538 Legal Monopoly. [MAY, 



electrifying. Moderate as is the rate of pay in this service, it is double 

 that of the Russian soldier. 



Divided into many kingdoms, separated by jealousy, manners, and 

 inveterate and antiquated prejudices, this empire appears to contain within 

 itself the seeds of its own destruction. The events of the three days of 

 July, have vibrated even in this country, in spite of the vigilance of 

 Metternich ; the Hungarian, the Pole, the Bohemian, and the Tyrolian, 

 brood over the recollection of their former freedom, and of their violated 

 constitutions j in short, the Austrian empire may be likened to a slum- 

 bering volcano ; and the Emperor Francis, as he casts his eye over the 

 map of his extensive dominions, may, like Louis XV. of France, exclaim 

 " Ceci durera autant que moi, mais je plains mon successeur." 



LEGAL MONOPOLY. 



OUR best thanks are due to the Common Law Commissioners for the 

 wise and humane alterations they recommend in the report that has lately 

 been laid before the legislature. The beneficial effects of their labours are 

 already perceived, for their inquiries have infused into the very judges 

 themselves an energy, as meritorious as it is rare. My Lord Tenterden has 

 introduced into the House of Lords a bill for the purpose of assimilating 

 the practice of the Common Law Courts ; and the Lord Chancellor has laid 

 the report of the Common Law Commissioners before the Peers, having 

 favourably commented upon the legal improvements therein proposed. 

 Though at a late hour, it is reviving, and novel in the annals of reforma- 

 tion, to rind judges becoming the voluntary channels to facilitate the 

 current of necessary improvement. 



These steps are some of the many which ought to have been taken 

 long ago, and their objects might have been accomplished by any mem- 

 ber of the legislature at all acquainted with the numerous inconsistencies, 

 which that innovator, Time, has left throughout the various books of 

 practice clearly displayed to view. But however capable judges may be, 

 by their knowledge and authority, to agitate questions of vital interest to 

 the community, they have hitherto been most remiss in proposing alte- 

 rations in laws, or their practice. It is with as much surprise as 

 satisfaction, therefore, that we see the Lord Chancellor, and Lord Ten- 

 terden, putting their shoulders to the wheel. Within the last twelve 

 months we have had two or three sets of new rules and orders from the 

 bench of judges, and now the Chief Justice steps forward with his bill to 

 assimilate the practice of the Courts. 



These alterations afford but very slight benefits to the Public, though 

 they will tend materially to simplify the practice of the laws to the Pro- 

 fession. So much indeed does this last object seem to be the chief aim 

 of their lordships, that we have been driven to ask ourselves, whether 

 laws are made, and justice administered, for the benefit of lawyers, or 

 the interests of the public ? And taking for our premise, the indifference 

 of the judges to abuses, their patronage, the unjust practices they coun- 

 tenance, the excessive emoluments received by their dependents together 

 with the outcry at every effort to cheapen law, raised by those classes of 

 men who are the mere instruments to effect adjustments between parties, 



