Dear Sir

Wollingford
19 April 1778

I thank you for Your Letter recd. Yesterday,& for your Communication of the Copy of the Bill, said tobe intended to be brought into Parliament, which I herewith
return inclosed. The Bill has been so long delayed, & uponsuch frivolous Pretences, since Lord North1 sent his official
Message to the Judges in the Beginning of February, that I
own I shall be slow to believe that any thing is seriously
meant to be done, till I see the Bill in the House.
Be that as it may, I will be free to acknowledge
to You, that I see no Good that can result from Your now
proposing to ingraft any new Matter upon the Bill; but agreat Deal of possible Harm to the Judges, supposing any
thing is really intended for their Relief. There will barely
be time, between the Meeting of Parlt & it’s [word crossed out]
Prorogation, to pass the Bill through the usual Forms;& any the least Rub may be fatal to it. And You must
expect many Rubs, before Your Proposal can take Effect.
After what has been urged by Lord C. I. deGrey, I am
persuaded You will never think of casting such a Slur on
the Judges, as bare to insert a prohibiting Clause to prevent
the Sale of these <???ies>2. And if You propose a Set ofRegulations, they [ought] not to be hurried on, in a collateralWay, at the Clos[e] of a Session; but should be maturely
considered, and the Officers heard with regard to them. Nothing
therefore can so effectually obstruct the Progress of the Bill, asloading it with such a Provision, at such a time, & especiallyby a Professional Hand.
But, even if the Time would allow it, I doubt whether
such an Insertion would be proper in the present Bill. Itbreaks in upon the Simplicity of the Plan, & the Uniformityof it's Object, the Exonerating the Salaries of all Judges
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in Great Britain from Taxes, & other Deductions. It isa partial Restriction in a general Law: for it will notaffect the Welch & Scotch Judges. It may perhaps be
found upon Enquiry, that they also have saleable Offices equallyobnoxious upon Principle, though not in equal Degree. And
why should the English Judges be made Purchasers of thatIndulgence, which is to be freely extended to these their
Brethren? ― If the Exoneration is not reasonable initself, they do not wish Parliament to grant it; if it is, whyshould they be so invidiously distinguished, as to be made to pay
a Price for it ?

Besides; the Principle of the Proposal, if

it operates at all, ought to operate much farther; so as to restrain
the Sale of all other ministerial Offices in the Courts of Justice,
the Purchasers of which have the same Plea for enlarging their
Demands in civil Cases, as the Clerks of Assise have in criminal.
I am sensible that the Clerks<???> stand in need ofmuch Regulation. But I think that this Matter should be taken
up separately & at the Beginning of<???>.

Tables of Fees

Bills of Expenses, & Facility of Removal for Mal Practice, would
probably be proper Restriction; ― and for Clerks of the Peace as wellas Clerks of Assiss. But I much doubt whether making their Offices
purely donative would have any very beneficial Effect. Do we find that theOffices so appointed (as Clerks of the Peace usually are) are morediligent or less rapacious, than those who purchase their Places?
One Inconvenience it is obvious to foresee, that they would be frequently
given to incapable Persons, to Relation or Favourities, who would actby Deputy; whereas they are seldom purchased, but by Persons who
understand their Business. And after all, the Business of Clerksof Assiss is (like that of Gaolers etc) so conversant with the lower
Classes of Mankind, that I fear few Gentlemen of a liberal Cast
will ever be induced to execute the Office.
For these Reasons I could wish You to defer Your Proposal
to a future Session: though I am inclined to think I have given both You& myself an unnecessary Trouble, by sending You so long a Letter; being
persuaded that all the pompous Professions of Lord North are intended2

to end in Nothing. And indeed I have seen so much Tergiversation in
the professed Patrons of this Measure, that I am quite sick of it;& should not be surprized if it be made an Excuse for the not moving
it last Wednesday, & at length for intirely dropping it, that they
understood such a Clause was intended to be grafted on it, & did
not know how far it might or might not coincide with the Sentimentsof the Judges, whom they wished to consult on the Subject, &c., &c. If
therefore what I have suggested appears to have any Weight init, I could wish that when You return the inclosed Bill tothe Speaker, or in any other Manner, You would signify to Him
by a Line that You have determined to postpone Your Proposal
till another Session. I am, Dear Sir,Your affectionate humble Servant
W. Blacksone
Lady Blackstone presents her Comp[limen]ts 3
注 1 ノース卿（Frederick North. 1732-1792）。1770 年から 1782 年までイギリス首相。
2 縦状に破損があり、翻刻ができない。
3 ブラックストンの妻は、Sarah Clitherow である。

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