The disturbed temper of the times and the daring spirit of the political offenders seemed, he thought, to call for a bold and fearless front on the part of the judge, and Braxfield was the man to show it, both on the bench and in common life.

He met, however, sometimes with a spirit as bold as his own from the prisoners before him.

When Skirving was on trial for sedition, he thought Braxfield was threatening him, and by gesture endeavouring to intimidate him; accordingly, he boldly addressed the Bench:--"It is altogether unavailing for your Lordship to menace me, for I have long learnt not to fear the face of man." I have observed that he adhered to the _broadest_ Scottish dialect.

"Hae ye ony coonsel, man ?" he said to Maurice Margarot (who, I believe, was an Englishman).

"No," was the reply.