The Last Chronicle of Barset · Chapter
Mr. Crawley Is Taken to Silverbridge explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. Crawley struggles to persuade her husband to appear before the magistrates and to hire an attorney, but Mr. Crawley refuses both, insisting on his innocence and rejecting legal help. He eventually agrees to go to Silverbridge in a carriage with his wife, and at the hearing he behaves with dignity but maintains his claim that the cheque came from Dean Arabin, while evidence shows it could not have.
Themes in this chapter
Poverty and Suffering
Mr. Crawley's refusal to incur further debt for a lawyer and the family's scanty meal highlight their desperate financial straits.
Justice and Injustice
The legal proceedings against Mr. Crawley, his insistence on innocence, and the magistrates' handling of the case explore themes of fairness and the presumption of innocence.
Pride and Humility
Mr. Crawley's stubborn refusal to accept help or appear voluntarily stems from a wounded pride, while his wife humbly negotiates with officials.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Crawley
Refuses to hire an attorney or voluntarily appear before magistrates; eventually goes to Silverbridge; maintains his innocence and insists the cheque came from Dean Arabin.
- Grace Crawley
Mentioned as the child for whose sake Mrs. Crawley urges her husband to say grace; not directly present in the chapter.
- John Walker
Arranges for Mr. Crawley to appear before magistrates; recommends attorney Mr. Mason; attempts to persuade Mr. Crawley to accept legal assistance.
- Lord Lufton
Present at the magistrates' hearing; invites Mr. Crawley to sit down during proceedings.
- Mr. Soames
Gives evidence about losing the cheque and pocketbook; testifies that he called on Mr. Crawley at Hogglestock.
Key passages
“I will have no one to assist me. I am innocent. Why should I want assistance? Nor have I money to pay for it.”
Mr. Crawley refuses legal help, asserting his innocence and citing his poverty.
Demonstrates his pride and the theme of poverty.
“I erred in that. Of course I erred. In my haste I thought it was so, and in my haste I said so. I am not good at reckoning money and remembering sums; but I saw that I had been wrong when my error was shown to me, and I acknowledged at once that I had been wrong.”
Mr. Crawley admits his earlier mistake about the source of the cheque, explaining it was due to haste and poor memory.
Shows his willingness to correct error, yet maintains his core innocence.