[45] Richard Preston, brought up in a country attorneys office, and thence removed to London, where he has for several years practised as a conveyancer. He is the editor of a work called, Shepherd’s Touchstone, and the author of several publications on conveyancing. In the early part of his career he obtained some reputation for talent, but much of it has passed away. He is vainer of his oratorical powers than a peacock of its tail, but the bird has this advantage over the man, that others unite in admiration of its feathers; while Preston is compelled to be satisfied with his own applause. He once formed a project, very ingenious no doubt, for cultivating some of the barren moors in Devonshire, but in attempting to carry it into effect, he was, I believe, nearly ruined. [46] The arguments, will, I fear, be found very dull; but should the reader ever attend the Court of Chancery, he will find the reality equally stupid. It can hardly be expected of me that I should be able to make Horne agreeable, or Bell amusing. [47] Some idle reference to the master is the favourite mode of disposing of a cause practiced by Sir John Leach--men who know no better praise him for his dispatch. The suitor finds to his cost that such expedition is very tedious and very expensive. [48] The office of the registrars. [49] Mr. South is chief clerk to Henry Burrows one of the deputy registrars of the court. To win South’s favor the solicitor must take copies of all minutes, orders, and decrees. It is not very wise to get into his black book. To those, who never bespeak an office copy he is blind and deaf. The following dialogue is said to have taken place between South and a solicitor. Sol. “I shall be obliged Mr. South by your letting me have the short order as soon as possible.” South. “Do you take a copy.” Sol. “No.” South. “Call in a fortnight.” Sol. “On second thought Mr. South, I shall want a copy.” South. “Oh! call to-morrow.” [50] “The stationer” is a cant term made use of in all the Chancery offices for money you are obliged to give beyond the regular fees for expediting any business. [51] Mr. Abbot, chief clerk in the office, where reports are filed--from whom the solicitor will in vain attempt to get an office copy of a report, unless “the stationer” has been thought of. [52] The accountant general’s office; where a parcel of addle-headed clerks give the solicitors an infinity of trouble by picking holes in orders and reports for the purpose of shewing their consequence, and inducing the profession to bribe them into silence, which is accordingly often done with effect. It is better to humour the viper, than tread upon his tail.