NOTES OF THE MONTH 345 



The mode of admitting attornies is not destitute of fun, although 

 its consequences are fearful. In theory there is every proper proviso 

 against the qualification of an improper character. By the old rules, 

 Judges were authorised to admit only a fit number for the due ad- 

 ministration of justice. Then came the statute of James the first,, 

 A. R. 3. c. 7- in confirmation of which, a rule was made, that none 

 should be admitted unless (inter alia) they were found to be of good 

 ability and HONESTY ! By the 2nd of Geo. II. c. 23, continued by two 

 subsequent acts for short periods, and made perpetually 30th. Geo. II. 

 the Judges, before allowing any person to take the oaths, preparatory to 

 his becoming an attorney, were REQUIRED to examine and inquire pouch- 

 ing hisjitness and capacity. Now what is the practice ? An articled 

 clerk, after having served his five years, takes his indenture and affi- 

 davits (the most important of which, is relative to the payment of 120 

 duty) to the Judge's clerk, who, after having glanced through the do- 

 cuments, and received his fee, fills up a fiat already signed by " his 

 lordship/' for the young gentleman's admission. The next morning, 

 with the fiat in his pocket, the scape-grace goes to Westminster,takes 

 the oaths of supremacy, &c. and receives his diploma, without the 

 slightest inquiry or examination having been made as to his moral and 

 intellectual ability and capacity. A fellow who has never read a 

 page even of Tidd's Practice / a scoundrel to the bone ; " some 

 gentlemen," Prussian or English, provided he produces the formal 

 affidavits of service, sticking up of notices, and payment of duty, may 

 be admitted an attorney, without exchanging one word with the 

 Judge whose name is affixed to his fiat. Sir Thomas Denman has 

 already removed many absurdities, and it is to be hoped that he will 

 protect the poor public, by radically reforming this monstrous enormity. 

 The other Judges, in all" the Courts, we feel satisfied, from their high 

 character, will go with him heartily. We have heard of one case, 

 and only one, in which a Judge thought fit to examine a candidate, 

 <c His lordship'' was Mr. Justice Grose, and the other party a young 

 fellow named Parker, who shook in his shoes on being introduced. 

 This memorable examination, touching Parker's ee fitness and ca- 

 pacity," was verbatim as follows : Grose. Who are you ? Parker. 

 John Parker, of Ilchester, in the county of Somerset. Grose. So I 

 see by your affidavit. Did you know one Hugg, of the same place ? 

 Parker. I did, my Lord : he was struck off the rolls for improper con- 

 duct. Grose. Good. Mind you don't follow his example: there's 

 your fiat. 



ALKALINE HIEROGLYPHICS. The Editor of a country Paper 

 is delicately indignant. The milkmaid has chalked his door-post be- 

 yond the bourne of human endurance. He gives us his honour that he 

 has liquidated her demand from time to time, in a most gentlemanly 

 way. 



"Yet," he adds, te it will scarcely be believed that instead of rub- 

 bing out, she has merely ticked off the paid chalks by means of some 

 hieroglyphic, which, however intelligible it may be to her, the com- 

 munity at large do not at all understand, so that, as we accidentally 



M. M. No. 87. 2 O 



