The Sun.
London, England, 1830-02-20 00:00:00

FRIDAY, FEB. IQ.

COONER, V. BUNNING.
Mr. Serjeant WILDE stated the case. This was an
action brought by the plaintiff, Mr. Cooper, to recover
compensation in damages from Mrs. Bunning, a widow
lady, for a breach of promise of marriage. The plaintiff
was a professional gentleman (a surgeon), and resided in
Seymour-street, New-road ; the defendant was a widow
lady, of independent fortune, whom his client had known
for many years previous to his wife's death, in September,
1828. After that period the plaintiff's acquaintance with
the defendant became more intimate, and a long corre-
spondence took place between them, as Mrs. Bunning was
residing at Portsmouth ; and the result was that she gave
a promise of marriage, which was accepted by Mr. Cooper.
That gentleman was between 50 and 60 years; the lady
was about 4,5, possessing much personal attractions and a
goal income. Mr. Cooper was not a man of large for-
tune, but he was carrying on a respectable profession in
the neighbourhood of Brunswick-square. Ile had one
daughter by his first wife, but she was in a delicate state of
health. From 1829 the good feeling which originally
tabarated. between the partie in this cause increased ; awl

the lady, exercising that prudence which might be ex-
pected
from a person at her time of life, promised h. t- PRICES OF BIOMES THIS
hand to the plaintiff, and induced him to part with his Bank Alto:* 1....-...- ,„,, 21n
house and businest,abd make other arrangements previous 3 1,7; ~Cent.e t tot. -1 9,3144
to their Inafriage, as would fully appear from the lady's 3 per Cent. -
letters, which would be read in evidence. The intitreey
,rpeittsjlenedt Ann. inne% 4 4
between the parties continued with onintierhlited agection Diuro. Iti26
down to October, 1829, at NoVember was fixed on by , Yank L. Ann.
fc 7-10 defendant for tht ell'ofmance of the ceremony. However, ' Ditto3°o yveeaarrs,
on the 13th October, only eight-and-forty hours after the India Sack 2:31,1 2101,,
reteipt of a most affectionate letter, the plaintiff received 1 Ditto Bonds N pirn
another from defendant, declining altogether the connexion)
and expressing her extreme regret at not being able to
keep her promise.

The following letters from the defendant to the plaintiff
woe then put in, and read by the Associate. The Brat
was dated from Marine-terrace, Portsmouth, Ist Dec.,
1828, and was written by the defendant to the plaintiff`
shortly after the death of his wife. It was as folio*. i
Maritie.terrstee, Dec. 1, 1828.
My dear Sir,-1 can easily believe yOlt toed consolation at this
moment ; though you must long since have expected the event,
yet, when it comes, it, fOr the time, completely overcomes us.
It must have bebn a blessed release to her, having been so great
a sulftter ; and I fervently hope her last moments were easy, and
free from anxiety.
As to my being in town before March, I think decidedly I had
better not ;—my thoughts, my affections will be with you ; and
I do .incerely hope.v, e shall then Meet in health and happiness.
I shall be most anxious to hear again from you, which, no doubt,
will soon be. My dear boy and self are in good health, and in
Hill enjo) merit of this lovely weather. lam sure when you see
the spot you will be much pleased with it, and not wonder I am
so partial to it ; at your convenience you, no doubt, mean to visit
it.—Looking forward to your nexttetter, believe tile, my dent
Sir, your's faithfully and most affectionetek,
IL BUNNING.

, May 2, 1829.
My own dear Love,—You know M
not half thearine-terrace uneasiness I have
had since we parted ; you have not been one instant out of my
mind ; and, believe me, love, I shall have no real comfort till I
receive your's on Friday morning, When I fervently hope yoti
will write in spiritc Ittamember the parting is over, and our
meeting *gain Is new all we have to 'ook forward to, which GOD
grant we may db in health and happiness. I km truly thankful
you overo-triled me ks to writing Once it-Week—no small comfort to
us both. 1y dear boy bore the journey famously. But again I
• ient, and not close this till to-morrow morning, that
I may tell you what sort of a night he had. Did Mrs. Greenaway
See us Did we not enjoy ourselves, love? I must not be vain
enough to conclude that you have not recovered your spirits, but
believe me, I am almost sad, only that I have so much (as you
observe) to beguile me of mg time. We had a very fine day,
only one gentleman insides he was most kind; we managed the
windows at we liked, and were as comfortable as in our own car.
ridge. We found all Well. Oh how I long, my deer love, to see
you here. I have not a fear blit that will come. Oh that it were
cone! But we must keep up our spirits, and trust to a good
Paorlowstit. Your tittle China bowl has travelled safe here, and
marches mine famously. Our Reading Rooms open on Monday,
ttathing Rooms, &c. If you love me, you will cheer me in your's
with the news that you are well and happy ; our prospect is a
pleasing one, and we are doing all we can to make things com-
fortable. At nine, dear, we shall play at cribbage, but somewhat
different to what we play it; but we must, you know, do pe-
nance sometimes : we are doing that now, though, I:trust, only
fora time. Ido not feel at all Wiped, but the pleasure I have
in writing to you, I think, has taken it off. Poor Mrs. Campling
rifts so heartily glad to see us. She looks, and is, very well.

