These matters having been duly set forth in evidence before the magistrates, they called upon the conquered constable-quelled Corinthians for their defence. Whereupon Mr. Christopher Clutterbuck, with many propitiatory deviations from the perpendicular, delivered himself thus:--
"Your worships--that is to say, your worships, I--_hem_! I beg pardon, your worships, but I don't know. It is extremely awkward--all I can say is--that is, all I have to offer is, that I--belong to--to his Majesty's service, _hem_! But unfortunately--unfortunately, your worships, have not been in the habit of being much in _town_, and--the fact is, your worships, I really don't know exactly; but this gentleman (Mr. Dionysius Dobbs) is my friend--my particular friend, and a gentleman, as you perceive--that is, he is a gentleman, I assure you. I suppose your worships, we were not in our regular senses--certainly we could not be--we were not so sober as we might have been at sometimes, I suppose; but the fact is, no doubt, I imagine, we must make amends for any damage we have done, certainly."
Mr. Dionysius Dobbs said nothing. Once or twice he essayed to speak, but what he had to say stuck in his throat. So he gasped piteously; and looked unutterable things, with an aspect so droopingly lack-a-daisical, that the very officers seemed sorry for him.
Their worships, however, commented severely upon their misdeeds, and ordered that they should put in good and sufficient bail for their appearance at the Quarter Sessions, there to answer to five distinct indictments for assault. Mr. Christopher Clutterbuck in 100_l._, with two sureties in 50_l._ each; and Mr. Dionysius Dobbs in 80_l._, with two sureties in 40_l._ each.
They had no bail ready, and were locked up all day, among other unfortunates, in the iron room. In the evening they gave the required bail; and, meanwhile, the Grand Jury returned five true bills against them. But they were never brought to trial; for, before the next Sessions, they found means to make their peace with the injured officers, at an expense of some forty or fifty pounds. And this is worshipful _Corinthianism_.
This was a proceeding, by warrant, for an assault and battery, arising out of the non-settlement of a debt of honour.