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, 151,P., Q C.; Sir P. Cochrane, Judge of Gibraltar;
S'r Eardiey 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, S,r-
geant Simm, Mr Newt). M.P,, the Hon. G. Denman, the
Hon. D. Campbell, IV. Hawes, EFT, J. Parkes, Esq., Mr
Macqueen, &3,, &c.
The entry of the two illustrious strangers was bailed
with warm app'ause.

Mr G. M . HASTINGS, general secretary, then read an
address from the standing committee, which in the first in-
stance alluded to the able address of Sir `Villia►n Erle,
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, at the last meeting of
the association, held at iYerk in September last, upon the
present condition of English law, especially the absence of
a digest of recorded decisions by the different equity and
common law courts. It referred to the evils which at present
ari e from the want of an organisation of :the profession
throughout the country, and the want cf 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 eommunity, 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 ho 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
M. Berryer to-morrow that the English bar was more
numerous than anybody that could be contained in that
romp, which was devoted only to the delibera ions, 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.)
Sir F. KELLY, in seconding the motion, said it was hn •
possible for him to express his gratification in meeting on
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 appreeiation of the bar of England—it was not the
first time—and to declare, as he 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 ao 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 T. 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 criminal cases to sum 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. HEADLIM, M.P.,
Lord BROUGHAM quite agreed with the,Attornoy-General
hat 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
which required consideration; and he doubted whether 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 wall 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 that it would not go much
farther. (Laughter.) Something was said about the import
taut 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 cross-examina-
tion, as in France—and this was one of the very worst parts
of the French criminal procedure—to any provision of that
kind he would be strenuously opposed ; but he thought the
accused in a criminal case might be examined under the
circumstances he had mentioned. The noble lord concluded
by expressing his pleasure at the meting being attended by
he distinguished visitors who had honoured them with their
presence.

The motion for the adoption of the report was then una
nimously agreed to.

M. EERRYER (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 the discussion that bad taken place upon the
amendment of the law. He =chided by claiming the
honour of becoming a member of the association, (Cheers.)ld.
DEsmAREsT, who was also warmly greeted, said
ke hoped to-morrow to address another assembly in his
own language; but he asked parmission, in the familiar
meeting of that evening, to speak a little English. He
had reasons for doing so. He confessed he was afraid to
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
danger to morrow ; but he
was perfectly resolved to be
beaten then. (Laughter.) But that night he profited by
their indulgence; and as he did not speak in his native lan-
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 Fitzroysellyhad said, what particularly
touched him was his allusion to the international sympathy
which existed between the members of the bar in different
Ho accepted that, for the feeling was in his
years ago he conversed upon that feeling in
cnSoepunalirintt.r,ielsSt'anlym,eand other countries of Europe where he had
travelled, When he had the good chance to come to Eng-
land he met this society, under the able direction of Lord
h e in
enrolledamatG himselflasgow and became a member of it ; and
having under its banner, he subsequently
B ro ug
Edinburgh, and London.
He I e
could its
therefore
g a faithful soldier of the
association. (Hear, hear.) Its aim was the unification of
I
legislation, and already ! had attained great results.
attended meetings
Another international association had since been founded
on the same basis and with the same objects in view, and
it had held its meetings at Brussels, Ghent, and Am-
sterdam.atDublin,being
Lord BROUGHAM—It is the elder daughter of the asso-
ciation. (Hear, hear.)
DESMAREST hoped this family would grow for the
benefit of mankind, and for the welfare and peace of all na-
tions. They were all interested in that object, and if the
great and liberal
English nation directed its thoughts to
that end it would accomplish great results. After some
further remarks the learned gentleman thanked the meeting
for their hearty reception of him, and resumed his seat

amidst loud applause.
The Hon. G. DENUAN, M.P., moved a vote of thanks to
M. Berryer and M, Demarest for honouring the association
with their presence.
The motion was seconded by Mr FORSYTII, and carried
by acclamation.
M. BERRYER acknowledged the compliment in a few
words.
A vote of thanks to Lord Brougham, moved by the
ATTORNEY GENERAL; concluded the proceedings.

NEW PEEES.—Five new peers will be entitled to
take their seats in the House of Lord!, at the commence-
naencement of the next session of Parliament, viz., Lord
Harry Vane, formerly M.P. for Hastings, who has suc-
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 19th of August, will not be able to take his
seat until 1878, when ho will be of age.