maxim to diftinguish ftrongly and pointedly in 1s attentions between men of virtuous morals and men of vicious: There is nothing fo glorious and at the fame time nothing fo cafy; if his countenance is turned to men of principle and character, if he beflows his fmile upon the worthy only, he need be at little pains to frown upon the profligate, all fuch vermin will crawl out of his path and fhrink away from his prefence: Glittering talents will be no paffport for diffolute morals, and ambition will then be retained in no other cause, but that of virtue; men will not chufe crooked paffages and byealleys to preferment, when the broad highway of honefty is laid open and strait before them. A prince, though he gives a good example in his own perfon, what does he profit the world, if he draws it back again by the bad example of those whom he employs and favors? Better might it be for a nation to fee a libertine on its throne furrounded by virtuous counsellors, than to contemplate a virtuous fovereign, delegating his authority to unprincipled and licentious fervants. The king, who declares his refolution of countenancing the virtuous only amongft his fubject, fpeaks the language of an hoft man; if he makes good his declaration, he performs the functions of one, and earns the bleffing of a righteous king; a life of glory in this world, and an immortality of happinefs in the world to come. Explanation of the twelfth Plate of Trif tram Shandy. how to give the lights of information and fhut out the faife colours of feduction, demands a judgment for diftinguishing and an authority for controlling, which few go vernors in that delicate fituation ever poffels, or can long retain To educate a prince, born to reign over an enlightened people, upon the narrow fcale of fecret and fequef tered tuition, would be an abuse of common fenfe; to let him loofe upon the world is no lefs hazardous in the other extreme, and each would probably devote him to an inglorious deftiny: That he fhould know the leading characters in the country he is to govern, be familiar with its history, its conflitution, manners and liberties, and correct ly comprehend the duties and diftinctions of his own hereditary office, are points that no one will difpute; that he fhould travel through his kingdom I can hardly doubt, but whether thofe excurfions fhould reach into other states, politically connected with, er opposed to, his own, is more than I will prefume to lay down as a general rule, being aware that it muft depend upon perfonal circumftances: Splendour he may be indulge ed in, but excefs in that, as in every thing elfe, must be avoided, for the mifchiefs cannot be numbered, which it will entail upon him; excess in expence will subject him to obligations of a degrading fort; excels in courtesy will lay him open to the forward and affuming, raife mountains of expectation about him, and all of them undermined by dif'appointment, ready charged for explofion, when the hand of prefumption fhall fet fire to the train: Excefs in pleasure will lower hin in character, deftroy health, refpea, and that becoming dignity of mind, that confcious rectitude, which is to direct and fupport him, when he becomes the difpenter of juftice to his fubjects, the protector and defender of their religion, the model for their imitation, and the fovereign arbiter of life and death in the execution of eveLy legal condemnation: To court popularity GOD help her! poor damfel! above is both derogatory and dangerous, nor fhould he, who is deftined to rule over the whole, conducend to put himself in the league of a party: To be a protector of learning and a patron of the arts, is worthy of a prince, but let him beware how he finks himiclf into a pedant or a virtuofo: It is a mean talent, which excels in trifles; the fine arts are more likely to flourish under a prince, whofe ignorance of them is qualified Lay general and impartial good-will towards their profesors, than by one, who is himLeif a dabbler; for fuch will always have their favourites, and favoritilm never fails to irritate the minds of men of genius concerned in the fame ftudies, and turns the fpirit of emulation into the gall of acrimo ny. Above all things let it be his inviolable WE 7E had got by this time almost to the bank where Maria was fitting: fhe was in a thin white jacket, with her hair, all but two trefles, drawn op into a filk net, with a few olive leaves twitted a little fantaftically on one fide-fhe was beautiful ; and if ever I felt the full force of an honeft heart-ache, it was the moment I faw her a hundred maffes, faid the poftilion, have been faid in the feveral parish churches and convents around, for her but without effect; we have ftill hopes, as the is fenfible for fhort intervals, that the virgin at laft will restore her to herfelf; but her parents, who know her belt, are hopeless upon that, feore, and think her fenfes are loft for ever. As the poftillion fpoke this, Maria inade a cadence to melancholy, fo tender and que rulous, that I fprung out of the chaife to help her, and found myfel fitting betwixt her and her goat, before I relapfed from my