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. Deemarest, batonnior 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;
Sir 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, Su.-
gean, Simm, Mr Newt). M.P., the Hon. G. Denman, the
Hon. D. Campbell, W. Hawer, &cll., J. Parkes, Esq.., Mr
Macqueer, &c.
The entry of the two illustrious strangers was hailed
with warm app'ause.

Mr G. W . 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 Nork in September last, upon the
present condi .ion 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 col.-
red the evils and irregularities which arise on various occa-
--ions. The patent law was next alluded to, and it suggested
that patent cases should bo 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 he could not, of
course, avoid giving expression to his own feel-
ings, and the feelings of these around him, as to the in-
teresting circumstance which led to the assemblage of
the members being so large. They certainly hoped to show
Berryer to-morrow that the English bar was more
numerous than anybody that could be contained in that
room, which was devoted only to the deliberaions, 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. lie believed ho 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 im•
possible for him to express his gratification in meeting on
such an occasion by far the most illustrious member of the
bar of
present generation—in seeing
nindividual
anative of that country in which
A Fran ce known
who
being t o the
great changes had taken place within tho memory of all of
as—in its Government, in its constitution, and in its des-
iny—had ever remained faithful to the purest principles
af.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
end honourable office of batonnier of the bar of France,
el. Desmarest, whose reputation was not only good and
brilliant in his own country, but had spread throughout
Europe and the world. He had come amongst them to
show his appreciation 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 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.
lie expressed himself in favour of allowing the counsel for
the defence in criminal cases to sum up the evidence, and
if other reforms in the law which he hoped would soon be
carried into effect.

After a few words from Mr. lIEADLAM, M.P.,
Lord BROUGHAM quite agreed with the Attorney-General
that it was not to be expected he gliouid opinions on
dust occasion upon the various points in the address of the
Association. Indeed, no opinions were expressed in the ad-
tress, 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. Ile
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
rhompson 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 impel,
tant 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 France—and this was ono of the very worst parts
of the French criminal procedure—to any provision of that
kind ho would be strenuously opposed ; but he thought the
tccused in a criminal case might be examined under the
circumstances he had mentioned. The 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 utast-
oimou.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 the discussion that bad taken place upon the
amendment of the law. He concluded by claiming the
honour of becoming a member of the association, (Cheers.)
M. DESMAREST,
who was also warmly greeted, said
he hoped to-morrow to address another assembly in his
own language; but he asked permission, 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-
He should not, however, escape that
but he was perfectly resolved to be
dan-
gerous.
beatener:guesr.h
then.to ;
(morrowgter.)
(Laughter.) But that night he profited ry
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 if ho spoke in French, (Laughter.) Among the
things which Sir Fitzroy Belly had said, what particularly
touched him was his allusion to the international sympathy
which existed between the members of the bar in different
countries.
Some years ago ho conversed upon that feeling in
Spain, Italy, and other countries of Europe where he had
travelled. When ho had the good chance to come to Eng-
land he mot this society, under the able direction of Lord
heae. He accepted that, for the feeling was in his
Brougham at Glasgow, and became a member of it; and
having enrolled himself under its banner, he subsequently
attended its meetings at Dublin, Edinburgh, and London.
Ho could therefore boast of being a faithful
soldier
of
the,
association.giaslto and(iiea already hear.) Its aim was the unification of
legislation, ready it had attained great results.
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.
Lord BROUGHAX—It is the elder daughter of the asso-
ciation. (Hear, hear.)
M. 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
further remarks wouldtheaccomplish
arne gentleman
for their hearty reception of him, and resumed his seat
amidst loud applause.
M.P.
The Hon. G. DEN?'
, moved a vote of thanks to
M. Berryer an.
d Demarest for honouring the association
with their presence.
The motion was seconded by Mr FORSYTH, and oarried
by acclamation.
M. BERRYER acknowledged the compliment in a few
le great results. After some
thanked the meeting
words.
A vote of thanks to Lord Brougham, moved by the
ATTORNEY, GENERAL, concluded the proceedings.

NEW t'EERS.—Five new peers will be entitled to
take their seats in the House of Lerch at the commence-
mencement of the nest 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
Boringdou, 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,