60. _Cowper Law._--Lord Mahon, in his _History of England_, second edit.
vol. ii. p. 66., in speaking of the death of the first Earl Cowper,
after saying "His memory deserves high respect," &c., adds, "And though
it seems that a by-word was current of 'Cowper law, to hang a man first
and then judge him,' I believe that it proceeded from party resentment,
rather than from any real fault;" and in a note refers to the evidence
at Lord Wintoun's trial. Is not Lord Mahon mistaken in supposing that
this saying refers to Lord Cowper? Should it not be "Cupar Law," meaning
the town of that name? I see in Lord Wintoun's trial, where his lordship
uses the expression, he adds, "as we used to say in our country." If my
supposition is correct, can any of your correspondents say how the
proverb arose?