of the present day resemble their predecessors of thirty years ago, although we feel compelled, at the same time, to admit that in other respects they have sadly changed. How difficult would it now be to select a dozen, or even half that number of barristers, so distinguished for their forensic or professional abilities as to deserve the prominence that a Plunket, a Bushe, and a Saurin, occupy in the graphic pages of their biographers? Who at the present day approaches even near the transcendent eloquence of Curran? Who can lay claim to the genius or the patriotism of Plunket? What has become of that wit which was formerly so distinguishing a trait of the Irish bar? Alas! how have we fallen off in these particulars. Still, as we remarked above, notwithstanding the deterioration to which we have just alluded, many, very many, of the incidental descriptions contained in the "Sketches" are closely applicable to the present day. Take for instance the following:

"From the hours of twelve to three it" (the hall of the Four Courts) "is a motley scene. You will daily find, and pretty nearly upon the same spot, the same little circles, or coteries, composed chiefly of the members of the junior bar, as politics, or community of tastes, or family connexions may bring them together. Among these you will readily distinguish those who, by birth or expectations, consider themselves to be identified with the aristocracy of the country; you see it in their more fashionable attire and attitudes, their joyous and unworn countenances, and in the lighter topics of discussion on which they can afford to indulge. At a little distance stands a group of quite another stamp; pallid, keen-eyed, anxious aspirants for professional employment, and generally to be found in vehement debate over some dark and dreary point of statute or common law, in the hope that by violently rubbing their opinions together, a light may be struck at last. A little further on you will come upon another, a group of learned vetoists and anti-vetoists, where some youthful or veteran theologian is descanting upon the abominations of a schism, with a running accompaniment of original remarks upon the politics of the Vatican, and the character of Cardinal Gonsalvi."

The above was written nearly thirty years ago; and yet, with but a slight variation or two, it may be taken as an accurate description of what can on any day be still descried within the hall of the Four Courts. Still may be seen the exclusive coteries of the aristocratic members of the junior bar-fashionable in their dress-joyous in appearance-and not overburdened with business; members of the Kildare-street Club, although, in most instances, owing their adventitious position in society to the fact of their fathers filling judicial, or other high official situations. They seem to be very earnest in conversation; but their looks are too gay, and their laugh too hearty to result from any legal bon-mot. No; they are discussing the incidents of the latest ball at the Castle; relating an anecdote of some "fast" young lady; and criticising the dress and looks of the rival belles.

And so they pleasantly pass the day, cutting jokes-and their less fashionable compeers, until the clock warns them that the hour of three, before which, by a legal fiction, no barrister is supposed to leave the courts, has arrived, and that it is time for them to mount their wellgroomed steeds, and endeavour, by a canter over the Fifteen-acres, to re

fresh themselves, jaded as they are with the toil of their imaginary

business.

Close to them may be seen a different group, not so well dressed, and with greater traces of study imprinted upon their faces; yet gay withal, and interspersing their discussion upon the latest judgment of the Lord Chancellor with an account of a pun perpetrated by one judge, and some hapless officer snubbed by another. At a little distance stand a select few in eager controversy about the Maynooth grant, the Defence Association, and Primate Cullen; while, scattered here and there, leaning against the wall, may be seen a few old stagers; some spruce in all the silken elegance of a recently-made Queen's counsel, some in all the negligence of a well-worn and snuff-begrimed stuff gown; these are the politicians of the place, who, with all the seeming importance of official authority, settle the affairs of the state, and look around upon the more youthful groups with all that compassionate contempt which only he who has attained to the dignity of twenty years' standing can feel for the juniors of six. Now and then a stately senior stalks majestically along in his course to one of the numerous courts, bowing most condescendingly to the junior who is happy enough to claim his acquaintance; while some youthful barrister impatiently elbows his way through the crowd, ostentatiously displaying his brief in one hand, while he endeavours to secure under his other arm a formidable library of reports, followed in his rapid career by his panting attorney.

And so the motley scene shifts and changes amidst a crowd of barristers, attorneys, clients, and idlers of every description, until, as the evening advances, it is gradually left in the quiet possession of the cake-women, and of that mysterious class of human beings yclept bag-carriers, who spend the day no one knows how or where, but suddenly, as if by magic, begin to reappear when the witching hour of three arrives.