COURSE OF EXCH.
Amsterdam C F 12 9
Ditto, at sight 12 tt
Rotterdam 2 U 12 8
Antwerp 12 8
Hamburg M.B. 14 3
Altona l4 :31.
Paris, .1 days' sight 25 80
Ditto 2 U. 26 5
Bordeaux 95 71

Frankfort on Maine, Ex. M 1554
Petersburgh, ruble, 3 Us. 10 0
Vienna, effective A. 2 M. 10 PS
Trieste...... do 10 17
Madrid 35%
Cadiz TS
Bilboa
Barcelona
Seville 3.5% ,
Gibraltar 47%1

MA
Arrived. Due.
O America
I Brazil
O Buenos Ayres 0
O Carthagena 0
1 Dublin 0
O Flanders
O France 0
O Guernsey kJersey 0

Sunday Morning.
My dear boy and self have had a famous good night, and I
think he is quite well again, thanks to your attention to him.
Looking most anxiously forward to Friday morning, I will not
give way to low spirits, bwt hops to receive, then, a comfortable
letter from you. lam Just Coillt ih from Church, S place that
alwAys Composes me much when I am over..anxious. lam now
going to post this ; and I am, my dear love, most faithfully and
fondly your's, E. H. BUNNING.

Marine-terrace, Aug, 24, 1829.
My I.Ove, my dearest Love,.—Your letter I was most happy to
rind *hat I wished it to be; through all trouble we but heighten
It by giving way to violent feelings, and too frequently disable
ourselves to enjoy returning comfort. I now submit to you my
plan—that you give up your house in September, thankful to get
rid of rent, taxes, and the keeping of a servant in town ; that you
look out for apartments, furnished or unfurnished, in the neigh.
bourhood of DevOnshire,street, or any of those old houses which
arc very roomy and reasonable, the servants of the house to do
us„k)ve, that we tray have no trouble of that kind. You can
there, in your turn, have your whist club comfortably. I would
by no means have you give that up. You can agree to take the
place Cdr dde yetir, pfoVided there should be DO serious incon-
mild:zee ; the find floor will be plenty—if you Can get it unftzr-
n ished so much the better. I like the large old rooms, with light
closets to them. Gloucester street, in times past, I have seen
cheap accommodation. Before you conclude let me know all by
letter; and, if you can, have your name up. Of course, love, it
rests with you to determine, if you like the plan. I would see
about it instantly, before the winter sets in. I should think
all about there would suit you. These Are only my ideas, and
we, I decidedly think, would be More comfortable, having lesson
Stir halids. 1 would I could fly to town to look about me, but
lam sure you will do your utmost to find something. I do
not like the new houses or town. We can then be here as it suits
us. You can come here in October for a little trip, if you cannot
patiently wait for my coming to town, which, by the by, would be by
far the most prudent. You can have your party snugly in your new
abode. I will, with the blessing of Gun, come to town on the
5/6th of November. You must, for the week or ten days, give the
place up to me at night, and then we will be united ; and oh !
may my dear boy or self never have Cause tO repent the event. I
kin inbst particular, my love, as to servants ; make every inquiry
respecting that—that she has lived with them some time, and
that I could, when I liked, do any little thing in the kitchen ;
in fact, to feel at home. Now, my dearest love, I beg of you to
be most perfectly at peace—enjoy yourself, and patiently wait the
fulfilment of all this, if it wills Gon so to let it be ; and I again
say, your restlessness overcomes me—l cou d not contend with
it, my nature being so very different. I like, as far as I can, to
settle all things, anti then let go. We cannot fight against Pao.
VIDENCR. I cannot but think you love me, though men will say,
strange things ; but I judge you by myself. My dear boy is well.
Mr. Igustine, I hope, will stay with me some time yet ; but in
town he is engaged ; you may depend on it I informed myself of
that, or, I am sure, he would have been with us. Now, my love,
the sooner you can see something the better. Now surely, my
dearest love, I have given you something to do, and amuse you;
it is a job lam very fond of. You will not now think it long to
write on Monday next, unless any thing very particular should
present itself; but your health and spirits must be attended to,
and do, love, take all things easy. Earnealy hoping Mrs.
Greenway will be better, believe me, my lore, faithfully and
fondly, your's, E. H. BUNNING.

