The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-17 00:00:00

TITLE OF ESQUIRE.

We copy the following note from a work entitled .{.err
Allan. tool other 7alrs, recently published:—
" I cannot refrain from making a note here, to remark
the great increase that has taken place of late ,cars in
that class of society which is called gentlemanly. Sir
Thomas Smyth makes the following complaint of the
growth of mushroom titles in hit days (Fee ('.an ?ironer. ye
Eng. h. I. c. 'lo). As for gentlemen, they be made
good cheap in this kingdom ; for whosoever studieth the
laws of the realm, who studieth in the Universities, who
professeth liberal sciences, and (to be short) who can live
idly, and Is ithout manual labour, and will bear the port.
charge, and countenance of a gentleman, he shall be called
Master, and shall be taken for a Gentleman. What would
Sir Thomas say, did he live now ? he would find, without
being accompanied with any of the ' port, charge, and
countenance, the tide he wrote about, and that of Esquire
(Sir Edward Coke, by the bye, coofounds them both to—
gether) as common amongst us at empty purees. The
former designation, to be sure, is somewhat exploded, and
the Litter has become the general mark of honour for all
those idle and affected individuals whose fathers were to
unwise as not to bring them up to an industrious and
useful calling. Camden, the learned Herald, took seine
pains to define the nature of • red and rightful Esyui,r.
lle makes four sorts as fidlows:—

" I. The eldest sons of Knights and their eldest sons in
pope sal atticCeSSitql.
The china sons of younger sons of Peers, and their
eldest sons in like perpetual succession ;Inas.; calls both
of these species of Esquir, a nrmigcri natalitii, u he deno.
minates the sons themselves of Peers armigeri honurarii.
" 3. Esquires created by the King's letters patent or
other investiture, and their eldestsons. Of this class were
the Fsiuira of Me Kieg, who on their creation had put
about their necks a collar of S. S. and a pair of silver spurs
was bestowed on them ; they were wont to bear before the
Prince in war a shield or lance. In t:aindeu's time there
were four Esquires the K RoJy, to attend on his
Mrjo,ty's person ; such officers are now out of fashion.
" 4. Esquires by virtue of their offices and others who
bear any office of trust under the Crown, if styled Esquires
in their comtnissions and appointments.
" Barristers, it seems, by ancient usage, arc amounted
Esquires ; and not many years ago, the Court of Common
Plea,' refused to hear an affidavit read, because a Barrister
nainrd in it was not cal.ica &quire. Front the best atitho-
rait-: however, it appears that this title was originally at-
tained by usurpation ; and in the saute manner, according
to the rules of precedence, Banisters rank before all
Esquires. I remember that my good old father, some years
since exprtssed himself with considerable warmth on this
important nutter. I hatUttet returned to the country front
keeping my first term at Lincoln's Inn, wh " •
letfer from a legal friend, who dubbed me
" I lee. boy, (said the oh! gentleman, as hr

rielict) Esquire Waved! flow absurd it is to
title. Why, 1 should have no right to it but

Peace; even a Barrister, Sir, is tiot a retroc,ni

,
is nut acknowledge-I as such in either of tli

any letters patent ; and it is ridiculous to
ing precedence of the gentry of the hi
sition just then to mot the point with my
agreed with him that the proper place
as ,I '?t tltlt bite? all other lisquiret."

11

I

then I rcceiv'd a / •
:n: E
hande:iqumireiz
to give you inch a
that I am in the
niatil Esquire;
hr twitter, or by
think of his tak-
' I felt no (lisp°-
. good father, and
o of the Barrister
•