44 UNITED STATES.

with little scruple, as an attorney or barrister, any one who has served a few years’ apprenticeship to any enrolled attorney.

By this system, a mere amanuensis is placed on a par with gentlemen of extensive legal learning and experience. Next to the cheapness of ardent spirits, What is called “law,” is the bane of all North Ame- rica, applying with equal truth to the United States and the British colonies.

At the bar of the courts there is, however, much splendid talent. The Supreme Court, in particular, is the great school of oratory, in which most of their statesmen have been trained. There is, both in the United States and British America, a great super- abundance of lawyers. One-third the number, which would probably include all those who have any pre— tensions to ability, would be quite suflicient for every legal and necessary purpose. By their having a fair share of business, the profession would be more gene— rally respectable ; trifling cases would be rejected, and the country gradually purged of a ruinous system of litigation.

The fees of the lawyers are by no means high; they are, on the contrary, rather low, even on the principle that “the labourer is worthy of his hire ;” and this cheap law is itself a great evil, inasmuch as it encourages many to litigate that otherwise would not, and who do not take the value of their time into account.

The judges of all the courts are generally grave,