of the judges and the opening of the law-courts at the assizes, of course was, and is, the periodical excitement of a provincial city. All the children in Norwich—from the noisy urchins who throng the streets, to the little curled darlings who are dressed and taken out to witness the ceremonial of the judges' arrival, or the procession of the municipal authorities who escort the judicial dignitaries to the cathedral—were then, as now, delighted at the ceremonial and the show, the bustle and the life of the scene. Very few, probably, ever think deeply respecting the people to be tried, or feel much curiosity about the solemn proceedings of a court of justice; but the young Amelia, from a very early age, was full of interest and excitement about the trials, and was allowed to go—not to the criminal trials, but to the nisi prius court—and hear the pleadings and witness the proceedings, which she did with an absorbed attention, making her own mental comments, and finding her love of truth greatly shocked by the contradictions, prevarications, and carelessness of witnesses.
The deep attention and intelligent look of this young observer attracted the attention of many eminent legal men; and, to her own surprise at the time, and her amusement as she recalled it in after-years, she was noticed and talked to by learned judges, and her attendance was looked for with indulgent interest.
She was from early childhood a remarkably good
