Ginx's Baby [26]
pleasantry was less acceptable to the Board. "Well," said Mr. Scoop, grocer, a great stickler for parliamentary modes of procedure, "I move it be committed. " "Committed! Where?" said Mr. Stink. "To Newgate I s'pose," said the half-wit, his eyes twinkling. "Nonsense, sir,--for consideration. Send that man out," exclaimed Scoop--"clear the room for consultation." Davus was expelled, and the baby was then formally consigned to the care of a committee. By this time the legal adviser came in. The facts having been stated to him, he said: "Gentlemen, as at present advised I am of opinion that the parish in which the child was found is bound to maintain him. If Mr. Doll (a highly respectable person, my own cheesemonger) found the child beyond the boundaries of St. Simon Magus--and he will of course swear that he did--you cannot refuse to take it in. However, I had better ascertain the facts from Mr. Doll and take the opinion of counsel. Meanwhile we must beware not to compromise ourselves by admitting anything, or doing anything equivalent to an admission. Let me see--Ah!--yes--a notice to be served on the other parish repudiating the infant; another notice to Mr. Doll to take it away, and that it remains here at his risk and expense--you see, gentlemen, we could hardly venture to return it to Mr. Doll; we should create an unhappy impression in the minds of the public--" "D--n the public!" said Mr. Stink. "Quite so, my dear sir," said Mr. Phillpotts, smiling, "quite so, but that is not a legal or in fact practicable mode of discarding them; we must act with public opinion, I fear. Then, to resume, thirdly and to be strictly safe, we must serve a notice on the infant and all whom it may concern. I think I'll draft it at once." In a few minutes the committee in charge pinned to the only garment of Ginx's Baby a paper in the following form:-- PARISH OF ST. BARTIMEUS. To ---- ---- (name unknown), a Foundling, and all other persons interested in the said Foundling. TAKE NOTICE That you, or either of you, have no just or lawful claim to have you or the said infant chargeable on the said Parish. And this is to notify that you, the said infant, are retained in the workhouse of the said Parish under protest, and that whatsoever is or may be done or provided for you is at the proper charge of you, and all such persons as are and were by law bound to maintain and keep the same. WINKLE & PHILLPOTTS, Solicitors for the Board. III.--"The World is my Parish." When Mr. Phillpotts called upon Doll, the cheesemonger, the latter straightway gave him the facts as they had occurred. He pointed out the exact spot on which the bundle had lain; he gave an estimate of the number of inches on each side of the line occupied by it, and declared that the head and shoulders of the infant lay in the parish of the solicitor's clients. Ginx's Baby, under the title "Re a Foundling," was once more submitted for the opinion of counsel. They advised the Board that as the child was in both parishes when found, but had been taken up by a ratepayer of St. Simon Magus, the latter parish was bound to support him. Whereupon the Guardians of St. Bartimeus at their next meeting resolved that the Vestry of the other parish should have a written notice to remove the child, failing which application should be made to the Queen's Bench for a mandamus to compel them to do it. On receiving the challenge the Guardians of St. Simon Magus also took counsel's opinion. They were advised that as the greater part, and especially the head of the infant, was when discovered in the parish of St. Bartimeus, the latter was clearly chargeable. Both parties then proceeded to swear affidavits. The Attorney-General and Solicitor-General, the two great law-officers of the crown, were retained on opposite sides, and took fees--not for an Imperial prosecution, but as petty Queen's Counsel in an inter-parochial squabble. IV.--Without prejudice to any one but the Guardians. The Court of Queen's