enthuliafm. Maria looked fo wiftfully for fome time at me, and then at her goat-and then at me-and then at her goat again, and so on, alternately -Well -Well, Maria, faid I softly-What refemblance do you find? I do intreat the candid reader to believe me, that it was the humbleft conviction of what a Beaft man is,—that I asked the queftion; and that I would not have let fallen an unfeasonable pleasantry in the venerable prefence of mifery, to be entitled to all the wit that ever Rabelais scattered and yet I own my heart fmote me, and that I fo smarted at the very idea of it, that I swore I would fet up for Wildom and utter grave fentences the reft of my days—and never -never attempt again to commit mirth with man, woman or child, the longest day I had to live. As for writing nonfenfe to them-I be lieve, there was a referve—but that I leave to the world. Adieu, Maria!-adieu, poor hapless damfel!-fome time, but not now, I may hear, thy forrows from thy own lips--but I was deceived; for that moment the took her pipe and told me fuch a tale of woe with it, that I role up, and with broken and irregular fteps walked foftly to my shaife. An Account of the Diamond Mines in the Province of Bundelcund. Written in 1785. D' IAMONDS are found within the earth round the city of Punnah (the capital of the province of Bundelcund, diftant about 30 miles to the fouth weftward of Allahabad) and to the extent of twenty-four miles in the directions eaft, north, and weft, from the precincts of that city. It is a Hindoo territory, governed by a Ra Any perfon, foreign or native, may fearch for diamonds within is dominions, without let or moleftation. Merchants from Guzerat, Suret, Jaynagur, Dehly, Benares, Allahabad, Lucknow, and Furrakabad, are thofe who chiefly refort to Punnah for that express purpofe. They employ workmen to dig for them, at the rate of five rupees, per month; over whom guards, belonging to the Rajah, are ftationed, in order to afcertain the precife number found, and to appraife their value. One fourth of their worth is given to the Rajah, either in money or in kind: the refidue is left to the mer Chants for their own benefit, For all, however, fuperior in price to 3000 rupees, the Kajah, gives the merchant oue-fourth, and keeps the tones himself. There geins, are ufually found about eighteen inches from the furface; at fix feet deep, and at twenty-four feet deep, amidhi a rough, coarie, honey-combed, brown ftone, or gravelly fubftance, called knakroo, mixed with a dufxy-red argillaceous earth-like ochre, but both fo hard, that the miner cannot fome runes excavate a foot square during a whole dav. Where there is no khakroo they are not met with. Of this khakroo, when burnt, is made lime. From hence it fhould feem, that this concretion is the matrix of their generation. When no khakroo is discovered at twenty-four feet, the minor defifts from delving lower. Round their pits they leave arches, wide enough for two people to traverse. From the mines the earth is hoifted in baskets, and then rinsed and fifted. When diamonds are amongft it, their crystals emit a luftre, by which they are presently discerned, and easily diftinguished. Those jewels which are of a larger size, or finer than common, the Rajah (as above mentioned) referves for his own wear, or disposes of himself to the more confiderable merchants. Diamonds are faid to have been discovered within this diftrict not more than fixty years ago, and (like most other extraordinary difcoveries) by accident. Children were cafually feen playing with fome rough ftones by a lapidary, who chanced to come to Punnah from Benares. He honeftly disclosed to the Rajah the nature and value of them, who caufed the earth to be explored accordingly, and they were found in the following villages, Rangpore, Mujgawan, Chowperrah, Berrejepore, Etowah, Jowhurpore, Manikpore, and Cowahko. -None were found in the vicinity of Chatterpore, a town about thirty miles north weiterly of Punnah, as has been erroneously fuppofed. Remarks on fome great Abuses of the Law, THE HE law punishes fraud and extortion in individuals, yet countenances, by not, at once, crufhing and effectually reftraining the groffeft exactions in attornies, and ftill meaner minifters of its own body. Any man worth a thousand pounds, and owing a fingle hundred to ten feveral creditors, which he cannot anfwer; and having as many actions to bail, to stave off, and to defend, may be reduced to beggary within a few weeks-all his fubftance scarcely be ing fufficient to pay cofts on both fides. We lie entirely at the mercy of attornies, more fell than fharks'; and their costs, however exorbitant, must be paid, to avoid farther expence... An attorney lately fent in a bill of cofts, to the amount of one hundred pounds, and, upon a ferious remonftrance, which alarmed fome other principle about him than his confcience, was glad to take fifteen pounds, rather than to have his confumate knavery ex pofed. A poor man, with ingenuity enough to intitle him to bread for himself, his wife, and a large family, in any country, fave his own, brought me, not long fince, the fentence of his banishment-fummed