Marine-o"race, Oct. 11, 1829.
My Love, my dearest Love,—Agreeably to your wish and my
inclination I write to you a few lines by your very agreeable
friend, Mr. Hinds ; he has had fine weather on the whole, and
seems much better. Who can be otherwise than well at dear
Southsea ? You lam sure, looked quite blooming, love, when
you were here. I am, as usual, fUll of business previous to that
matter, of no small moment to me, living here for so long a time.
I fear to say any thing respecting your daughter ; I hope she does
not suffer ranch. I shall, of course have a letter from you on
Tuesday morning. Tell me how you go on, and if you are not very
comfortable, and if, dear, you could not do beavtifully now with-
out me ? lam quite pleased. Mr. A. is stil.with me. Every
week tells—and oh ! how fast the time is getting on ! Ido not
think of it ; but that, like every thing here, wiltesome and go. 1
only wonder we feel so anxious as we do about any thing ; you
may depend on this, that I try to suppress doing so as much as
possible. To my idea this place is as gay in winter as in summer,
and I think must be so from the many naval and military gentle
men we have here. I do hope to let before I leave. We are
all well, thank God. Mrs. Champlin is, I think, far snore quiet
and,comfortable in herself than she used to be. She is in good
sound health. London will, I conclude, soon fill a little, though
I understand from my friend Mrs. Jones you have had snow
already ; not so here, though it has been very cold. She writes
me very gaily, though not yet my Lady ; I must yet conclude
that it is a pleasure to come.—Very truly, my dearest love, trust-
ing this will find you well, believe me, I am, faithfully and fondly
your's, E. H. BUNNING.

Marine-terrace, Oct. IS, 182 g.
My dear Sir,—l very deeply lament that lam compelled to
communicate to you thsk,„pvents of the last twenty-four hours. I
have received letters that overwhelm me with heavy trouble, the
nature of which must be sacred, as they relate only to myself ;
but their result—a final determination to remain single. I have
►truggled hard this year to bring'events to a happy issue, but I
solemnly say every thing has gone directly contrary to those
plans, and I should be mad to contend further. I can now re-
ceive but one comfort—and that is, a kind letter from you.
From my heart I mourn ; but my resolve is irrevocable, from
the most urgent necessity.
Your wardrobe shall be taken every care of, and at your com-
mand, with the other things I have of your's.
Think of me with mercy, and forgive me.—Most fervently
praying your daughter may be spared to you, believe me to be,
most affectionately your's, E. 11. RUNNING.

