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¬wishing, from a national vanity, to keep up the contrast between our countries, I asked him whether they had any robes of magistracy, which in England were found to be so highly useful in impressing the multitude with respect for the administration of government and justice. ¬" We have them,"' answered Morven, " even in the lowest of our courts ; and not only our judges, but all their inferior officers and atten- dants, have grave and suitable habits of distinc- tion, but which arc cast off the moment the business of our councils and courts are over, when the highest of them are to be seen shoul- dered and jostled in the crowd with the pick- pockets whose imprisonments have just expired, and with the culprits they have just amerced. — This is by no means an ancient custom amongst us, but one of late years most ignorantly and thoughtlessly introduced : the robes of justice would undoubtedly be uncouth and out of sea- son if worn as ordinary dresses, but supreme judges, and indeed magistrates of every descrip- tion, ¬
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