THE LAW LN 4. GUY MANNERING."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Allow me to point to an error in your last week's remarks upon the "Frederick " suit.
You state that the author of "Guy Mannering " makes Mr Pleydell, Bertram's counsel, in committing Glossin "assume the power of the Bench before which he was pleading." If you refer to the beginning of the chapter which contains this part of the story, you will see that the " Counsellor " was then acting, not as an advocate, but as chairman of the Bench,—therefore the great novelist is not amenable to your criticism.
No doubt it is customary in these days for Justices to vacate their seats during the investigation of cases with which they are personally concerned, but a more lax etiquette may have prevailed "sixty years since."—I am, Sir, &c., Taos. Eva/is.
[Mr. Evans is wrong, and so were we. The assembled Justices asked Pleydell to preside, but only as their mouthpiece, for they could not make him a magistrate of the county. We see, how- ever, on referring to the whole chapter, that Scott recollected this, for after making Pleydell tell Glossin, "You must stand com- mitted," he subsequently makes him say "Mr. MacMorlan "- the Sheriff-substitute—" must commit you."—En. Spectator.]
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