The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-06 00:00:00

THE MILITIA.

On the motion for the organiaAtion of the Militia pro
forma,

Mr. HUME said that he would take that opportunity of
inquiring the amount of the necessary expense for the
embodiment of the militia. At any rate, he hoped that
no sums would be demanded of the country for this pur-
pose without the proposition of the whole of the ex-
penses being subjected to the jurisdiction of the House
of Commons.
Sir G. GREY said, that there was no intention what-
ever of entering into unnecessary expense. This Bill
was simply brought in to keep up the staff of the militia,
and of course to provide for its cost, but without any in-
tention, unless necessity should arise, of increasing the
outlay to the country.
The Bill was then read a first time.
COURT OF CHANCERY.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL rose to move for leave

to bring in a Bill for improving the practice in the High
Court of Chancery, and said that, notwithstanding the
many improvements which had been made in the con-
duct of the law courts, much remained to be effi-cted in
the reformation of the superior courts of law.—(Hear,
hear.) The first of these was the Supreme Court
of Equity. In that much had been accomplished,
by Lord Brougham, whose efforts were always admir-
ably useful; but of course could only be available for
the time. Lord Brougham left office, and was succeeded
in the end by Lord Cottenhaw, whose unhappy iliness
had caused the business to fall into arrear.—(gear,
hear.) It was not owing to any deficiency of that
Noble Lord, but to the necessity of the case, and
consequently many causes were loft on the paper.
which it would have been better to dispose of. The
object of the Bill which he desired to lay on the table
of the House was to obviate the evil which
there was an evident necessity to meet. The Bill
would further contain a provision of an import-
ant nature, which was not recommended by the report of
the Committee which bad sat upon this subject. It
would, in fact, abolish the fee system.—(Hear, hear.)
Now, the fee system had been a great nuisance
to the suitors of the Court of Chancery,
and he had no remedy, for the Committee, upon look-
ing into the matter, had found this startling result—
that in the course of a year a suitor had to pay fees
upon something like 330,000 transactions. In one case
there had been paid 2981. in 393 payments.—(Hear,
hear.) There were 90 officers in the Court of Chancery,
but of these 90 officers only 40 ratified the amounts they
received by a P. davit, and it was now proposed by one
part of this system to abolish the payment of
fees, which would involve a considerable saving
of time and trouble, and to substitute for it a
species of stamp, that would be issued to the
suitors, and prevent their dancing attendance upon the
ninety officers to whom he had already referred.—(Hear,
hear.) But this was not the only benefit which the Bill
would confer upon the suitor in respect of the fee sys-
tem. The suitors' fund, which consisted of two parts,
amounted to something like four millions sterling.
which stood invested in Consols in the name of the
Accountant-General, and which produced en income of
112,0001. Gut of this latter sum the vttriou officers
of the Court of Chancery were paid, including
the Lord Chancellor 6,000/, the two Lords
Ju.ticei 12,0004, and ahe two Vice-Chancellors
10,0001., making a total of 28,0001. a year.
Now it was obvious that the support of these latter
officers ought to be borne by the Consolidated Fund. It
was unjust to call upon the suitors to pay them; as
well, indeed, might they call upon the tradesman who
was robbed in the streets to contribute fees for the main-
tenance of the judge who tried the robber, and it was
therefore proposed that, at some future period, the pay-
ment of the salaries of these judges in Chancery should
be thrown upon the Consolidated Fund.—(Hear, hear.)
The administrative part of the Court of Chancery
would then only be left to be provided for in
the Payment of salaries to officers, but as this
branch of the machinery was only used for the benefit
of the suitors who put it in motion, such as in the ad-
ministration of j
upon ustice,
the visitor to pay for it.—(Hear,
there could be no possible objec-
tion to calling
bear-) Another grievance which the suitor complained
of, was the Office Copy system. Formerly they
were
compelled to pay le. 4d. per folio for office copies,
but a year or two ago the fee was reduced to 4d., which
produced a saving to the suitor of no less than 28,000/,
It was now proposed to go farther, and by the Bill the
office copy
system,
a
system, would be abolished 1 01 r heal;.)
By the present
numberas well
0 aosffices somen
now
w portions
existing
thefee
would
be abolished; for inatanee, the Lord Chancellor had six
alto ether.—(Hear, ea
secretaries; of these, the first was his private secretary,
whom, of course, it was not intended to disturb; then
there was the Secretary of IDiunotion, with a oalarY Vf ,

