179t« ^^ THE UTILITY OF LAW-SUITS. i^" 



7b the Editor of the Bee. 



0?i the Utility of Lcnu-fuits, 

 Sir, 



Having occadon lately to hear the minifter of a 

 neighboui-ing parifh, I was fomewhat ftaggered at the 

 general intendment of his lermon, wherein he folicited, 

 with a becoming fervour, his auditors to live in peace 

 and harmony with each other, and to drop ai>d forbear 

 connection with lawyers and lawfuits. The immediate 

 corollary which I naturally drew from this doctrine, 

 was,^that he meant to ftarve the attorney. On the 

 mind of one, who, from fpeculative- principles, had re- 

 ceded from being a candidate for the clerical gown, and 

 had betaken himfelt to the profeffion of the law, with a 

 firm refolution to maintain his integrity, this earnefl 

 requeft of his ghoftly direftor could not fail to make 

 a' deep impreffion. " If, fays 1 to myfelf, if I am of a 

 " profeffion which the depravity of mankind has ren- 

 *' dered indifpenfible in fociety, fo is the parlbn. Lavv- 

 •' fuits muft be founded in material juftice, for their 

 " object is juftice. The opprellion of the petty-fogger 

 "' extends to the purfe, or at farthefl fo pcrfonal durefs; 

 *' but the zeal of the polemic and feftary has led him 

 *' to the effufion of blood. Are the labours of the 

 " lawyer as ferviceable to the community as the fkill 

 ••' of the artift or the induftry of the labourer ?" H!ere 

 I confefs I was puzzled for an anfwer ; but a little re- 

 flexion made me exclaim,, iq the language of FalftafF, 

 " It is no fin for a rnan to labour in his vocation." 



The refult of my refearches was, that a multiplicity 

 of lavv-fuits is in feveral refpects beneficial to mankind j 

 and futely, he who contributes to promote the general 

 welfare, merits the retribution of applaufe. 



Vol. III. •■ f C 



