An eminent advocate was called on unexpectedly to plead in a cause in which he had been retained. He had been in company with some friends, and was a little "elevated". He mistook the party for whom he was engaged, and delivered, to the amazement of the agent who had fee'd him, and to the horror of his client, an eloquent speech in favour of the other side. As he was about to sit down, the trembling solicitor in a brief note informed him of his mistake. This would have disconcerted most men, but had quite the opposite effect upon him. Re-adjusting his wig and gown, he resumed his oration with the words: - "Such, my Lords, is the statement of this case which you shall probably hear from my learned brother on the other side. I shall now, therefore, show your Lordships how utterly untenable are the principles, and how distorted are the facs, upon which this plausible statement has proceeded." And going over the whole ground, he so completely refuted his former pleading that he won his cause.
-Alexander Hislop, 178
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