 we are just where we set out; we have not gained an Inch of Ground by the many Miles we have travelled!
Quite as much, replied
Walter,
in a Journey of three Hours, as your Honour gained for me in a Journey of thirteen Years; and I leave you, as you left me --just where you found me.
Your Story, cried Mr.
Fenton,
is as pleasant as it is apt, and reminds me of an Observation, made by
Harry the 4th of France,
that is equally pertinent to the Subject.
A certain Judge of a Court of Law, in that Kingdom, had grown aged on the Bench, and honoured by the innumerable Sentences which he had passed, and which were all deemed conformable to the most perfect Measure and Dispensation of Equity. The Gainers of the several Suits applauded his Discernment and Justice to the Skies; and even the Losers allowed that they had no right to complain. The Fame of his Wisdom and Integrity reached the Throne; the Monarch was curious to see a Judge of so peculiar a Cast and Character; and he sent for him under Colour of thanking him for the great Honours which he had done to his Regency.
After a most gracious Reception, and some Compliments at the Levee, the Prince took him apart and in Confidence said.
 � My Lord Judge, the infinite Complaints that come before me from all Parts of the Kingdom, respecting the erroneous or iniquitous Sentences daily passed by your Fraternity, cast the highest Lustre on the Singularity of your Conduct, and give me an eager Curiosity to know by what Measures you have been enabled to content all Parties. I adjure you then, by all that you reverence, to disguise nothing from me on this Head. You have not any thing to fear from my Censure of Means that have proved so very successful, and you have all things to hope from my Approbation.  �  
The Judge, thereupon, cast himself at the Feet of his Prince and, rising, addressed him thus.
To you, my Sovereign, as to Heaven, I will open my whole Soul.  �  In the first Place, in order to enable myself to give a Guess whether the Judgments, to be pronounced, might be right or wrong, I gave all possible Attention to the Merits of each Case during the Process; I daily took Minutes of the Pleadings on either Side; I enlarged and commented on those Minutes while Matters were fresh in my Memory; and I never interrupted any Cause, till it had run itself out of Breath through the Circuit of Forms and due Course of Law
