elinor wyllys-2-第38章

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r　hesitation；　however；　was　honourable；　the　opinions；　feelings；　and　motives　under　which　she　eventually　acted；　were　alike　natural　and　creditable。



CHAPTER　XVIII。　｛XLI｝

〃Are　you　acquainted　with　the　difference　That　holds　this　present　question；　in　the　court？〃　Merchant　of　Venice。

｛William　Shakespeare；　〃The　Merchant　of　Venice〃；　IV。i。171…172｝

AS　the　time　for　the　trial　approached；　the　parties　collected　in　Philadelphia。　Harry　and　his　friends　were　often　seen　in　the　streets；　looking　busy　and　thoughtful。　Mr。　Reed　also　appeared；　and　took　up　his　quarters　at　one　of　the　great　hotels；　in　company　with　Mr。　Clapp　and　his　client；　who　generally　received　the　name　of　William　Stanley；　although　he　had　not　yet　established　a　legal　claim　to　it。　There　was　much　curiosity　to　see　this　individual；　as　the　case　had　immediately　attracted　general　attention　in　the　town；　where　the　families　interested　were　so　well　known；　and　the　singular　circumstances　of　the　suit　naturally　excited　additional　interest。

After　the　court　opened　its　session；　it　became　doubtful　at　one　moment；　whether　the　cause　would　he　tried　at　that　term；　but　others　which　preceded　it　having　been　disposed　of；　the　Stanley　suit　was　at　length　called。

On　one　side　appeared　William　Stanley；　the　plaintiff；　with　Messrs。　Reed　and　Clapp　as　counsel；　a　number　of　witnesses　had　been　summoned　by　them；　and　were　now　present；　mingled　with　the　audience。　On　the　other　hand　were　the　defendants；　Mr。　Wyllys；　Hazlehurst；　Ellsworth；　and　Mr。　Grant；　a　distinguished　lawyer　of　Philadelphia；　appearing　more　particularly　for　Mrs。　Stanley；　they　were　also　supported　by　witnesses　of　their　own。

While　the　preliminary　steps　were　going　on；　the　jury　forming；　and　the　parties　interested　making　their　arrangements；　the　court…room　filled　rapidly　with　the　friends　of　Hazlehurst；　and　a　crowd　of　curious　spectators。　Among　the　individuals　known　to　us；　were　Robert　Hazlehurst；　Mr。　Stryker；　and　Charlie　Hubbard；　the　young　artist；　who　found　that　his　want　of　inches　interfered　with　his　view　of　the　scene；　and　springing　on　a　bench；　he　remained　there；　and　contrived　to　keep　much　the　same　station　throughout　the　trial；　his　fine；　intelligent　countenance　following　the　proceedings　with　the　liveliest　interest：　Harry　soon　perceived　him；　and　the　young　men　exchanged　friendly　smiles。　Mr。　Stryker　was　looking　on　with　cold；　worldly　curiosity；　while　Robert　Hazlehurst　watched　over　his　brother's　interest　with　much　anxiety。　In　one　sense　the　audience　was　unequally　divided　at　first；　for　while　Harry　had　many　warm；　personal　friends　present；　the　sailor　was　a　stranger　to　all；　the　aspect　of　things　partially　changed；　however；　for　among　that　portion　of　the　crowd　who　had　no　particular　sympathies　with　the　defendants；　a　number　soon　took　sides　with　the　plaintiff。　The　curiosity　to　see　the　sailor　was　very　great；　at　one　moment；　in　the　opening　of　the　trial；　all　eyes　were　fixed　on　him；　nor　did　Harry　escape　his　share　of　scrutiny。

It　was　immediately　observed；　by　those　who　had　known　the　late　Mr。　Stanley；　that　the　plaintiff　certainly　resembled　his　family。　He　was　dressed　like　a　seaman；　and　appeared　quite　easy　and　confident；　seldom　absent　from　court；　speaking　little；　but　following　the　proceedings　attentively。　His　counsel；　Mr。　Reed；　bore　a　calm　and　business…like　aspect。　Clapp　was　flushed；　his　eye　was　keen　and　restless；　though　he　looked　sanguine　and　hopeful；　running　his　hand　through　his　dark　curls；　he　would　lean　back　and　make　an　observation　to　his　client；　turn　to　the　right　and　whisper　something　in　the　ear　of　Mr。　Reed；　or　bend　over　his　papers；　engrossed　in　thought。