Within the courts a different scene is enacted. In each will be found. some Queen's counsel with huge distended bags before them, poring over their voluminous briefs; while one of them is engaged in some long and learned argument, which, from his tones, portends a two hours' speech at least. Behind him are seated the members of the outer bar, who are to assist their learned leaders in the conduct of the suit. In close proximity may be seen the reporter, covering page on page with his mysterious hieroglyphics, in his frantic attempts to keep up with the speaker. On a bench aboves it some few young barristers, who, with note-book in hand, appear to be deeply interested in the case before the court, and assume an aspect of solemnity when some abstruse point of law is raised. Behind them may be seen some others, who carry on a low conversation together, broken now and then by a stifled laugh. Not far off, a few listless men are seated, lost, apparently, in the contemplation of the delights of the legal profession; and at last, by an ascending gradation of idleness, we reach those whose sole occupation seems to be the carving upon the benches some memorial of their indolence, an occupation which, from the number and variety of its traces, must be very general.

Leaving the court, and escaping miraculously from its swinging doors, which seem expressly intended to inflict what in legal parlance is styled "mayhem" upon the incautious intruder, you mount the spiral staircase which leads to the library. And there another and far different scene Aug.-VOL. XCVIII. NO. CCCXCII.

2 E

presents itself. The tables appear one confused mass of papers, books, and bags, huddled promiscuously together. Countless barristers hurry to and fro, some seeking for places, or in a frantic search for their bags; others hastening to respond to their names as they resound throughout the room; the old practitioners looking as if they resented as impertinent being disturbed even by solicitors; the young endeavouring to appear indifferent, as if they were well accustomed to such a summons, but with their hearts secretly bounding with the hope that the favourable time has at length arrived, and briefs and guineas will soon commence to flow in from discriminating attorneys. Hopes, alas! how quickly and how rudely dashed to the ground! Around the fireplaces are seated others, who look as if the fire was by prescription exclusively theirs, and their duty was sedulously to prevent any one but themselves from even catching a glimpse of its blaze-a duty which, to do them justice, they most conscientiously discharge. Here and there the youthful attendants flit about as if endeavouring to be everywhere at once. Scattered through the room are groups, some, as is evident from their looks, engaged in deep consultation together; others, more pleasantly employed, to judge from their frequent bursts of boisterous laughter. And if to this be added frequent shouts of "Tom, bring me Coke Elizabeth," "Robert, I want 15th Meeson and Welsby," with repeated cries for Mr. M'Donagh, Mr. Whiteside, Mr. Serjeant O'Brien, Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald, and the numerous other names that panting clerks and expectant attorneys entrust to the euphonious janitor, some idea may be formed of what a Babel of noise and seeming confusion is the library of the Four Courts. And yet, notwithstanding what would appear to be insuperable obstacles to study, on a close investigation many will be found diligently reading, and so deeply engaged in the subject of their studies as to seem unconscious of the various distracting noises which prevail around.

It is curious, too, to observe the peculiarities of several individuals, how, from the beginning to the end of the week-we had almost said the term-they enter the library almost at the same minute, seat themselves at the same places, and cease their labours at the same hour each succeeding day. It is pleasant, also, to observe the good feeling which seems to actuate them all; frequently will the senior be seen kindly assisting the junior in his difficulties; all, with but few exceptions, appear considerate and courteous to each other, anxious to help their compeers when perplexed, to congratulate them when successful. But there is nothing which is more striking and pleasant than the gaiety of heart which seems to prevail; and this is the more surprising when we take into consideration the extraordinary diminution of business which has recently taken place, and the consequent suffering entailed on so many of the profession. This gaiety may be, and probably in many instances is, assumed; but a cursory view would have the effect of impressing strangers with the idea that there could not well be a lighter-hearted set of fellows than the junior bar. There are, of course, exceptions. Some, though still young, show the effects that disappointment and the sickness of hope deferred will produce upon the countenance even of youth. We have frequently felt melancholy at beholding the sad, careworn face of some briefless barrister; and, although our own fees are, alas, but "few and far between," have sometimes thought that, if

