w Evebt gentleman," says Coke, " ought to " know a little of the law," and, " perhapß," adds the author of the " Comic Blackstone," *'the less the better." Probably moat people will consent to the dictum that it is to be desired " for everyone to know as much " of the law as would jkeep him out of it." Practically, few outside the legal profession have this requisite knowledge, and as the lives, liberties, and property of every member of the community, when questioned or en dangered, are entrusted to the bar, and through its intercession all manner of disputes are settled, the status of this formidable body is a matter of some moment. In a recent article, we contended that the large additions continually being made to this learned phalanx in Auckland would probably have the effect of lowering its tone, and we suggested that some approach to the practice of dividing the bar, as at home and in the Australias, would have a good effect. To this it may be objected that we should then have the whole patronage of the bar thrown into the hands of the solicitors, which may be deprecated by many ; but it is pretty certain that in the old country the solicitors usually select the beßt men as advocates, the exercise of whose profession is carried on for the most part in open Court, before the eyes and ears of the profession, the ever-vigilant press, and the public. There is, therefore, little fear of an incom petent man attaining much eminence, though no doubt any young barrister at the outset of his career would have considerable advan tage over others not 130 fortunately situated, if he possessed a little of that mysterious thing called "interest" with a few attorneys in good practice. If, however, he were not able to hold his own when -^c got it, he would soon sink to the bottom. It is, moreover, by no means absolutely necessary to possess this influence to get a start. In English Criminal Courts, if a person be undefended, and the case be one of ordinary character, the junior barrister in Court is generally selected to conduct it on behalf of the accused, and is paid for his services. 