The　defendants；　on　their　side；　were　certainly　three　as　respectable　men　in　their　appearance；　as　one　would　wish　to　see；　they　looked；　moved；　and　spoke　like　gentlemen；　in　manner　and　expression　they　were　all　three　perfectly　natural；　simple；　easy；　but　firm；　like　men　aware　that　important　interests　were　at　stake；　and　prepared　to　make　a　good　defence。　Mr。　Grant；　their　colleague；　was　an　insignificant…looking　man　when　silent；　but　he　never　rose　to　speak；　without　commanding　the　whole　attention　of　his　audience　by　the　force　of　his　talent。

The　judges　were…well　known　to　be　respectable　men；　as　American　magistrates　of　the　higher　grade　are　usually　found　to　be。　In　the　appearance　of　the　jury　there　was　nothing　remarkable；　the　foreman　was　a　shrewd…looking　man；　his　neighbour　on　the　left　had　an　open；　honest　countenance；　two　others　showed　decidedly　stupid　faces；　and　one　had　a　very　obstinate　expression；　as　if　the　first　idea　that　entered　his　head；　on　any　subject　whatever；　was　seldom　allowed　to　be　dislodged。

Such　was　the　appearance　of　things　when　the　trial　commenced。　Leaving　the　minutiae　of　the　proceedings　to　the　legal　report　of　Mr。　Bernard；　understood　to　be　in　the　press；　we　shall　confine　ourselves　to　a　brief；　and　very　imperfect　outline　of　the　speeches；　and　the　most　important　points　of　the　testimony；　merely　endeavouring　to　give　the　reader　a　general　idea　of　the　course　of　things；　on　an　occasion　so　important　to　Hazlehurst。

Mr。　Clapp　opened　the　case　in　a　regular　speech。　Rising　from　his　seat；　he　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair；　and　commenced；　much　as　follows：

〃We　come　before　you　on　this　occasion；　gentlemen　of　the　jury；　to　plead　a　cause　which　it　is　believed　is　unprecedented；　in　its　peculiar　facts；　among　the　annals　of　justice　in　our　great　and　glorious　country。　Never；　indeed；　should　I　have　believed　it　possible　that　an　American　citizen　could；　under　any　circumstances　whatever；　have　been　compelled　during　so　long　a　period　to　forego　his　just　and　legal　rights；　ay；　that　he　could　be　forced　to　the　very　verge　of　abandoning　those　rightsall　but　forced　to　forget　them。　Yet；　such　are　the　facts　of　the　case　upon　which　you　are　now　to　decide。　The　individual　appearing　before　you　this　day；　claiming　that　the　strong　arm　of　the　law　be　raised　in　his　behalf；　first　presented　himself　to　me；　with　the　very　same　demand；　six　years　since；　to　my　shame　I　confess　it；　he　was　driven　unaided　from　my　doorI　refused　to　assist　him；　he　had　already　carried　the　same　claim　to　others；　and　received　from　others　the　same　treatment。　And　what　is　this　claim；　so　difficult　to　establish？　Is　it　some　intricate　legal　question？　Is　it　some　doubtful　point　of　law？　Is　it　a　matter　which　requires　much　learning　to　decide；　much　wisdom　to　fathom？　No；　gentlemen；　it　is　a　claim　clearly　defined；　firmly　established；　never　yet　doubted；　never　yet　denied：　it　is　a　claim；　not　only　recognized　in　the　common…law　of　every　land；　protected　in　the　statute…books　of　every　nation；　but　it　is　a　claim；　gentlemen；　which　springs　spontaneously　from　the　heart　of　every　human　beingit　is　the　right　of　a　son　to　his　father's　inheritance。　A　right；　dear　alike　to　the　son　of　one　of　our　merchant　princes；　and　to　the　son　of　the　porter　on　our　wharves。〃

〃Mr。　Clapp　paused；　he　looked　about　the　court；　rested　his　eyes　on　his　client；　ran　his　fingers　through　his　curls；　and　then　proceeded。

〃Gentlemen；　I　have　told　you　that　it　is　the　right　of　a　son　to　his　father's　inheritance；　which　we　this　day　call　upon　you　to　uphold。　It　is　more；　it　is　the　sacred　cause　of　the　orphan　that　you　are　to　defend。　Yes；　gentlemen；　at　the　moment　when　William　Stanley　should　have　taken　possession　of　the　inheritance；　which　was　his　by　the　threefold　title　of　nature；　of　law；　and　of　parental　bequest；　he　was　a　mere　boy；　a　minor；　a　wanderer　on　the　deep；　one　of　that　gallant　class　of　men　who　carry　the　glorious　colours　of　our　great　and　happy　country　into　every　port；　who　whiten　every　sea　with　American　canvasshe　was　a　roving　sailor…boy！〃

