44 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[July 21. 1855. 



from which his was made as an exact copy ; that 

 on the failure of the plan of invasion, the medals 

 were suppressed and the die destroyed. I have 

 heard it stated that eleven of the originals, and 

 not more, were issued ; and that three or four are 

 in England. If any of your correspondents could 

 give information which would elucidate the fact, 

 it would be interesting. Different opinions have 

 been stated, on what would at first appear the best 

 authority, as to the real intention of Napoleon for 

 his grand military display at Boulogne : if it could 

 be proved that this was a genuine medal struck 

 by order of Napoleon, and cancelled upon his 

 marching the troops to Germany, it would be 

 strong evidence that the invasion of England was 

 really intended. H. H. 



THE LAWTEE. 



The following lines, which I met with among a 

 collection of miscellaneous pamphlets and scraps 

 of poetry, may not be unworthy of a place in your 

 periodical. They are printed on a sheet of fools- 

 cap ; and at the head is a cut representing St. 

 Peter opening the gates of heaven to a lawyer de- 

 sirous of entering, but whom the apostle, on re- 

 cognising his profession, refuses to admit. There 

 is no date or author's name attached, and I should 

 be glad if any of your correspondents could inform 

 me on this point. William Henky Hakt. 



Albert Terrace, New Cross. 



"the lawyer. 

 Professions will abuse each other ; 

 The priest won't call the lawyer brother ; 

 While Salkeld still beknaves the parson, 

 And says he cants to keep the farce on ; 

 Yet will I readily suppose 

 • They are not truly bitter foes. 

 But only have their pleasant jokes, 

 And banter, just like other folks ; 

 As thus, for so they quiz the Law, 

 Once on a time th' attorney Flaw, 

 A man, to tell you as the fact is, 

 Of vast chicane, of course of practice ; 

 (But what profession can we trace 

 Where some will not the corps disgrace? 

 Seduc'd, perhaps, by roguish clieyit, 

 Who tempts him to become more pliant), 

 A notice had to quit the world, 

 And from his desk at length was hurl'd. 

 Observe, I pray, the plain narration : 

 'Twas in a hot and long vacation, 

 When time he had, but no assistance, 

 Tho' great from courts of law the distance, 

 To reach the court of truth and justice 

 (Where I confess my only trust is) : 

 Tho' here below the learned pleader 

 Shows talents worthy of a leader, 

 Yet his own fame he must support. 

 Be sometimes witty with the Court, 

 Or work the passions of a jury 

 By tender strains, or, full of fury. 

 Misleads them all, tho' twelve apostles, 

 While with new law the judge he jostles, 

 No. 299.] 



And makes them all give up their pow'rs 



To speeches of at least three hours. 



But we have left our little man. 



And wander'd from our purpos'd plan : 



'Tis said (without ill-natur'd leaven), 



* If ever lawyers get to heaven. 



It surely is by slow iegrees' 



(Perhaps 'tis slow tney take their fees). 



The case, then, now I'll fairly state: 



Flaw reach'd at last to heaven's high gate : 



Quite spent, he rapp'd, none did it neater. 



The gate was open'd by St. Peter, 



Who look'd astonish'd when he saw, 



All black, the little man of law ; 



But Charity was Peter's guide. 



For, having once himself denied 



His Master, he would not o'erpass 



The penitent of any class; 



Yet never having heard there enter'd 



A lawyer, nay, nor one that ventur'd 



Within the realms of peace and love, 



He told him, mildh', to remove. 



And would have clos'd the gate of day," 



Had not old Flaw, in suppliant way. 



Demurring to so hard a fate, 



Begg'd but a look, tho' through the gate. 



St. Peter, rather off his guard, 



Unwilling to be thought too hard. 



Opens the gate to let him peep in. 



What did the lawyer? Did he creep in; 



Or dash at once to take possession ? 



Oh no, he knew his own profession; 



He took his hat off with respect. 



And would no gentle means neglect; 



But finding it was all in vain 



For him admittance to obtain. 



Thought it were best, let come what will, 



To gain an entry by his skill. 



So while St. Peter stood aside. 



To let the door be open'd wide. 



He skimm'd his hat with all his strength 



Within the gates to no small length : 



St. Peter star'd ; the lawyer ask'd him 



' Only to fetch iiis hat,' and pass'd him ; 



But when he reach'd the jack he'd thrown, 



Oh, then was all the lawyer shown ; 



He clapp'd it on, and, arms a-kembo 



(As if he'd been the gallant Bemho), 



Cry'd out, 'What think you of my plan? — 



Eject me, Peter, if yoc can.' " 



ORATOB HENLEY. 



In the interesting Essay on the character and 

 writings of John Henley (the orator), which forms 

 an article in the late Mr. D'Israeli's Calamities of 

 Authors, some specimens are given of one of the 

 earlier productions of that extraordinary person. 

 I refer to Esther, a sacred poem in four books. 

 We learn from a note to The Dunciad (book iii. 

 line 195.), illustrative of the memorable passage — • 



" Embrown'd in native bronze, lo ! Henley stands," 



that the production which I have named was 

 " well received by the town ;" and, certainly, the 

 extracts from it affi)rded by our ingenious " de- 

 tector curiositatum " seem to justify the public 