Mr. Serjeant SPANKIE, for the defendant, said that
when it was seen that kis unfortunate client was a lady in
that state of life called the middle, and that Mr. Co,,per,
the unfortunate lover, was between 60 and 65, he should
not enter into the morons feelings of a gentleman at his
age ;—no, he should not press that subject, because it
might he sail that he hums at that ; hut even dry things
will sometimes burn. And why should he not enter into
the mat riage state if he thought proper ? but, if so, in his
opinion it mu't have been his funeral flame.—(Laugh
ter.)—The fact was, the parties were a couple of old fouls,
who, from reading novels, and playing cribbage and whist,
got a notion into their heads that things were really as they
imagined. But what became of all this? Here was a
gentleman who had survived all his patients, and who did
not bring forward a single person to prove his practice.
No. no; they were all in peace—not one of them above
ground—not one survived who took his remedies, or was
now in Court to show his medical skill and extensive bu-
siness—no living subject was now present, and Con only
knew where the exhibitions of them were to he seen.—
(Laughter.)—Would not the apothecary deign to bring for-
ward customers who had dealt at his shop? There were
no such witnesses, and all that was shown was, that he
had sold some furniture uni!er the value. Now that
gentleman, that apothecary, went out one morning culling
simples, and he culled his client as a useful simple—that
was the simple he wanted to introduce into his shop—and,
having got it, he went on love-making; and in this way
the love-letters were produced, and marriage was talked of.
After this they went on comfortably fur some time ; but
the lady at last saw it would be a foolish thing to get
married. Love, no doubt, was very pleasant; but there
was an old saying, " that when Poverty came in at the
door Love flew out through the window ;" and his client,
becoming sensible of the wisdom of this remark, began to
consider how the war was to he carried on in cane she ac-
cepted the plaintiff for her protector ; and the result of her
sober med.tation was, a refusal to enter into the marriage
state. Mr. Cooper gave no proof of his linsinesa. lie
may have been an apothecary, but to what extent was un-
known. Being an apothecary without patients was, he
should take it, an unprofitable trade. The case, in fine,
resolved itself into a question of damages ; but lte trusted
that they would be of opinion that no special damages
ought to lie given, and that his client was not bound to
furnish a fund to support 'Mr. Cooper for life.
The CHIEF JUSTICE having summed up, the Jury re-
tired for half an hour, at the expiration of which they re-
tur.ied with a vet diet for the plaintiff—Daniages 1401.

DAY AT Ortk OILOCK.

South Sea Stack , • •

Old Annuities ..... 92%
New Ditto

Ex. Bills, AI,OOO 2d. 77 78 pm.
Ditto lid. 77 714 pm.
Ditto. .... .......50n 2d. 77 78 pm
Ditto .... lid. 77 18 pm.
Ditto email 1.4 t. 77 78 pm.
Ditto lid. 77 78 pm.
Bank for Account
India for Account
Cons. for Feb 25 92Y04

PRICES or FOREIDN FUNDS THIS DAY AT ON! O'CLOCK.
Austin 'kinds ii. •-• Neapolitan
liFatilian Bonds* 69'A Peruvian Bonds . _
Buenos Ayres B.onds — Portuguese Bonds 'Ai 1,4
Chilian Bonds ......., — Prussian, Old —
Colombian Bonds ....... ...... Ditto, New —
Ditto, 1824 , — Russian —

Daniih : 751418 Spanish, :821 INV(
Greek 80nd5...,.... —..- 1822
Ditto, 1825 French Rentes, sp. e. —f. —c.
Guatimala. — Exchange ..4. ....,,,,.
Mexican Bonds . — 1— 3 per cent —t ....,..
Ditto, 18151. 2tW, 0 % Exchsnes'

PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY •Y ONE O'CLOCE.
Bratilian Mining Company Paid. Per Share.
5 9%54'4
Brazilian Imp. Min. Co. oss. at 54 pm.) £2O 8:1

TRICKS OF IRISH STOCKS, DUBLIN, FEB 17.
Bank Stock
Consols, 3 per cent.
Gov. Stock, 354 per cent. 99% 'National Ditto
Ditto, New 1,94 !Patriotic Ditto —
4 per Cent 101.4 • Hibernian Rank —
Gov. Deb. 3% percent.... 91% 'Provincial Ditto 25
Royal lanai StocK — Royal Irish Mine
Grand Canal Stock lmperial Mine —
City Deb. 4 per cent
Ballast Office Deb. 4 p. c " Commercial Buildings —

NGE YISTERDAY.

Leghorn 4714
Genoa 26 5
Venice 47%
Malta 48%
Naples . TN
Palermo per oz. 11S%
Lisbon
Oporto 44
Rio Janeiro
Bahia 25
Buenos Ayres
Dublin, 21.4lays' sight l%
Cork l%
BULLION, NCR OZ.
X. i. d.
Portugal Gold, coin... 0 0 0
Foreign Gold, in bars 9 17 9
New Doubloons 0 0 0
New Dollars
Silver, bars. standard 0 0 0

Arrived. Due.
O Hamburg 4
O Holland
O Jamaica 0
O Leeward islands
1 Lisbon 0
O Mexico
O Sweden
1 Waterford 0

HIGH WATER. AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW.
Morning ... 27 minutes'after 0. 1 Evening...sS minutes after 0.

THE COLOSSEUM-REGENT'S PARK.

