7 Dec r 1807

Scotch Reform 9

4

Letter V

Ch.4. Litigation promoted

§.2. General Directions

Objects[?] of attention to Suits & Wrongs[?]

As your profit arises[?] out of suits, your attention will naturally be directed to the rendering them as necessary[?] as possible. But on the day justice or[?] then would be a work of labour, [...?] upon your case, another object [...?...?] will be to make the labour as light as possible.

1. In regard to litigation, or as some say suits, in your trade, as in that of a taylor a man's wish and study will naturally be, to make as many of them as possible: but in your trade the pursuit of this main object will require to be narrowed by particular limitations.

2. A suit being worth nothing to you but in respect to the profit that it brings, and if it brings no profit, worth less than nothing, being so much labour bestowed by you in waste, at the expence of your own case. So far as litigation is concerned, three points call at the same time for your attention: 1. of profit-yielding suits to make as many as you can, 2. from each such suit to make as much profit as you can, 3. to keep your hands as clear as you can of unprofitable ones.

3. In like manner, in regard to wrongs, your wish and study will as naturally be - that they may be in the greatest plenty as possible: and this not only because wrongs in general are the causes of suits, and almost only causes, because if there were no wrongs there would be no suits, but because in many cases and to a great extent, as you will see presently, it is only by means of a suit, that is with your assistance, that the wrong can be committed: and, while your profit is the same in both cases, whether the wrong be the cause or the effect of the suit is a question of metaphysics - an idle speculative question, altogether beneath your notice.