rass you with injuiries? does he impose on your cre dulity, or cheat you with confidence? does he refuse fulfilment of his obligations, or urjustly claim the completion of yours? does the imperious superior plunder the faithful menial of his wages, of that humble pittance which his industry had earned, and his frugality saved? does the proud practitioner, entrenched in property, bid defiance to justice and to law? does he, by the perverfion of sense, and the contortion of truth, puzzle the understanding of the judge? or, by fubterfuge and evasion, does he, Proteus-like, elude the vengeance of a just decifion? These are evils flowing from the corruption of our nature; evils which the moralist, and the man of benevolence, must deplore, yet, in a court of justice the unfortunate may find a friend, and the injured may find remeid. The wit hath faid, that among the practitioners of the law, we cannot count the men of generous principles and liberal views; but let him recollect the names of an Erskine, a Tait, and a Corbet.

Procrastination is the opprobrium of the profeffion; the law's delay may be alleviated; but, from the frailty of humanity, cannot be removed; and, like the abfence of the sun, it is a partial evil resulting from the neceffity of things. Thus law-fuits, as the means of rendering rights effectual, and of remedying wrongs, are beneficial to individuals.

Other arguments may be suggested by fuperior understandings, and enforced by more learned pens; fuffice it to add, that the above are fufficient to remove the conscientious doubts of T. R.

Meekness and charity are the striking traits of the Christian character. The haughty pagan trampled, with exultation, on his prostrate foe: But the humble votary of Christianity is taught to bewail the misfortune of an enemy. The mild precepts of our holy religion are calculated to refine the morals, to improve the understanding, and to better the heart: And perhaps it was owing to their intrinfic value, and superior tendency to civilize mankind, that the refinement and polished manners of the moderns have so far exceeded those of the ancient inhabitants of Italy and Greece.

What befits the man of morality, is not surely repugnant to the functions of a Christian. Both ought to feel the philanthropic glow; both ought to yield to the sympathetic sensations of friendship and benevolence. It is the duty of both to heal the differences of mankind: But surely neither can be justly cenfured for aiding the injured in their claims of redress of wrongs. That an individual has prostituted his profeffion; that hundreds have fuffered by the chicanery of the terriers of the law, can no more be objected to the liberal profeffor, than the affumed prerogative of the Roman pontiff in the remission of fins, can vilify religion, or the petty larceny of a taylor can stamp a stigma on the trade.

Having thus premised, I shall proceed to state some of the advantages which mankind derive from lawsuits: And,

1. Philosophers tell us, that man, in a state of na ture, or in the first stages of civil life, is guided folely by his instincts and passions; and that the selfish and grosser affections predominate. The defires of the favage are limited to his food, his female, and fleep. If he is disturbed in the enjoyment of these by the intrufion of his neighbour; if the latter seizes the prey or the wives of the former, what is the consequence? the immediate forfeiture of life: The keenness of appetite ør insatiate revenge prompts the one to butcher the other. After mankind have emerged from this wild state, but before the establishment of due subordination and regular government, if one man should make an attack on the possessions or person of another, where could the latter find redress, but in a fimilar return on the depredator? In the progress of civilization, and on mankind's emancipating themselves from anarchy and confufion, individuals were vested with judicial powers, and the determination of differences was submitted to their wisdom. Unimpaffioned neutrality, introduced the lex talionis, whereby the wrongs of the individual were redressed according to the immutable principles of natural equity, and also determined the punishment of him, who, by his dangerous machinations or actions had forfeited the protection of civil government. Instead of the dagger and the club, was introduced the erudition, the perfuafive reasoning, and the pompous declamation of the lawyer; while the fury of conflicting parties now harmlessly evaporates in a Court of Justice. Thus, law-fuits are beneficial to the community.

2. Self-interest, under the cloak of patriotism, has divided the British parliament into two illustrious factions, the ministerial party and the opposition. Politicians have regarded this disunion, and conflict of sentiments and interests, as the grand bulwark of our liberties. On the one hand, the encroachments of the royal prerogative are restrained, while, on the other, democratical licentiousness is repressed. A parliamentary dispute attracts and engages the attention of the nation; but a wary minifter effects his purposes with more readiness and facility, by clandestine, than by open and avowed attempts. By the former, the nation is lulled into security, and their jealousy sleeps in peace; but by the latter, their minds are agitated, their paffions inflamed, and their fears alarmed. During an exemption from foreign wars or intestine commotions, the human mind is, in some degree, enervated by tranquil

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lity; but nothing contributes more effectually to keep alive the spirit of freedom, than a multiplicity of lawsuits. I have, in the preceding article, remarked the effects of diffention in a state of nature, and in the origin of civil fociety. The resentment of the illiterate and untutored barbarian is easily excited; and his arm is prompt, and prepared to glut his vengeance. But res venge is fatisfied, when its object is no more; and the tempeft of the paffions foon fubfides into a calm. An action in a Court of Justice preferves and continues an active spirit of oppofition, whereby mankind are pre pared to dispute and maintain their civil rights, and not to fuccumb under the preffure of arbitrary and imperious oppreffion. The injured remembers that he is a Briton, and, with undaunted firmness, demands redress. Does the grievance originate from the throne? A thousand arms are elevated to second him in his claim. Thus law-fuits are beneficial to the British conftitution..

3. When mankind have arranged themselves in communities, certain regulations and rules are instituted and promulgated, in order to promote the general good. An individual, by his refidence in a particular society, tacitly consents to be governed by its laws. If these ordinances fuit not his notions, his wishes, or his views, he has or ought to have the toleration of emigrating to another region: But while he is a resident, he is certainly, on every principle of justice, entitled to avail himself of the laws of his country.

When my neighbour folicits my advice in a fuit at

Does

law, I give it him as becomes an honest man. he request me, notwithstanding my contrary opinion, to try? I do fo, and act as an honest man. Is he cast in costs? It is perhaps, fortunately for him, a lesson of wisdom; but still I was his friend, and not an enemy to a fellow-citizen or the laws.

Does another illegally enjoy your possession and eftate? does he disturb your tranquillity, or murder your peace? does he deprive you of a benefit, or har

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rass you with injuiries? does he impose on your cre dulity, or cheat you with confidence? does he refuse fulfilment of his obligations, or urjustly claim the completion of yours? does the imperious superior plunder the faithful menial of his wages, of that humble pittance which his industry had earned, and his frugality faved? does the proud practitioner, entrenched in property, bid defiance to justice and to law? does he, by the perverfion of sense, and the contortion of truth, puzzle the understanding of the judge? or, by fubterfuge and evafion, does he, Proteus-like, elude the vengeance of a just decifion? These are evils flowing from the corruption of our nature; evils which the moralist, and the man of benevolence, must deplore, yet, in a court of justice the unfortunate may find a friend, and the injured may find remeid. The wit hath faid, that among the practitioners of the law, we cannot, count the men of generous principles and liberal views; but let him recollect the names of an Erskine, a Tait, and a Corbet.

Procrastination is the opprobrium of the profession; the law's delay may be alleviated; but, from the frailty of humanity, cannot be removed; and, like the abfence of the fun, it is a partial evil resulting from the neceffity of things. Thus law-fuits, as the means of rendering rights effectual, and of remedying wrongs, are beneficial to individuals.

Other arguments may be suggested by fuperior understandings, and enforced by more learned pens; fuffice it to add, that the above are fufficient to remove the conscientious doubts of T. R.