No attempt was made to cross-examine her, and on the termination of her evidence, the Court adjourned for lunch.

When it reassembled James Short called Augusta, and a murmur of expectation arose from the densely crowded audience, as--feeling very sick at heart, and looking more beautiful than ever--she stepped towards the box.
As she did so the Attorney-General rose.
"I must object, my Lord," he said, "on behalf of the defendants, to this witness being allowed to enter the box." "Upon what grounds, Mr.Attorney ?" said his Lordship.
"Upon the ground that her mouth is, _ipso facto_, closed.

If we are to believe the plaintiff's story, this young lady is herself the will of Jonathan Meeson, and, being so, is certainly, I submit, not competent to give evidence.

There is no precedent for a document giving evidence, and I presume that the witness must be looked upon as a document." "But, Mr.Attorney," said the Judge, "a document is evidence, and evidence of the best sort." "Undoubtedly, my Lord; and we have no objection to the document being exhibited for the court to draw its own conclusion from, but we deny that it is entitled to speak in its own explanation.

A document is a thing which speaks by its written characters.