allowed to choose between employment for ourselves or our woe-begone neighbour, our choice would fall upon him. But much as we pity such an one as we have just described, our compassion is tenfold greater for the seniors who may be seen pacing the hall with empty bags and heartbroken looks. They are melancholy spectacles upon other accounts; they seem, as it were, beacons to deter the young and inexperienced from attempting that course which to them has proved so disastrous; and we begin to tremble lest our fate should be the same, and some twenty years hence the juniors of that day point at us with that halfcompassion, half-derision, with which an old briefless barrister is too frequently regarded. Of late years the bar have indeed suffered grievously. One half of the business formerly diffused among the juniors has, at one fell swoop, been swept away by the hateful Glengall clause; while Mr. Whiteside's revolutionising bill threatens the annihilation of the small remnant left. Nor is it the juniors alone who have suffered; the emoluments of the seniors have also been sadly curtailed by the operation of the "Encumbered Estates" and the "Chancery Regulation" Acts. We have sometimes amused ourselves by imagining what would be the feelings of a barrister who had flourished in the good old times, when, to use the words of the illustrious Burke, "our inheritances were a prize of disputation, and disputes and litigations were become an inheritance;" when it was not an unusual occurrence to have a Chancery suit in existence for half a century or so, and a succession of lawyers was formed and supported by it; if he could now revisit the scene of his former labours and behold the rapid manner in which an estate is now inalienably transferred-if he could see matters which, if required to be stated in a good old bill, would have filled folios on folios, now shrunk into the small compass of a cause petition of half a dozen paragraphs or so-how he would stare with surprise at the unsparing manner in which what in his time were considered as the legitimate and reasonable emoluments, have in these days of trenchant economy been so ruthlessly curtailed! And would he not return to his grave almost with alacrity on beholding attorneys venturing to address a judge on matters which, some quarter of a century ago, a serjeant would have approached with diffidence. But a truce to these reflections. The distressed state of the country tells sadly, in many instances, upon the bar. Some were themselves landlords, and suffer with the rest of that ill-fated and muchmaligned class. Others have been swept away in the tide of ruin which has overwhelmed so many whose fortunes mainly consisted of charges upon land; while not a few have been compelled to quit their native country, and seek for better fortunes in another and a more prosperous land.

There are, however, other and pleasanter prospects to diversify agreeably the scene. The heavy-bagged practitioner in extensive employment, who seems to revel in the consciousness that his fee-book is well thumbed, his faculties well used-the newly-appointed official, whose promotion is too recent to have blunted the feelings of delight which we are sure (would that we could speak from experience) must prevail on such an occasion-the junior who has just been complimented by the judges for the ability and industry he has displayed. These, and other

stimulants of a similar nature, urge on our energies when we begin to flag, and keep alive our almost expiring hopes.

Mr. Shiel, in one of his "Sketches," alludes to the matrimonial pro pensities of the bar in his time. We are happy to say that, in that particular at least, the barristers of the present day have not degenerated from their predecessors. Still are they found the most earnest votaries of matrimony: still with praiseworthy courage do they rush into marriages, which to the coldly prudent must appear rash in the extreme. Their excuse being, we suppose, that of the Irish pauper, who, on being censured for his improvidence in marrying a woman as poor as himself, declared in vindication of his conduct that a wife was the only comfort. left him. Or perhaps some of these rash marriages are made on speculation, for in the lives of almost all the great lawyers of England and Ireland mention is made of an improvident marriage contracted in their youth; they therefore conclude, that to be guilty of a similar act of imprudence is the first step towards future fame and success. And perhaps, after all, they are not wrong. Lord Kenyon would have said they were in the right; as that distinguished judge once told an anxious parent, that for his son to succeed at the bar he ought first to spend his own fortune, then marry and spend his wife's, and he would then have some chance of succeeding in his profession. That certainly was carrying the doctrine to an extreme. As incidental to marriage we may also mention that, like their predecessors of thirty years ago, most of the Irish bar are the happy fathers of large and increasing families, and, in practice at least, most zealous anti-Malthusians.

Let us now reverse the picture, and examine the particulars in which the Irish bar of the present day differ from their predecessors. And to begin with the judges: what a wonderful improvement has taken place in them within the last half century. No longer will a Norbury be found to convulse his auditors with laughter, and scare away justice; a Clonmell to bandy jokes upon the convicted felon; nor a Clare to use his authority for the purpose of injuring a political opponent. The judges who at present adorn the bench are, with scarcely an exception, men of acknowledged ability, and not less distinguished for their talents than for that courteousness of manner which in a person in authority is inexpressibly charming. In many instances, the kind and encouraging manner which they display towards junior barristers is most cheering to the individual himself, and inspiriting to the hearers. We have ourselves heard the most nicely-turned compliment paid by a judge to an intelligent but diffident junior.

The barristers, also, are, in one respect at least, far superior to the former generation of lawyers. The extent of their knowledge of law is vastly increased, and some of our leading counsel might fearlessly challenge comparison with the ablest lawyers of England. Lord St. Leonards, no mean authority, and who had a good opportunity of judging, has stated that the bar of Ireland contained several most accomplished lawyers, and that justice is not done them in England. Nor is it surprising that justice is not done them in England, when they will not do themselves justice. By their want of unanimity, by their shameful subserviency, by their disgraceful want of public spirit-in this re