2.92, 
be required in focicty, from the corrupt 
habits of mankind, thefe fubjeéts of fo 
much juft complaint, will, in fpite of 
every effort to the contrary, abundantly 
be found. Still it does not follow, from 
this conceffion, that no endeavours fhould 
be ufed to render the law more clear and 
fimple in its principles, and certain in its 
practice. ‘Though the law will always 
be necefflary, and though new ftatutes 
will always ve requifite, accerding to the 
change of circumftances and manners; 
yet, with the fame, will a perpetual re- 
form ever be found equally expedient. 
It ismot one of the leaft diftinguifhing 
excellencies of the prefent reign, that 
the profeffion of the law has been ren- 
cered more refpectable, and a lefs object 
of popular cdium, than it was formerly. 
The eftablihment of the Judges on a 
different footing, was a circumfiance of 
eminent coniequence to the liberty of 
the fubjeét; and from that, in fome 
meafure, we may conclude, has pro- 
ceded the reformation in the practice of 
the courts. Pleading at the bar has 
affaumed a more decorous appearance ; 
~ aod the paltry, if not worfe, arts of en- 
trapping evidences, have funk into dif- 
repute, have been checked by the bench, 
and flighted by the jury. 
But one of the moft confiderable and 
beneficial alterations, and which pro- 
mifes ftill greater advantages, is the 
parliamentary regulation, by which ar- 
ticled clerks, and perfons entering upon 
practice, are obliged to pay a fum, of 
nv imall magnitude, to the public re- 
venue. 
Though a tax ona particular profeffion 
conveys a fort cf difgrace upon it; and 
no generous mind can approve of it, as 
fucb; yet, in the prefent inftance, when 
the number of pettifoggers, of men who 
made the law an infirument of chicanery 
and opprefiion, was fo great and increaf- 
ing, jomé meafure was neceflary to cor- 
rect the evil. That which has been 
adopted is certainly a ftrong one; but, 
with every aliowance in its favour, it is 
to be lamented, that no fmall portion 
of the abufe, to which it was meant to 
apply. remains in a force and exercife 
that’ powerfully calls for farther cor- 
roiives. 
That there is no law enacted, but what 
may be evaded by interefied’ men, has 
been long a proverbial truth in: this 
couftry ; and, therefore, that the one 
now under confideration fhould lofe fome 
of its effect, cannot-be a matter of fur- 
prize, when we reflect that it affects to 
Villainy of Pettifogzers. 
[May 
a body too generally praétifed in the arts 
of evafion. 
It was hoped that this meafure would 
have freed the profeffion from the irrup- 
tion of low and mean perfons, whofe 
habits and fituation would naturally in- 
cline them to exercife it to the injury of 
their unwary fellow-citizens. That it 
will do this, im a confiderable degree, is 
_ yet confidently to be expeéted ; but that 
it fhouid do fo completely, will require 
farther legiflative exertions. ; 
There are many perfons, particulariy 
in the metropolis, who carry on an under- 
hand practice, although they were never 
either regularly articled as clerks, or en- 
rolicd. Thefe men cannot be fuppofed 
to have much of the mens confcia reéti, or 
a fenfe of honour in their minds, while 
they are exercifing a profeffion to which 
they,in reality, do not belong. The lower 
orders of tradefmen are very much ex- 
pofed to the influence of thefe vermin. 
Familiarity with them, and a confequent 
admiraticn of that parade of legal talents 
which they difplay, and efpecially of the 
promifes which they hold out, of ma- 
naging caufes with fuccefs, at a fmall ex- 
pence, induce them to commit their af- 
fairs into fuch /imgularly honeft hands. 
The client believes his friend to be a 
real attorney, and generally retains him. 
vith a fee beforehand. ‘This refpeétable 
practitioner has a principal, who being 
regular, aéts as a fure covert in cafe of 
need, and with whom he goes fhares. 
The real lawyer, if the bufinefs appears 
difgraceful, ihifts off the opprebrium 
upon his jackall, who, having no cha- 
racter to lofe, cares but little for the 
ftain, and fets out again in queft of 
freth prev. . 
I met with an inftance lately of this 
kind, which roufed my indignation te 
fuch ‘a degree as to induce me to throw _ 
thefe obfervations together for the public 
eye. ; 
A poor induftrious woman contraéted 
a fmall debt of fomewhat lefs than fox 
pounds, for which the creditor, avaricious 
and unfeeling, proceeded to legal ex- 
tremity. She was willing to pay it by 
inftallments weekly, and defired one of 
thefe cheap and benevolent practitioners 
to negociate this difagreeable atfair for 
her, and gave him half-a-guinea. The 
honeft retainer affured her that the cre- 
ditor was fatisfied, would comply with 
her terms, and received more money for 
his trouble. The next thing was an exe- 
cution on the poor woman’s furniture 
for debt and cofts, to the ‘amount of 
Aificen 
r 
