27 July 1806

Scotch Reform /Evidence/

Let Lawyers adverse

Such thus being in the present state f things the relation between the two interests viz that of diametrical opposition the next point to be inquired into is the possibility of conciliation, which leads of course to an inquiry into /for/ the cause from /in/ which the opposition took its rise.

This cause, a most prominent one, has been already indicated: the shape in which in Scotland, or in England, not to speak of other countries the man of law receives a retribution for his service or pretended service /the wages of learned labour find their way into the hands of the man of law/.

Fees, payable on the occasion under the name of reward[?] /retribution/ for each service or pretended service, express the shape in which the wages of this kind of labour present themselves. If it were altogether out of the power of the labourer /workman/ either to encrease or diminish the number of these occasions, or the quantity of labour in reality or appearance on each, the mode of payment would be not only [...?] but eligible. Unfortunately it has been in the power of lawyers /the men of law[?]/ of former /extant/ times to give continual encrease to the number of these profitable /profit-yielding/ occasions, as well as to the quantity of service or shewn service rendered upon each /in each occasion bestowed/: it has remained still in the power of the men of law of modern times, if not to add /make any very considerable //proportionable// addition/ to the [...?] of those services of profit, at least to protect it against decrease. More unfortunately still to put /draw/ into the pocket of any individual lawyer a small particle of profit /portion of the matter[?] of fees/ taking each lawyer individually, he has been in the case of a surveyor or other agent employed in expenditure paid by a per centage: for every shilling put into his own pocket he has been obliged to draw a pound with its attendant delays and vexations out of the pocket of the employer.