WHAT A BARRISTER MAY DO; AND WHAT HE MAY NOT DO
There seems to be at present a very considerable difference of opinion among the gentlemen of the Bar as to what may or may not be done by a barrister. We had some idea of publishing a small hand-book of etiquette for the exclusive use of the gentlemen of the long robe; but as what is etiquette to-day may not be etiquette to-morrow, we feared the work would not possess the permanent utility which alone would recompense us for the labour of writing it. We have, however, drawn up a few general rules founded on our own observation as to what a barrister may do, and what he may not do, consistently with his professional dignity:—
1st. A barrister may be employed in inducing Members of Parliament to vote in favour of railway bills; but he may not report for a newspaper.
2nd. A barrister may practise the “artful dodge” for the purpose of defeating the ends of justice; but he must not enter an assize town in an omnibus.
3rd. A barrister may tout for a small judgeship; but he will be very properly disbarred if he advertises his readiness to plead the cause of clients.
4th. A barrister may libel a rival candidate for an office in a “private and confidential” circular; but he must not degrade himself by asking an attorney to dine with him on the circuit.
5th. A barrister may take a fee when he knows he cannot attend to the cause; but he may not return the money, for his doing so would be very unprofessional.
6th, and lastly. A barrister may be a very honourable man; but many things which professional etiquette allows him to do, would be thought disgraceful and dishonest among ordinary people.
A Delicate Distinction.—Cross-examining Counsel (to fair witness). And is your name Aurelia Jessamine Jones?
Fair Witness (after a pause). No, sir; but it ought to have been, only my god-parents were so ill-chosen.
MORTMAIN
Important Suitors in Chancery.—Having occasion the other day to visit the Chancery Offices, we discovered an announcement which we are surprised has not been more generally noticed, and we take no little credit to ourselves for being the first to give extended publicity to the important public directions to the unhappy suitors, who may have been wandering in the Court so many years. The information is contained in the following short announcement—“The Way Out”—which we can assure our readers we have copied from an official notice stuck up in that Court.
An Immediate Landlord.—One who will not wait for his rent.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF YE ENGLISH IN 1849
Westminster Hall. Showynge ye ceremonye of openynge terme.
Legal Nomenclature.—Occasionally we hear of “running down cases” being tried. The unlearned in the law naturally inquire if these are actions for slander.
Prison Thought.—“When’s a Christian,” said a poacher in gaol to himself, “sarved the same as a hare?—When he’s jugged like I be.”
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF YE ENGLISH IN 1849
Hyghest court of law in ye kyngdom. Ye Lords hearyng appeals.
An Under Tenant.—One who occupies a cellar.
Happy Release.—Paying off a mortgage.
In Two Words.—Our police system and the housebreaker’s system—Bunglery and burglary.
“Letters of Request.”—Begging epistles.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF YE ENGLISH IN 1849
Appearance of ye crymynyal covrte dvryng an “interestyng” tryal for mvrder.
Outside the County Court.—Jenkins (to Jorkins, a debtor). What, only five bob a month! How did you manage it?
Jorkins. Why, always addressed the judge as “My Lord,” of course.
Pope asks: “Is there no bright reversion in the sky?” This is, clearly, a question which only a lawyer can answer.
GROSS INJUSTICE
We beg to solicit the attention of our innumerable readers to the state of the law respecting cruelty to animals.