Law and Lawyers; Or, Sketches and Illustrations of Legal History..

1840. A Copy Owned by Three Distinguished Canadian Lawyers Polson, Archer. Law and Lawyers: A Sketch Book of Legal Biography, Gossip, And Anecdote. London: G. Routledge & Co., 1858. 199 pp. Text followed by 16-pp. publisher catalogue, additional publisher's advertisements to endleaves. Octavo (6-1/2" x 4"). Original pebbled cloth. Light soiling and shelfwear, spine ends and corners bumped and lightly worn, hinges cracked, lower outside corners of rear endleaves lacking with loss to text of publisher advertisements. Light toning to interior, early owner signatures ("K. Mackenzie," "N. Gordon Bigelow," and "Hiram Bigelow") to title page, pencil underlining and brief annotations throughout. $250. * Later, abridged edition. Initially published anonymously and attributed to Arthur Polson or James Grant, this book is an abridgement of a collection of biographical sketches of prominent lawyers, judges and chancellors and advocates. Other chapters explore such topics as "The Bench and the Woolsack," "The Literary Lawyer" and "Legal Eccentricity." Our copy has associations with three distinguished Canadian lawyers. Hiram Bigelow [1803-1853] was the father of Nelson Gordon Bigelow [1840-1892], who was also a notable politician. Nelson apprenticed with Kenneth Mackenzie [1804-1883], best-known for his remarkably successful defense, on behalf of the U.S. Government, of the Fenian raiders, all from the U.S., held in Toronto in 1866. Nelson is remembered for his successful defense in the important abortion trial of Dr. Emily Stowe [1831-1903], the first Canadian woman to publicly practice medicine as a credentialed doctor and the founder the Canadian Women's Suffrage Association. (Inventory #: 82862)