‘But, perhaps, Ficker,’ I suggested, ‘these poor clients make better use of their own money, after all, than the Courts of Law and Equity could make of it for them.’ ‘Then the costs,’ said Mr. Ficker, with an attorney’s ready eye to business, ‘let us hear about them.’ ‘The total amount of costs adjudged to be paid by defendants on the amount (752,500_l._) for which judgment was obtained, was 199,980_l._;’ was the answer; ‘being an addition of 26.5 per cent. on the amount ordered to be paid.’ ‘Well,’ said Mr. Ficker, ‘that’s not so very bad. Twenty-five per cent.,’ turning to me; ‘is a small amount undoubtedly for the costs of an action duly brought to trial; but, as the greater part of these costs are costs of Court, twenty-five per cent. cannot be considered inadequate.’ ‘It seems to me a great deal too much,’ said I. ‘Justice ought to be much cheaper.’ ‘All the fees to counsel and attorneys are included in the amount,’ remarked the clerk, ‘and so are allowances to witnesses. The fees on causes, amounted to very nearly 300,000_l._ Of this sum, the Officers’ fees were, in 1848, 234,274_l._, and the General Fund fees 51,784_l._’ ‘Not so bad!’ said Mr. Ficker, smiling. ‘The Judges’ fees amounted to nearly 90,000_l._ This would have given them all 1500_l._ each; but the Treasury has fixed their salaries at a uniform sum of 1000_l._, so that the sixty Judges only draw 60,000_l._ of the 90,000_l._’ ‘Where does the remainder go?’ I enquired. The County Court Clerk shook his head. ‘But you don’t mean,’ said I, ‘that the suitors are made to pay 90,000_l._ a year for what only costs 60,000_l._?’ ‘I am afraid it is so,’ said Mr. Nottit. ‘Dear me!’ said Mr. Ficker. ‘I never heard of such a thing in all my professional experience. I am sure the Lord Chancellor would never sanction that in his Court. You ought to apply to the Courts above, Mr. Nottit. You ought, indeed.’ ‘And yet,’ said I, ‘I think I have heard something about a Suitors’ Fee Fund in those Courts above—eh, Ficker?’ ‘Ah—hem—yes,’ said Mr. Ficker. ‘Certainly—but the cases are not at all analogous. By the way, how are the other fees distributed?’ ‘The Clerks,’ said Mr. Nottit, ‘received 87,283_l._; nearly as much as the Judges. As there are 491 clerks, the average would be 180_l._ a year to each. But as the Clerks’ fees accumulate in each Court according to the business transacted, of course the division is very unequal. In one Court in Wales the Clerk only got 8_l._ 10_s._ in fees; in another Court, in Yorkshire, his receipts only amounted to 9_l._ 4_s._ 3_d._ But some of my colleagues made a good thing of it. The Clerks’ fees in some of the principal Courts, are very ‘Comfortable.’ The Clerk of Westminster netted in 1848 £2731 Clerkenwell 2227 Southwark 1710 Bristol, Sheffield, Bloomsbury, Birmingham, Shoreditch, Leeds, Marylebone, received 1000_l._ a year and upwards.’