured informer," because he imputed a quotation to Mr. STEELE which now is not denied, and because he made a mis- take about Mr. BARRETT, which now, it appears, he himself was the first to point out. The Pilot, Mr. BARRETT'S paper, acquits him of the "perjury," but attempts to leave a little of it sticking to the Crown-lawyers, for not being in a hurry to publish the re- porter's accidental mistake. But will it be believed that placards have been posted in Dublin holding up Mr. HUGHES to the Irish people, who are prone to violence even to the extent of assassina- tion, as an object of hatred ! Mr. HUGHES is a most respectable person, who has no more to do with the merits of the case than any other professional man—than any lawyer engaged on either side— most likely, indeed, less than any ; the sharp and not over-delicate lawyers of his accusers had him face to face, under examination in open court, but no attempt was made to fix a stigma on his cha- racter there : his evidence, however, is thought unpleasant, and therefore he is marked out for the Dublin mob !
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