358
THE GREEN BAG
markets of trade, the courts and the legal profession, likewise the schools for the young men of the day; and hither they came to enter upon their studies of the classics and the law — hearing lectures from some one or two of the prominent barristers of the general court, and, if fortunate, becoming an apprentice to one of these distinguished gentlemen, where our embryo attorney not only laid the foundation of future triumphs at the bar by a careful perusal of "Coke upon Littleton" and the mysteries of the pleading of the times, but was taught the art of being a gentleman by reading after the authors of the Old World, learning the steps of the stately minuet, fox-hunting, the discussion of political affairs, the writing of political pamphlets, and keeping in vogue with the fashions of London and Paris. In spite of this frivolity, however, our young attorney lived in a time which gave much and demanded much. For, should he be ambitious — and this was generally the case with the example before him of those honored by reason of their calling — there were many days and nights of pains taking preparation before he could hope to appear at the slightest advantage in the conduct of his causes. Moreover, the mere association with minds of such finished elegance gave him that food for absorption which permeated his whole being. After the War of the Revolution, Williamsburg lost much of its ancient greatness; the capital of the commonwealth was moved to Richmond; the far-off counties began to come into civilization and recognition; and the courts began to^be scattered into all parts of the state, in this way bringing to our attention the importance of the county court, which had already been the most popular tribunal of the colony; and that Mecca of each county, the county-seat, at which place this court was held once every month — presided over, in the early days, by justices of the peace of the county, who were the most influential men in the colony and commonwealth, and later by the county
judge (this court has lately been abolished under the new constitution of Virginia). With the importance of this tribunal to the layman and lawyer and before the days of the railways, comes that heyday of the bar, the "riding upon circuit." The profession at this period in its history, while in fact more of a profession than at the present time, was marked by a feeling of good fellowship, good living and a jollity among its members which is unobtainable at the present time. And though our brothers -in-arms were, for the most part, poorly paid — often taking their fees in livestock and poultry — yet this seemed to lessen not a whit the vigor of their argu ments; and this same produce went to laden the hospitable boards of those whose gates were thrown wide to the gay young and learned old barristers who rode the circuit. Each tavern was a meeting-place for these choice spirits; and in the midst of their evening revels there flowed an infinite variety of wit and humor; also much learning and hard common sense were a part of each conversation. To add to this unbounded hospitality, eager crowds waited upon the court green to catch a glimpse and listen. And during political campaigns, joint debates between the lead ing lawyers of the county were eagerly enjoyed by the inhabitants of the country side, who came from far and near to listen, sometimes, to rather lurid oratory, for even a seat in the state legislature was bitterly fought, the incumbent knowing full well the importance which it brought to thus repre sent his constitutents. Mr. John P. Kennedy, an able lawyer of the old school, in his life of Wirt — who was an exemplar of the young barrister of his day — says : "Such a character (speaking of Wirt's) we may suppose to be but too susceptible to the influences of goodfellowship, which, in the jollity of youthful association, not unfrequently take the discretion of the votary by surprise, and disarm its sentinels.
