Law is a bottomless pit; it is a cormorant, a harpy, that devours
everything. John Bull was flattered by the lawyers that his suit
would not last above a year or two at most; that before that time he
would be in quiet possession of his business; yet ten long years did
Hocus steer his cause through all the meanders of the law and all
the courts. No skill, no address was wanting, and, to say truth,
John did not starve the cause; there wanted not yellowboys to fee
counsel, hire witnesses, and bribe juries. Lord Strutt was
generally cast, never had one verdict in his favour, and John was
promised that the next, and the next, would be the final
determination; but, alas! that final determination and happy
conclusion was like an enchanted island; the nearer John came to it
the further it went from him. New trials upon new points still
arose, new doubts, new matters to be cleared; in short, lawyers
seldom part with so good a cause till they have got the oyster and
their clients the shell. John's ready money, book debts, bonds,
mortgages, all went into the lawyers' pockets. Then John began to
borrow money upon Bank Stock and East India Bonds. Now and then a
farm went to pot. At last it was thought a good expedient to set up
Esquire South's title to prove the will forged and dispossess Philip
Lord Strutt at once. Here again was a new field for the lawyers,
and the cause grew more intricate than ever. John grew madder and
madder; wherever he met any of Lord Strutt's servants he tore off
their clothes. Now and then you would see them come home naked,
without shoes, stockings, and linen. As for old Lewis Baboon, he
was reduced to his last shift, though he had as many as any other.
His children were reduced from rich silks to doily stuffs, his
servants in rags and barefooted; instead of good victuals they now
lived upon neck beef and bullock's liver. In short, nobody got much