The Sun. — 1844-09-04 (London, England)

NEW ASSOCIATION OF SOLICITORS.  Monday a meeting was holden at the Gray's-Inn Coffee-house which had been called by the Solicitors in London, for the purpose of ,taking into consideration the inroads that had been made upon the profession by recent legislative enactments, and to form an association for mutual protection. D. WIRE, Esq., took the Chair. The meeting was not very fully attended. The CHAIRMAN explained the object of calling together the members of the profession, which he did by reading a rather voluminous advertisement, and animadverting upon the different topics which, it contained. The meeting, it appeared, had been the result of a private meeting which had been convened at the chambers of Mr. Clarke, solicitor. The Chairman said there already existed a Law Association— but besides that being liable to.be considered as chiefly limited to the aristocracy of the profession, and that consequently young practitioners had not a proper standing, there was another reason for instituting another association—there was reason to believe that the Law Association had been rather remiss in guarding the interests of the profession. He said it might be thought by the public that the 'object of this meeting was selfish on the part'of the profession, and be would at once admit such was the case ; and he contended that they had certain privileges conferred upon them by the Legislature, to quality them for that which they lik.d to undergo—severe examinations to be passed besides the large price of Stampi for articles, fees of ridmission, and annual liceoe4ty•Wlikh thefscilargely contributed • towards the. 'revenue;-- and on these grounds he contended they :had a.. right to protect their privileges. He was one of those who would always be a law reformer, and he was sure that every respectable member of the profession would go with him in that, and had the profession been consulted, that they would have given their support and advice in the promulgation of useful reform in the law; but that which had been. recently introduced, and which was called law reform, had not improved the profession, but, on the contrary, had detracted from it, by introducing men to practice who were without character. He thought it, therefore, right that they should watch the Acts in future brought in-by men who were not practical lawyers themselves and who never were qualified to be legislators: He drew a contrast between the Acts that were passed in former times, which could all be easily understood, and when a praCtitioner might have carried with him the number passed in one session in his pocket, with the present time, when the result of each_ session would nearly load a cart, and each Act realised the saying that " a coach and six might be driven through it." lie alluded to the conduct of Lord Brougham, who, like many more, turned round upon the members of that branch of the profession by whose means he had attained his elevated position, and who now wanted to bolster his fallen state by creating a reputation that he was the poor man's friend. But it ought to go forth that there were poor creditors, as well as poor debtors, that wanted protection at the ~hands of the law. He had known instances of oppression by imprisonment, but be had known many instances of men who had been kept in prison because they would not do justice to -their creditors. lle was desired, before he sat down, to state that the public had not yet made up theirA minds that Lord Brougham was right in his last ct of Parliament. He held in his.hand 200 petitionst for_or the repeal of that Act, abolishing imprnisoon!nneeniudifn debt for sums under 201., from townsofas t the very part where Lord Bro.ugharns 4r firstelivee trneluisi:nt,tlt,itsooonop, ,rlose•oh‘.oeiclnht; Kendal, Carlisle, and other towns. The p in England and 00 sigbeen hurriedly got up, yet t y (.11Fiotiiocriilsechlagd natures. Mr. GOD inn.Aonf: sitisrnoi. ecatio.eele;a): so. was in purport that steps . not duly qualified. lie 1 one from practisingto that protection. 1101eiefiireaatres, 100,000/. more, besides their arettorneys. ley had contributed, in thought, the annual licenses. 1 At fur Mr. LEWIS LINCOLN seconded the resolution, which their hs:,es ielf;ns3rtc,oetotri was unanimously carried. - Resolutions were then put and carried unanimously, forming an interim Committee to carry out the objects of the Association, and a number present enrollid themselves as members, the annual subscription being one guinea. ..-ahritcthholheteiletonegn,rolled  An inhabitant of St. Denis, who was evidently insane, lately committed suicide in a strange manner. He had for some time employed himself in endeavouring to imitate an egg in pasteboard. He took this egg, filled it with gunpowder, placed it in his mouth, and then with a match which.hc,had got from his wife, as if to light a cigar, tenclied the powder, ai.d with the cxploi sioa blew his bruins ont,