with a vast quantity of
marginal notes and references; and several other eminent and
distinguished personages, including the Mr. Prosee just mentioned.

Ladies and gentlemen, I do not know how it is, but I have always
associated Mr. Prosee with the Equity Bar. It may be that his name
suggests it.

Well, I come now to the counsel which is better known to you, namely
Serjeant Snubbin.

"We've done everything that's necessary," said Mr. Perker. "I have
retained Serjeant Snubbin."

"Is he a good man?" inquired Mr. Pickwick.

"Good man!" replied Perker. "Bless your heart and soul, my dear sir,
Serjeant Snubbin is at the very top of his profession. Gets treble
the business of any man in court--engaged in every case. You needn't
mention it abroad, but we say--we of the profession--that Serjeant
Snubbin leads the court by the nose."

"I should like to see him," said Mr. Pickwick.

"See Serjeant Snubbin, my dear sir!" rejoined Perker, in utter
amazement. "Pooh, pooh! my dear sir, impossible! See Serjeant
Snubbin! Bless you, my dear sir, such a thing was never heard of
without a consultation fee being previously paid, and a consultation
fixed. It couldn't be done, my dear sir--it couldn't be done!"

Thus was Mr. Pickwick brought face to face with the difficulty of seeing
his own counsel. He could not understand why, having retained the
services of a professional man and paid for them, there should exist any
impediment to prevent access to him. I won't discuss to-night the
advisability or non-advisability of dividing the profession of the law
into two parts, but I do say that any system which prevents litigants
having the fullest personal communication with those they have paid to
represent them is an anomaly and an absurdity.

But Mr. Pickwick was a person of determination, and he did see Serjeant
Snubbin, and he delivered to that learned gentleman a short address that
was well worthy of his attention, as it is of every member of the Bar,
including your very humble servant.

"Gentlemen of your profession, sir," continued Mr. Pickwick, "see the
worst side of human nature. All its disputes, all its ill-will and
bad blood, rise up before you. You know from your experience of
juries (I mean no disparagement to you, or them) how much depends upon
_effect_; and you are apt to attribute to others a desire to use, for
purposes of deception and self