Biographies, English biographies, Thomas Erskine, 1750-1823, Queen Caroline, Gordon Riots, Lord Melville, United Kingdom Famous Trials 

"In a dramatic swift-paced story, one of America's foremost trial lawyers re-creates the amazing life of the great English barrister who case made history a century and a half ago. The story is set in London, glittering, scandalous, late eighteenth century London... It was the London of obstinate George III, Beau Brummell, lovely Mrs. Fitzherbert, dashing Georgianna, Duchess of Devonshire; the London of David Garrick and Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was the London of the mighty Burke who led the Whig opposition against William Pitt, prime minister at the age of twenty-three. It was also the London of young Thomas Erskine, poor though wellborn, without education except for what he had gathered in his travels and omnivorous reading; but charming, handsome, debonair and witty..."- Cover 

Contents:
Midshipman Erskine -- Erskine discovers London -- Dr. Johnson comes to dinner -- The inns of court -- Pupil at the inns -- The frauds in the veterans' administration -- The court-martial of admiral Keppel -- The Gordon riots -- Erskine enters parliament -- Trial by jury -- King Lear -- The freedom of the press -- "Not revolt, sire, revolution" -- The young man at the angel -- The "rights of man" -- English Jacobins -- Citizen Paine to the bar -- England's reign of terror -- John Frost, solicitor -- The "morning chronicle" on trial -- Thomas Walker of Manchester -- "Down with the revolution!" -- A shoemaker and a king -- The trial of John Horne Tooke -- Aftermath -- Exit Edmund Burke -- The "age of reason" -- God save the king -- "Roll up the map of Europe" -- Chancellor Lord Erskine -- The trial of Lord Melville -- The princess Caroline -- The delicate investigation -- The end of the ministry-and of the chancellorship -- The regency -- Private citizen -- The art of dying -- A wanderer in strange lands -- The trial of Queen Caroline -- "Non mi ricordo" -- Home is the sailor. 

Includes bibliographical references (pages 591-601) and index.