The New York herald., 1844-11-29

Natural History Of the New York Bar.
The members cf the bar in this city may be divided
into three classes-frst, good lawyers, who are
gentlemen; secondly, good lawyers, who are not
gentlemen thirdly, pettifoagers, who are neither
lawyers nor gentlemen. This division is simple
and accurate, and includes every individual who
is said to practise law in the city of New York.
The definitions are clear and ineligible to the
humblest capacity; and unlike many definitions in
science and philosophy, they do actually convey a
correct idea Of the thing intended to be explained.
Let us briefly glance the habits and characterls-
tics of the several classes thus indicated and de-
fined.
The first class, which is composed OF good law
yers, who are gentlemen, is very small one. II Is
possible that the number exceeds that set down as
the maximum OF just men, whose return to the an
gel engaged in taking the census OF the vlrtuous In
the doomed city Of Sodom, would have ensured
its immunity from the threatened vengeance OF in
suited heaven. The bar OF this city can indeed
boast of few men, whose eminent professional
attachments derive additional lustre from the
refined manners, the cultivated taste, the UNI
form urbanity, and gentlemanly demeanor which
characterize their possessors. These are worthy
successors OF those distinguished men-the EN-
mstts, the Wilkinses, the Wellses, and other
kindred spirits-who gave such dignity and cha
racter to the bar Of New York twenty years ago.
1t were invidious mention but few of those
who are conversant with the movements OF the Sc
lectfew who give tone to any movements In society,
literature, science, or refined civilization in this
city, which are really worthy of respect, can be at
loss to fill up that brief list, in which stand the
names of the good lawyers of New York who have
the educasion, feelings, and manners of gentlemen
We now come to the second and much more nu-
merous class-the good lawyers who are not gen.
temen. There are a great many talented and
sharp .wited blackguards in society and as the
practise of the law in the present state OF the ad-
mnstration of justice, presents peculiar facilities
for the successful exercise of combination ot Ia
lent smartness, vulgarity and oarseness, II is not
at all surprising that the bar find very nu-
merous repre- rsentaton Of that class In society TO
which we have just alluded. We do think that
we can in this city match any bar where the name
of Blackstone is honored, in clever lawyers who
free from any pretenslons TO the character OF
gentlemen, as the region OF the "Five Poin's' is
TO cleanliness or virtue We have repeatedly heard
these men in their pleadlngs before a court
aud jury, indulge in strain Of coarse, vulgar,
impudent, personal attack on parties not even di-
rectly implicated in the case, which could have
been properly chsstlsed only by means Of horse
whip And then the manner in which this class Of
legal practitioners browbeat, and ineuit, and wound
witnesses, is shameful and brutal in the extreme.
Almost the first remark which every intelligent
traveller makes on visiting one OF our Courts OF
law, is, "What license you do allow your
lawyers! The stranger Is astounded. He
can scarcely believe it possible that Court
will suffer its own character TO be dlsgraced-lts
dignity trampled upon-the rlghts,of individuals to
be ruthlessIy violated-pubc decency outraged
by the federation Of such beaslly language the
part Of counsel in their speeches, and in their cross
examination of witnesses. Talk OF the scurrliiy
and personalities OF the press. Why we have heard
lawyers abuse parties and witnesses before our
courts, in terms of invecive such we have never
seen in the columns of the most reckless and vio-
lent partzan print; and heaven knows this is indeed
about the lowest standard of comparison to which,
spoken or written Bingsgate can be reduced.
We had recently in which this great and
glaring evil-for it is indeed a social evil of alaim
ing and growing magnitude-was presented TO the
attention of the public in very Ineligible man.
ner. The hgh.toned and honorable feelings of
young gentleman, were SO stung by the gross and
off nsive personalities Of ofthese lawyers, that
he administered a severe drnbbing to the offender;
and when the case afterwards came before crimi-
nal court, the harsh sentence first pronounced was
very properly reviewed, and the hasty avenger oi
the outraged honor Of his family, received what
was tanamount to an honorable acquttal. And
yet portion OF the party press, which is utterly
incapable OF taking any generous, comprehensive
view OF matters connected with the social con-
dltion, condemned this lenity, and insisted
that the chastIsement Of the brutal vulgarity
of lawyer, who grossly abused his professional
privilege, In attacking the personal character Of
parties not properly before the court, should have
been visited with the utmost rigor OF the law
whilst that very press would have been the first to
protest against the monstrous injustice OF punish
ing some desperate connected with a political
club, who had attempted to deprive fellow being
OF his life. II is indeed matter OF astonisn.
ment to US that the coarse, insolent, and unman-
nerly personalities Of these lawyers do not more
frequently provoke serious breaches OF the peace.
OF one thing, at least, we are quite convinced, that
the federation by the bench of such conduct on the
part of lawyers, exercises most demoralzing
influence on society. If private character and
private feelings are not respected in our courts
Of law-if In the very temple Of justice
itself, all that honorable men regard sacred and
dear is ruthessly rampled upon-if scurrity, in
vectlve, and blackguardism, are tolerated in the
ministers of the law, how can we expect that out
Of doors, IN the daily social intercourse Of men,
any regard will be paid to the decencies and cour-
tesies OF life1 Will not the artificial barriers by
which, in all well-reguated societies, the constant
outbreak of the evil passions of the human hearl
is restrained, come at last to be unceremoniously
and universally disregarded Z
But lei us now pass on to the third class--thosr
who are pettifoggers, being neither lawyers MOI
gentlemen. This is by arthe larges, class Of all 1t
comprises the shoals Of sharks about the "Tombs"
The harpiss that hang about the Marine. Court.