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"But hark-the blast of the war-horn-
"She wakes to a wild wintry morn !"

"Open'd, low arch'd, a postern door,
"To a white marble floor," &c. &c.

The sense, too, is rendered doubtful, from the frequent occurrence of parentheses, and inattention to punctuation. Each canto of the poem is accompanied by introductory and concluding stanzas, in the Spenserian style, in which this author excels. And there is much genuine nature and feeling in the two addresses to Walter Scott.

ART. V. Observations on the Chancery-Bar. 8vo. pp. 31. Taylor and Hessey.

THE writer of these observations wishes it to be known that they do not proceed from any man at the bar, or in progress to it; and, that whatever effect this may have, he cannot himself be benefited or injured." This is very generousespecially if we can believe that in himself all collateral interests are included. Sed de his satis. We proceed to a very brief consideration of the object of the work, the evils of which it complains, and the remedies which it proposes.

The first ground of complaint appears to be that silk gowns are not conferred with sufficient discrimination, being more generally given to seniority than to talent. In the recent promotions in the Court of Chancery this may, perhaps, have been the case; but we are well assured that it has not in the other courts, though the appointments were made by the same noble and learned lord. Nor can we perceive any reason why men, "not one of whom," to use the author's own words," is of less standing at the bar than twenty-five years," should have their feelings hurt by seeing young men, who may perhaps have been born but a few years more than they have been practising barristers, placed over their heads, and that as often through interest as the weight of superior talents. We are by no means disposed to contend for the equality of genius; but, at the same time, we wish that men should be liberally educated for a branch of the profession which requires indefatigable exertion, rather than brilliant talent; which affords no opportunity for the display of eloquence, or for the exercise of that quickness of perception,

that acute discrimination, which the viva voce examination of witnesses, and the appeal to the feelings of a jury demand; and we are far from being convinced, with the author of these observations, that (professionally speaking) "the attainments of many young men are superior to many of their brethren who have passed the meridian of life, and may have childrencalled to the same bar with themselves." The fervour of imagination and brilliancy of genius, usually most strong in youth, may makean eloquent, impressive, and seductive orator:-readiness of wit, astuteness of intellect, and the newly-acquired subtlety of the schools, will, in all probability, render à man an able cross-examiner, a ready advocate but nothing except years of experience in the practice of our courts, and a familiar acquaintance with the immense collection of statutes and reports by which that practice is regulated, can make a sound lawyer. Indeed the further a man advances in the study of the English system of jurisprudence, whether his attention be directed to the equity or common-law department, he will every day find more and more occasion to view the attainments he has made as slight indeed, in proportion to those he must make before he can be called a complete master of his profession. It was well said, by one of the ablest and oldest special-pleaders of the day, that, after hav ing been nearly half a century in the profession, he diffided more in his own judgment than he did when he first entered into it; and hesitated in drawing a plea, which, when he first. began to practise under the bar, he was in the habit of doing. off hand.

It will be evident from these remarks, that we do not con sider that the author of these Observations has shewn suf ficient cause for passing over the seniors of the bar, without at least making the offer of promotion, whenever any new creation of king's counsel takes place. We shall soon see that there may be many reasons why this offer should be declined to make way for their more enterprising juniors. But, even upon the author's own shewing, the evils resulting from adhering to this natural, and, we must add, equitable rule, carry with them their own remedy.

"It is in the power of any Chancellor," he very truly observes, "to place silk-gowns on any shoulders; but it is the mind that makes the body rich; and he cannot by such means command a single brief to the honour of its wearer; he may as well attempt to call ghosts from the dead, and he may do it as successfully. The glory of the bar (and no mean glory we would add) is, that men are left to make their own way at it; and no

patronage, no wealth, can place a blockhead at the head of it. When ever it becomes the fashion to place silk-gowns where business will not foliow them, let the profession make silk-gownsmen among themselves this may easily be done, by the solicitors distributing their briefs among the juniors. It is not meant, by what is said above," he afterwards observes in explanation, "that solicitors can confer silk-gowns literally, or cause them to be conferred, since seniority alone seems to be the order of the day; but substantially they can confer them. Their silk-gownsmen will have the substance. The Chancellor's, if ever conferred for age and long standing. only, will have but the shadow, the outward visible sign without the real honour and rewards. Let us not," exclaims our author, in concluding this very intelligible hint, "fear the result of an attempt to call forth the dormant talents of the profession to a full display of its natural splendour and brilliancy, at a somewhat more early period than of late it has been produced."

The plain English of this recommendation is, give your briefs to the younger men behind the bar, instead of to the elder ones within it. To which we answer, when the solicitors of the Court of Chancery see among the former counsel of superior talent to Sir Samuel Romilly, Sir Arthur Pigot, Mr. Hart, and Mr. Bell, with the advantage of equal experience, we have no doubt but this advice will be followed but not till then. In the Court of King's Bench, until the late promotions had brought up the list of king's counsel to about their usual number, many of the gentlemen now within the bar, and several who are still without it, had twice the number of briefs, even as leaders, both in town and on the circuit, that fell to the lot of others who have, for many years, had the honour to take rank as "his Majesty's counsel Learned in the law." We forbear to mention names, but, if we are not greatly mistaken, this was the case with at least one individual now within the bar of the Court of Chancery.