50/. a-year, which it was proposed to abolish; the Secre-
tary of Presentations, and the Secretary to the Commis-
sions of the Peace now both filled would be uui,ed in
one gentleman at the first opportunity. The secretary
of lunatics, the registrar in lunacy, the stcretary of bank-
rupts, and the chief registrar in bankruptcy, would be
united in one officer, making a saving of 1,200/. a
year. The three offices of chaff-wax, sealer, and clerk
of the patents officers whose salaries amounted to 1,8001,
a year, would be entirely abolished. Of the two Gentle-
men of the Chamber attached to the Lord Chancellor
only one would be retained, and that gentleman's salary
would be reduced from 700/. to 5001. a sum I
which he (the Solicitor-General) knew personally
would be not more than adequate for the
valuable services which that gentleman rendered to the
Lord Chancellor. The clerk of the affidavits would be
abolished, and in fact the whole Affidavit-office done
away with altogether. The Hon. and Learned Gentle-
man then went into a detail of the salaries of
the several subordinate officers, showing that there
would be a saving of about 7,000/. a year. But, besides
this, there was the salary of the Accountant-General,
who participated in the bmkerage of the court. He te9k
three-filtbH of the hr.( kerag, , and the broker two fifths.
Through that brokerage the Accountant-General re-
ceived upwards of 3,000/. a year, which, together with
his salary of 400/. a year as master in chancery, made up
an income of more than 5,200/. a year. This with
the other changes which were proposed, he hoped to
realise a saving of at least 100 000/. a year. The conse-
quence was that the suitors would have to pay no more
than was absolutely necessary for the security of
their own cause.—(Hear, hear.) The money paid into
the Court of Chancery, in fact, would be neither more nor
less than a payment into the hands of their own bankers.
The truth was that the accountant-general paid the
whole of the money into the Bank of England, and a
cheque drawn upon the accountant-general was equal
England...—(Hear,
in value to any cheque drawn upon the Bank of
hear.) It was proposed then that the
fees of the inferior officers and the duties of the officers
themselves shonld be abolished.—(Hear, hear.) The
object was to do away with the system of fees altogether
and to
Pay the several officers by salaries.—(Hear.) They
found that the clerks of the court could not be done
without, and they, therefore, proposed to retain them.
But in Ibis case as well as in the one to which he hod
just alluded the same evil existed, and the object of the
Bill was to give the Lord Chancellor the power of fixing
those salaries. In order to show the evil, however, he
would cite two instances. The first was, that of a
young man who was the clerk to a solicitor, and had to
petition the court in a case of lunacy. That
young man bad saved 800/., and the costs which
he had to incur rose to the sum of 2661.,
of which no lees than 551. was spent in :the fees of
court. The other was that of a lady's maid, who had
saved 800/, of which more than one-fourth had to be
expended in even putting the affairs into train.
Now he thought he had stated the principal features of
this Bill; there were other minor details, but these would
be seen when the Bill was printed, and came to be referred
to a Committeee.—(Hear, hear.) Originally this Bill con-
tained clauses for the abolition of the master's office,
but they had been taken oat, and he need not
delay the House with them.—(Hear.) A report
from the Chancery Commission had been laid on the
table recommending considerrble modification in
the Master's offices, and in fact the trans-
ference of the duties performed by the trus-
tees to the judges of each court. If that
recommendation should be hereafter adopted, there
would no longer be any necessity for the office of
master in chancery, and it was therefore proposed to
embody the recommendation of the Commissioners
in a Bill.—(Hear, hear.) This Bill would
case the luitor's something like 60,0001. or 80,0001,
and when the other measures to which he had referred
should be adopted, justice would be administered
it ni theu sl Courtc hoefe
rsChancery.)
fe e
concluded
uodneldy cheaply
moving
eap l yut ex pedi-
y
b for leave
to bring in a Bill.—(Hear.)
Leave was accordingly given.
METROPOLITAN WATER SUPPLY.
Lord SEYMOUR moved for leave to bring a Bill
for the better supply of Water in the Metropolis.
The large amount of public and private
interest involved in this subject, made it im-
portant that the Bill should be introduced
at this early ~:period. and :as the House had
been well supplied with evidence upo this matter
for some years past, it was not unreasoable to
suppose that the House ought :this sessfon
to be able to make up its mind upon the question.—
(Hear.) The objects which the House no doubt had in
view were three-fold—firstly, to obtain a sufficient supply
of water; secondly, to insure good water; and, thirdly, to
insure the supply at a cheap rate.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.
(From the London New Price Current, Feb. 6.)

