8 August 1805

Evidence

Introd. Jurisprudent

Ch. Lawyers' Art

A system thus loaded with imperfections thus heaving /swarming/ /infested/ in fact with every vice /bad quality/ that imagination himself /itself/ could ascribe to such a subject - a system by which the most important of all works is executed /performed/ in the worst of all manners supposing hypocrisy, or prejudice and imbecility determined at any price to bepraise and trumpet it, what topics what pretences can they have framed to themselves /pitched upon/ out of which to manufacture if possible the matter of praise? Such is the question that on the part of the enquiry will naturally have presented itself to every reader /any mind/ to whom the solution of the difficulty /answer to such a question/ has not been conveyed by other sources. /channels./

The obvious interest of every man that ever spoke or wrote in the character of a lawyer being that every possible sentiment of affection and veneration that possibly could be should for ever be attached to the wish /system/ on which all his hopes are built, the more unworthy /undeserving/ of praise it is /were found to be/, the greater the quality of praise which it was now found necessary to heap upon it. The course taken /sort of language taken/ on these occasions affords /presents/ a striking picture of the subterfuges and artifices /wiles/ of lawyercraft.