# Mrs. Proudie Sends for Her Lawyer explained — The Last Chronicle of Barset

> Chapter companion for The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Mrs. Proudie, furious after Mr. Crawley's defiance, pressures the bishop to take legal action against him. She summons the ecclesiastical lawyer Mr. Chadwick, who advises that a commission of inquiry must be issued to the rural dean, Dr. Tempest. Despite Mrs. Proudie's desire for swift punishment, the process is slow, and the bishop hopes the assizes will resolve the matter before any ecclesiastical proceedings conclude.

## Themes in this chapter

### Clergy and Morality

The chapter explores the tension between episcopal authority and clerical defiance, as Mrs. Proudie and the bishop seek to enforce moral and disciplinary standards on Mr. Crawley.

### Gossip and Public Opinion

Mrs. Proudie's anger is fueled by public perception and her desire to maintain the palace's reputation, while the bishop hopes the assizes will quietly resolve the scandal.

## Character check-ins

### Mrs. Proudie

Furious and determined to crush Mr. Crawley, she summons Mr. Chadwick and insists on immediate legal action, overriding the bishop's hesitations.

### Mr. Crawley

The defiant perpetual curate who has angered the bishop and Mrs. Proudie by refusing to cease his ministrations; they seek to silence him through ecclesiastical proceedings.

### Bishop Proudie

Unhappy and hostile to Mr. Crawley, but hesitant and overruled by his wife; he hopes the assizes will resolve the matter before the commission acts.

### Mr. Chadwick

The ecclesiastical lawyer summoned by Mrs. Proudie; he advises on the proper legal procedure and warns that the process will be slow and costly.

### Dr. Tempest

The rural dean of Silverbridge, whom Mrs. Proudie distrusts for showing mercy to Mr. Crawley; he is to head the commission of inquiry.

## Key lines

> If I were to take legal proceedings against him, it would cost⁠—oh, dear⁠—more than a thousand pounds, I should say. If it costs two, you must do it.

Mrs. Proudie insists on pursuing legal action against Mr. Crawley regardless of the expense, even if it costs two thousand pounds.

_Demonstrates Mrs. Proudie's determination and willingness to spend heavily to defeat Mr. Crawley._

> These magistrates had taken bail for his appearance at the assizes, instead of committing him to prison at once⁠—as they were bound to do, when such an offence as that had been committed by a clergyman.

Mrs. Proudie criticizes the magistrates for granting bail to Mr. Crawley instead of imprisoning him immediately, believing they failed in their duty.

_Highlights Mrs. Proudie's harsh view of the magistrates' leniency and her distrust of Dr. Tempest._

> I can issue a commission, you know, to the rural dean. Dr. Tempest must not name them; the bishop must name them.

The bishop mentions he can appoint a commission of inquiry, but Mrs. Proudie insists that the bishop, not Dr. Tempest, should select the members.

_Shows Mrs. Proudie's desire to control the process and her distrust of Dr. Tempest._

## Links

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