Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-17


,ho,;,y tina, !, was once an amusement OF John
Scott to turn pieces Of poetry into the form oil
legal instruments; and that he actually convert
ed the ballad Of "Chevy Chase" into the shape
and STYLE of bill in Chancery-
Some circumstances attended the very hrst
nroft ssional act which Mr., Scott was called on
10 perform, that had tendency in directing his
future fortunes. 1t was the first or second day
after he had been called 10 the bar, and ne was
slowly leaving the Court, when smart dapper
person, with bag dangling behind him, over.
took MIR. Scott. 81 beg your pardon, sir, SAID
he, hssi,a,ingly and pol,ely-"Mr. Scott, De.
iieve." The barris,er bowed profoundly. ~
have been looking for you, sir; you can do TINS
as we'll as the best Of them; want you to sign
this" And he pulled out paper which requir-
ed, as a matter Of eorm only, the signature OF
barris,er, who was entitled to the lee OF hali
guinea for his share of the ceremony. ne
counsel bowed himself almost to the ground,
and seizing pen, indited "John Scott with
greater pleasure than he ever before wrote the
same in his life. beautifully ~ritten-clear
open hand-it would be well if we could get
the profession to write like that, Mr.. Scott
Some Of them make such an abominable scratch
OF tive have clerks on purpose TO decipher.
And all the time the man was fumbling Tor the
fee. He thrus, his right hand into this pocket,
his left hand into the other; and he looked on
the ground with an air Of great disappointment,
4" | must have left my purse in the cotlre-room:
it is only over the way. beg you NAV not STIR
until return" And had the green.horn oi The
law complied with this advice, he might have
remained on the spot 10 this hour; " Tor never
since" has Lord Eldon been heard 10 say, have
laid my eyes on the same man. But the event
had its use. promise you, took care ever
afterwards TO let these gentry know that when
they brought their briefs TO me they should not
leave their purses in coffee-rooms."
At the time when Mr.. Scott began the world,
the branches Of practice which aresnow so dis
timely followed, wersScarcely Disseminated IN
the eyes of the profession in general. Almost
all the law Judges were, previous TO their eie-
walton. chancery practitioners; and the great
Lord Mansfield was exclusively devoted 10 equi-
" business during the time that he was coun-
sell. Contrary to the modern custom, the bar
ristcrs who fIequented the Lord Chancellor's
court attended the country assizes. Mr.. Scott
was a member of the Northern Circuit, besides
being a draug htsman in Equity. Success SEEM
ed hopeless for long time His business was
confined almost entirely TO the settling OF an IN
dictment, or to some paltry case OF defence IN
the Crown Court--a duty, in which, as he has
often said, he is the best advocate who says The
least. For several years the return was nothing
like an indemnity for his expenses. 1t was luc-
XIV for him that, in the four Northern Counties
at this era, as we'll as for a number Of years al
terwards," there was but one Assize held in the
year. The tax ofa,tendihg second Journey to
the North in the same twcl,emonth would have
been insurmoun,ablss Even as matters were,
venturer was ablS1go keep in the train ofthe two
Judges, when the period arrived for going thro'
the course Of the circuit. For The means ofdo-
ing so, he ought never 10 forget that he was in
deb,ed TO the con6dIng generosity of an Irish
man. A young gentleman Of the name of Sin
clair, Of Hibernian extraction, and denizened in
the city Of York, belonged to the junior bar,
and was, Of course, very great oracle in the
metropolis Of the North. AS he was Of very
frank aud amiable temper, and withal very prac-
teal in his way OF doing things, no one was a.
sharned or afraid to ask him for favor. Mr..
SCOT, did not hesitate to lay before him the un
promising condition Of his affairs, and shook
his empty purse in the face Of his learned friend.
"What am | to do? pray tell me" "Why, IRE
piled Sinclair) if it be an opinion you want,
you must consult me in the regular way; but if
you stand in need Of any money, I am your
humble servant, and welcome" Il loan Of SOL.
IoHOWeu tue ConNeTSdtOh duu lliS WAS lne pre-
ceJent for another and another application to
the generous creditor. At last MIR. Scott said,
81 have gone far enough now, in all conscience.
give up the circuit, Sinclair, am determined
on it," "Nay, nay, Jack, you have too much
law for that" rejoined the benefactor. ITO be
sure you have lost some pounds amongst the
dust Of our Northern roads here; bu, come, fling
this much (handing him 3ok) in the same di-
rcc,ion; and who knows but you may find them,
and much more into the bargain" This very
Sinclair is now the aged and venerable Record
er of York, and has long been welcome at.
tendant at the circuit bar mess.
1t was now within a few days Of the end Of
the assizes at York, and both the Judges were
hurrying on the business; for, at that time, the
interval allotted for the execution of the COM
mission at York was by no means sufficient,
and the Judge, in the Nisi Prius Court in that
city, could never get over the necessity of leav
ing "legacy," as it was called, in the shape of
some four or FIVE remnants, TO his successor al
the ensuing Assizes. This was a subject Of
20 Droach IN the adm nj afr, lion of ,ha lav ,,d