18 November 1804

Evidence

Evils causes

ch. Lawyers' interest

In respect of the obscurity of the law /system/ the indication /operation/ of professional interest is not altogether uniform. On the one hand it is the interest of the lawyer, that the law should be as obscure as possible to the suitor: but it is his interest that it should be as clear as possible /little obscure/ as possible to himself. This situation will accordingly be productive of different interests and different wishes at different times of life. When young at his entrance into the profession, the difficulties attending the study will press /bear/ upon him with the severest pressure. ----- from ----- future profit may at this period be naturally enough /in a moment of impatience, be/ productive of an emotion of regret at the thought of the heaviness of the yoke, and a wish to see, if possible, the weight of it alleviated. As he advances in study, and still more as he advances in practice, the obscurity will clear up /clears/ - the pressure of the burthen will be less severe, till at last the force of interest will act exclusively with all its weight on one side. The weight of the burthen being now vanished /evaporated/ the benefit will remain clear. The ----- lying now beneath his feet, the satisfaction he feels at the contemplation of it will be unbroken and unmixt: there will now be no room for any other wish than that of saving this obscurity /it/ to the last as thick as ever, and thicker still if it be possible.

In a moment of impatience, a student may wish now and then to see the law clearer than he finds it /the law had been less obscure/: no old lawyer /no lawyer/ established in practice ever did.