The Press.
London, England, 1857-02-07 00:00:00

secretary, Mr. Sugden (who is now in this country
on leave of absence), during his residence of thirteen
years in the islands, is equally ignorant of any sample
ever having been discovered. Stone is unfortunately
too abundant; but I never saw slate fit for any roof-
ing purposes. I do not doubt the desire of the
settlers of all classes in the Falklands to see a convict
colony founded there. An expenditure of perhaps
not much less than half a million, would pro-
bably be incurred, would no doubt be very accept.
able to those possessing property or having anything
to dispose of necessary to the establishment.
I will only add, in conclusion, that I have never
known a sober and industrious settler in and about
the to‘in of Stanley who failed to make money. 1
know of no climate to persons of sound constitutions
so healthy and free from disease. The labour
market is, however, very limited ; and I see no pro-
spect whatsoever of it ever being greatly extended,
unless gold or other valuable minerals should be
discovered.-1 am, sir, your obedient servant,

. . _
GEORGE RENNIE,
Late Governor of the Falkland Islands.
43, Hertford-street, Mayfair,
Feb. 3, 1857.

"CONSERVATIVE PROGRESS" AND LAW

REFORM.
TO THE EDITOR 01? "THE PRESS."

Sirs—We are to have a regular session of "Law
Reform." We are to hear no more of the expensive
iniquities of Chancery, which are at last to crumble
before the active brooms of Liberal" intellects. So
we are told by Ministerial lackeys, and soft is echoed
in the elegant Post, whilst Doctors' Commons is to
be beholden to them for the largest share of their
affectionate and dispassionate regard. Sir Richard
Bothell is to be launched into an exclusive immor-
tality without loss of time ; and that his awed con-
stituents may not be alarmed at the awful suddenness
of his promotion, he has—got up with " laurel "
already rehearsed to them in character the part he is
to play amidst the legal triumphs of the future.
Sir, this is to my own knowledge the sixth edition
of a published farce. There is an annual battue
held in Doctors' Commons ; the Proctors are driven
into the corners of their preserves amidst stifled
appeals for" compensation" and petitions, whilst their
ancient " institution" is assailed in the Senate by the
double•barrelled "piece" of the Solicitor-General and
Sir George Grey, or they are sessionally annoyed uy
uncommonly small shot from the platform popguns
of Messieurs Hadfield, Collier, and Co. This, sir, is
a " Liberal's " idea of real sport. It may, of course,
suit the self-importance of Sir Richard Bethell to
lisp in pompous parade before the electors of Ayles-
bury ; but although I should be the very last to wish
to gag the flowery Knight, still it is due to Doctors'
Commons, it is due to its practitioners, it is due to
the dignity of the great centre of ecclesiastical law,
that this elaborate trifling be at once put down. Of
course the Whigs must have a cry. Well, sir, their cry
is now of "Law Reform," for cries with them seem as
plentiful as mystery and marvels are in Genii. Like
Guy Fawkes' day and the return of the swallows, it
comes once a year. Like the manager of a theatre to an
angered audience when. he tells them that their
spoiled pet this time is really ill, the Ministerial
prints are as anxious to persuade us that this session
her Majesty's Government will manage to be hi
earnest. No, let us hope not—there would be danger
in the convulsion ; and besides experience has given
us all something more than a taste of the quality of
Whig professions. Doctors' Commons should, if only
by virtue of its age, be spared from the clumsy med-
dling of tyros and experimentalists, although it may
suit certain talkative levellers to smite upon their
left breasts, the supposed site of their patriot hearts,
and speak of Doctors' Commons as an abomination
only to be mentioned upon an empty stomach, when
there can be no fear of a sense of shame interfering
with digestion.
Now, sir, to my own mind, had that great lawyer
who held the seal, and as Lord Chancellor under
Lord Derby's Administration earned more honour for
himself as a " real reformer" than all the talking
Whigs before him, been now the legal head, I believe
the great question involved in the reform of Doctors'
Commons would have been temperately considered
and permanently settled. We should have had no
annual mockery, no hustings' cry of law reform, no
bill after bill withdrawn, whilst salaried incapacity
was served at the expense of a nation's dignity. The
cuckoo cry again is heard, and Doctors' Commons
will again become a subject for the pompous drivel-
ling of levelling pamphleteers,• and the pigmy
efforts of little men. But if precedent is to be
regarded, or the past accepted as a warning, another
session will wane, and no solution of the pregnant
question be arrived at, until the calm voice of con-
servative sagacity is recognised, and the genial
presence of " Conservative Progress " once more
directs the councils of England, and dignifies her
name.—Yours most obediently,
January, 1807. A TM.