SUGAR,—To-day a much better demand was expe,
rienced for West India Sugar, both for grocery and re-
fining purposes; at auction 159 hhds Barbadoes went
more freely at the previous currency, fine yellow selling
at 40s, good mid to good 34a 6d to 37e, and other sorts
30s 6d to 38s per cwt. Operations today were 1,053,
making for the week, 1,837 hhds and tree.
EAST India.—This afternoon there was no public
sale of East India Sugar, but privately an extensive bu-
siness was concluded in soft brown Bengal and Madras
at 23s to 24a per cwt, distillers being the chief operators.
MAURITIUS.—Tbis afternoon Mauritius Sugar was
operated to with more freedom, and at public sale 5,100
bags were all sold, and 6d per cwt. advance was realised
fur better sorts of yellow; other kinds went at full rates;
for good to fine yellow the prices obtained were 32s 6d
to 34s 6d, mid to good mid 30s to 325, fine brown and
ord yellow 28a to 29s 6d, mid to good grainy yellow 34s
to 355.

REFINED.—To-day Refined Sugar was much in de-
mand for home consumption. and prices closed with
firmness; brown lumps at 443 to 443 6,1 per cwt. There
are several orders in the market unexecuted, owing to a
want of supply.
FOREIGN.—To-day holders of Foreign Sugar were
firmer, and none of any sort was offered at public sale.
There is rattler more demand privately, both for export
and home trade purposes, the rates of yesterday being
sustained.
31°;, and rather higher rates are obtained for all descriptions.
Operations fur the week amount to 500 puns at Ils 6d to
1236AasnsdEs—West India remains much in demand,
fine Antigua at 13c. Some parcels of Mau-
ritius have been sold at 10s 6d to I Is; Cuba and Porto
Rico wanted at 12s to 12s 6d. Honey, low to fine
Jamaica realized from 353 to 505. Tamarinds, East
India can 6e obtained at 6s to 123, and West India from
20s to 30s per cwt

COFFEE.--To-day the demend was not better from
exportafs or borne dealers. Of 469 pkgs 420 bags Plan-
tation Ceylon at auction not above a third part found
buyers at the previous value, good went at 53s to 563,
m t ht
he
e so r
market t s 4 2 s
hast o
1;19d se, l l ordep
pt iereargeet t
c3e6a to
d
43a. For Native
.
an
thiedreso4areto 5
sellers of good ord at 38s per cwt in large
parcels. Of Jamaica 12 cks at auction were taken in at
60s for good mid.

