The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-17 00:00:00

Understood. to allude to the position of barristers, and to
deprecate taking from the barrister the hope of rising in
his profession, which would prevent their being a bar
out of which judges with the proper qualification might
be selected. Before he sat down, he would state what
he had heard with great satisfaction, that it was the
intention of Government to proceed with what was
called a digest of criminal law. A Commission had
sat on that subject for seven or eight years, which
had produced valuable materials to legislate upon ;
and, after the expenditure of many thousands, the
country would be anxious that money should not be lost,
but that we should have an Act of Parliament com-
prising a digest of the criminal law. Looking at the
great mass of materials already prepared, it was not pro-
posed to renew that Commission. He might say that he
was no friend to Commissions in general. The Noble
and Learned Lord then proceeded to declare, as far as
Nv,e could gather, his opinion against a digest of the
civa law, there being great inconvenience in a long Act
of Parliament, and he concluded by expressing a hope
that in the projected bills he should have the assistance
of other Noble and Learned Lords, who, though they
might not agree with them in everything, yet might feel
disposed to assist. The subject had a great deal to do
with the administration of justice, and he trusted they
would give their valuable assistance, without which the
labours of the promoters of the measure might be in-
effectual.

Lord BROUGHAM expressed his gratitude to the
Noble and Learned Lord for the statement he had
just made. He himself was disposed to lay before
their Lordships this Session a Bill relating to the Bank-
ruptcy Courts ; and the question would then arise as
connected with the County Courts whether one or the
other would be the best. He should also lay before their
Lordships again that part of the County Courts Exten-
sion Bill of last year and the year before which was not
passed last year, which were then postponed in order not
to obstruct the great and valuable measures which were
dam in progress for the improvement of the judicature
of the Court of Chancery. He should also add a third
Bill which was before them not, last year, but the year
before to extend the jurisdiction of County Courts to
matters of equity. The suitors in these courts and the
public at large had not been able to see why they should
be unable to obtain the establishment of a right without
being driven at a greater expense to the more distant
Court of Chancery in London. He should at the same
time present another Bill for the further improvement of
the law of evidence and procedure, which Bill would con-
tain provisions upon these important matters, making
the husband and wife competent and compellable wit-
nesses in every case, except criminal cases and adul-
tery, and making the wife's evidence not compellable
on matters communicated from one to another ;
secondly, for regulating the payment of money
into court ; thirdly, for regulating the mode of examin-
ing and cross-examing witnesses with regard to subjects
of collateral issue ; fourthly, for regulating the examina-
tion with respect to adverse witnesses and of collateral
issue ; next, for setting the law right, partly by enact-
ment and partly by legislation, with regard to the rule in
what was called the Queen's case in examination and
cross-examination, when the matter for examination and
cross-examination, was contained in a written document ;
next, and lastly, as to the law of evidence to regulate
the law, partly by declaration and partly by enactment,
with regard. to the comparison of handwriting. Next,
as regarded procedure for putting the Crown and the sub-
ject on the same footing in all respects with regard to
replying and other privileges now claimed. Also for
giving, where a party had been acquitted, whether on a
procedure for penalties or a criminal procedure, a right
to his costs against the Crown, subject to the discretion
of the Court ; and lastly, as regarded the subject of pro-
cedure to facilitate under the authority of the court, and
subject to its discretion, in criminal procedure the
changing of the venue.

Their-Lordships then adjourned at ten minutes to eight
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS--(YESTERDAY).
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before four
o'clock, when Sir William Molesworth and several other
Hon. Members were sworn in.