Sir, - The exchange which Patrick Quinlan (February 6th) attributes to the Munster circuit in the 1950s actually took place much earlier. The barrister involved was F.E. Smith and the exchange was as follows. Judge: "I have read your case, Mr Smith, and I am no wiser now than I was when I started." F.E. Smith: "Possibly not, My Lord, but far better informed."
On another occasion the following exchange occurred. Judge: "You are offensive, Sir." Smith: "We both are; the difference is that I'm trying to be and you can't help it."
F.E. Smith (1872-1930) subsequently became a Unionist MP for the Walton division of Liverpool and appeared for the Crown as Attorney-General in the prosecution of Roger Casement. He was eventually ennobled as the first Earl of Birkenhead, having played a major part in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. from the above exchanges it can be seen that he was that rare bird, a witty unionist politician. - Yours, etc.,
Kevin O'Sullivan, Ballyraine Park, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.