Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 360: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Pickwick Abroad. 299 messengers never sent, letters never perused, documents never searched for, &c. &c., compose the ‘‘charges essentially necessary for the interests of the said prisoner,” then are the practitioners in the Insolvents’ Court men highly injured and libelled by this and the preceding page. But if the chops, the sherry, the gin, and the sur- plus charges be true causes of useless expenditure, then may the fra- ternity (with but few exceptions, such as Mr. Bury, of Trafalgar Square, and Mr. Pattleson, of Bouverie Street., who are really gen- tlemen and upright solicitors) be without scruple designated as the most unmitigated set of plundering and perjured scoundrels on the face of the earth. : | We will; however, eschew farther description for the present, and pursue the thread of our narrative with the same ease which we ex- emplified in leaving 1. The petitions of Lords Swales and the linen-draper having been disposed of, the clerk summoned “‘ Wituram SuepsEn,” at the top of a most discordant voice ; and when the personage thus adjured jumped lightly into the box, his presence was greeted on the part of the audience with that sort of compassionate attention which is bestowed upon gentlemen in the press yard while their fetters are being knocked off. But Mr. Sugden leant over the box with great ease and independence of manner, and tried to stare Mr. Commissioner Buckphiz out of countenance; but finding that to be as ineffectual as endeavouring to do the same to a brass warming-pan, he looked very bashful and modest to please the Court, and then took a pinch of snuff to please himself. | It appeared that two creditors had entered opposition against Mr. William Sugden; and at the announcement, which was made by the clerk of the Court, the Insolvent politely requested to be informed by his creditors ‘‘if they didn’t wish they might get it?’ A loud laugh on the part of the spectators, and in which all the barristers and at- tornies cordially joined, welcomed this sprightly sally on the part of Mr. Sugden: but Mr. Commissioner Buckphiz threatened to dismiss the petition if the Insolvent repeated his pleasantries; whereupon Messieurs Butler and Roughrow, who had been retained by the attorney of Mr. William Sugden, desired that gentleman to take care and not commit himself. The names of the opposing creditors were now called; and Mr. Anthony Stickemin, tailor, and Mr. Michael Nagsflesh, horse-dealer, answered to the summons. A few preliminary questions having been put to the Insolvent by the learned Commissioner, and having been as duly replied to by Mr. Sugden, Mr. Anthony Stickemin was requested to ascend the witness- box, an invitation with which he complied with an alacrity and prompt- itude as remarkable as they were meritorious. Mr. Stickemin had re- tained no Counsel: he opposed in person, and entered with an air of eee ien and valour upon the business which had brought him thither. It seems that this was the second time that Mr. Stickemin was Mr. Sugden’s creditor. Mr. Sugden had been imprisoned in France, and the claim of Mr. Stickemin, who was one of the detaining creditors on that occasion, was liquidated by Mr. Sugden, senior, as the reader wil} CORNICLO@OOKS (C(O)