The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-13

New YORK; Vuesdays February l3s 1885,
Years ago-it matters not how many-there
Stood one of the fairest provinces of the father
land, fine old castellated building, which seldom
failed to attract the pleased attention Of the passer
by. 1t had been in the possession of one Of the
most ancient families In the kingdom ever since
Its founder, a soldier of fortune, received the
castle, and the broad lands surrounding 1t, as the
reward of his dsinterested devotion to the fortunes
of his sovereign master. Generation after gene
ration had made considerable additions to the
original structure; and thus it presented, at the
time OF which we speak, most picturesque mix
ture of half dozen different styles of architecture
In truth, the declining rays of the setting sun
llumined the numerous quaint old-fashioned WIN
dows OF the venerable pile, gliding its roofs, and
pointed gables, and buttresses, and tall stone
chimney shafts, the varied outline OF the whole
being seen In bold relief against the placid sky of
a summer eve, picture was presented worthy the
pencil even OF the matchless Claude. The Interior
was in keeping with the outward aspect of the
mansion. There were many winding passages
and osken stairways leading to long, irregular
corridors and lobbies; and numerous apartments,
of all dimensions, from the great hall where they
Toasted, to the small octangular room IN one of
the turrets, to which the tongue Of grey tradition
had long since given somewhat doubtful fame.
But you were at once struck by the air of comfort
and convenience which was manifest throughout
the spacious dwelling. All Its arrangements were
well known to the numerous household. 1t was
delicously cool in summer; while IN winter, as
the winds swept bowling around Its solid walls,
or fiercely assailed the sturdy cold ancestral
trees" it seemed the chosen abode of that prlncey
hospitality which enclrcles, as with a glory, the
reverend head OF the olden time"
THUS grew and fourished that stately and COM
modlous dwelling, having seen many generation
OF its owners pass, one by one, from Its peaceful
shelter to the everlasting silence of the family
tomb until, in an evil hour, the eye of new pos
SCISSOR, whose brain had been disturbed by the re-
forming mania of these modern days, rested with
dispeasure upon two small turrets which relieved
one of the many angles of the building. At that
instant the destruction OF the whole was doomed.
And so the level.er went to work, and Ia few
short months, the entire structure 80 long the
dwellIng-place Of happiness and comfort, was
heap of ruins. The reconstruction Immediately
began. But marvellous enough, the new architect
now discovered that order to rear fabric which
would meet the wants of his employer, it would
be necessary to build upon the identical founda.
tous of the structure which had just been levelled
with the dust! Thus, then, the work of centuries
was after ALL to be restored, great cost and labor
the elected household being obliged, meanwhile,
to submit to thousand inconvenience and priva.
tons.
Such is fair illustration of the spirit and saga
city OF many modern reformers and seldom have
the folly and obstnacy of that visionary reform,
which is potent only to destroy, been more sig
nally and practically exhibited than in the attempt
to establish the new legal code of the State of
New York-an effort quite worthy of its origin IN
that bastard philosophy of Fourier, to which Mr.
Greeley, of the Tribune, has attached himself with
a natural and instructive devotion.
The established legal practice, which has grown
up under the administration of the law In the
courts of England and the United States, Is a ne
cessary and important part OF that great fabric
which has been reared by the accumulated wisdom
Of centuries 1t Is the result of vast experience.
1t has been created, modified and improved by
disciplined minds, conversant with human affairs;
and to whom, from age to age, so large share IN
the daily business of society has been freely and
safely committed by the most highly civilized and
enlightened communities ON the face Of the globe.
1t has sprung from the wants and necessities of
society, and adapted itself to them. Hence its
general admirable utility. But to the eye of the
ignorant preenders to the character of phlosoph,c
reformers, this great strucrure-which has been
certainly subjected to process of renovation, and
has therefore all the dignity and stability, without
the decreptude, of venerable age-is nothing but
an unsightly heap of rubbish. 1t Is cumbersome,
md ulavc e.
must give place to bran new one, made to order
at the shortest notice, by two or three smart York
lawyers, at the reasonable cost of twenty shillngs
day. The good people of the Stationary of
them, doubtless, smarting under the wholesome
discipline which sooner or later follows unneces
sary or malicious litigation, and rejoiced at the
chance OF humbling SO rigid school master-ls.
tened to the voice of the Fourerte charmer, CON-
mlssioning three or four promising lawyers to con-
struct "new CODE" who accordingly stripped
and went to work with all the zeal and alacrIty
Of squad Of industrious hodmen who have lust
refreshed themselves with libatlon of " the best
OF liquor, at three cents glass;"
The result of this grand legal reform is now
fairly before us; and already the utter folly and
absurdity Of the whole thing are transparent
Judges, lawyers, clients, are all abroad. 1t 10
" confusion worse confounded." II 10 the blind
leading the blind and both are of course, In the
ditch. Just think oft Every trivial point that
arises relative to practice, must be carried up
to the highest court for decision! 0, sa-
pient reformers! The counsel of Mr. John Smith.
the plaintiff, gives hls opinion before one of
the inferior courts, with respect to the proper
Interpretation of the "code" on some point
OF greater or lesser Importance but the legal
adviser OF Mr.. William Jones, the defendant, |
takes an entirely opposite view of it, of course,
all precedents have been swept away, and Judge
Solomon Wlseman decides according to his own
view OF 1t, to which one, or perhaps both, of the
parties object; and so they appeal from court to
court, I'LL they reach the highest An authorita-