COCOA.—llolders of West India are firm, and none
has been off Ted at auction this week. Privately several
purchases have been made, and the rates paid are rather
above those current previously. Trinidad good to fine
red realiz .d 37s to 40:,, mid to g,,od mid 34s 6d to 363 6d,
common 33s to 345, grey from 31s to 335; and Grenada
P
30s to 345. In
Foreign there is not the least improve-
ment of demand, and at auction 1,730 bags Para were
taken in at 24s to 26.,. Privately Guayaquil can be ob-
tained at 303 per cwt.
TEA.—In Cungou sales have been upon a small scale.
There are sellers of low quality at 7d to 74d, good ord
sound 8d to Bid; blackish lest 9d to Ild, superior and
Pekoe Itiuda 1 lid to is 51 per lb. Oolong met withw
little notice, lo
to mid at 8d to I Id, good to
tine Is to 18 4d. c.,
..Joucii,.. ong good to fine at is Id
to is Bd, and common to mid 8d to Is. Pouctiong
has been little inquired for, and can be obtained at 4d.
to 6d. Green Tea is free) offering at previous valua-
tions, and in memo casesy
rather under. To-day the
public sales of Tea attracted little notice, and of 2,400
pkgs offered not above one-third sold at rather lowerg
rates for Hyson, young Hyson, end Gunpowder.
RlCE.—To•day East India Rice was sold to a fair
extent privately at full prices. Of Jamaica Arrowroot;
700 tins at auction in part sold 5d to 6id per lb.
COCIIINEAL—HoIders are firm, and none has been
submitted to public sale this week. Privately purchases
to a fair extent have been made, and the previous value
is sustained.
black 38 4d, to 4s 9d; Mexican 33 3d to 3s 8d; Silvers
2s 10d toHonduras Silvers are selling at 3s to 316 d,
3s; Teneriffe 3a 2d to 3s 9d per lb.
SPICEC—The previous advance is well supported for
Pepper, supply
being small and demand good both for
shipping and home consumption. Sales, privately of
Sumatra and Penang at 34c1 to aid; Malabar aid to
3.0 per lb. In white several transactions have
taken place privately at rather higher rates. At
auction 63 bags realized 7d to Bfd for mid
and good. For better kinds rates range from 81d to
11d.
t
Cayenne is, however, cheaper, a parcel of 50 cases
selling at 71d to 80 for common; but other kinds are
worth 9d to is 6d. Few inquiries have existed for
Cs2s,sitaoLlig2n4esa; B
, supplybuotdsa
t beingl3os
to scanty,ltos. rln
ecsarsebiniaavin
Vera
u
sales have been made at 45s to 60s. In Cloves several
transactions have taken place, privately. Amboyna has
been telling
at 7d to 8d; Penang is Id; Bourbon and
Africanms
a reed
stuOppttea ; For
but inferiorb:tter
soNutmegsrts precious
terms
are
ld to
2d per lb cheaper. At auction 70 cases and 20 bags
were sold; common to mid brown went is 7d to 2s 3d,
good mid to good 28 4d to 2s 7d, one lot fine 2s 11d,
wormy 5d to 103, and in the shell is 2d to is 3d.
Common to fine limed is from is 4d to 2s 2d. For
Mace there is an advance of id to 2d. A public sale of
24 cases went at 2s 3d to 2s 5d for good mid to good, is
10d to 2e 2d foa ord to mid. Previous terms are well
sustained for Pimento. Public sales of 130 bags went at
4i-t1 to 4.0 for mid. The value of better sorts is 4iel to sd.
Ginger is held with firmness. Privately, several par-
cels have been sold; African at 24s 6d; Jamaica, low to
mid 423 to 60s, good to fine 62a to 2205; Calicut and
Cochin 30s to 525; fine 548 to 665; Export East India
168 to 175 per cwt. To-day a public sale of 70 bags
Picuento went at 4dto 44d for mid, these aro full
rates.
SPIRITS.—In Demerara Rum large purchases have
been made at from 2s 2d to 2s 4d over; on the part of
holders there is also confidence. Leeward Island is in
good demand, and realise is 5d to is sid proof; at these
terms there are not free sellers. East India is wanted
at is 30 to is 4d proof. Prices have not advanced
for Jamaica. Sales of fine and choice marks 348 to 38s
over proof made at 3s to 4s, good 32 to 35 over
proof 2s 2d to 2s 10, mid to good mid 2s 4d to 2s 6d,
and low 27s to 301 over 26 2d to 2s 4d. The Brandy
market remains firm. Cognac best brands of the vin-
tage of 1851 realise 4s 2d to 4s 4d, 1850 ditto 45 5d to
43 7d, 1849 ditto 4s 9d to 4s ltd, 1848 ditto 58 3d to 5a
sGli 916161 64 to 61 6d, 101 P Mid cil 20 104 to 41, pil

