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dence was too convincing to admit of doubt, and there was
but one opinion in the court as to the impending verdict
when the jury retired from the box. They were absent for
about ten minutes, and on their return the foreman pro-
nounced the prisoner guilty. There was a faint murmur of
applause, but it was instantly repressed. The judge then pro-
ceeded to pronounce sentence in words which I can never
forget, and which I copied out into a note-book next day
from the report that was published in the leading news-
paper. I must condense it somewhat, and nothing which I
could say would give more than a faint idea of the solemn,
not to say majestic, severity with which it was delivered.
The sentence was as follows:-
‘Prisoner at the bar, you have been accused of the great
crime of labouring under pulmonary consumption, and af-
ter an impartial trial before a jury of your countrymen, you
have been found guilty. Against the justice of the verdict I
can say nothing: the evidence against you was conclusive,
and it only remains for me to pass such a sentence upon you,
as shall satisfy the ends of the law. That sentence must be a
very severe one. It pains me much to see one who is yet so
young, and whose prospects in life were otherwise so excel-
lent, brought to this distressing condition by a constitution
which I can only regard as radically vicious; but yours is
no case for compassion: this is not your first offence: you
have led a career of crime, and have only profited by the le-
niency shown you upon past occasions, to offend yet more
seriously against the laws and institutions of your country.
You were convicted of aggravated bronchitis last year: and

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