ADVERTISEMENT.

On the 4th of December, 1882, Our Gracious Queen, on the occasion of the opening of the Royal Courts of Justice, said:—

“I trust that the uniting together in one place of the various branches of Judicature in this my Supreme Court, will conduce to the more efficient and speedy administration of justice to my subjects.”

On April 20th, 1883, in the House of Commons, Mr. H. H. Fowler asked the Attorney-General whether he was aware of the large number of causes waiting for trial in the Chancery Division of the High Court, and in the Court of Appeal; and whether the Government proposed to take any steps to remedy the delay and increased cost occasioned to the suitors by the present administration of the Judicature Acts.

The Attorney-General said the number of cases of all descriptions then waiting for trial in the Chancery Division was 848, and in the Court of Appeal 270. The House would be aware that a committee of Judges had been engaged for some time in framing rules in the hope of getting rid of some of the delay that now existed in the hearing of cases; and until those rules were prepared, which would be shortly, the Government were not desirous of interfering with a matter over which the Judges had jurisdiction. The Government were now considering the introduction of a short Judicature Act for the purpose of lessening the delay.—Morning Post.

[No rules or short Judicature Act at present!] [0a]

On the 13th April, 1883, Mr. Glasse, Q.C., thus referred to a statement made by Mr. Justice Pearson of the Chancery Division: “The citizens of this great country, of which your Lordship is one of the representatives, will look at the statement you have made with respectful amazement.” The statement appears to have been, that his Lordship had intended to continue the business of the Court in exactly the same way in which it had been conducted by Mr. Justice Fry; but he had been informed that he would have to take the interlocutory business of Mr. Justice Kay’s Court whilst his Lordship was on Circuit; and, as it was requisite that he should take his own interlocutory business before the causes set down for hearing, “all the Causes in the two Courts must go to the wall”!!! His Lordship added, that it would be necessary for him to rise at 3 o’clock every day (not at 3 o’clock in the morning, gentle reader), because he understood he should have to conduct the business of Mr. Justice Kay’s Chambers as well as his own.—Morning Post.

On the 16th April, 1883, Mr. Justice Day, in charging the Grand Jury at the Manchester Spring Assizes, expressed his disagreement with the opinion of the other Judges in favour of the Commission being so altered that the Judge would have to “deliver all the prisoners detained in gaol,” and regarded it as “a waste of the Judge’s time that he should have to try a case in which a woman was indicted for stealing a shawl worth 3s. 9d.; or a prisoner charged with stealing two mutton pies and two ounces of bacon.”—Evening Standard.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Shows the Beauty of a Farm Yard on a Sabbath-Day, and what a difference a single letter will sometimes make in the legal signification of a Sentence 1

CHAPTER II.

The Simplicity and Enjoyments of a Country life depicted 11

CHAPTER III.

Showing how true it is that it takes at least Two to make a Bargain or a Quarrel 17

CHAPTER IV.

On the extreme Simplicity of Going to Law 27

CHAPTER V.

In which it appears that the Sting of Slander is not always in the Head 35

CHAPTER VI.

Showing how the greatest Wisdom of Parliament may be thrown away on Ungrateful People 45

CHAPTER VII.

Showing that Appropriateness of Time and Place should be studied in our Pastimes 55

CHAPTER VIII.

The Pleasure of a Country Drive on a Summer Evening described as enhanced by a Pious Mind 63

CHAPTER IX.

A Farm-house Winter Fire-side—A morning Drive and a mutual interchange of Ideas between Town and Country, showing how we may all learn something from one another 71

CHAPTER X.

The last Night before the first London Expedition, which gives occasion to recall pleasant reminiscences 87

CHAPTER XI.

Commencement of London Life and Adventures 97

CHAPTER XII.

How the great Don O’Rapley became an Usher of the Court of Queen’s Bench, and explained the Ingenious Invention of the Round Square—How Mr. Bumpkin took the water and studied Character from a Penny Steamboat 105

CHAPTER XIII.

An interesting Gentleman—showing how true it is that one half the World does not know how the other half lives 111

CHAPTER XIV.

The Old Bailey—Advantages of the New System illustrated 119

CHAPTER XV.

Mr. Bumpkin’s Experience of London Life enlarged 133

CHAPTER XVI.

The coarse mode of Procedure in Ahab versus Naboth ruthlessly exposed and carefully contrasted with the humane and enlightened form of the Present Day 143

CHAPTER XVII.

Showing that Lay Tribunals are not exactly Punch and Judy Shows where the Puppet is moved by the Man underneath 151

CHAPTER XVIII.

A comfortable Evening at the “Goose” 165

CHAPTER XIX.

The Subject continued 175

CHAPTER XX.

Mr. Bumpkin sings a good old Song—The Sergeant becomes quite a convivial Companion and plays Dominoes 179

CHAPTER XXI.

Joe electrifies the Company and surprises the Reader 191

CHAPTER XXII.

The Sergeant makes a loyal Speech and sings a Song, both of which are well received by the Company 203

CHAPTER XXIII.

The famous Don O’Rapley and Mr. Bumpkin spend a social Evening at the “Goose” 213

CHAPTER XXIV.

Don O’Rapley expresses his views of the Policy of the Legislature in not permitting Dominoes to be played in Public-houses 221

CHAPTER XXV.

In spite of all warnings, Joe takes his own part, not to be persuaded on one side or the other—Affecting Scene between Mr. Bumpkin and his old Servant 227

CHAPTER XXVI.

Morning Reflections—Mrs. Oldtimes proves herself to be a great Philosopher—The Departure of the Recruits to be sworn in 239

CHAPTER XXVII.

A Letter from Home 245

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Mr. Bumpkin determines to maintain a discreet silence about his Case at the Old Bailey—Mr. Prigg confers with him thereon 255

CHAPTER XXIX.

The Trial at the Old Bailey of Mr. Simple Simonman for Highway Robbery with violence—Mr. Alibi introduces himself to Mr. Bumpkin 261

CHAPTER XXX.

Mr. Alibi is stricken with a Thunderbolt—Interview with Horatio and Mr. Prigg 283

CHAPTER XXXI.

Mr. Bumpkin at Home again 295

CHAPTER XXXII.

Joe’s Return to Southwood—An Invitation from the Vicar—What the Old Oak saw 303

CHAPTER XXXIII.

A Consultation as to new Lodgings—Also a Consultation with Counsel 317

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Mr. Bumpkin receives Compliments from distinguished Persons 325

CHAPTER XXXV.

The Trial 335

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Motion for Rule Nisi, in which is displayed much Learning, Ancient and Modern 351

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Mr. Bumpkin is congratulated by his Neighbours and Friends in the Market Place and sells his Corn 359

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Farewell 375

The Lawsuit 381

“He never suffered his private partiality to intrude into the conduct of publick business. Nor in appointing to employments did he permit solicitation to supply the place of merit; wisely sensible, that a proper choice of officers is almost the whole of Government.”—Burke.

Extract from Notice of the Work in The Saturday Review, September 15th, 1883:—

“He was obviously quite as eager for a good battle in Court as ever was Dandy Dinmont.”