THE MIRROR
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
| Vol. XIX. No. 530.] | SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1832. | [PRICE 2d. |
LAW INSTITUTION.
This handsome portico is situate on the west side of ChanceryLane. It represents, however, but a portion of the building, whichextends thence into Bell Yard, where there is a similar entrance.The whole has been erected by Messrs. Lee and Sons, the builders ofthe new Post Office and the London University; whose contract forthe present work is stated at 9,214l. The portion in ourengraving is one of the finest structures of its kind in themetropolis. The bold yet chaste character of the Ionic columns, andthe rich foliated moulding which decorates the pediment, as well asthe soffit ceiling of the portico, must be greatly admired. Weshould regret this handsome structure being pent up in so narrow astreet as Chancery Lane, did not the appropriateness of itssituation promise advantages of greater importance than merearchitectural display.
From the Fourth Annual Report, [pg 34] we learn that "the planof the Law Institution originated with some individuals inthe profession, who were desirous of increasing its respectability,and promoting the general convenience and advantage of itsmembers." Rightly enough it appeared to them "singular, that whilstthe various public bodies, companies, and commercial and tradingclasses in the metropolis, and indeed in many of the principaltowns in the kingdom, have long possessed places of general resort,for the more convenient transaction of their business; and whilenumerous institutions for promoting literature and science amongstall ranks and conditions of society, have been long established,and others are daily springing up, the attorneys and solicitors ofthe superior courts of record at Westminster should still bewithout an establishment in London, calculated to afford themsimilar advantages; more particularly when the halls and librariesof the inns of court, the clubs of barristers, special pleaders,and conveyancers, the libraries of the advocates and writers to thesignet at Edinburgh, and the association of attorneys in Dublin,furnish a strong presumption of the advantages which would probablyresult from an establishment of a similar description for attorneysin London.
"For effecting the purposes of the institution, it wasconsidered necessary to raise a fund of 50,000l. in sharesof 25l. each, payable by instalments, no one being permittedto take more than twenty shares. The plan having been generallyannounced to the profession, a large proportion of the shares wereimmediately subscribed for, so that no doubt remained of thesuccess of the design, and the committee therefore directedinquiries to be made for a site for the intended building, andsucceeded in obtaining an eligible one in Chancery Lane, nearlyopposite to the Rolls Court, consisting of two houses, formerlyoccupied by Sir John Silvester (and lately by Messrs. Collins andWells,) and Messrs. Clarke, Richards and Medcalf, and of the housebehind, in Bell Yard, lately in the possession of Mr. Max