faith of parchment." The chancellor delivered this with a vehemence which did him honour, in just indignation at the perversion of justice, which, in his own court, under his own eye, obtains so frequently in spite of himself-But this was in the court of chancery. It is the inferior courts which most interest the great mass of the people. In chancery, if the scales of justice sometimes labour, the suitors in general can afford to oil them. Let the laws take care of the poor; the rich can take care of themselves the widow's cruise I wish to spare. : I shall now shew you, by a single fact, the practical operation of law in England. In the year 1793, the number of writs, from £10 to £20 only, which issued in Middlesex, amounted to 5719. The sums sued for amounted to £81,791. If not one of these writs had been defended, the costs would have amounted to £68,728. Had they been defended, the amount of costs would have arisen to £285,950! This I do not expect you will believe. What havoc among the poor! Sir William Blackstone says, the impartial administration of justice is the great end of civil society. But such justice as the above, one would suppose would soon be the complete end of civil society. Coleman, in his comedy of the Poor Gentleman, imagines the following dialogue between Sir Rob U ert Bramble and Humphrey. Sir Rob. "Is there any distresses in the parish? Read the morning list, Humphrey." Humph." Jonathan Haggens of Muck Mead is put in prison." Sir Rob. "Why, it was but last week, Gripe, the attorney, received two cottages for him by law, worth sixty pounds." Humph. "And charged a hundred and ten for his trouble; so, seized the cottages for part of his bill, and threw Jonathan in jail for the remainder." I know not where I read the following story, which though in the oriental style, was doubtless fabricated in England. Tanghi, a young and gay Chinese, had married the daughter of a wealthy Arab, whose dowry was three horses. Who was so happy as Tanghi! He had a very pretty wife, and what, in some countries, is still more valuable than women, three of the finest horses in the empire. It is no wonder that Tanghi was disposed to make a gay appearance: he sported his horses to the admiration or envy of all Peking. But if wisdom is sometimes rash, how should folly know where to stop? Tanghi soon sported away his property, and in a moment of distress, sold his finest horse, on a short credit. Tchin-chan, the purchaser, had a very particular friend, a lawyer, who commanded no little practice at Peking. This friend had long expected to become the proprietor of at least one of these Arabian horses; and when his friend Tchin-chan informed him of the purchase, the lawyer naturally inquired, if the money was paid? To oblige his friend, Tchinchan promised to refuse payment. The lawyer immediately wrote a note to Tanghi, informing him, that Tchin-chan designed to refuse payment, and politely offered his services in recovering the money. At the end of nine months, Tanghi got judgment for the whole sum with interest. But Tchin-chan, by the advice of his friend, appealed to a higher tribunal; but Tanghi still recovered the money with interest. After another appeal in the last resort, final judgment with costs and interest was given in favour of Tanghi-For they think, in China, with Sir William Blackstone that, impartial justice is the great end of civil society.-The story adds, that just before final judgment, Tanghi's two other horses were attached by his lawyer.. Is it not remarkable that legislation, which ought to be the first, has in all countries been the last concern of nations? While people are making telescopes, twenty feet long, to discover new systems, they are regardless of man, the glory of their own system! Could not an Englishman visit the United States, and retort much of this letter back again? I believe he might. There is one petty institution in London which merits all my admiration. It is the only instance which I have ever found, of a discrimination between the rich and the poor. * This institution is a Court of Requests, without appeal, for the recovery of debts under forty shil * It is very true, the laws of property make no distinction between man and man. A poor man is secure of justice, when his cause comes before the sacred tribunal, but if he do not perish before it arrives there, he may possibly find himself buried at last under a load of justice. Of all the emperors of the East, Selim was the most just. Not a day passed in which it was not proclaimed from the tower of the palace, Selim is just! Selim never sleeps while injustice triumphs. The name of Selim mingled itself with the religion of his subjects; no praises ascended to Alla, in which Selim was not named, no tears were shed which accused Selim, no wrinkles of age dated a deeper furrow to the account of Selim. His presence among his people was benign as the dew of heaven to the tropic latitudes. Razai lived far from the capital, content to cultivate a few paternal acres. An opulent neighbour in draining his own lands, had overflowed the little patrimony of Razai. In vain Razai remonstrated, and then proceeded to the capital to throw himself at the feet of Selim, often repeating by the way, Selim is just! Not a day passes in which is not proclaimed from the tower of the palace, Selim never sleeps while injustice triumphs. Razai had never seen the capital, and when he entered it, his inquiring eyes and earnest looks, arrested the attention of every body. He told his story an hundred times before he arrived at the palace, every one telling him, that Selim was just, that it was daily proclaimed from the tower that, Selim never slept while injustice triumphed. He approached the palace, and just before he entered, he heard the sound of a trumpet proclaiming, Selim is just! Selim never sleeps while injustice triumphs. Razai's heart was in his eyes, his heart was all over him, he exclaimed, in the warmth of his feelings, Selim is just! and I shall return a happy man to Schirah. Razai entered the palace, and thought he found himself already in the presence of Selim, so splendid was the person who received him. It was one of Selim's favourite officers of the household. Razai related his case, and the officer responded, Selim is just! But all who approach Selim must first purify themselves, at the entrance of the palace, with an offering to justice. He was then conducted one step nearer to the throne of Selim, who was sitting in judgment. He was received by another splendid personage: Razai related his story, and the officer replied, Selim is just! Behold the eternal light of justice! bright as the sun, and pure as his rays: but all who approach Selim, must first nourish this lamp with oil. This done, Razai was directed to the chief Aga. He reiated his story to the chief Aga, who responded, Selim is just! But all who approach At this moment, Razai saw several persons returning from the royal presence. With a heart bursting, dubious, alarmed, he cried out, "Is Selim just !" With one voice they all exclaimed, "Selim is just! But, alas! we perish under a load of justice!" lings, at the expense of ten pence!* There are a multitude of these petty courts distributed through Westminster, and if they operate without abuse, these institutions, in my opinion, are not less illustrious, than that of the most noble order of the Garter. Such institutions in the capital towns of the United States, would prove an alleviation from one of the greatest pressures under which the poor labour. Such courts would command the whole practice under ten dollars, and if the emolument of the office would not engage a man of integrity and talents, let him be remunerated from the county treasury. It would not be less glorious, than beneficial to the United States, should congress commission, at the expense of the nation, a number of intelligent men to bring home all that is better in other countries, both in Economy, Law, Agriculture and the Arts of Life.-Rome was not ashamed to send to Athens, and copy the laws of Solon. Missi legati Athenas Sp. Postumius Albus, A. Manlius, P. Sulpicius Camerinus; jussique inclytas leges Solonis describere, et aliarum Græciæ civitatum instituta, mores, juraque noscere.† * Sterling. + Livy. Adieu. |