The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-08 00:00:00

The National Association for the Promotion
of Social Science.

The opening meeting of the department of Jurisprudence
and Amendment of the Law was held last night at the
office of the society, 1, Adam-street, Adelphi. The chair
was taken by the Right Hon. Lord Brougham, and on his
right sat M. Berryer, the distinguished French advocate,
and M. Desmarest, batonnier of the French bar. Among
those present we observed the Attorney• General, Sir F.
Kelly, M,P., Q C.; Sir P. Cochrane, Judge of Gibraltar;
S r Eardley Wilmot, Mr Daniell, Q C., Mr Forsyth, Mr D.
Lee, the Right Hon. the Judge-Advocate, Sergeant Pulling,
Sergeant Burke, Sergeant A kinson, Sergeant Parry, Str-
geant Simm, Mr Neat°, M.P., the Hon. G. Denman, the
Hon, D. Campbell, W. 'lrma, Efq., J. Parkes, Et3s, Mr
Macqueer, &0.,
The entry of the two illustrious strangers was bailed
with warm applause.

Mr G. . HASTINGS, general secretary, then read an
address from the standing committee, which in the first in-
stance alluded to the able address of Sir William Erle,
Chief Justice cf the Common Pleas, at the last meeting of
the association, held at ,York in September last, upon the
present condi ion of English law, especially the absence of
a digest cf recorded decisions by the different equity and
common law courts. It refer' ed to the evils which at present
an e from the want of an organisation of ,the profession
throughout the country, and the want of authority to cor-
rect the evils and irregularities which arise on various occa-
sions. The patent law was next alluded to, and it suggested
that patent cases should be tried without a jury, but with
the aid of scientific men. The bankrupt law was next
brought under consideration, and it was said that it now
gave great dissatisfaction to the mercantile community, and
referred to the opinion given by the committee which sat on
the subject during the last session of Parliament, The in-
quiry was to be renewed in the next session, when it was
hoped the difficulties surrounding the question would be re-
moved. The report, in conclusion, stated the present meet-
ing was called a week earlier than usual in order to have
the honour of receiving their two distinguished visitors—one
of whom was the most illustrious advocate of the French
bar, and the other the official head of that bar. (Cheers.)
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in moving that the report be
received and printed, said it called attention to many sub-
jects of the greatest interest and importance, and in a
manner which would recommend them to the serious
consideration of all who were called upon to deal with
them practically. On this occasion he could not, of
course, avoid giving expression to his own feel-
ings, and the feelings of those around him, as to the in-
teresting circumstance which led to the assemblage of
the members being so large. They certainly hoped to show
91. Berryer to-morrow that the English bar was more
numerous than anybody that could bo contained in that
room, which was devoted only to the deliberations, in a
private way, of a society whose object was the amendment
of the law. He should not be surprised if M. Berryer saw
one of the finest and most ancient of the halls in the metro-
polis as well filled to-morrow night by members of the bar
as now was that room to which many were unable to ob-
tain admittance. He believed he expressed the unanimous
feeling of the profession when he said they were proud to
see him, proud to honour him, and felt highly honoured by
his presence. (Cheers.)

said it was im •
the motion,
in meeting on
posSsiirbFle.
fliorm.hLialY,tion
esxoperoensdsinhgis
such an occasion by far the most illustrious member of the
bar of France known to the present generation—in seeing
an individual who being a native of that country in which
great changes had taken place within the memory of all of
us—in its Government, in its constitution, and in its des-
tiny—had ever remained faithful to the purest principles
of liberty, and to the independence of the bar and
the people. (Cheers) They also saw before them a very
eminent and able member of the French bar—one who had
by the members of his profession been elected to the high
and honourable office of batonnier of the bar of France,
M. Desmarest, whose reputation was not only good and
brilliant in his own country, but had spread throughout
Europe and the world. Ho had come amongst thaw to
show his appreciation of the bar of England—it was not the
first time—and to declare, as be hoped he would have an
opportunity of doing to .morrow, that amongst the members
of the English bar and the bgr of France, as well as of
every bar throughout Europe, the principles of liberty and
independence prevailed—that there was so substantial
difference of opinion between them, and that they were all
united together by a spirit of fraternity. He therefore re-
joiced that, under the presidency of their illustrious leader,
Lord Brougham, they should once, at least, in his great
career be honoured by the presence of such eminent per-
sonages. The hon. and learned gentleman then spoke in
terms of praise of the address of Sir J. Wilde at York, and
said they could not hope for any success in the codification
of the law until they had settled upon some satisfactory
principle for the complete consolidation of the statutes.
He expressed himself in favour of allowing the counsel for
the defence in ctiminal csses to eum up the evidence, and
of other reforms in the law which he hoped would soon be
carried into effect.

After a few words from Mr. HEAnidot, M.P.,
Lord BROUGHAM quite agreed with the Attorney-General
that it was not to be expected he should express opinions on
that occasion upon the various points in the address of the
association. indeed, no opinions were expressed in the ad-
dress, it being simply a statement of the different subjects
w
which required consideration ; and he doubted hether any
one would question that they did require consideration. He
was struck with one or two things, and partially the changes
in the decisions of the courts and the authority of the de-
cisions. He well remembered a most distinguished gentle-
man answering a question of his—whether the case of
Thompson v. Jackson was now reckoned an authority. His
answer was, that it was a good authority in every case in
which the plaintiff's name was Thompson and the defend-
ant's name was Jackson, but tha,,, it would not go much
farther. (Laughter.) Something was said about the import
tint attempt repeatedly made to extend the measure allow-
ing the admission of the parties to give evidence in civil
cases to criminal cases, where the party tendered himself
and wished to be examined, and where, of course, he would
be subjected to a sifting cross-examination. That any
one should be compelled to be cross-examined, and particu-
larly cross-examined by a judge with all the information
before him, and with every other means for cress-examina-
tion, as in Franco—and this was one of the very worst parts
of the French criminal procedure—to any provision of that
kind he would be strenuously oprosed ; but he thought the
accused in a criminal case might be examined under the
circumstances he had mentioned. Tho noble lord concluded
by expressing his pleasure at the meeting being attended by
he distinguished visitors who had honoured them with their
presence.
The motion for the adoption of the report was then una-
nimou.ly agreed to.

M. BERRYER (who spoke in French, and was loudly
cheered) said he was much indebted to Lord Brougham for
having introduced him to such an assembly, and that he
had listened with admiration—and even with a certain jea-
lousy—to tho discussion that had taken place upon the
amendment of the law. He concluded by claiming the
honour of becoming a member of the association, (Cheers.)
AL DzaatAnEsT, who Was a:5O warmly greeted, said
he hoped to-morrow to address another assembly in his
own language; but he asked permission, in the familiar
had reasons for doing so. He confessed he was afraid to
meeting of that evening, to speak a little English. He
speak French by the side of his illustrious neighbour—the
comparison in their native language would be too dan-
gerous. Laughter.) He should not, however, escape that
dange(
to-morrow ; but he was perfectly resolved to be
beaten then. (Laughter,) But that night ho profited by
their indulgence ; and as ho did not speak in his native lan-
-1 guage he had a chance of not being completely understood
by that most dangerous sweetness which could cross-exa-
mine him it he spoke in French, (Laughter.) Among the
things which Sir Fil zroy Kelly had said, what particularly
touched him was his allusion to the international sympathy
e accepted that, for the feeling was in his
which existed between the members of the bar in different
hepincountries.taar.,Stay, olmlie years ago ho conversed upon that feeling in
Spain, and other countries of Europe where he had
me awmasemthbeerunoifficiat
unification
travelled, When ho had the good chance to come to Eng-
land he met this society, under thbetadanibnaleberu,drgirhe,otainond
London.
He
a faithful soldier of the
he subsequently
attained great results.
hear.)
n had since been founded
Brougham at Glasgow, and ble?tscaeadgmi
havingaHttee
enodue
lddienrolledttsh e meetingsr therefore
ohimselfboast st undertitfu
bbi
being
iintns,
on the same basis and with hoesamo objects in view, and
it had held its meetings Brussels,
at Ghent, and Am-
sterdam. T the elder
Lord BROUGRAIef ...it a
lAa este illationooct ihaetrion:international and(hi e (Bear,
alreadyli eaars
daughter of the use-
is family would grow for the
nation directed its thoughts to
and for the welfare and peace of all na-
benefit of mankind,
interested .1.1 .
na-
tions. They were all 1
.that object, and if the
asso-
ciation. r
s()lfileitarE,
shreahro.
great and liberal great
that end it would accomplish results. After some
the learned gentleman thanked the meeting
further remarks
for their hearty reception warmed his seat
amidst loud applause.
.........
G. DENMAN, N r., moved a vote of thanks to
The Hon.
English
area for honouring the association
M. Berryer and Id, Dem
with their presence. hear.)
this
ded by Mr FORSYTH, and carried
The motion was secon
by acclamation.
vlcdged the compliment in a few
M. BEnnYEn [1C.030
words.
to Lord Brougham. moved by the
A vote of thanks
ATTORNEY. GENERAL, concluded the proceedings.

NEw PEERS.—Five new peers will be entitled to
for ho has
take their seats in the House of Lords at the commence-
ruencement of the next session of
HParlastiniamenswt, viz., Lor
suc-
d
Harry Vane, formerly M.Y. g ,
ceeded to the dukedom of Cleveland—the Earl of Lincoln,
who has succeeded to the dukedom of Newcastle—Viscount
Boringdon, who has become Earl of Morley—Viscount
Chelsea, who has succeeded to the earldom of Cadogan—
and the Earl Jermyn, lately M.P. for West Suffolk, who
has become Marquis of Bristol. Lord Rodney, whose father
died on the 19in of August, will not bo able to take his
seat until Ib7B, when lie will bo of ago.