The Last Chronicle of Barset · Chapter
Mr. Toogood Travels Professionally explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Toogood travels to Barchester and Silverbridge to investigate the case against Mr. Crawley. He learns from Dr. Tempest and Mr. Walker about the potential ecclesiastical inquiry and the likely timeline of the trial. Toogood resolves to defend Crawley vigorously, despite the cost, and writes to Mr. Harding for information. He refrains from visiting Hogglestock, fearing his cousin's unpredictable manner, and gathers what he can from the magistrate's clerk before attending Mr. Walker's dinner.
Themes in this chapter
Justice and Injustice
The chapter explores the tension between legal proceedings and ecclesiastical judgment, as Toogood, Dr. Tempest, and Mr. Walker debate the fairness and consequences of the case against Mr. Crawley.
Poverty and Suffering
Mr. Crawley's poverty is highlighted as a central factor: Toogood notes he cannot pay a lawyer, and the cost of defense weighs on Toogood's family.
Clergy and Morality
The discussion of whether a convicted clergyman should retain his living raises questions about clerical morality and public perception.
Characters to notice
- Thomas Toogood
Travels to Barchester and Silverbridge to investigate Mr. Crawley's case; resolves to defend him despite the cost; writes to Mr. Harding for information; refrains from visiting Hogglestock.
- Mr. Crawley
The subject of Toogood's investigation; his guilt is debated by Toogood, Dr. Tempest, and Mr. Walker; Toogood fears his unpredictable manner.
- Dr. Tempest
Discusses the potential ecclesiastical inquiry with Mr. Walker and Mr. Toogood; argues that if Crawley is convicted, resignation of the living should follow.
- John Walker
Hosts dinner for Mr. Toogood, Dr. Tempest, and others; discusses the case and the ecclesiastical inquiry.
- Mr. Harding
Receives a visit from Mr. Toogood; writes to his daughter Mrs. Arabin about the visit and the gravity of the case.
- Major Grantly
Invited to Mr. Walker's dinner to meet Mr. Toogood; asks about the bishop's motives.
Key passages
“I’ll have a barrister down express, and I’ll defend him in his own teeth,” he said to his wife. “There’ll be a scene in court, I daresay, and the man will call upon his own counsel to hold his tongue and shut up his brief; and, as far as I can see, counsel in such a case would have no alternative. But there would come an explanation—how Crawley was too honourable to employ a man whom he could not pay, and there would be a romance, and it would all go down with the jury. One wants sympathy in such a case as that—not evidence.”
Toogood tells his wife he will hire a barrister to defend Crawley even against his will, anticipating a dramatic courtroom scene where Crawley's honorable refusal to hire a paid lawyer will win the jury's sympathy.
Toogood's strategy relies on emotion and romance rather than strict evidence.
“It is all spite, then, on the bishop’s part?” said the major. “Not at all,” said the doctor. “The poor man is weak; that is all. He is driven to persecute because he cannot escape persecution himself.”
Major Grantly suggests the bishop acts out of spite, but Dr. Tempest counters that the bishop is weak and persecutes others because he himself is persecuted.
Dr. Tempest offers a nuanced view of the bishop's motives.