The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-09-16
from The london Literary MGgasiac.
LAWYERS DEFENDED.

NOlhlllp ~ more common IMAM tnp Il o.
buse Of lawyers. With the mass Of man.
kind, lawyer and 4 kuhie are almost
Synonymous terms; and the onlcry against
their avarcc aud cXtultion is particularly
unanimous and loud. A lawyers demands
are always paid grodgIngly, aud inevitably
considered as exceeding his dues. 4 man
willpay his carpenter, his ylor his daueiug.
master with little or no hesitation, but his
lawyers claims are always listened towth
suspicion and jealousy, aud his wages,
however moderate, paid from sense,
not OF gratitude or justice, bot necessity.
Most persons who dead in this sort of
general calumny must Themselves be either
knaycs OF fools: those fthe former class,
who, through improper conduct, have becn
brought under the lash of the law, seek for
revenge by endeasorlng 10 stgmatize lis
professors and the latter, from incxpcli-
ence and vulgar prejudice, throw ont their
lmpotent Islander without having inquired
whether there BIZ any foundation FOR ii or
not.
II cannot indeed he denied, that among
the inferior practitioners in The law, there
are men of the vilest characters but they
are in general 50 well known, that none bul
bad or incautloas people would employ, Or
be deceived by them.
The general body of the law is compos-
90 Of men of the highest honor and nicgri-
ty men III whom the utmost confidence
is Justly placed by the community, and
70 whose abilities aud assistance many per
sons owe much OF their security and hap
pincsss.
1t Is certainly true, that In, profession of
the law, and the law itself which is finely
called by Aristotle mind wittoUt possion,)
has always been the subject of abuse,
and ii may be accounted for without dill.
Guilty.
Almost every man who cntcrg inio q law
suit (which Is often contrary 10 his attor-
ney's advice, and with "A ease tayoraby
stated by himseIf) is sangu;ne of success.
Warmed by passion, and a determination
TO oycrHhclm his adversary, he proceeds
with blind fury, regardless of consequent
cen. On the day Of trial, however, new
facts appear, and his cult ia determined
against him: he never reflects that his
caus" was bad, or that he has deceived his
attorney, but lac takes care toilet the world
know that lis attorney was knaye, that
he was bribed by his opponent, or was in
attentive 10 his duty or he will perhaps
go a step father, and assume prejudice M
the judge aud jury. II he succeeds in his
SUIT, bis adversary thnks himself entitled
10 be equally crnsorions, and thus the lazy.
yera, GA one side Or the other, are sure TO
be rainmnaled.
This, nj least Il very frequently the prac-
tIcc, and ii IS therefore mol extraordinary,
though itl9to be regretted, that attornifs of
the fHircst characters are generally a'erse
to the conduct Of law suits. Exclusive OF
persons who thus lose their causes, the
prodigate aud dishonest part Of the com
munity, who are sued for debts which
they refuse To pay, Join in trte reflections
on the profession and others, who en-
pIoy wilai they cali SHARP tauyers, without
any regard 10 their honesty, make grleyous
complaints, because Tie men whom they
lutrhIrd should take an others, have taken
in themselves. Another and principal
ground Of complaint arises from what
practitioners can seldom prevent, the bea-
! " rxpcnce, and often the long duration
of suits Ilti5 is undoubtedly Il dreadful
/ hardship on sutors, but ii Is lmputablc to
variety OF causes which il would require
much time and labour to explain, aud be
! diilicu' To remove.
The Ln7c-Is like mouse trap.--foH are
Er.t tatuDlp1 ia f,uf vOur nose into II by the