The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-09 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN LAW SOCIETY.

A. numerous Meeting of the Members of this
Society was held on Saturday last at New Furnival's Inn Hall,
for the purpose of presenting three pieces of Plate to Mr. JAMES
ANDERTO X, their Honorary Secretary. The Plate is of a
most superb description, and consists of a large silver Salver,
and two smaller ones, and does infinite credit to the makers,
Messrs. RUNDELL, BIIIDGE, and RUNDELL, goldsmiths to
the King. The larger one bears the following inscription on its
face :

Presented,
with two smaller Salvers,
by the MEMBERS of the METROPOLITAN LAW SOCIETY,

to JAMES ANDERTON, Esquire,
their much respected Secretary,
as a sincere, though inadequate, token
of the sense entertained by them,
of the zeal he has displayed,
and the unwearied, judicious, and effective exertions
which he has gratuitously rendered,
in promoting the objects of the Society,
and the interests and respectability of the Profession.
1625.

On the back of the Salver is inscribed a list of 140 of the
most respectable members of the profession, and the three
Salvers have most exquisitely engraved on them the Arms of
the Society, and those of the Secretary.

In the absence of the Principal, NATH. ATCHESON, Esq.,
who was unavoidably prevented attending the Meeting, the
Plate was presented to Mr. ANDEATON in the name of the
Subscribers, by WILLIAM YOUNG KNIGHT, Esq. their
former Principal, who, in a neat and appropriate speech ob-
served, that he had long admired the zeal and ability which he,
12r. A NDERTON, had displayed in furthering the objects of the
Society, which objects he had no difficulty in declaring to
be more beneficial to the country at large, than to the profession
of the Law in particular, though both were interested in its pro-
sperity ; the public in being protected against the prac-
tices of needy and unprincipled practitioners, and the profession
in the protection of their rights and privileges, and their genera 1
character and respectability. He (Mr. K.) had long regretted
that the infant state of the Society would not permit a more
substantial reward to be given to Mr. Anderton for his un-
wearied exertions ; but he fully anticipated that as the objects
of the Society became more generally known so its Members
would considerably increase, and that the period was not far
distant when the wishes, not only of himself but of all who
were acquainted with his (Mr. Anderton's) merits, would be
realized. In the mean time the present plan was adopted as a
testimony of the regard the Members had for him, and a token
of their approbation of his professional conduct; and it gave
him heartfelt satisfaction in being able to say, that not one per.
son who had been spoken to on the subject had expressed a
feeling differing from his own, and, he hoped, that he (Mr.
Anderton) would long live to enjoy the reward which his pro-
fessional Brethren had that day bestowed upon him, and which
he had so well earned.

Mr. ANDERTON, in a feeling and expressive manner, re-
turned thanks for the honour which had that day been con-
ferred upon him. Proud as he was of the articles presented to
him, he was still more so of the feeling which had been ma-
nifested to him by his Professional Brethren, whose good opi-
nion he hoped he should never do any thing to forfeit.—
That he fully agreed in the opinion delivered by Mr. Knight,
that the public were as much interested in the prospe-
rity of the Society as the Members were themselves.—
That it must be admitted that to the Attornies was entrusted
the private concerns of most mens' lives—that to them was con-
fided the fortunes and property of thousands—that before
them was placed greater temptations to commit evil than before
any other class of persons, with a less chance of detection
•
Thus it was that the public had a great stake in the prosperity
of the Society, for the more the profession advanced to respect-
ability and independence the greater was the security possessed
in them by the public. That since the institution of the So-
ciety many of the prejudices which formerly existed against
Attornies had been removed, and he had had no doubt but
through its means that what little prejudice was yet remaining
would soon be done away- That it should likewise be recol-
lected that the Attornies had certain rights and privileges to
maintain, and in the support of which they were themselves
personally interested ; that for the want of a Society like this
some of those privileges had been lost, and others would no
doubt have followed. He hoped, however, that by the exer-
tions of the Society the privileges left would be perma-
nently secured, and he was not without expectation that
some of those which had been taken from them would be
again restored. That the Clergy were protected in their pri-
vileges by wise and salutary laws, and the Medical Profes-
sion by the same means. That the only profession not
protected was that of which he was a Member. That the At-
tornies were trespassed upon on all sides,_ and he was sorry to
observe by none more than by those who ought rather to have
protected them : he meant the Four Inns of Court, who, to
add a trifling sum to their already rich resources, were in the
habit of admitting all descriptions of
.persons as members of
their Inns, for the purpose of practising as Certificated Con-
veyancers. It was notorious that among the persons so ad-
mitted were to be found auctioneers, schoolmasters, tradesmen,
money-brokers, and sheriffs' officers ; men unfit either by edu-
cation or knowledge for so important a branch of the profes-
sion, and of which required years of study to obtain a knowledge.
Thus it was that scandal and disrepute had been broughtupon the
profession ; besides, Certificated Conveyancers are not like the
Attornies under the summary controul or jurisdiction of the
Courts of Law, and the only remedy those who employ such men
have against them is by an action at law, the expences of which
when recovered, most of them are too poor to pay, and on
that account they remain unfinished—it was his exertions to put a
stop to this evil that first introduced him, Mr. Anderton, to the
friendship of their worthy Principal, Mr. Atcheson, and to many
of the members of the Society ; it was to put astop to this evil that
caused the institution of this Society, and until that object had
been accomplished,he should never think that he had done his duty
either to the profession, the Society or the Public. Mr. Anderton,
after paying some just compliments to Mr. Atcheson, whose
absence he in common with the Members present much re.
gretted, and also to their former principals Mr. Leake and Mr.
Knight, to whose auspices and support the Society was
indebted.much He concluded by assuring the Members of the high
sense he entertained of the honour they had that day conferred
upon him, that whatever his future destiny in life might be, he
would never part with the reward they had so generously be-
stowed upon him, and when that period arrived when
by de.ith he could himself no longer retain them, he
hoped to have them placed in those hands where they
would for future ages remain a memorial of their kindness
and their attachment to the profession, and of his (Mr.
Anderton's) honour; and he hoped that the view of
them would be the means of inducing many others to aid the
Society in the objects it had in view, viz. those of promoting
fair and honourable practice, preventing abuses in the profes-
sion, and protecting the rights and privileges of its members, al-
ways recollecting that the character and respectability of an At-
torney is best promoted by his protecting the just rights and in-
terests of his clients, and assisting in the general goOd of his
country. Mr. Anderton was loudly cheered by the members and
tine scene was evidently; grateful to his feelings. Every gentleman
pmr.resietns.t alpyheeacroedmptaonydealfitgehrvit
airndsthdeinecod in themplim
spent a joyous and festive evening Mr. Knight presiding as the
Chairman, and Mr. James as the Deputy. Several of the
waihdere to
theyhiii
Members addressed the Meeting, and some excellent songs
were sung. The conviviality of the piny was kept up to a late
hour, when every One separated with satiSfaction -at the plea
compliment
sure he had experienced. It is but justice to say that the wineS
were of the best quality, and did great credit, to Mr. Wilkes
who furniihed them. •