Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-11-02


its particular character but from the interest which
appears to be now taken in the book on this side OF
the Atlantic, we mean to extend our remarks upon
it, so as to make expose of some of the characters
and their positions in society, which can only be
done by one having little acquaintance with men
and things on the other side the water. When we
saw the first part of the tale in Backwood's Maya
zine, we had an nklng Of the motive with which II
was wrttento rid icule and cast odium on the ibe-
raj or radio party, but ut that time It not SO ev
dent hatthe precise object was, thcushssnce then
has become obvious enough that to prevent the &C.
cession OF Alderman Harmer to the Mayoralty OF
London, wa, the precise point aimed at. With this
view, the tale is very sklfuily constructed though
in great many points that gentleman is exposed to
a deal Of unmerited odium The firm Of which he
has been go long member, is well known IN Eng
land, as Harmer, Flower & Wooller, Old Bailey At
tOraies-nOt Counsel-and in this capacity they
have defended some of the most notorious villains
that ever made their appearance at the bar Of crm
nal court in any age or country. Traitors, murder.
aud forgers have in their time had the benefit Of
their united talents. The Watsons, father and son,
who fed t., America after their acquittal Of high
treason. Thistlewood, and the Cato street gang,
Faunt'er"y, the banker, and many others whose
and deeds recorded in the Newgate Calen-
dar, were introduced to Jack Ketch by the firm
With such practice we can easily conceive that
the morals even Of lawyer would not improve, and
being no strangers to the unpopularity Of that hrm
in the profession, at detected the caricature,
though disguised as Quirk, Cannon and Sharp,
and the house with the large brass plate removed
from Haiton Garden TO Saffron Hill Msssrs Gam
mon and Sharp rather general than particular
portraits, and would suit the figures and faces OF
men Of higher standing in London than Mr. Flower,
or Thomas Jonathan Woollcr, once the fearless
editor Of the Black Dwarf, are likely to take
| now. The author, in sketching them, has used his
pencil in the more aristocr cratic purlieus OF Grays
ana m,neo% inn a. Weit as rne wI
the effect OF his sarcasm, though they would purse
their brows and affect to be mighty indignant at the
idea Of being concerned in such low affair as de-
Tending poor devil charged criminay.
Another trait in the career Of Alderman Harmer,
is his connect ion with the Weekly Dispatch, called
| in the tale "the Sunday Flash" This ownership
was kept at one time very close, but at length II
owing tn the very great popularity hch
that paper acquired mot for its "Publieoo articles,
as is insinuated but for its correct and exclusive
criminal reports, and its biographical sketches Of
| the career Of those worthless who were Of course
compelled to disclose all the secrets Of their prison
house to their legal advisers. These articles which
and in connection wi its sporting varieties by the
celebrated "Pierce Exan, rassd the Giro ulaton Of
the Dispatch from some or $500 up to rs 81, 600
| copies in the first year, after Mr.. Harmer held a
share oft II has since then increased in popularity
and possibly varies from so TO 90 600 per week.
| This success was wormwood TO "the Times, and
We have no more doubt but that the instructions to
| the author OF Ten Thousand year emanated from
the editor Of that jealous but highly influential pa.
per, than IL we had been present at their delivery
The Times opposed Harmer's election as Alderman,
and treated the idea OF his serving the Office OF She
riff, and hanging his clients, with its sceustom
ed tone of bullying sarcasm. The Dispatch in its
turn did not neglect the opportunity of repayng the
| compliment when Mr.. Walter, of the fines be-
came member Of Parliament, and so the quarrel
has been kept up to the present day, with what
cess remains TO be seen. So much for the origin Of
| this unique tale; and a few words the other
| characters, many Of (which are portraits.
The author has evinced great ingenuity as well as
discrimination in arranging his materials, il We look
'nly at the end he had in view. All his amiable /,
good men Tories, all his Gals and envious fel.
lows are Of course Wings or Radicals even the par
sons do not escape him. We should not quarrel
with this course II he had not perverted history aud
placed individuals IN such situations that they must
be recognised whilst figuring far below thet ststios
which their talents always commanded for them The
principal incident in the tale is action in eject
ment before the highest common law tribunal in
England, for alaaded estate OF ten thousand year
In this the authors OF one part Of the book-for
| think there must have been two pens employed
has evinced great skill and much legal knowledge
Although by the way the question Of the erasure is
not TO the real property lawyers NJ reader
might imagine. This introduces the great feature of
the tale and the one which will be Perused with the
most iuterestin this country, where the forms ofthe
courts are derived from the Engsh With some modi.
fcations. In that trial he brings several real chara
tiers on the stage whose fame both politicians and
LAWYERS, has long since extended across the Alan
tic Lord Widdrington whe presides at the trial. is
| the late Lord TenterJen, and Justice Grayley
Justice Bayley. both of the Court Of Kings Bench.
The Attorney General is Singleton Copley, son Of
| the American Painter, and a native Of Boston,
| since created Baron Ly ndhnrst, and has occupied
| the highest legal Offices Mr. Subtle is Scarlet,
| &ulCksiivcr bfOugham STEERING Is Sug0en, since
been Chancellor Of ireland, and Christal Is Denmac
the present Chief Justice, Messrs. Lynx and Mart
man are faint sketches OF Mr.. Williams and Mr..
Bell. Sergeant Talfourd and other eminent lawyers
have also sat FOR the portraits Of Mr.. Putty, Mr.
Weasel, i'd est genus omnes.
| The portraits OF these distinguished personagcs
| are drawn with a master hand, aud are by far the
| best portion Of the book. They are recognizable
| Immediately by any who has enjoyed the plea
of hearing them plead, and the cdotes which
| into the tale Of their early poverty, is
| the most useful example which the book Affords
One the son OF an alien artist and two others, Lord
Tenterden and Sir Edward Sugden, both the sons Of
village babers, brought sp in obscuri,y yet attain.
ing the highest honors Of the prof ssion, speak
tunes for the honor and credit Of the English Bar,
and the libcralty OF the English Constitution.
In page 1877, vol. 3, the author puts the folowip
| into the mouth Of the Attorney General -" With
nae accident supplied the place of connexion-an
the first start got, Lifted me into = busise.s Of
| thousand year" This accident is founded on an
| incident which happened to Z" Young Copley," and
was related to the writer Of this notice, by dis
| tinguishsd London Attorney, who was acquainted
| subject OF il was native of this Republic. MIR j.
s. Copley, shortly after his admission TO the bar
was fond Of talking politics well az studying
law, and invariably bossed Of his republican origin
| and predictions. This, as may be supposed, did
to advance him at that tne Of day, and he
remained, for some time, among the brishess ones.
Al dinner. while on circuit, politics came mp with
| the wine, and Mr.. CoPley, in answer to a rather
wavering observation which fell from some old law
YER avowed himself 60 be " radical and something
more" The head Of one of the most respectable
"houses" In London heard the speech. and being him
self liberal ventured 10 take the rising ysung bar
/ rister by the hand This was "the start" alluded
to, and well did the success cf MIR. Copley repay
the patronage OF the house. He became celebrated
for his promptitule and tact before the Courts and
attracted the notice Of Lord Castleresgh, at that
time Secretary Of State, and as btera Tory as ever
breathed. This nobleman used 10 say that every
man had his price, and that he knew the price Of
every mar, which philosophical and just maxi, his
Lordship acted on, and made many converts to his
political opinions His Lordship obtained an intro
ducton to Mr.. Copley, and asked him ." he should
hike TO enter the House Of Commonsl' What the
answer was we dn#t know; but we do know that he
very quickly sat for treasury borough, became Sir