July 1806

Scotch Reform

Let. Lawyers adverse

From the effect with which the proposed /[...?]/ and any /every/ other plan of reform will leave /would operate/ upon the passive faculties of the man of law /upon those faculties //parts of his// [...?] by which he enjoys or suffers/, follows the effect it will but produce upon his active /intellectual/ faculties - upon those faculties from /by/ which /in which any useful/ advice and assistance that could be looked to from that quarter would find their source.

No my Lord - of all the learned persons to whom on this occasion /a subject on which no superiority of talent can place a man above the need the continual need of advice/ Your Lordship has looked to there is not one above interest, prejudice and habits of his whole professional life [...?] not urge /engage/ him to deceive you do not impose on him the necessity of doing what depends on him by /in the way of/ advice by /in the way of/ information towards [...?] the plan abortive.

Between the official lawyer and the professional lawyer though in this respect there is certainly some difference, yet there is not difference enough to prevent them from acting on the same side.

I suppose indemnification: indemnification carried as far as the nature of the use[?] will suffer it to go. Observe then the situation of the official lawyer. The man that may be indemnified - compleatly indemnified - (may and will not [...?] will never be [...?] to be quite synonymous[?]) are himself and his colleagues: the men that can not be indemnified are /among his most //[...?]// intimate/ his familiar friends: friends in all the shades and varieties /degrees/ of friendship companions from youth upwards - dependants relations looking up to him for countenance and patronage.