The Every-day Book and Table Book, v. 1 (of 3) / or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac - William Hone

The Tree of Common Law.

1. The root of the engraved Tree exhibits a diversity of suits and actions for the remedy of different wrongs.
2. The trunk shows the growth of a suit, stage by stage, until its conclusion.
3. The branches from each stage show the proceedings of the plaintiff on one side, and the proceedings of the defendant on the other.
4. The leaves of each branch show certain collateral proceedings whereby the suit is either advanced or suspended.
5. Supposing the form of action suitable to the case, and no stay of proceedings, the suit grows, on the “sure and firm set earth” of the law, into a “goodly tree,” and, attaining to execution against either the plaintiff or the defendant, terminates in consuming fire.

A few whimsical miscellanies are subjoined, not derogatory from the importance or necessity of legislation, but amusingly illustrative of legal practice in the sinuosities it has acquired during successive stages of desuetude and change. Those only who know the law are acquainted with the modes by which numerous deformities in its application have originated, or the means by which they may be remedied; while all who experience that application are astonished at its expensiveness, and complain of it with reason.

A legal practitioner is said to have delivered a bill containing several charges of unmerciful appearance, to a client, who was a tailor; and the tailor, who had made a suit of clothes for his professional adviser, is said to have sent him the following bill by way of set-off.

	£.	s.	d.
George Grip, Esq.
Dr. to Samuel Smart.
Attending you, in conference, concerning your proposed Suit, conferring thereon when you could notfinally determine	0	6	8
Attending you again thereon, when found you prepared, and taking measures accordingly	0	6	8
Entering	0	3	4
Instructions and warrant to woollen-draper	0	5	0
Copy thereof to keep	0	2	0
Instructions to foreman	0	6	8
Difficulty arising as to proceedings, attending him in consultation	0	6	8
Paid fees to woollen-draper	4	18	6
Attending him thereon	0	6	8
Perusing his receipt	0	3	4
Attending to file same	0	3	4
Filing	0	1	0
Attending button-maker, instructing him	0	6	8
Paid his charges	2	19	0
Having received summons to proceed, perusing and considering same	0	6	8
Drawing consent, and copy to keep	0	4	4
Postage	0	1	6
Copy order thereon and entering	0	3	0
Appointing consultation as to further proceedings, and attending same	0	13	4
Foreman having filed a demurrer, preparing argument against same	0	6	8
Attending long argument on demurrer, when same overruled	0	10	0
Perusing foreman’s plea	0	6	8
Excepting to same	0	6	8
Entering exceptions	0	3	4
Perusing notice of motion to remove suit, and preparing valid objections to lay before you	0	10	0
Same being overruled, consent thereto, on an undertaking	0	6	8
Expenses on removal of suit—paid by you at the time	0	0	0
Writing you my extreme dissatisfaction on finding the suit removed into the King’s Bench,and that I should move the court, when you promised to obtain a Rule as soon as term commenced, and attend me thereon	0	10	0
Conferring with you, in presence of your attendant, at my house, on the first day of term, whenyou succeeded in satisfying me that you were a Gent. one, &c. and an honourable man, and expressed great dissatisfactionat the proceedings had with the suit while out of my hands; receiving your instructions to demand of your Uncle that sameshould return to me, on my paying him a lien he claimed thereon, and received from you his debenture for that purpose	0	13	4
Perusing same, and attending him in St. George’s-fields therewith and thereon	0	10	0
Paid him, principal and interest	2	10	4
In consideration of circumstances, no charge for receiving suitback [237, 238]	0	0	0
Perusing letter unexpectedly received from you, dated from your own house, respecting shortnotice of trial	0	6	8
Attending you thereon	0	6	8
Attending at Westminster several mornings to try the suit, when at last got same on	2	2	0
Paid fees	0	12	0
Fee to porter	0	5	0
It being determined that the suit should be put into a special case, drawing special instructions toBoxmaker for same	0	13	4
Attending him therewith and thereon	0	6	8
Paid him his fee for special case	2	2	0
Paid his clerk’s fee	0	2	6
Considering case, as settled	0	6	8
Attending foreman for his consent to same, when he promised to determine shortly	0	6	8
Attending him again thereon to obviate his objections, and obtained his consent with difficulty	0	6	8
Drawing bill of costs	0	15	0
Fair copy for Mr. —— to peruse and settle	0	7	6
Attending him therewith	0	6	8
Fee to him settling	0	5	0
Attending him for same	0	6	8
Perusing and considering same, as settled	0	6	8
Attending Mr. —— again suggesting amendments	0	6	8
Fee to him on amending	0	5	0
Perusing same as amended	0	6	8
Fair copy, with amendments, to keep	0	7	6
Entering	0	5	0
Fair copy for service	0	7	6
Thirty-eight various attendances to serve same	6	6	8
Service thereof	0	6	8
Drawing memorandum of service	0	5	0
Attending to enter same	0	3	4
Entering same	0	2	6
Attending you concerning same	0	6	8
Accepted service of order to attend at the theatre, and gave consent	0	6	8
Retaining fee at box-office	0	1	0
Service of order on box-keeper	0	6	8
Self and wife, with six children, two of her cousins, her brother, and his son, two of my brothers,my sister-in-law, three nephews, four nieces, each attending for four hours and a half to see the Road to Ruin, and theBeggars’ Opera, eighty-five hours and a half, at 3s. 4d. per hour—very moderate	17	0	10
Coach hire there and back	0	18	0
Attending you to acquaint you with particulars in general, and concerning settlement particularly	0	6	8
Instructions for receipt	0	3	4
Drawing receipt	0	5	0
Vacation fee	1	1	0
Refreshing fee	0	13	4
Perusing receipt, and amending same	0	6	8
Fair copy to keep	0	2	6
Engrossing on stamp	0	2	6
Paid duty and paper	0	3	1
Fee on ending	2	2	0
Letters and messengers	0	10	0
	£63	0	9
To numerous, various, and a great variety of divers, and very many letters, messages, andattendances to, from, on, and upon, you and your agents and others, pending a negotiation for settlement, far too numerousto be mentioned; and an infinite deal of trouble, too troublesome to trouble you with, or to be expressed; without more andfurther trouble, but which you must, or can, or shall, or may know, or be informed of—what you please
£

Item in a Bill of Costs