Bardell v. Pickwick Read online

  SERJEANT BUZFUZ.

  Mr. Pickwick, considering the critical nature of his case, was certainlyunfortunate in his solicitor, as well as in the Counsel selected by hissolicitors. The other side were particularly favoured in this matter.They had a pushful bustling "wide-awake" firm of solicitors, who let nota point escape. Sergeant Buzfuz was exactly the sort of advocate for thecase--masterful, unscrupulous, eloquent, and with a singularly ingeniousfaculty for putting everything on his client's side in the best light,and his adversary's in the worst. He could "tear a witness to pieces,"and turn him inside out. His junior, Skimpin, was glib, ready-armed atall points, and singularly adroit in "making a hare" of any witness whofell into his hands, _teste_ Winkle. He had all the professional devicesfor dealing with a witness's answers, and twisting them to his purpose,at his fingers' ends. He was the Wontner or Ballantyne of his day. Mr.Pickwick's "bar" was quite outmatched. They were rather a feeble lot,too respectable altogether, and really not familiar with this line ofbusiness. Even the judge was against them from the very start, so Mr.Pickwick had very poor chances indeed. All this was due to thatold-fashioned and rather incapable "Family Solicitor" Perker.

  [Picture: Serjeant Buzfuz, K.C.]

  Serjeant Buzfuz is known the world all over, at least wherever English isknown. I myself was once startled in a fashionable West End church tohear a preacher, when emphasizing the value and necessity of Prayer, andthe certainty with which it is responded to, use this illustration: "AsSerjeant Buzfuz said to Sam Weller, '_There is little to do and plenty toget_.'" Needless to say, an amused smile, if not a titter, passed roundthe congregation. But it is the Barrister who most appreciates thelearned Serjeant. For the topics he argued and his fashion of arguingthem, bating a not excessive exaggeration, comes home to them all. Nay,they must have a secret admiration, and fondly think how excellently wellsuch and such topics are put, and how they must have told with a jury.

  Buzfuz, it is now well known, was drawn from a leading serjeant of hisday, Serjeant Bompas, K.C. Not so long since I was sitting by Bompas'sson, the present Judge Bompas, at dinner, and a most agreeable causeur hewas. Not only did Boz sketch the style and fashion of the serjeant, butit is clear that Phiz drew the figure and features.

  "I am the youngest son of Serjeant Bompas," Judge Bompas writes to me,"and have never heard it doubted that the name Buzfuz was taken from myfather who was at that time considered a most successful advocate. Ithink he may have been chosen for the successful advocate because he wasso successful: but I have never been able to ascertain that there was anyother special resemblance. I do not remember my father myself: he diedwhen I was eight years old. But I am told I am like him in face. He wastall (five feet ten inches) and a large man, very popular, and veryexcitable in his cases, so that I am told that Counsel against him usedto urge him, out of friendship, not to get so agitated. A connection ofmine who knew him well, went over to hear Charles Dickens read the TrialScene, to see if he at all imitated him in voice or manner, but told methat he did not do so at all. I think, therefore, that having chosen hisname, as a writer might now that of Sir Charles Russell, he then drew ageneral type of barrister, as he thought it might be satirised. Myfather, like myself, was on the Western Circuit and leader of it at thetime of his death."

  "I had a curious episode happen to me once. A client wrote to apply tothe court to excuse a juror on the ground that he was a chemist and hadno assistant who understood the drugs. It was not till I made theapplication and the Court began to laugh that I remembered the PickwickTrial. I believe the application was quite bona fide, and not at all animitation of it." An interesting communication from one who might bestyled "Buzfuz's son;" and, as Judge Bompas alludes to his own likenessto his sire, I may add that the likeness to the portrait in the courtscene, is very striking indeed. There is the same fullness of face, thelarge features. Buzfuz was certainly a counsel of power and ability, andI think lawyers will admit he managed Mrs. Bardell's case with muchadroitness. His speech, besides being a sort of satirical abstract ofthe unamiable thundering boisterousness addressed to juries in suchcases, is one of much ability. He makes the most of every topic that hethought likely to "tell" on a city jury. We laugh heartily at hiswould-be solemn and pathetic passages, but these are little exaggerated.Buzfuz's statement is meant to show how counsel, quite legitimately, canbring quite innocent acts to the support of their case by marshallingthem in suspicious order, and suggesting that they had a connection withthe charge made. Many a client thus becomes as bewildered as Mr.Pickwick was, on seeing his own harmless proceedings assuming quite aguilty complexion.

  Serjeant Buzfuz-Bompas died at the age of fifty-three, at his house inPark Road, Regents Park, on February 29th, 1844. He was then,comparatively, a young man, and must have had ability to have attainedhis position so early. He was called to the Bar in 1815, and began asSerjeant in 1827, in Trinity Term, only a year or so before the famouscase was tried.

  So dramatic is the whole "Trial" in its action and characters, that it isalmost fit for the stage as it stands. There have been a great number ofversions, one by the author's son, Charles "the Younger," one by Mr.Hollingshead, and so on. It is a favorite piece for charitable benefits,and a number of well-known performers often volunteer to figure as"Gentlemen of the Jury." Buzfuz has been often played by Mr. Toole, buthis too farcical methods scarcely enhanced the part. The easiness ofcomedy is essential. That sound player Mr. James Fernander is the bestBuzfuz that I have seen.

  There is a French translation of _Pickwick_, in which the general spiritof the "Trial" is happily conveyed. Thus Mr. Phunky's name is given as"M. Finge," which the little judge mistakes for "M. Singe." Buzfuz'sspeech too is excellent, especially his denouncing the Defendant's comingwith his chops "_et son ignoble bassinoire_" i.e., warming pan.