The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-04 00:00:00

NEW ASSOCIATION OF
SOLICITORS.

Monday a meeting was holden at the Gray's-Inn
Coffee-house which had been called by the Solicitors
in London, for the purpose of
,taking into considera-
tion the inroads that had been made upon the pro-
fession by recent legislative enactments, and to form
an association for mutual protection.
D. WIRE, Esq., took the Chair. The meeting was
not very fully attended.
The CHAIRMAN explained the object of calling
together the members of the profession, which he did
by reading a rather voluminous advertisement, and
animadverting upon the different topics which, it
contained. The meeting, it appeared, had been the
result of a private meeting which had been convened
at the chambers of Mr. Clarke, solicitor. The Chair-
man said there already existed a Law Association—
but besides that being liable to.be considered as chiefly
limited to the aristocracy of the profession, and that
consequently young practitioners had not a proper
standing, there was another reason for instituting
another association—there was reason to believe that the
Law Association had been rather remiss in guarding
the interests of the profession. He said it might be
thought by the public that the 'object of this meeting
was selfish on the part'of the profession, and be would
at once admit such was the case ; and he contended
that they had certain privileges conferred upon them
by the Legislature, to quality them for that which they
lik.d to undergo—severe examinations to be passed be-
sides the large price of Stampi for articles, fees of rid-
mission, and annual liceoe4ty•Wlikh thefscilargely
contributed • towards the. 'revenue;-- and on these
grounds he contended they :had a.. right to protect
their privileges. He was one of those who would always
be a law reformer, and he was sure that every respecta-
ble member of the profession would go with him in
that, and had the profession been consulted, that they
would have given their support and advice in the
promulgation of useful reform in the law; but that
which had been. recently introduced, and which was
called law reform, had not improved the profession,
but, on the contrary, had detracted from it, by intro-
ducing men to practice who were without character.
He thought it, therefore, right that they should watch
the Acts in future brought in-by men who were not
practical lawyers themselves and who never were
qualified to be legislators: He drew a contrast be-
tween the Acts that were passed in former times,
which could all be easily understood, and when a
praCtitioner might have carried with him the number
passed in one session in his pocket, with the present
time, when the result of each_ session would nearly
load a cart, and each Act realised the saying that " a
coach and six might be driven through it." lie
alluded to the conduct of Lord Brougham, who, like
many more, turned round upon the members of that
branch of the profession by whose means he had at-
tained his elevated position, and who now wanted to
bolster his fallen state by creating a reputation that he
was the poor man's friend. But it ought to go forth that
there were poor creditors, as well as poor debtors, that
wanted protection at the
~hands of the law. He had
known instances of oppression by imprisonment, but
be had known many instances of men who had been
kept in prison because they would not do justice to
-their creditors. lle was desired, before he sat down,
to state that the public had not yet made up theirA
minds that Lord Brougham was right in his last ct
of Parliament. He held in his.hand 200 petitionst for_or
the repeal of that Act, abolishing imprnisoon!nneeniudifn
debt for sums under 201., from townsofas t
the very part where Lord Bro.ugharns
4r firstelivee
trneluisi:nt,tlt,itsooonop,
,rlose•oh‘.oeiclnht;
Kendal, Carlisle, and other towns. The
p
in England and
00 sig-
been hurriedly got up, yet t y (.11Fiotiiocriilsechlagd
natures.
Mr. GOD
inn.Aonf:
sitisrnoi.
ecatio.eele;a):
so.
was in purport that steps .
not duly qualified. lie
1 one from practising-
to that protection.
1101eiefiireaatres, 100,000/. more, besides their
arettorneys. ley had contributed, in
thought, the
annual licenses.
1 At
fur
Mr. LEWIS LINCOLN seconded the resolution, which
their
hs:,es
ielf;ns3rtc,oetotri
was unanimously carried.
- Resolutions were then put and carried unanimously,
forming an interim Committee to carry out the objects
of the Association, and a number present enrollid
themselves as members, the annual subscription being
one guinea. ..--
ahritcthholheteiletonegn,rolled

An inhabitant of St. Denis, who was evidently
insane, lately committed suicide in a strange manner.
He had for some time employed himself in endeavouring
to imitate an egg in pasteboard. He took this egg,
filled it with gunpowder, placed it in his mouth, and
then with a match which.hc,had got from his wife, as if
to light a cigar, tenclied the powder, ai.d with the cxplo-
i sioa blew his bruins ont,

