The Law and Lawyers of Pickwick | Page 9

impression on the
crowd."
"Wouldn't it have as good an effect if the proposer or seconder did
that?" said the Honourable Samuel Slumkey.
"Why, I am afraid it wouldn't," replied the agent; "if it were done by
yourself, my dear sir, I think it would make you very popular."
"Very well," said the Honourable Samuel Slumkey, with a resigned air,
"then it must be done. That's all."

"Arrange the procession," cried the twenty committee men.
Amidst the cheers of the assembled throng, the band, and the
constables, and the committee men, and the voters, and the horsemen,
and the carriages took their places--each of the two-horse vehicles
being closely packed with as many gentlemen as could manage to stand
upright in it; and that assigned to Mr. Perker containing Mr. Pickwick,
Mr. Tupman, Mr. Snodgrass, and about half-a-dozen of the committee
beside.
There was a moment of awful suspense as the procession waited for the
Honourable Samuel Slumkey to step into his carriage. Suddenly the
crowd set up a great cheering.
"He has come out," said little Mr. Perker, greatly excited; the more so
as their position did not enable them to see what was going forward.
Another cheer, much louder.
"He has shaken hands with the men," cried the little agent.
Another cheer, far more vehement.
"He has patted the babies on the head," said Mr. Perker, trembling with
anxiety.
A roar of applause that rent the air.
"He has kissed one of 'em!" exclaimed the delighted little man.
A second roar.
"He has kissed another," gasped the excited manager.
A third roar.
"He's kissing 'em all!" screamed the enthusiastic little gentleman. And
hailed by the deafening shouts of the multitude the procession moved
on.

Ladies and gentlemen, according to our modern ideas this account does
not do much to raise Mr. Perker in our estimation; but the best
testimonial to his memory is to be found in Mr. Pickwick's observation
when, being at last free from all his legal difficulties, he proposed to
settle up with his lawyer.
"Well, now," said Mr. Pickwick, "let me have a settlement with you."
"Of the same kind as the last?" inquired Perker, with another laugh, for
Mr. Pickwick had just been dismissing Messrs. Dodson and Fogg with
some strong language indeed.
"Not exactly," said Mr. Pickwick, drawing out his pocket-book, and
shaking the little man heartily by the hand; "I only mean a pecuniary
settlement. You have done me many acts of kindness that I can never
repay, and have no wish to repay, for I prefer continuing the
obligation."
With this preface the two friends dived into some very complicated
accounts and vouchers, which, having been duly displayed and gone
through by Perker, were at once discharged by Mr. Pickwick with many
professions of esteem and friendship.
Never was bill of costs so pleasantly discharged, though I know many
lawyers who have won the friendship and esteem of their clients.
The next type is that of Messrs. Dodson and Fogg, of Freeman's Court,
Cornhill. The character of the genial partner is best described by one of
his clerks in a conversation overheard by Mr. Pickwick and Sam Weller
while waiting for an interview with this celebrated firm.
"There was such a game with Fogg here this morning," said the man in
the brown coat, "while Jack was upstairs sorting the papers, and you
two were gone to the stamp-office. Fogg was down here opening the
letters when that chap as we issued the writ against at Camberwell, you
know, came in--what's his name again?"
"Ramsey," said the clerk who had spoken to Mr. Pickwick.

"Ah, Ramsey--a precious seedy-looking customer. 'Well, sir,' says old
Fogg, looking at him very fierce--you know his way--'well, sir, have
you come to settle?' 'Yes, I have, sir,' said Ramsey, putting his hand in
his pocket and bringing out the money; 'the debt's two pound ten, and
the costs three pound five, and here it is, sir,' and he sighed like bricks
as he lugged out the money, done up in a bit of blotting-paper. Old
Fogg looked first at the money, and then at him, and then he coughed in
his rum way, so that I knew something was coming. 'You don't know
there's a declaration filed, which increases the costs materially, I
suppose?' said Fogg. 'You don't say that, sir,' said Ramsey, starting
back; 'the time was only out last night, sir.' 'I do say it, though,' said
Fogg; 'my clerk's just gone to file it. Hasn't Mr. Jackson gone to file
that declaration in Bullman and Ramsey, Mr. Wicks?' Of course I said
yes, and then Fogg coughed again, and looked at Ramsey. 'My God!'
said Ramsey; 'and here have I nearly driven myself mad, scraping this
money together, and all to no purpose.' 'None at