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Since they live by law, they incite to liti gation. When the client's fierceness abates "these artists blow the dying fire, and make the embers glow." The process stops only when the client is exhausted. But Crabbe admits exceptions. There were honorable the well-to-do, men in the profession. These '• Who hold manorial courts. Or whom the trust of powerful friends supports."

An eighteenth century poet could not have made such an admission as this; and the "Pope in worsted " went further still : Yet I repeat there are who nobly strive, To keep the sense of moral worth alive. Men who would starve, ere meanly deign to live On what deception and chican'ry give; And these at length succeed, they have their strife, Their apprehensions, stops, and rubs in life; Hut honor, application, care and skill Shall bend opposing fortune to their will. Of such is Archer, he who keeps in awe, Contending parties by his threats of law; He. roughly honest, has been long a guide In Borough-business, on the conquering side; And seen so much of both sides, and so long He thinks the bias of men's mind goes wrong: Thus, though he's friendly, he is still severe, Surely though kind, suspiciously sincere; So much he's seen of baseness in the mind That while a friend to man. he scorns mankind.

Sixteen years later, when the second year of the century was beginning, this more fav orable view of the attorney received confirma tion from within the legal profession. Crabbe was a clergyman, and had been an apothe cary; an anonymous member of the Bar came now to corroborate the other professions. He pictures the opening of Term : From Court to Court, perplexed, attornies fly, A Dowling each! quick scouring to and fro, And wishing he could cut himself in two. That he two places at a time might reach. So he could charge his •• Six and eight pence each."

This is but natural weakness, and the author alludes to it, not in reprehension, but with the pride of superiority. As six-and-eight is

to one, three, six, so is an attorney to a member of the Bar. The author beholds the attorney again at the assizes, " bustling, hawk-eyed." There the attorney may have the ill-luck to find Scarlett against him and receive "a roasting." "What! " some old practised limb is apt to cry, When such a •• roasting " meets his curious eye, Can all this difference be betwixt a leader And an obliging smiling special pleader? I well remember at no distant time. When Varro thought it neither sin nor crime, To greet a friend with language soft and kind, That won his patient client's heart and mind. But now, behold! when by their friendly aid, His end is answered, and his fortune made, Up to the top of fame's proud height he goes Then kicks the ladder down by which he rose!

• Not content with this exposition of his views in verse, the author added a note in prose. " There is an immeasurable distance between a Barrister and an Attorney; and many of the former have, or effect to have, an absolute antipathy to the latter." He refers to Scarlett's habit of vituperating them in Court, which on one occasion led to the leading case of Hodgson v. Scarlett, in which it was decided that no action will lie against Counsel for slander uttered in Court. " One may collect at least three good reasons," continues the poet, " why Counsel should be more abstemious in their vituperation of these gentlemen: i. They (the Barristers) are sure of the protection of the Court. 2. The abused party cannot reply to any observations, however strong that may be made, on his character or conduct. 3. Nor can he have any redress or satisfaction out of Court." The Barrister-poet usually, like Blackstonc, bids an early farewell to his muse. While he is still among the singing birds, his prac tice is small, and he has reason to regard the attorney's as angelic visits. Mr. Justice Hayes, in his " Elegy written in the Temple Gardens," lamented the condition of the briefless in the upper stories.