The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-10-29 00:00:00

tl, f rAL LAW INTELLIVEYCE.

%VET OF KING'S BENCH, Scsuctires-br,
TRIVAIDAY, OCTOIICA 2C
The Court was occupied the whole day in the
c.insoltration of ab•truse legal questions, devoid of
oily interest except to the parties concerned.

CONTEST ABOUT
PRECEDENCY between the SHERIFFS

AT THE OLD BAILEY.

Our readers have been elready apprized of the
difference of opinion which subsists between the
Sheriffs respecting precedeney, mid ►he several
enemy,* made by Nlr. Sheriff Parkins to sit in the
senior Sheriff's box, at tile 0141 Dinky.
Mr. She'll,' Parkins enteied the Court at untie
o'clock last morning, and took his .rat in the box
of the senior Sheriff (who was aliteill), and which he
done more than once since he entered Lai
office. Oii ilie arrival *ldle J nil et' at the moral
time, a few 1111 l lutes before ten o've•ick, the Sheriffs
were summoned according to the customary cere-
mony to attend them unto Court.

111 r. Sheriff* Rothisell, who insists upon his se-
niority, according to the °I J JJJ on of the Court of
Aldermen, took his station, we understand, it the
passage leading to the senior Sheriff's box, at the
right hand of the bench, and in the passage behind
it, where he wasted to usher in Mr. Baron Wood.

Mr. Sheriff Parkiiia, who hail to pass uut through
this passage to attend the Judges, on tioditig
that his colleague had taken his station there,
took Ins place hy his side near the door leading to
the bench, so that alien Mr. Justice Park advanced
front the Judges' room to enter the Court, lie found
no Sher.tf its %siting to receive I at his ►ide, which
was the left door of the Bench.

The Learned Judge immediately demanded the
reason why he was not attetided by the Shoal' with
the usual respect?

. _
Mr. Sheriff PARKINS replied, that his colleague
was at his wrong side, and should be with Mr. Jus-
tice Paik as hi+ attendant, for that he (Mr. Par.
kills) was, as senior, at Ins proper side of the Court,
where he was to attend the other Judge.
The RECORDSR, who by this time 4..aine out of
Court, denied Mr. Sheriff Pdrkina's assertion, and
said that Mr. Alderman Ituthwell was senior.

Mr. Justice PARK said lie had nothing to do
with the discussion of seniority ; but must be at-
teuded in the usual manner.
Mr.Slieriti PARKINS then said he would do bitt-
ed'. the honour of attending the Learned Judge,
whom he immediately ushered into his place iu
Court, and then took ins departure from Court,
uprartutly much chagrined.

Mr. Shenti ittrrtivELL, after uslivring in Mr.
Baron Wood, took hit seat in the arnica Sheriff's
box.

At two o'clock there bring no capital case ready,
Mr. Justice PARK demanded why it was that busi-
ness was not ready to be gone into. He wise in-
formed the Grand Jury had found some bills fur
capital felonies, but the witnesses were not in at-
tendance, as they had been dismissed by proclama-
tion until to-rourrow.

Mr. Justice PARK asked who it was who had
dared thus to interfere with the business of the
Court

The Clerk replied, that it was usual, when bills
were found, to tell the witnesses to attend on the
next day.
Mr. Justice PARK observed, that it was notto be
endured that the Judges should be called upon to
attend there, and to sit without having any th►ng
to do, whilst a greut part of the public business
remained undone.

Mr. Baron WOOD remarked, that if business was
thus curried ou they would be delayedwaill next
week.

Mr. Justice PA RE said it would be so, and added,
that he would take steps that the Judges should
come to a determination to sit only four days, me
was the cu►tom 111 former times, and within Ibis
memory. 'flits would oblige the parties interested
to get the capital bills ready in proper time. He
had further to observe upon a practice which he
considered extremely improper : it wile that of
some solicitors besetting the Grand Jury with their
witnesses, and urging on bills which were Hot to
come on for trial for some days, whilst the more its.
portant matters were delayed. This he had con-
demned at the Assizes, and hoped it would not be
repeated. If business were to he thus neglected it
mut be left to other hands, as the Judges could not
attend to it.