And　setting　out　from　this　point；　Mr。　Clapp　made　a　general　statement　of　the　case；　coloured　by　all　the　cheap　ornaments　of　forensic　eloquence；　and　varied　by　allusions　to　the　glory　of　the　country；　the　learning　of　all　judges；　particularly　American　judges；　especially　the　judges　then　on　the　bench；　the　wisdom　of　all　juries；　particularly　American　juries；　especially　the　jury　then　in　the　box。　He　confessed　that　his　client　had　been　guilty　of　folly　in　his　boyhood；　〃but　no　one；　gentlemen；　can　regret　past　misconduct　more　than　Mr。　Stanley；　no　son　ever　felt　more　deeply　than　himself；　regret；　that　he　could　not　have　attended　the　death…bed　of　his　father；　received　his　last　blessing；　and　closed　his　eyes　for　the　last　time！〃　Mr。　Clapp　then　read　parts　of　Mr。　Stanley's　will；　gave　an　outline　of　his　client's　wanderings；　and　was　very　particular　with　names　and　dates。　The　sailor's　return　was　then　described　in　the　most　pathetic　colours。　〃He　brought　with　him；　gentlemen；　nothing　but　the　humble　contents　of　a　sailor's　chest；　the　hard…earned　wages　of　his　daily　toil；　he；　who　in　justice　was　the　owner　of　as　rich　a　domain　as　any　in　the　land！〃　The　attempts　of　this　poor　sailor　to　obtain　his　rights　were　then　represented。　〃He　learned　the　bitter　truth；　gentlemen；　that　a　poor　seaman；　a　foremast　hand；　with　a　tarpaulin　hat　and　round…jacket；　stood　little　chance　of　being　heard；　as　the　accuser　of　the　rich　and　the　powerfulthe　men　who　walked　abroad　in　polished　beavers；　and　aristocratic　broad…cloths。〃　Aristocracy　having　once　been　brought　upon　the　scene；　was　made　to　figure　largely　in　several　sentences；　and　was　very　roughly　handled　indeed。　To　have　heard　Mr。　Clapp；　one　would　have　supposed　aristocracy　was　the　most　sinful　propensity　to　which　human　nature　was　liable；　the　only　very　criminal　quality　to　which　republican　nature　might　he　inclined。　Of　course　the　defendants　were　accused　of　this　heinous　sin；　this　brilliant　passage　concluded　with　a　direct　allusion　to　the　〃very　aristocratic　trio　before　him。〃　Mr。　Stanley　was　declared　to　be　no　aristocrat；　he　was　pronounced　thoroughly　plebeian　in　all　his　actions　and　habits。　〃Like　the　individual　who　has　now　the　honour　of　addressing　you；　gentlemen；　Mr。　Stanley　is　entirely　free；　in　all　his　habits　and　opinions；　from　the　hateful　stain　of　aristocracy。〃　He　continued；　following　his　client's　steps　down　to　the　present　time；　much　as　they　are　already　known　to　the　reader。　Then；　making　a　sudden　change；　he　reviewed　the　conduct　of　the　defendants　as　connected　with　his　client。

｛〃Aristocracy〃　=　Susan　Fenimore　Cooper　was　very　familiar　with　court　proceedings　in　the　1840s。　Her　father　was　at　this　time　involved　in　a　series　of　generally　successful　libel　suits　against　newspapers；　which　defended　themselves　by　accusing　him　of　being　〃aristocratic；〃　a　sore　point；　as　he　had　repeatedly　denounced　aristocracy　as　the　worst　of　all　forms　of　government｝

〃What　were　their　first　steps　at　the　death　of　Mr。　Stanley；　the　father？　Merely　those　which　were　absolutely　necessary　to　secure　themselves；　they　inquired　for　the　absent　son；　but　they　inquired　feebly；　had　they　　waited　with　greater　patience　he　would　have　appeared；　for　the　story　of　his　disinheritance　would　never　have　reached　him。　Whence　did　that　story　proceed　from？　It　is　not　for　me　to　say；　others　now　present　may　be　able　to　account　for　it　more　readily。　No；　gentlemen；　it　is　a　bitter　truth；　that　the　conduct　of　the　executors　has　been　consistent　throughout；　from　the　moment　they　first　took　possession　of　the　Stanley　estate；　until　their　appearance　in　this　court；　the　conduct　of　the　rival　legatee　has　also　been　marked　by　the　same　consistent　spirit　of　opposition；　from　the　time　of　his　first　interview　with　Mr。　Stanley；　after　he　had　arrived　at　years　of　discretion；　and　knew　the　value　of　the　estate　he　hoped　to　enjoy；　from　the　moment；　I　say；　when　he　coolly　ordered　the　unfortunate　sailor　to　be　locked　up　in　Mr。　Wylly