THE DUNCOMBE TESTIMONIAL.
Perhaps there is not a single Member of Parliament
who; in his place in St. Stephens's, has rendered more
important services to the country, than Mr. Thomas
Slingsby Duncombe. At a time when opposition
seems almost to have been absorbed by bland Minis-
terial influences, and when, at the close of a session
remarkable for shabby legislation and broken pro-
mises, we find Lord John Russell complimenting
the Tory Premier, Mr. Thomas Duncombe, by his
gallant and independent bearing, his indefati-
gable exposure of abuses, and decided avowal of
great principles, has not only atoned for the short-
comings of those with whom he is sometimes 'com-
pelled to act, but has given an impulse to public
opinion which cannot fail hereafter, when apathy and
indifference have died away, to have the best results.
In the session just past he has defeated the MaSters'
and Servants' Bill, which would have made a breach
of contract by an English labourer a worse offence
than picking a pocket ; and exposed the fraud,
forgery, and espionage of the Post-office—an act
alone entitling him to the lasting gratitude of his
countrymen. Nor can we forget how ably, in 1842,
he yesisted the abominable doctrine of the Home Se-
cretary that a constable was a proper judge of sedi-
tion—a doctrine which, had it prevailed, would have
placed public meetings for the expression of opinion
at the mercy of the police, as effectually as if direct
powers were given to them to prevent altogether the
exercise of one of our chief Constitutional privileges.
And, concurrent with these efforts by which the Hon.
Member has so signally distinguished himself, he has
done more even than the press itself, to bring down
upon Sir James Graham. the apostate Whig, and
odium which his every act has so richly merited, and
which 'must eventually, if there be any force in a
universal popular feeling, drive him from the power
he has disgraced and abused. These are the obliga-
tions which we owe to Mr. Diiiicpmbe, and to him
alone. And whenever those who have identified them-
selves with great principles—freedom of trade, more
comprehensive political franchises, equality and jus-
tice to Ireland—have brought such questions to the
test of Parliamentary discussion, Mr. Thomas Dun-
combe has invariably supported hem by his vote, and
not unfrequently by his manly and straightforward
eloquence.
With this estimate, therefore, of Mr. Duncombe's
public career, when we heard that it was the inten-
tion of his constituents to offer to him some public
testimonial of their gratitude, we felt that it was, our
duty to co-operate. We have never sympathised
witii the mock delicacy which would prevent a pub-
lic. servant accepting from the public an adequate
recompense for Ills services. Chatham, Fox, Grat-
tan, and O'Connell—names as eminent and patriotic
as our history can record—never hesitated thus to
derive additional powers of public usefulness from
those whom they served ; and, to specify a humbler,
yet a memorable instance, Harriet Martineau, who so
nobly refused a pension from the Government, did not
scruple to accept the voluntary tribute of her ad-
mirers and friends. We repeat, then, that -we have
no sympathy with the spurious delicacy which would
reject an acknoivledgment as-honourable to those who
offer it as to him to whom it is offered. What the
exact nature of Mr. Duncombe's testimonial 'may
be, must depend, we presume, upon the amount
of subscriptions collected: --We-f-obscsike th fit a
highly respectable committee. of gentlemen 'Pf the
'borough of Finsbury have already commenced
operations: But as Mr. Duecombe's services have
not been -local, neither should the exertions to rre-
quite them be local. We trust that' in every city,
town, and borough throughout the country, a similar
committee. will be formed, and-that the central com-
mittee, in the metropolis, will put.itself in communi-
cation with the provincial branches. There can be
no doubt of the result, if the machinery be but com-
plete; and this is the end to which Mr. Duncombe's
friends should direct immediate attention. The sub
scription to the testimonial has already begun, and
from what we have learned, .is progressing most fa-
vourably in all quarters. We have given this pub-
licity to it in our columns in order that here and
elsewhere, such measures may' be adopted as to make
the Duncombe testimonial a worthy exhibition of na-
tional feeling.—Liverpool JoUrnal.. -

EXTENSIVE SMUGGLING AT ROCIIFORD.—Somo
excitement was created in the usually quiet town of Roach-
ford, in this county, on Thursday last, by the apprehen-
sion of William Lacell, late the contractor of her
Majesty's mail in that place, and. James (commonly
known by the name of Cad) Bishop, carrier, under
warrants from the Commissioners of Customs, for
having been concerned in the smuggling of a large
quantity of tobacco, which was landed in the Broom
Hills river, near that town, some time since, and con-
veyed by them to London. The detective officers from
the Customs visited Rockford ago* on Friday,'havir,
warrants against several other individuals charged with
being concerned in the same transaction, but at preient
they have not made any other capture. Lacell and
Bishop we are informed have rendered themselves
liable
to penalties to the amount of 10,0001., and as it is not
likely they will be bailed out, they will
await their trial
in confinement. We understand that one of the parties
has impeached, and that several respectable houses in
London being implicated, proaeedin"s have been taken
against the proprietors.—EsseX Herald.
VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER.—An inquest was
held on Monday at the Grange Inn, Carey-street, Lin-
coln's Inn-fields, before Mr. Higgs' on the body ofJames
Brookes, aged 45, who expired on Saturday in King's
College Hospital, from the effects of injuries received
under the following circumstances appeared that on
Saturday, morning deceased was driving a cart laden
with potatoes to Coiant-garden market, when, upon
reaching the middle of Great Queen-street, he was in
the•act of passing another cart, driven by Charles Dille,
a carman in the employ of Mr. Thompson, farmer, of
Tottenham. Dille crossed the road with his team, forc-
ing the horses i:l Brookes' cart upon the pavement. A
collision takine• place, deceased-was crushed between the
two wheels ofbthe.carts. He .was conveyed to King's
College Hospital, where, in spite, of all that could be
done for him, he died. W. Watts, another carman in
the employ of Air. Thompson, and who was in company
witk Dille at the time of the accident, stated that de-
ceased endeavoured to pass them in Queen:street, when
Dilla pulled his horses on one side, and a Collision took
place. He heardaleceased call out,-but could not say
whether he was run over, or jammed between the wheels
of the carts. Police-constable 150 F' gave similar evi-
-1 dence. The jury, after a long consultation, delivered a
verdict of " Mans!aughter against Charles Dille," who
was re moved in the custody of the police, and the wit-
nesses were bound over to prosecute.
NORWICII AND BRANDON RAILWAY.—The ter-
- minus for this line is now in course of erection, and the
I permanent been. laid as
_far.as Carrow-road:
r
IA Oroit tcle. . . .