The Attorney in the Poets.
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THE ATTORNEY IN THE POETS. II.
THE "game" of the Church, the revenue of a bishopric, were indeed " more sub stantial" than the poor allowances to the attorneys which escaped the taxing master's censure. But Churchill seems to have judged the class less severely than his contempo raries, and even recognized that they might suffer injustice. He praised Judge Reason (and by implication denounced other judges) because she had not
With the beginning of the nineteenth cen tury a more charitable view dawned upon mankind. Even in its worse days the pro fession must, somehow, have retained some respect, and now, bad as was its general character, there were exceptions admitted. To say that a man was an attorney was now only prima facie evidence that he was a vil lain; in the time of Dr. Johnson, as declared by the witticism of which he was pleased to be reminded, it had been conclusive proof. — basely to anticipate a cause. When Crabbe with fear and trembling de Compelled solicitors, no longer free. scribed the profession in The Boroiigli, his To show those briefs she has no right to see. principal example was, indeed, an unfavor The anonymous author of the " Probation able specimen; but there was a contrast ary Odes for the Laureateship " went further afforded in honest Archer. Swallow was and was willing to allow to one attorney, not bad— "a hard bad man who prey'd upon the indeed virtue, but grammar, Among the weak." persons represented as candidates for the laurel on the death of Whitehead was Sir Lo! that small office! there th' incautious guest Goes blindfold in, and that maintains the rest : Cecil Wray, Fox's opponent in the great There in his net th' observant spider lies, Westminster Election of 1784. But though And peers about for fat intruding spies. the words of the ode were stated to be by Sir Cecil, it was announced that " the spell Swallow's villainies consisted in recover ing" was by Mr. Grojan, Attorney-at-law. ing a house from his father on behalf of a Mr. Grojan, a practitioner in Chancery Lane, client, inciting clients to litigation, after giv was Deputy High Bailiff for Westminster; ing them a generous dinner (" his way to hence, doubtless, his association with the can starve them was to make them eat ") and didate, and his presence in the queer company lending money on expectant interests. This which ranged from the Chancellor and the last practice, not criminal in itself, led on to Archbishop of York to Michael Angelo Tay worse courses. With an hypocrisy doubtless lor and Dr. Pretyman. Mr. Pepper Arden, natural in his profession, Swallow joined a Attorney-General, too, was of the party and Chapel, became treasurer, and declined to sang: part with the funds he received on the ground that as some subscribers were dead, there ¡«dite, my Muse, indite .' subposna'cl is thy lyre. The praises to record, which rules of Court require. was no one who could give him a valid dis charge. And this sad course of conduct, the But in revenge for the distinction allowed poet appeared to think, was the necessary to Mr. Grojan, his official principal, the High Bailiff, from whom Fox recovered swingeing consequence of legal training. The young damages for his conduct in the scrutiny, is attorney loses heart. represented as unable to frame a sentence Law, law, alone forever kept in view, correctly. His measure guides and rules his conscience too.
