reader should begin by studying Mr. Christian's excellent post- script,
" The Comedy of the Law " ("John Popplestone," " forty years town clerk of Stourmouth," is, as might be guessed, nominis umbra). In this he reviews similar productions m the past, and remarks apropos of "The Comic Blackstone," that " the comic side of law is momentary, episodical : it is not susceptible of continuous treatment." On this principle he has acted. He has given us humorous versified accounts of some leading cases. Here is a speci- men, " Hanby v. Scott," a guiding case in the question whether the wife can pledge the husband's credit. It is as good as any; possibly it is the best. Here is a remarkably happy imitation of a well-known style
Sir Edward Scott, grown old and amorous, The good Sir Peter of a tattling world,
Turned eyes of wedlock countryward, and found One seeming suited to be made his wife ; And wooed, and won, and, quickly wedded, wore Blithely his flower. Till when they sought the town, He found his Margaret, his country girl, Changed ere one season to a London wife, With London pleasures, tastes, expenses. whims, And vanished all his air-built towers of bliss, And in their stead vexations ; then, at last, A quarrel, that was healed, yet left its scar ; And others followed, as the gathering clouds After the rain, and, last, a standing feud!'
" The Duchess of Kingston's Case " may be mentioned, and " Armory v. Delamirie," as well as " The Song of the Tyrannical Landlord," the second stanza of which runs as follows :—
"The little birds up in the trees
Are mine if I only can catch 'em ;
My tenants' improvements I seize
If I get but a chance for to snatch 'em.
Things put on the soil I opine Are mine, though folks say that I steal 'em.
To the uttermost depths of the mine It is mine, and right usqua ad calum."
Previous page
