The National Register.
London, England, 1818-06-01 00:00:00

PEES OP COURT.

Sir S. NewpoßT said, that a question had been carried
some time back by a majority of only one respectable indi-
vidual. It was for a Return of the Fess paid into the Masters
Office. Two Masters of Chancery were tben gppeinted, as
Commissioners to inquire into the abuses that prevailed in
their own office. He did not at that time, nor did he now
consider them as the fittest persons to investigate the subject,
and their Report snored that his suspicions were Mended in
tenth. It was presented in June 1816, and a Supplement to
this Report was since pi °dared, which proved that the Com-
missioners in their inquiry had entirely overlooked an Act of
Parliament. It was the of Oeo. II and provided. that
Solicitors who had no-Reeked in any other Court should, on
their admission Into the Coast of Chancery, pay a fee of only
one shilling. The prettier, however, was to charge one pound
or one pound seven shillings, and upon this Act the Commis.
ateliers in their Reports and Supplement were totally silent.
'The Irish and Scotch Commissioners, very much to their
cridit, and to the advantage of the public, had not acted in
this manner. They bad detected some otts abuses, and bad
accompanied their Reports with such recommendations of
sinproverneut as would cause a saving to suitors of at least
63,0001. a year, besides considerable savings to the s.;onsolis
dated Fund. The Scotch Commissioners had presented four
Reports; those for Ireland had drawn up the same number,
and had four more in a state of readiness. He knew no m-
oon why the English Cominissioaeris should receive Itool.
year, while the Scotch and Irish ooiy received 8001. The
Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Fees of the
Master's Office, held lucrative situations under the Crown,
which gave them a partienlar interest in the subject they had
to investigate. The expense of the English Commission,
which produced only one Report, was 21,0001. while that of
the Irish, which produced feur, was only 16,0001. and of the
Scotch 10,0101.- Upoa these grounds be would propose the
following Resolution, in conformity with the recommendation
of the Finance Committee upon this subject :—" That the
Honor agreed with their Committee in thinking that Com-
missioners who had official duties to perform, had a tendency
contiiine such Commission to an unnecessary length; that
It was the lousiness of tile Commissioners to avoid unnecessary
delay, and to by before the [lonic from time to tune Reports
of their proceeding, which could not he done with surfi.-iient
promptitude, when they had offirial duties to perform.'
Mr. BATHURST opposed the Motion. lie would not now
go into the specific question whether such officers ea those
allndell to were fit persons to act as Commissioners. It would
Le easy, however, to prove that their superior knowledge
counterbalauced any inconvenien-oe that might arise flaw
otaer eIIISFS. The 'Cent Hon. Membet went at mane length
into the areements used by Sir Jahn Newport, and contended
tint thi• Reports, as well as the flambee of days employed
"" Coinmissiotiers, were inure e length than those of
Vie Isiah arid Scotch Commissioners. From the view which
he took of the solrject, be felt it hie duty to &lobe the previous
question.

Afier 501)1P ob<ervltions from Mr. Conrtenay, Sir Charles
Caxton, the Solicitor (lth teat azikl the Attorney General,
Sir doltn Newport replied, when the original question was
and negatored Nituuur a division.--Adjourned.