The National Register.
London, England, 1819-11-01 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN COUNTIES.

The Select Committee appointed to consider whether
any, sod what ceps may he necessary to be takt n. to
ggrre to the Comities a Westinorlatid, Cumberland,
Northumberland, and Dothan', and 'lowa and
County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. the same advanta-
ges of Assizes twice in each year, as are now posses-
sed by all the other Counties in England and %Vales,
and to report their observations thereupon to the
House; and to whom the petition of the layer.
Sherds, Citizens, and Commonalty of the City of
Norwich; and also the returns of the Calendars of
the Prisoners. and of the lists of causes tried at the
Assizes fur the Counties before mentioned, wet, re-
ferred :—blare, purausnt to the Order of the House.
considered Inc same acccorclingly; and hare agreed
to the following
RErORT;
_ .

Your Committee, on referring to the different Papers
before them by order of the Ilnu,e. find, tha for several yew-.
past, persons charged in the four Nothcrn Counties with offnee.,
not ordinarily falling under the jitrisdiruon of the General Qnrter
Sessions, hat,: continued in prison previous to their trial for WV!?
eight, ur nine nion:hs, and in many instances for a longer iivrioq
of dine; and they cannot but direct the immediate attention a
the Howe to so great a failure in the administration of criminal
justiev.
_ .

The return of causes of the respective counties, with the ex-
ception of that of Westmorland, mark a large and progressi:e
increase of civil busins. In the Alarshal's paper at Carlish,
for the year 1814. no less than 80 records were delive.ed, of
which tout wily appear to have been withdrawn; in the year
1813, 6t causes were entered; and the two successive years
averaged not less than 50. At Durham, in the year 1816, to
31; and in 1817, to SL. Northumberland (including the juris-
diction of the town and county of Newcastle upon- lynei fur
nisheti in Isar, 42 causes: tbr of these causes speeial jurie
had been summoned. three of them were inside reinatiets, and
consequently went over fur twelve months; in the following year
52 actions were entered, only one of which was withdrawn. As
the returns themselves are an their nature too VOlUlliillMUls
publication, a short but accurate abstract is given in Lae
Appendix.
Such being the actual state of business in these three counties.
without a vied grounded prospect tit diminution, your Commitu
cannot form to dieniselvss any satisfactory. rcasuo why the trial
of civil causes should be thus deterred wittim these districts. and
the custom of only holding one Assize in the year continued,
subjecting the suitors to serious inesnivenienic, and in some cases
to ruinous expense. The practice of bringing actions in other
counties. now Mien resorted to, where they are transitory. con.-
pels the attendance of WIIIICS4it, carried from a considerable dis-
tance, kept at the cost of the respecuve Ferias, and probably as
last dismissed without a hearing.
It is clear, limn the evidence heard before your Committee as
to the pressure art civil business in York. that it is now with diffi-
culty got through, though a greater number of' days is allotted
in the summer, than was usual in preceding years ; sad that of
late two Judges have presided in the Spring Circuit, it will be
found. that at the close of the last Commission at that place, sir
special and Mrs* common jury comics were made reinanets, yet
the Court was occupied ten, twelve, or tourtevri hours out.ng
each day. _ _

At I.ancaster, to a most heavy calendar, arc added in general,
not less man I6U causes, involving in them, as may naturally be
imagined from the site and populauon of the Palatinate,
tions of die highest initiortance, as well on tammiercial as ..n oilier
points.
Looking, therefore, to all the circumstances which accompany
this view of the subject, and considering it just, that these coutr-
ties should not be deprived of those advantages which are possessed
by all other counties within the United Empire, your Committee
beg leave to recommend, that such measure.; should be taken as
would divide the present Northern Circuit into two separate
Circuits, the one comprehending the Counties of %Vcamorsind,
Lancita..r, and turnberland; and the other including tho.,c of
York, Northumberland, and Durliani. No objection could
arise under this arrangement, it to the a.tendanee in Sr.
ened liar, for wit It the proposed alteration, there would Still teinifilli
to each 01 these divisions as much, if nut a larger extent of busi•
nets,. than is generally transacted upon every oilier Circuit in
England.
To carry this plan into its full execution, and to give it that
weight and authority which interests of bll.'ll nionwin dennuol,
your Counnittee are of opinion, that the (lanes which belong to
It should only be intrusted to establ.shed Judges of the land:
whether Ole present limited number of that highly respected
body will permit such an addition of labour, must be MI to the
further deliberation of the House : that bead of examination not
falling, as your 1111 l iittee apprelwntied, within the previa,
limits of their Instructions, they did nut proceed to any regular
course of inquiry which might embrace it, but iu looking to thil
state of the new trials &titre the Court of King's Bench, as con •
nested with the Northern Counties, it could not escape their ob-
servation, that those who now ailmtnistar the justice of the coun-
try have difficulties impos.sl upon them, winch, with all their
zeal and activity, they are in some instances unable to surmount.
Your Committee, iu adverting to the substance of the Petition
from the City of Norwich, whic't was referred to them by order of
the Douse, are called upon to observe, that the inconvenience
there sustained from the delay of the trial of prisoners, appears to
have been so great. that it would be highly expedient, for the
sake of public justice, that some remedy should be applied to the
evil; and that if it is the pleasure of the House to rouommends
in whatever way they shall think best, an angtmairation to the
present number of Judges. such additional Judges might be
moot tcw..fully and beneficially employed in the respective Coates
in We.tinitister flail, and in the regular tribunals of the country;
by this means an opportunity would be atthrded of sap plying she
defect so loudly complained of on the Norfolk arse Jlidlattd
Circuits, viz. ut having only on: Judge on the Sining Circuit
to preside on the Civil and C111111U4.1 Trials.
Path April .1 S.

Sittings appointed to be held in Middlesex and
London, before the Right Hon. Sir Charles Abbott,
Knight, Lord Chief .Justice of the Court of King's
Bench, in and after Nlichaelmas Term 1819: