New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-29
WHAT IS MEANT By tx. G."


So much misrepresentation seems to prevail with
regard to the Office of Kings Counsel the title
borne by the late Lord Salisbury's younger son.
Lord Robert Cecil. who is sailing next week for
America that It may be well to give a few brief
notes of explanation on the subject To begin with
It has nothing whatever TO do with membership
Of the Privy Council, and carries with it no species
OF emolument from the Crown. It is merely
dignity entaIing certain privileges and numerous
obligations which is granted to barrisers who have
been several years engaged in reputable practice
and at their demand The origin OF the Office which
Is in the gift of the Lord High Chancellor, dates
back to the DAYS of Charles II when Il became the
practice appoint certain legal court favortes as
counsel to the King with the right such of pre-
audience and precedence over their less fortunate
brethren.
The Kings Counsel or "K. c." they are
styled are distinguished from the ordinary harris
ter by the fact that they occupy IN court a space
partitioned off between the bench and that part Of
the hall where the less exalted members of the bar
are Obliged to sit They receive three four times
the amount Of pay accorded to lawyers who have
not attained the enainence OF senior. and enjoy
both official and social precedence. which are mighty
priced Precisely in the same way that the Kings
Counsel is debarred by etiquette and usage from
accounting briefs eutailing an appearance in any
of the lower courts, in the same way 1t is ipossi
bic for a plaintiff defendant TO obtain salts
factory hearing from the higher tribunals except
through a Kings Counsel, who invariably extracts
big fee for himself, and will never undertake
case unless sbriefed' with junior. who does all
the hard work and drudgery. working up the law
and the precedents in the matter, with which he
Grams his senior, usually Just before the laILer
appears in court.
Moreover there are sumptuary distinctions be-
tween the Kings Counsel and the ordinary member
of the bar which deserve attention No member OF
the bar can plead before any Of the higher courts.
or even assist, without being arrayed in the pre-
scribed costume the chief features of which are
white goat hair bob wig and black gown. In
the case of the Junior" the gown is Of stuff, or
borubszue while the Kings Counsel wear silk.
That is the meaning Of the expression taking
silk" which is used in recording the appointment
of e LAWYER to the rank of Kings Counsel The
''junior' is permitted wear what clothes he likes
beneath his stuff gown. provided the coat IS DARK
But the kings counsel is forced to array himself
in q quaint and uncomfortable costume beneath
his six roba The full dress which has invariably
70 he worn when q is pleading before the
House Of Lords or Privy Council consists Of
black cloth court coat. cut in the fashlon Oh 'l0
reign OF Queen Anne: black waistcoat and knee
breeches black silk stockings. black shoes WIN
gold or silver buckles: full bottonleo Wig u
white goats hair falling down over the shoulders,
lace rUffes at throat and wrist, and aDoFe al
this the black gown OF silk, with deep SQUARE
collar or cape. and long, narrow s1reahl!Is siee.0
hanging from the elbows and almost touching the
e-ound On ordinary occasions q small BOD Wig IS
worn, and while the Queen Anne black coat Is re-
tanned black trousers take the place OF the AAl7e
breaches and silk stockings, and two carnorlo
ban5s At the throat are substituted for the lace
rufies.
The patent Of kings counsel is always
equipped with the Great Seal Of the Realm and
on appointrnent he takes special oath OF a.
Iegiance to the Lord Chancellor, representing the
o7-.raie, that when called on he will faithfully
and truly advise the monarch ''on any point OF
law on which his opinion may be asked This
being the case II is only natural that he should De
obliged to ask and obtain the Lord Chancellor
permission before accepting any brief IN cases
against the crown
A1ARQUIsE DE FONTENoT.