"A silk gown, beautiful as it may be, is a dangerous thing to put on, it must take business from a man, and it may not substitute any in its stead. It may fill a man's pocket, or it may empty it by stripping him of his employment; and the chances are greatly in favour of its doing the one or the other." So says our author; and we shall only make this short comment upon his text, for the information of unpro. fessional readers, that a barrister thus decorated can, at the Chancery-bar, no longer pursue the very profitable branch of drafting or drawing bills, and take part in other proceedings in courts of equity; and in the common-law courts must bid adieu for ever, not only to special pleadings, but to making mere motions of course, and to attendance on the quarter sessions.

But whilst placing in the strongest possible light the grievances which he supposes to result from the precedence enjoyed by the king's counsel, our author has totally overlooked one advantage which arises from it; namely, that from its being an established point of etiquette, that persons in that situation shall not open causes, many junior barristers are employed for this purpose, whose services would otherwise be dispensed with.

There is one part of these Observations, however, in the justice of which we cordially acquiesce, and which we now quote.

"Seniors' fees," says he, " are oftentimes, in the strictest sense, honorary, that is, sacrifices offered at the altars of their fame, from whence their worshippers are permitted to depart without a blessing. To receive fees, and to do nothing for them, scarcely appears reconcileable to those honourable feelings which are supposed to distinguish the barrister of this country. The labourer is worthy of his hire,' we are told by authority which good men will not question; but it is not a necessary consequence of that proposition, that the man is worthy of his hire who labours not, and who, by the bye, often knows he cannot have an opportunity of earning the hire left for him. On all such occasions, if the bar will take a hint from so unimportant a reasoner as the writer of these observations, he would submit to their judgment, the propriety of returning to the client those fees which have produced him no benefit or assistance. Even if such briefs are read, yet if other business of other clients at other places is more necessary to be attended to, it is not right that the seniors' client should add to his disappointment in losing their assistance, by the loss of other assistance (which for the same fee might have been procured,) and by the loss of his money also."

There is much good sense and honesty in these remarks, and we leave the wholesome doctrine to those whom it may concern, with a short extract from the work before us, in which the practice of the advocates in the common-law courts is recommended to the imitation of their learned brethren on the equity side of Westminster Hall.

"On the circuits, it is well known, that two courts are sitting at once; and it is also as well known, that when briefs at the Crown Bar are offered to the leaders at Nisi Prius, the briefs and the fees are either returned, or accepted conditionally only, to be attended to or not, according as such leader's presence is required at the Nisi Prius Bar. This candour throws that business into the hands of the juniors; and this is the line of conduct that the Chancery leaders should pursue, or otherwise confine themselves to one court. This line of conduct," concludes our author, "would produce a proper understanding between all parties; juniors would be selected to lead, when the leaders most desired could not be present; or such leaders' briefs, which without attendance are of no use to the client, would be transferred into other leaders' hands."

We have room merely to glance at the disinterested advice indirectly given to the juniors at the Chancery bar, to refuse leading in the absence of the king's counsel with whom they are associated in the management of a suit; because, by so doing, they may in the end be able to force the solicitors to give them briefs as leaders, or at least with leaders' fees marked on the backs of them. This is contemptible. We are very much disposed to think that the interest of the juniors at the Chancery bar would be best advanced by their condescending to follow the practice of the common-law courts, where, if the senior is not present, either the junior, or some other leader who has been entrusted with the brief, is required to proceed. If the junior proceeds, he acquires an opportu nity of distinguishing himself, which is not to be measured by a fee; and if he is not prepared, we have known many instances of the cause in which he is concerned being struck off the list, to his own great discredit, and to the material injury of his client. Let the Lord Chancellor "go and do likewise;" and we see nothing terrifying in the present number of silk gowns, or even in their moderate increase.

In some of his lordship's latest transubstantiations, (stuff into silk,) he has shewn himself a most potent wizzard. Such hitherto well-attested adages as "You can't make a silk purse," &c., have been utterly falsified by a touch of his wand. We have, however, in Banco Regis, an instance or two, in which strong traces remain of the inefficacy of his miraculous power-the silk gown is perfect-mulier formosa superne-but-but, as lovers of consistency, we own that in these cases we preferred the stuff, as then the man and the gown were inore of a piece.

ART. VI.-Atheniensia; or, Remarks on the Topography and Buildings of Athens. By WILLIAM WILKINS, A.M. F.A.S., late Fellow of Gonvil and Caius College, Cambridge. 8vo. Murray, London. 1816.

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WHEN Europe was aroused from the slumber of barba rism," says the eloquent Chateaubriand, "her first thought was directed towards Athens. What is become of Athens?" was the universal cry: and when it was known that her ruins still existed, the learned and the ingenious flocked thither, as

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