27 July 1806

Scotch Reform /Evidence/

Lett Lawyers adverse

Such being the opposition of interests, and such the cause of it, now as to the means of conciliation.

I have hitherto considered the man of law in a state of unity. On a closer inspection we may distinguish in him two interests; the official and the professional. At present they may say in the [...?] stile[?] of complimentary [...?], and with a sincerity not altogether so liable to reception[?], there is a [...?] between us. Official lawyer and professional lawyer, partners and friends to each other, are both [...?] to the suitor. Looking a little further on we may [...?] a latent difference. The difference is the /the merely/ official lawyer though[?] a present wrong[?] is not incurable and is not the /one[?]/ irreconcilable wrong[?]: that of the professional lawyer is.

The official lawyer, whatever he receives now in a composed[?] shape, part salary and part fees, he may receive /be made/ wholly in the shape of salary without fees: the professional lawyer whatever he receives he can never receive in any other shape than that of fees. Compensation, the sum that /[...?...?]/ [...?] which the humanity of our own age and nation never fails to [...?] into the wounds[?] which can never fail to be made by the land[?] Reform compensation, finds the hand of the official lawyer compleatly susceptible /open to it/, that of the professional lawyer as compleatly unsusceptible /stand against it/.