The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-06-23 00:00:00

mated from the Report of a Tribamai appointed sod
sanctioned by the 'authority of that House. The
II unimpularity and suspicion that attach to a welsha
accuser must naturally be inermieds when the
persou occulted was no klesscconsiderablea per.m:
that one of the Judge's of the land; far if
the presumption of innocence until guilt was proved,
UMW, at all times have weight and force, how much
'Mee were we disposed to believe that every thing
eras fair and upright in the charsetee of a Judge,
twill the contrary was proved beyond all doubt ;
aarl the presumption of innocence must he isscressest
in the case of an !rids Judge.. For au Eirglista
Judge was attacked in his own camp, he was sr-
taigned before the Parliament of Isis own country,
4e was surrounded by his frieedoo he had etie
cit Verney and Solicitor Gesieral,. hie legitimate arts
vacates. and defenders in that Hoare. But au
Irish Judge 'food alone, he was he (he might •11))
a strange country, and all Oar Whigs we're esse
listed, sod sympathies roused in his defeuee.
(Hear, heur.)--And lie should beg leave to remark
that they were not without etamisles of the usainier
it. which' Irish Jisdges had beer, treated by that -
Mute. Gentleiiien must remember the cam of
Judge Fox, wheaten kept 'under imputatious for
the space of two
_veers, cod then the charges were
411i.eu,retl, without !midi; him any mode of rook- -
hug his defence. Ile hoped the House world not
suppose lie made these charges hpou light ground.;
he could assure them that nothiug *skim impera-
tive sense of justice, and the duty which, as a Mem-
ber of Parliament, lie owed to his country, could
hare induced I to come forward. It would be
ttcnrcely necessary for hint to observe, that with the
private character of the Lesnied Judge he had no-
thing to do; hr might her most respectable mud dig-
nified cherecterea-it was his public conduct *lone
that wao otiected by the Report of the Commis-
sinners, and ris his public character was public pro-
perty, he claimed the right to discus. it.—(Hear.
hear.)—lint there were wormier*, and this was one,
in which no private virtue could screen public elm,.
racier from censure. There was the greet Lord.
Bacon, whose vast and comprehensive mind had
pushed the bounds of science immeosisrably further
than any also had either preceded or followed hint;
hut although admitted to Ise the wisest and the
brightest, lie Is universally admitted to be the
meanest of mankind. His case wits the corruption
of a Judge, and he was delighted there was in,
charge of that nature here. The degrees and na-
ture of crime must vary according to the progress.
of society, and although the case of delinquency it.
• Judge would at the present day_ be jest as int-
probable.ss that Members of that House should re-.
'seise at the doer some of money for their tames..
still it was possible that cases of extortion might
rXISt, ailli..ligh not an instance of direct bribe. Be-
fore he went into the Report, itwould be tierematy
for him to take a cursory view of the Court. of Jus-
tice ',clench Ose the introduction of else English
laws into Ireland. they did nut extend to the moire
country, but only to the English within the pale.
There had been instances of an inquiry into the
der of a man, when it was said " Trek, a wan was
killed. but it slid not amount to felony. her was a mere
Irishmaii."—(Hear, Assn.)—ln the reign of Elisa-
beth, Lord Bacon, in that spirit of prescience.
which seemed to pervade every thing he maid and
wrote, hail anticipated the very charge which be
now brought forward ; for in a letter to Lord Bur-
leigh on the subject, he said " It was nut possible.
the people of Ireland could feel the sweetnero of
justice, which gave occasions end opportunities for,
the exactions mid extortions of fees." In the reign
of Charles 11. Lord Strafford found it ireceestry
to institute ati inquiry two the Courts of Justice
its Ireland ; and hw should read a passage from the
King's writ upon that occasion. as most forcible
on the subject. It was thif His Majesty is
hiformed that ninny comphritits exist ogainst officers
in Courts of Justice extorting feet, which moat
tend not only to increase the expenses of his sub-
jects, hut altar bring dishonour on Courts of mild..
tice ; and therefore," itc.--ffieor, hear.j—ln
1734 there was a Committee in the House of Lords
upon the subject, and on the Report of that Com-
mittee a Bill was introduced, regulatilig vie
amount of fees in the various offices. 'To this
Act frequent allusions had been made in the •
present Report. He did hot mention this to
give a colouring to the case, or to fotnid au
accumulated argunieut, drawn from former time..
This would be a most unworthy motive. All
the inference he wished to draw was, that the
legality of fees. us derived front usage, slionld
be viewed with great suspicion. In 1814 a
Commission bad been appointed, and the Repent
before the House was the result of their labours.
The House would remember with what r-