Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 137

Transcript

Yes indeed, Mr W. Williams did let his tongue run loose. He has many times.

This represents one of Mr W. Williams monied clients (in a rough way) His name it was Darby Maher, and he had a deal of business in Mr W. William’s office, with the intermediary of Mr Teddy Preston, the office confidential man. Teddy in those days was a [sic] rather short, podgy, with a passably full belly, and a habit of twiddling his thumbs. He dressed in broadcloth and wore a billy cock. He was rather short sighted, but had a twinkling eye, and a fair fund of anecdote. He could tell stories in abundance and his legal reminiscences were at times racy. For to a crony, he would at times unbend, and let out the secrets of the sanctum. Teddy was, I believe, admitted to be a grand office lawyer. At all events he was the backbone of Williams’ office. Then Mr Preston entered for examination as a Solicitor, but he found obstructions, easily understood, placed in his way. He left, and ended as Judge in Honolulu.

Mr W., after one or two successes, got very bumptious, so much so, that Gresson the Judge once said to him “Well, if that’s law, Mr W., I give it up.”