Bourdeaux 2s 9cl to 25 4d. British made Spirit is 9s
lld to 103, Gin 9s for 17s under, and 22 ditto 8s 6d per '
gallon. G neva, common, ls 8d to is 9J, and fine is
101 to 2, per e' lion.
SALTPETRE.—To-day a good demand was experienced
for C4lcutta, and a public sale of 900 blgs went at firm
rates, from 25s 6d to 28s for mid to good quality 12i to
74 per cent refraction.
FRIIIT.—The demand for Currants is dull, hut prices
firm, new 303 to 355, old 31s to 253. Valencia, Rai.ins
are gong off very slowly now at 31s to 435, old 223 to
but from the scarcity of Smyrna there is a pros-
pect of a better demand. In Muscatels and Turkey Figs
there is little doing.
Oms.—Prices have declined for Rape Seed Oil, and
transactions are upon a small scale ; brown at 29s 6d,
pale 30s 6d, and Refined Foreign 31s 6d. Linseed Oil
met with little notice from the shippers and home
dealers, and a slight reduction has taken place,
55s 6d to 25s 9d being taken on the spot.
Production is. however, not much exceeding con-
sumption. Holders of Palm remain firm, and
obtain 25e 6d to 26e 6d for fine ; there is also good
demand. C.,coa Nut is wanted; Cn)lon and Cochin at
31 to 355, Sydney 28a to 303, but supply is yet small.
°dye has met with ready purchaser, end holders have
confidence; Gallipoli realised 441 to 45/, other sorts 42/
to 431 103 per tun. Lard Oil still sells slowly at 44s to
455; Gingen), Oil, 30s ;o 30s 6d. In Cod there is little
bu,iness doing.
TALLOW.—This afternoon the public sales of tallow
procfeded heavily, and at rather lower rates. Of 690 •
cks AuNtralian about 300 sold, Mutton 33s to 35s 6{l,
Beef 32s to 6d; 320 pkgs South American were
effared, and 100 sold at 33s 64 to 355; 49 cks Horse
Grease 276 to 295; 129 csks old P. Y. Candle realized
34s 6d for good.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

ROUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 5.
LEGAL REFORM.

The LORD CHANCELLOR brought in a Bill, en-
titled the Common Law Procedure Bill, which was
foundQd upon the report of the Commissioners who were
appointed to inquire into the practice and procedure of
the courts of law at Westminster. He intimated this
was only one of a series of Bills he intended to intro-
duce.

Lord CAMPBELL expressed his satisfaction that the
Noble Lord had brought in, at so early a period of the
session, a Bill from which he believed the greatest benefit
might be expected, in regard to the administration of the
common law. He inquired whether he proposed to bring in
a Bill to provide that ihe payment of officers of the courts
of law should be by fees and not by salaries, an
improvement which he considered would be highly
beneficial.

The LORD CHANCELLOR said the cffect of the
Bill would be to diminish the fees very considerably. The
Chancery Amendment Bill would substitute salaries for
fees in regard to the clerks of the Chancery Court.
The Bill was thi n read a first time.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.

The LORD CHANCELLOR also brought in a Bill
to annihilate the office of Secretary of Bankruptcy, and
to annihilate the salary of the Registrar.
After a brief conversation the Bill was read a first
time.

CONSOLIDATED ANNUITIES OF LAND.-

IRELAND.

On the motion of Lord MONTE AGLE certain re.
turns relating to consolidated annuities on land in Ire.
land were ordered.
REGISTRATION OF ASSURANCES.

In reply to a question put by a NOBLE LORD,
Lord CAMPBELL said be was happy to be able to
state that a Bill in reference to the registration of as-
surances weuld be brought into the House of Commons
by the Master of the Rolls early in the se,:sion. Ho
should add that he (Lord Campbell) was entirely in
favour of the Bill, and hoped it would become the law
of the land, believing it would be the foundation of the
law of real property. —(Hear, hear.)
Their Lordships then adjourned.