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Article ADVICE TO AN ATTORNEY'S CLERK. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Advice To An Attorney's Clerk.
man should be in office before ten o ' clock , more especiall y if the fumes of his last overtake ! ' of Burton ale have not evaporated , or if he has fatigued himself during the preceding evening by his legal exertions , in mimicking any of the twelve judges . In the moments of relaxation , more especially during- the long A'acatibn , you will find a constant source of amusement in making IOA'B to the daughter of the attorney with whom JiA'eAs a symbol
you . of your constancy , you may write the first letter on parchment in a strong engrossing hand . If she has been much used to her father ' s clerks , you may indulge in the Saxon character , or black letter , as 3 'o u need not then be in any fear of a discovery from the mother or servants—or perhaps , good man ! even from the father himself . An intrigue of this kind will answer IAVO purposes ; for , first , it will divert
your mind after the fatigues of business ; and , secondly , it will moisten your lips after the dry study of the law , as you will be always certain of a cup of tea , AA'hen mama happens to be engaged at Mrs . Latitat ' s rout , and papa is drinking his crank at Nando ' s with an officer of—the four counties . If you haA ' e been but a short time in the-business , perhaps your heart likel
OAvn , or , more y , a friend from the country , may reproach you with-baseness and ingratitude ; in such a case , be sure to ' affirm Avith boldness—for Avithout boldness , and eA'en brass , what fio-Ure can you make in the profession ?—that attornies' clerks have a light to court-attornies' daughters , by immemorial custom ; and then jocularly add , that you have not only precedent , but even law , on ' your side ; for Jacob and Lord Coke both assert , " that custom is the ' soul of the common law . " ¦
_ There is one lucrative part of your business , which I would specially recommend to you . If you come from Norfolk , or indeed any of the game counties , you must undoubtedly knoAV AA'hat a setter is . Be ^ sure , Avhen you have got a writ to execute for a generous plaintiff , to make yourself acquainted with the person of the defendant , the coffee-house he frequents , the residence of his mistress , & c . so ' that b of this
y means intelligence you will be able , to-point Avith such , staunchness to an ignorant or shame-faced bailiff , if ever in thecoursa of a long practice you should meet with such a phenomenon , that he may be enabled to spring the forlorn - partridge at a moment ' s notice , and bag him till the next insolvent act . . If , during the sittings at Westminter , you should happen , either bthe absence of
y or indisposition ' your principal , to be intrusted , like Judas , with the bag ( indeed some of the commentators haA'e affirmed that his , like the lawyers ' , was of-the blue damask ) , in such a case , , you will ha \ 'e no merit , unless you exactly resemble your great protot ype . I would therefore advise you to look over the paper of causes , and about the middle of the one immediatel preceding to
y yours , hop off Avith some other fellow-labourer in the . vineyard , to " the Exchequer coffee-house , and there , over a beef-steak and ' a bowl of punch , wish better success to your client next term—at his own expence , ' You pan never be in want of a good excuse for your conduct ; tlie counsel
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Advice To An Attorney's Clerk.
man should be in office before ten o ' clock , more especiall y if the fumes of his last overtake ! ' of Burton ale have not evaporated , or if he has fatigued himself during the preceding evening by his legal exertions , in mimicking any of the twelve judges . In the moments of relaxation , more especially during- the long A'acatibn , you will find a constant source of amusement in making IOA'B to the daughter of the attorney with whom JiA'eAs a symbol
you . of your constancy , you may write the first letter on parchment in a strong engrossing hand . If she has been much used to her father ' s clerks , you may indulge in the Saxon character , or black letter , as 3 'o u need not then be in any fear of a discovery from the mother or servants—or perhaps , good man ! even from the father himself . An intrigue of this kind will answer IAVO purposes ; for , first , it will divert
your mind after the fatigues of business ; and , secondly , it will moisten your lips after the dry study of the law , as you will be always certain of a cup of tea , AA'hen mama happens to be engaged at Mrs . Latitat ' s rout , and papa is drinking his crank at Nando ' s with an officer of—the four counties . If you haA ' e been but a short time in the-business , perhaps your heart likel
OAvn , or , more y , a friend from the country , may reproach you with-baseness and ingratitude ; in such a case , be sure to ' affirm Avith boldness—for Avithout boldness , and eA'en brass , what fio-Ure can you make in the profession ?—that attornies' clerks have a light to court-attornies' daughters , by immemorial custom ; and then jocularly add , that you have not only precedent , but even law , on ' your side ; for Jacob and Lord Coke both assert , " that custom is the ' soul of the common law . " ¦
_ There is one lucrative part of your business , which I would specially recommend to you . If you come from Norfolk , or indeed any of the game counties , you must undoubtedly knoAV AA'hat a setter is . Be ^ sure , Avhen you have got a writ to execute for a generous plaintiff , to make yourself acquainted with the person of the defendant , the coffee-house he frequents , the residence of his mistress , & c . so ' that b of this
y means intelligence you will be able , to-point Avith such , staunchness to an ignorant or shame-faced bailiff , if ever in thecoursa of a long practice you should meet with such a phenomenon , that he may be enabled to spring the forlorn - partridge at a moment ' s notice , and bag him till the next insolvent act . . If , during the sittings at Westminter , you should happen , either bthe absence of
y or indisposition ' your principal , to be intrusted , like Judas , with the bag ( indeed some of the commentators haA'e affirmed that his , like the lawyers ' , was of-the blue damask ) , in such a case , , you will ha \ 'e no merit , unless you exactly resemble your great protot ype . I would therefore advise you to look over the paper of causes , and about the middle of the one immediatel preceding to
y yours , hop off Avith some other fellow-labourer in the . vineyard , to " the Exchequer coffee-house , and there , over a beef-steak and ' a bowl of punch , wish better success to your client next term—at his own expence , ' You pan never be in want of a good excuse for your conduct ; tlie counsel