The whole of this Magnificent Exhibition being now com-
pleted, and the Interior warmed, the Public are respectfully in-
formed the Admissions are as follow, viz. : a. d.
To view the Panorama, with the original Ball, removed
from St. Paul's Cathedral—the Prospect from the sum-
mit of the Building—and the Saloon for the Reception of
Works of Art 3 0
To view the Conrersatories, Fountain, Swiss Cottage, &c 2 0
To ♦iew the Panorama only
The whole to be viewed for 5 0
N. B.—ANNUAL TICKETS of ADMISSION (One Guinea
each) are now being issued from the North Lodge.
'Ascending Room in daily use.
Open from Ten till Dusk.

:e.
Eibt
• --.

LONDON,
:SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20, 1830.

Mr. LITTLEwooD, a King's Messenger,
arrived at the Foreign Office at a late hour Ilst
night, with despatches from Lord PIEYTEs-
BURY, our Ambassador at Russia. These
despatches are dated the .sth inst.

The Lords of his Majesty's most Honour-
able Privy Council met this morning in Down-
ing-sweet. Those present were Earl BATIIURST,
the MASTER of the ROLLS, Sir WILLIAM
FREEMANTLE, and Sir CHRISTOPHER ROBIN-
sow. Their Lordships were engaged the whole
morning in hearing motions.

In a Second Edition of The Sun, of last
night, we had the satisfaction of sending through-
out the United Kingdom the particulars of
the reductions contemplated by the CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in his speech in
the Committee of Supply. The items are as
follow :

Reductions on the Army Estimates £2 I 3.000
Reductions on the Army Extraordinarie• 150,000
Reductions on the Militia Estimate 64,000
Reductions on the Commissariat 25,000

[lle left out th• sums under thousands, but
;he total reductions on the Arniv Estimates

would be 453,146/. The next head of E•ti-

mate was the Ordnance,]
Reductions on the Ordnance Estimates £29,000

Reductions on the Navy Estimates
Reductions on the Miscellaneous Dtimates

Total mentioned by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer
Saving in Exchequer Bill,, by reduction of

...
interest lBO,OOO
Saving in Public Offices, pursuant to Treasury
Orders

50,000

230,000
Reduction on Estimates

1,261,985

He, however calculated that the diminution
of charge would be 1,300,000.

Now these reductions are all very gratifying
so far as they go ; but we doubt much whe-
ther the country will be satisfied that they
do not go farther. In fact, public ex-
pectation looked for more concessions to
the distressed state of the country, and we
hope the nation will not be disappointed.
We hope that Ministers (who, we are sure,
sincerely wish to relieve the people) will yet
find means, with the co-operation of Parlia-
ment, to ameliorate the condition of the poorer
classee. Can there be no reduction in those
taxes which press more particularly upon
the manufacturing, agricultural, and commercial
interests ? Let Government try, and they will
find their reward in the returning prosperity of a
grateful people.

Lisbon Gazettes from the Ist to the Gth Fe-
bruary inclusive contain no news whatever of
any importance, besides lists of voluntary gifts
to the treasury, some orders relative to the army,
arid lists of presentations to the KING, and of
persons allowed his medal ; they are fined with
extracts from the French and English Journals.

By the arrival, this morning, of Cape of Good
Hope Papers to the 9th of December inclusive,
we have received the following detailed account
of the burning of Tamatave, in the Island of
Madagascar, by the French,—the immediate
consequence of which has been a total cessation
of intercourse between that country and the
Mauritius, which drew from it constant sup-
plies of bullocks, and some other articles of the
first necessity. The cause of this strange ex-

ploit on the part of the P.ench does not clearly
appear :

(From the South African Advertiser, Dee. 5. )

THE FRENCH EXPEDITION AGAINST ?lADAO•SCAR.

