number has never been strictly limited. At present there are sixty-two Benchers of the Middle Temple, among whom is the King, who was elected a member while he was yet Prince of Wales. The other Inns have, some more, and some less, benchers. According to a recent legal writer, (New Guide to the Bar, p. 69), the benefits of Bencherhood at present consist chiefly of the following points: "To dine on a dias off su
is elected Chairman or Treasurer, and as head of the Society maintains somewhat auto cratic sway. The government and constitu tion of the Inns has always been practically the same. The details of instruction in Coke's time varied in each of the four Inns of Court and their dependent Inns of Chancery, but the essential features were the same. The year was divided, as at present, into four terms, .
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GRAY'S INN HALL. perior and more numerous courses of viands and vintages; to enjoy these dinners and lundies practically free of expense; to have the run of a luxurious set of club rooms called the Parliament Chambers; to take part in legislation for the Society, and to have the highest places in the synagogue and else where." In the days of Coke these privileges were not enjoyed without some arduous duties. Every year the succeeding Senior Bencher
varying from one to three months in dura tion. They were called Hilary, Easter, Trin ity and Michaelmas. Between these terms came the vacations, and in both of them the work of the students was carried on. In term time the studies seem to have been of a more formal nature, for in the vacations the Bench ers were absent and the Inns were directed by the older barristers. Very little appears of regular lectures, apart from the exercises of the Readers, who
