in their description of animal creation, are obliged to leave numerous subjects unnamed, and imperfectly described, that can only be classed under the general title of Non-descripts.' Of this indefinite class is the Special Pleader, whose existence cannot be naturally accounted for, as Heaven could design these orders of beings for no possible purpose of convenience or utility. We are told, indeed, that the wisdom of the Deity has created nothing in vain: the crocodile and the tiger, it is true, may exist as admonitory cautions against treachery and cruelty :-the Special Pleader's existence may be intended by Divine Wisdom for similar purposes, with this additional advantage, that nothing is better calculated strongly to inculcate the Christian virtue of Patience in both agent and patient.

"A Special Pleader appears to be of the spider kind; they alike spin their web for the destruction of weak and unwary prey; one murders the little innocent fly, that flutters in the sunshine, the other strangles justice in his nets of form; both are equally pernicious and poisonous. Tully, that terrestrial god of literature, seems to have known something of these sort of men, and he thus describes them: Leguleius quidam cautus et acutus, præco actionum, cantor formularum, auceps syllabarum.'

of nature, but a Special Pleader." (Sketches of Eminent Lawyers, 1790, p. 115.)

A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

The following lines from the Third Canto of
Hudibras, are supposed to be intended as a Satire
upon Prideaux, a mercenary and cruel magistrate :
"An old dull sot, who told the clock
For many years at Bridewell dock,
At Westminster, and Hicks's Hall,
And Hiccius Doctius play'd in all;
Where in all governments and times,
H' had been both friend and foe to crimes,
And used to equal ways of gaining,
By hind'ring justice, or maintaining :
To many a whore gave privilege,
And whipt for want of quarteridge,
Cart-loads of bawds to prison sent,
For being behind a fortnight's rent,
And many a trusty pimp and croney
To Puddle-dock for want of money:
Engaged the constable to seize

All those that would not break the peace ;
Nor give him back his own foul words,
Though sometimes Commoners or Lords,
And kept 'em prisoners of course,
For being sober at ill hours,
That in the morning he might free,

Or bind them over for his fee.

Made monsters fine, and puppet plays,
For leave to practise in their ways,
Farm'd out all cheats, and went a share
With th' headborough and scavenger;
And made the dirt i' th' streets compound,
For taking up the public ground;
The kennel, and the king's highway,
For being unmolested, pay;

Let out the stocks and whipping-post,
And cage, to those that gave him most;
Imposed a tax on bakers' ears,

And for false weights, on chandelers ;
Made victuallers and vintners fine

For arbitrary ale and wine;

But was a kind and constant friend

To all that regularly offend :

As residentiary bawds,

And brokers that receive stolen goods,
That cheat in lawful misteries,

And pay church duties and his fees :
But was implacable and awkward
To all that interlop'd and hawker'd."

The interview between the Knight and the Justice is admirably related; but is too long for insertion in this place.

Mr. Garrow, some years ago, examining a very young lady, who was a witness in a case of as

288

LAW AND LAWYERS.

sault, asked her, if the person who was assaulted did not give the defendant very ill language,-if he did not call him a damn'd Scotch Cobbler, and utter other words, so bad, that he, the learned counsel, had not impudence enough to repeat ? She replied in the affirmative." Will you, Madam, be kind enough," said he, " to tell the Court what these words were?"-" Why, Sir," replied she," if you have not impudence enough to speak them, how can you suppose that I have?"

A case was argued before the Court of Chancery, in which there was some dispute about the age of a woman, whom Mr. Graham, (now the Baron,) had stated to be five-and-forty, rather against the evidence. The Master of the Rolls, (Sir Pepper Arden,) disputing a little the position of Mr. Graham, the latter said, I'll lay you a bottle my Lord, I beg your pardon, I really forgot where I was."

END OF VOL. II.

D. SIDNEY & Co. Printers, Northumberland-street, Strand.