The Inns of Court, Dublin.

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Inns Of Court**

innsofcourt.gif (23659 bytes)In our 18th Number will be found an accurate description of the Law or Four Courts, situated on Inns’-quay, on the north side of the river.

The edifice called the Inns of Court, standing at the upper end of Henrietta-street, presents a beautiful front of hewn stone, consisting of a centre and wings, to the rear of the houses on Constitution-hill.

The wings, which extend back 110 feet, present a facade of two stories, surmounted by pediments; over the window of the second story, in the north wing, is an alto-relievo, representing Bacchus and Ceres sacrificing on an antique tripod, attended by the Seasons; and over the front of the south wing, or Prerogative Court, in a similar manner, are represented, Wisdom, Justice, and Prudence, sacrificing on an altar, attended by Truth, Time, and History.

On the entablature, in the centre of the building, the lawyers and prelates of Ireland are represented, receiving a translation of the Bible and a charter from Elizabeth.

The doorways, in front of the Dining-hall and Prerogative Court, are ornamented by caryatides [statues employed to support an entablature instead of columns], supporting a rich cornice, and resting on pedestals. Those at the door of the Dining-hall, are Plenty and Bacchante, with a goblet.; and at the entrance of the Prerogative Court and Record Office, are Security and Law, one holding a key, the other a scroll.

Beneath the central building, which is crowned by a beautiful octangular cupola, is a lofty arched gateway, with doors at either side, leading into the space between the Dining-hall and Record Office, which run parallel to each other; and at the farther end is a magnificent corresponding gate, communicating with Henrietta-street. Over this are the royal arms, in Portland stone, which, together with all the statuary of the building, were executed by Edward Smith, a Dublin artist of very considerable merit.

The Dining-hall, which occupies the principal part of the north wing, is 81 feet by 42, ornamented by four three-quarter ionic columns at either end; over which, in circular recesses in the ceiling, are figures, in alto-relievo, representing the four Cardinal Virtues.

At the end of the hall, where the benchers’ table is placed, the floor is elevated about 12 inches above that of the remaining part, and over the chimney-piece at this end is a portrait of Lord Chancellor Manners. The room is lighted by five circular-headed windows on one side, between which are niches intended to be filled with statues; and on the opposite side are portraits of Lords Avonmore and Manners. The lawyers and law-students dine on one side, and the attorneys on the other side of the hall.

In 1827 a new library was erected on the west side of Henrietta-street, and adjoining to the King’s Inns, which is tastefully and commodiously fitted up. The upper part of the building is one spacious hail, measuring 85* feet by 65, *with galleries round the entire, and stalls for the books; the lower part of the building consists of rooms for the accommodation of the librarian.

On the great stair, leading to the hall of the library, is a painted window of singular beauty, being divided into 39 divisions, containing the arms of the judges and benchers of the King’s Inns. This library is entitled to a free copy of every work entered at Stationers’ Hall. None but members of the King’s Inns are admitted members of the library. The charge of admission is £5. 5s*, *with some additional fees.

This spacious edifice has been erected at an expense of £20,000, and reflects great credit on the correct taste of the architect, Mr. Darley.

Before the reign of Edward I. there were no regular courts of Justice nor Inns of Court: the number of Palatinates and Chiefries existing through Ireland, which were governed by the old Brehon.laws, rendered a court of Chancery unnecessary; but an Exchequer was still required. The Brehon Jaws were of so mild and conciliating a spirit, that a fine (erick) was the only punishment inflicted even for the worst of crimes.

It is manifest that such a system, in those days, must have been liable to infinite abuses, and after an existence of nearly four centuries under the crown of England, the application of them was at length declared to be treasonable, in the 40th of Edward III. by the statute of Kilkenny. The Brehon laws were written in a character called the “Phenian dialect,” and the family of Mac Egan alone possessed the secret of decyphering their records, and were in possession of this secret down to the reign of Charles 1. - Henry II. is said to have held a court in Dublin, (November, 1172,) but all records or manuscripts relatin~ to it are lost.

The first institution of an Irish Inn of Court took place in the reign of Edward I.: it was called Collet’s Inn, and was outside the city walls, where Exchequer-street and George’s-street, south, are now built; here also were the superior courts of justice. But, unfortunately, a banditti, from the mountains of Wicklow, watching an opportunity, when the deputy and great part of the military strength were engaged at a distance, entered and plundered the Exchequer, and burned every record. About the same period, both in England and France, a similar attack was made on the Temple, and other public literary establishments.

This obliged the government to remove the seat of justice from without the walls; and the courts were at first appointed to be held in the Castle of Dublin, and then at Carlow. Whilst the Courts and Inns of Law were held in this ambulatory manner, in the reign of Edward III. Sir Robert Preston, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, resigned, for an Inn of Court, his noble mansion, situated where the Royal Exchange now stands, and having a range of offices extending from that to Essex-bridge. On this site Lord Chief Baron Bysse, some years after, built a noble residence, which was taken down, in 1762, to open Parliament-street.

In Preston’s Inns the benchers, lawyers, and attorneys had chambers, and for two centuries this Collegiate Society was upheld with dignity. After the death of Sir Robert Preston, the family, which had been honoured by a peerage, in 1478, with the title of Viscount Gormanstown, disputed the claim to the site of Preston’s Inn, and the benchers and lawyers were dispossessed.

At this time the Courts of Law were held in the Castle of Dublin, which being found inconvenient, the Inns of Court were removed to the dissolved Monastery of Dominicans, called the Monastery of St. Saviour’s, where the Four Courts now stand.

In 1542, Henry VIL assumed, for the first time that any English monarch had done so, the title of King of Ireland, and from the royal founder this society took the denomination of the “King’s Inns.” It obtained from him grants of land in Michan’s parish, &C besides parliamentary support; and a statute was introduced, obliging each student to reside for two years at an English Inn of Court, to assist in introducing the English practice of law into this kingdom. From this date, the society of King’s Inns began to assume importance as a body.

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