FEBRUARY 23.
The law-charges in Jamaica have lately been regulated by the
House of Assembly ; and, by all accounts ( except that of the lawyers),
it was full time that something should be done on the subject. A case
was mentioned to me of an estate litigated between
several parties. At length a decision was given: the estate was
sold for 16,000
l.; but the lawyer's claim must always be the
first discharged, and as this amounted to more than 16,000
l.,
the lawyer found himself in possession of the estate. This was
the fable of AEsop's oyster with a vengeance.
