But he has

sets out upon his return to New York. to pass through the state of New Jersey, of which his wary creditor takes advantage: and as this state adopts the same maxim, of not recognizing any of the local, or state laws of its neighbours, he is again arrested, and for want of bail, committed, or sent to prison, to undergo another preparatory course of confinement, before that he can be allowed to take advantage of the insolvent laws of this state, discharging him from the responsibilities of the several debts, from which he had been just released in the adjoining state of Pennsylvania, and before that he will be permitted to return to his family, or home. The same unfriendly treatment will await him in whatever of the states he may chance to make his appearance, until such time as he may secure his person from molestation, by availing himself of the benefit of the insolvent law of the state, in which his debt was originally contracted.

Though none of the States acknowledge the insolvent law of another, or neighbouring commonwealth, as extending an exemption to insolvents from arrest, or further legal proceedings for the recovery of debts contracted beyond their immediate limit, they nevertheless admit the efficacy of a judgment, (if recovered in any one, and properly authenticated,) throughout the entire: and such may be removed, for the purpose of being recorded in whatever part of the United States the debtor may reside, or possess property. But not so in the case of a foreign judgment, which would only be

received as an evidence of indebtedness, to be further established by other legal proof, before that a plaintiff could proceed to execution.

The number who annually avail themselves of the regenerating influence of the insolvent laws, in those States of the Union, where the laws of imprisonment for debt are yet in force, will scarcely admit of any just computation.

In the city and county of Philadelphia, comprising a population of from one hundred and fifty, to one hundred and eighty thousand persons, nearly eighteen hundred annually pass through this ordeal of redemption. The sessions of this court, are held in this city at stated quarterly periods, in each year, under the presiding care of the Honourable Judge King, who is also president, or chief judge of the court of Common Pleas, and whose forbearance and very commendable patience, as well as very extraordinary despatch in discharging some hundreds of these applicants at a session, we can ourselves readily bear witness. They are certainly brought before him in appalling numbers-sworn to their schedules, by platoons of some ten, or twelve at a time, or as many as can conveniently place their hand upon the Sacred Volume at the same moment; which they no sooner take from their lips, than they are dismissed with the most flippant levity, by this moral and arch expounder of American law, with the simple admonition to "go and sin no more." The sameness of this burlesque is sometimes broken in upon, by a chance opposition made to some less

FASHIONABLE DEBTOR.

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fortunate wight, who is thereby doomed to pass through a further ordeal; though that the judge has no discretionary power to award punishment, for any well sustained charge of fraud, or otherwise, made against him; or ought, except to direct bills of indictment, to be preferred at the next sitting of the city grand jury. But this course is so very unusual, that we query if half a dozen cases have occurred where this procedure has been resorted to, within the same number of years, for almost any pretext will suffice; without indeed that the applicant is a stranger, and possesses no local interest to give sanction to his past proceedings. We were pointed out in the fashionable promenade of Chesnutstreet in this city, a well-attired, and in appearance a rather consequential personage, who was represented to us as a petitioner at every succeeding term of this court. His father, who was somewhile dead, had been an eminent physician, in extensive practice in Philadelphia; his mother, who was still living, allowed him sixty dollars per month for his individual expenses; yet with this, he still contrived to run into debt; and notwithstanding that he usually discharged his engagements every three months by aid of the insolvent court, still found persons ready to give him credit. He once more, perhaps for the tenth time, appeared before Judge King; who, a little surprised at again seeing him, at once addresssed him; and between whom and Mr. the following dialogue is said to have taken place.

How is this? and three thousand dollars owing by your schedule!" which had been handed to the learned judge.

Mr.

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Why-ye-yes, your honour; I have certainly been unfortunate-but 'twas impossible to avoid it-utterly impossible, under my late very peculiar circumstances."

JUDGE K. "It must be some very peculiar circumstances, indeed, that could run you into debt three thousand dollars beyond your means, and within the short space of a few months-pray how do you account for this?"

MR. horse that-"

JUDGE K.

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"Your Honour-I had a race

Very bad - very bad; race-horses I know from experience are very expensive; butthree thousand dollars within so short a time! Have

you no other way you can account for this unusually large expenditure ?”

MR.

Somewhat hesitatingly. "Why,

your Honour -I-I kept-"

JUDGE K. "Not another race-horse, I hope." "Oh no, your Honour-I kept a

MR.

woman.'

JUDGE K. Whose ears appeared to be somewhat tickled at the disclosure. "What! a woman! a woman!"

MR.

"Yes, your Honour-two women." JUDGE K. "Two women! keeping two women,

Mr.! humph !-enough to destroy and ruin any man living-the loss is easily accounted forvery easily--give him his discharge."

And Mr.

who was accordingly again re

leased from his debts, or at least all further trouble, or inconvenience on their account, soon disappeared, nothing loth, amidst the crowd.

Yet such is American law, at least its mode of distribution in Philadelphia, amidst the sober, the sedate, and quiet descendants of the immortal Penn. What a lesson, nevertheless, in modern ethicks!what a precept of morality to impress upon the young mind of the coming generation, receiving their instructions in profligacy and vice-even from the legal tribunals-the judges of the country.