called it, the pet
profession.

[Illustration: Legal Functionaries.]

Having conceded so much, may I now be permitted to take a nearer view
of those men so highly distinguished: and for this purpose let me turn
my reader's attention to the practice of a criminal trial. The first
duty of a good citizen, it will not be disputed, is, as far as in him
lies, to promote obedience to the law, to repress crime, and bring
outrage to punishment. No walk in life--no professional career--no
uniform of scarlet or of black--no freemasonry of craft or calling can
absolve him from this allegiance to his country. Yet, what do we see?
The wretch stained with crime--polluted with iniquity--for which,
perhaps, the statute-book contains neither name nor indictment--whose
trembling lips are eager to avow that guilt which, by confessing, he
hopes may alleviate the penalty--this man, I say, is checked in his
intentions--he is warned not, by any chance expression, to hazard a
conviction of his crime, and told in the language of the law not to
criminate himself. But the matter stops not here--justice is an
inveterate gambler--she is not satisfied when her antagonist throws
his card upon the table confessing that he has not a trump nor a trick
in his hand--no, like the most accomplished swindler of Baden or
Boulogne, she assumes a smile of easy and courteous benignity, and
says, pooh, pooh! nonsense, my dear friend; you don't know what may
turn up; your cards are better than you think; don't be faint-hearted;
don't you see you have the knave of trumps, _i. e._, the cleverest
lawyer for your defender; a thousand things may happen; I may revoke,
that is, the indictment may break down; there are innumerable chances
in your favour, so pluck up your courage and play the game out.

He takes the advice, and however faint-hearted before, he now assumes
a look of stern courage, or dogged indifference, and resolves to play
for the stake. He remembers, however, that he is no adept in the game,
and he addresses himself in consequence to some astute and subtle
gambler, to whom he commits his cards and his chances. The trepidation
or the indifference that he manifested before, now gradually gives
way; and however hopeless he had deemed his case at first, he now
begins to think that all is not lost. The very way his friend, the
lawyer, shuffles and cuts the cards, imposes on his credulity and
suggests a hope. He sees at once that he is a practised hand, and