up in an attorney's bill of cofts. The original debt was fomewhat above fifty fhillings, for a few months fchooling for two of his children: but the attorney had fwelled the reckoning pretty handfome ly; and, before the poor debtor was aware, he had between thirteen and fourteen pounds to pay; for which he confessed a judgment upon his empty counter, fhelves, &c. but was obliged to fly for it. But the schoolmafter muft pay the attor ney; otherwife his defks and forms will go pot next; for it is an incontrovertible maxim in law, That the law muft never fuffer any lofs. How abfurd to fuppofe, that a poor man who cannot pay a just debt of fifty shillings, can raise five times as much, to feed a rapacious attorney! A poor man is frequently ruined, in due course of law, without knowing any thing of the matter. The caufe, as the attornies call it, goes on" Currat lex," fays Ignoramus. The mill, when once fet a-going, never stands ftill: term fucceeds term, a termino ad terminum, which alone is fufficient authority for attornies to add cofts to cofts, and diftrefs to diftrefs; which finally end in execution and imprisonment. For one caufe that is brought to a hearing, hundreds are settled, by paying enormous cofts to attornies, on both fides. Wife men, for the moft part, even upon the jufteft grounds, dread the law; its ruinous expence, its doubtful determination; and that which ought to be confidered as their greatest fecurity, their beft privilege, is become their greatest terror! fo that few have courage to cry out with Paul, "I appeal to Cæfar!" This general weakness, upon too good a foundation, attornies are well aware of, and improve to their own emolument. Several country attornies are the terror of all around them! They are feared as men fear vipers and fcorpions from the pow er which is in them of doing mischief! By the statute, 4 Hen. IV. Chap, 18. it. is enacted, That attornies fhould be examined by the judges; and none admitted but fuch as were virtuous, learned, and fworn to do their duty. Do they,at this time undergo an examination by judges theinlelves? and are none admitted and fworn to do their duty, but men of virtue and learning? By the fame ftatute, attornies appear to have been, formerly, no more than the fervants of their clients.- They are now become their mafters, with a vengeancel The wisdom of Legiflature has provided, in fome measure, against the exactions of attornies, by fubjecting their cofts to be taxed: an argument that no fet of men is fo apt to impofe, fo little to be confided in figma, if rightly confidered, upon the whole body. Yet, even with all this precaution, we find many items are allowed from use, more than froin ftrict propriety: and fhould fonie few only be lowered, or taken off, what satisfaction arifes to the wronged client?Simply that of taking it from one lawyer, and giving it to another. Attornies colts, upon taxation, have been frequently reduced one fourth, one third, one half, two thirds, and even three-fourths! and yet fuch infamous men eaters have been fuffered to continue their villainous practice; inftead of being fufpended, or totally dif qualified from acting ever after. Such horrid depredations, as are known to be in common practice among attornies and folicitors, even of the firft eminence, are hardly to be imagined! -for otherwife, how are we to account for the ftyle in which many of them live, and the immense fortune, they amafs, often-from nothing? An attorney is juftified in making a charge for drawing his bill of cofts and receiving payment? What man, of any other profeflion, ever dreamt of fetting a price for writing out his own bill, and receiving his money? But not only for writing, but even for reading his own bill to his client, he is allowed it seems, to make a charge.-For a certain refpectable gentleman, in a neighbouring country, not being able, from the quaintnefs of the law-hand, and the jargon of the contents, to read his attorney's bill, fent for the man to come over and read it to him; which he did, and added one, pound one to his former charge! "Are you ferious?" faid the gentleman: "and will you take it?" I am very ferious,' replied the attorney, and will most certainly take it- I am not to take me horse and come here for nothing.' "Then, there's your money," 'faid the gentleman, (paying him his account, with the extra guinea)" but remember, I shall hang up this extraordinary bill of cofts in my hall, for every visitor to peruse!" You may hang it up wherever you pleafe,' faid the inodeft attorney; and the bill was hung up accordingly, and is to be feen to this day. This is a notorious fact; and I have no doubt but that feveral of my readers can vouch for the truth of it. People, unhappily, immerfed in law, (even men of understanding in other refpects) are commonly to infatuated, as to believe, the right or the wrong, the ftrength or the weakness of their caufe, depends almoft entirely upon the diligence and cunning of their attorney or folicitor. I think after the caufe I gained in B, R. alaft Michalmas term," lays one, "no adventurer med despair.”—But what fay you you to mine in C.. B. in Hilary?' fays another-There was defperate work for you!' If it had not been for me," fays a third, "it would have been all over with poor Dick." Well, I know not how it is,' fays a fourth, but, by G-d, I never loft a caufe in my life!"'Tis management, gentlemen, believe me--all depends upon management." ( This is the common cant-the quack language of the profeffion; and innumerable advantages refult to them from fuch faucy pretensions, and the jejune conclufions of their intimidated clients. For thereby attornies of tafte, or of no tafte-of real knowledge, or of immenfe vanity, have the fineft opportunity of forming or enriching their libraries or cabinets, by little and little, with the choiceft morfels; and of furnishing their houfes with pictures, drawings, &c. at the cheapest rates--more especially in cafes of distress and death, and where fuits are pending*. English attornies, more frontless than Spanish beggars, afk in a tone not to be eafily withstood, and demand in fuch fort, as implies it may be dangerous to refufe. Upon almost every demife, the beft heriot commonly falls to the attorney. Whether we live or die, the attorney is fure to be a gainer. If any charge of malpractice lay against an attorney, fuch matter thould be cleared up before he was fuffered to act any farther. In a concern of fo facred a nature as the law of the land, every unworthy practitioner, bringing a dithonour upon that profeffion of which he is a minifter, should be detected and brought to infamy and condign punishment, in a fummary way. This exactly refponds with the ftatute N ن T E. Several years ago, a gentleman of my particular acquaintance, who had the management of a very large property, for the benefit of a family who had newly loft its head, (the daughter of whom I may truly fay, was one of the richeft heireffes in this kingdom) applied to me in the way of my bufinels, at that time, to come to the villa of the deceased, a fhort diftance from London, to examine and fet a price upon a choice and elegant study of books, and some portfolios of valuable prints. My direction was" Not to overftrain in point of va lue nor to exceed the price that any book feller would give for them." I thought the caution fingular; and, as the gentleman was my familiar, naturally enquired how they were to be difpofed of? To tell you the truth," replied my friend," our Solicitor in Chancery has taken a prodigious liking to them, and we must not difoblige himfor, you know what fuits we have pending in that court.' ་ 4 Hen. IV. c. 18. already referred to, and which is inferted below at full length*. -Statutes at that time, and long after, were concife; and fo intelligible, as hardly to be mistaken: From feveral late detections we have had of the most horrid enormities, committed by fundry profligate and perjured men, calling themselves attornies; we are led to fear the faid ftatute is too much dispensed with, or negligently obferved. When bad men fall out among themselves, fome good commonly arifes to the community. An attorney now in Newgate in London upon a fentence of the Court of King's Bench, having, it feems, quarrelled with fome of his quondam cronies of the fame profeffion with himfelf, has lately threatened to expofe their manifold perjuries and felonies; and promifes to treat the public "with a luxurious Banquet of ingenious Villainy-to exhibit afcene of Fraud, Forgery, Perjury, and Subornation of Perjury, unparelleled in the hiftory of Human Corruption !" And that no fpecies of attrocity may be wanting to complete the horrid catalogue, he charges one of his faid friends" with Plans of Poifoning and Affaffinations." Ο N T E. *Item, For fondry damages and mischieves, that have come before this time, to divers people of the realme, by the great numbre of attourneis, ignoraunt and not learned in the lawe, as they wer wont to be before this time: it is ordeined and stablished, that all the attourneis fhall bee examined by the juftices; and by their difcrecions, their names to be put in rolle, and they that be. good, and vertuous, and of goodfame, shalbee received and fworne welle and truly to serve in their offices, and efpecially that they make no fuite in a foreign countrey. And the other fhalbee putte oute, by the difcretion of the fayed Juftices, and that theyr maifters, for whom they were attourneis, bee warned to take others in their places, fo that in the mean time no damage nor prejudice come to their fayed maifters. And yf any of the fayed attournies do dye or ceafe, the juftices for the time beyng, by their diferecion fhall nake on other in his place, whyche is a vertuous inan and learned, and worne in the fame manner as afore is fayd. And if any fuch attourney be hereafter notorioully found in any defaute of recorde or otherwife, he shall forfware the court, and never atter be receyved to make any fuite in any court of the Kynge. And that this ordinaunce be- holden in the Efcheker, after the difcrecion of the treaforer, and of the barons there."-See Berthelet's Edition of the Statutes, imprinted 1543. The printed paper referred to, is writ ten from Newgate, and figned, Robert Holloway. |