" The Falcon, Captain Colin's, sailed from the Mauri-
tius-on the 10th of October, with twenty-four natives of
Madagascar on board (they had been discharged from the
several ships in the squadron by order of the Admiralty),
and arrived at Tamatave on the 13th. On the Falcon's
arrival there we found a French squadron, consisting of
one large frigate of 60 guns, with a Commedore's broad
pendant flying, one of 30 gun•, and a corvette of 20
guns, at anchor in the harbour. The first thing we
observed, which excited our curiosity, was the French
flag flying on the fort on shore, and we soon gained
information that the French were in possession of the
plaice, that the three vessels of war came into the har-
bour of Tamatave on the' afternoon of Saturday, the 10th
of October, without exciting any fear or suspicion on the
part of the natives, who supposed them to come as friends.
" The inhabitants were first apprised of the real
motives of the French, and of the danger of their own
situation on the forenoon of Sunday, by the French
opening their fire from the three ships upon the
battery, which they continued for seventeen minutes, when
the flag flying was shot away, and then they ceased their
fire. The battery was destroyed, and many of the soldiers
in the fort were killed, as well as several of the inhabitants.
" The native soldiers, who occupied the fort, were so
intimidated by this unexpected assault, that those who were
able soon took to flight, and found shelter in the neigh-
bouring woods. As soon as the ships ceased firing,
the French landed their soldiers, and took posses-
sion of the fort, where they killed the wounded
they found remaining, and then marched into the town,
where they murdered the poor inhabitants without mercy,
although they fell down upon their knees, and prayed
them to spare their lives. They either killed or wounded
no less than sixty of those poor wretches, without provo-
cation ; and, as far as I can learn, without any motive
hut that of satiating their blood-thirsty spirit, or receiving
a quantity •f plunder. Certainly, honour was not their
aim,—fur who could expect to deri►e honour from delibe-
rately murdering .a number of naked savages who never
attempted to make any resistance.
[Here follows a translation of a letter from Correlleo,
the late Governor of Tamatave, written at Twondrow,
eight tulles in the country, to which place he had retired
on being obliged' to quit Tamatave. It shows how shame-
fully this attack was commenced, and the duplicity ef the
French Commodore (Gosrbeyer), who expressed friendly
feelings to the Governor a few minutes before be opened
his fire.]
_ _

Every thing en shore was one scene of destruction,
the town deserted of its inhabitants, and the houses plun.
dered by the French. They have robbed the town of
28 000 dollars (French) in cash : they have carried away
2,5 brass guns from the battery, and actually laden their
ships with rice, which is the principal produce of the
country. On account of the miserable state of things on
shore, and Tamatave being in possession of the French,
Captain Colpoys, after communicating with Correlleo,
considered it better to go round to Tonle Point, a distance
of thirty miles to the northward, and land the Madagascar
lads there.

" 'We arrived at the latter place on the 16th, when the
Madagascans were again restored to their native country.
The inhabitants having heard of the destruction of Tama-
tave had made preparations for receiving the French,
whom they daily expected, as they supposed Foule Point
to be the next place which they would attack.
" This attack of the French upon Madagascar has
paralised that trade which has been co beneficial to the
British. The Mauritius, one of our most valuable
Colonies, depends wholly on this Island for its supplies of
beef and poultry; and the effects which have already arisen
from this warfare are, that the merchant vessels in the harbour
of Tamatave can get no bullocks shipped, for the French
seize upon every thing within their reach, and the natives
are afraid to come down from the interior with more.
At Foule Point, also, where there are a great number of
bullocks, the natives refuse to trade with the masters of
merchant-vessels, because they are natives of the Isle of
France, very few Englishmen being engaged in the bullock
trade.

" The natives of Madagascar have taken such dislike to
the French, from their late attack upon Tamatare, that the
latter will never be able tat furm a scttlement on that coast
with any prospect of being on amicable terms with the
inhabitants."

Mr. PEEL announced on Thursday the out-

line of the Law Reform intended to be proposed
by the Government, in pursuance of the recom-
mendation of the Commissioners, whose further
Reports will in a few days be laid before Parlia-
ment. Some time will probably elapse before
the reforms take place, as they will be effected

in connection with each other, and as part of one
general system. So far as regards the Common
Law Courts, the main alterations will consist

in assigning to those Courts summary jurisdic-
tion in cases where they have not now immediate
authority, and where it is often necessary to re-
sort to equity—in allowing written documents to

be verified before trial, so as to obviate the ne-
cessity of calling witnesses to prove them—in
instituting a system of compulsory references in
cases of disputed accounts—and in the simpli-
fication of pleading. These changes, which will
be explained in the second Report of the Law
Commissioners, are all excellent in their kind,
and will deserve the approbation that was ex-
pressed by Mr. BRoUGILAM, Mr. FERGUSSON,
and Mr. O'CONNELL.

In the meantime, however, and without
waiting for the final Reports, Bills are to
be passed to effect the abolition of a swarm
of patent offices with which our law is

infested, and which Mr. PEEL characterised
as having presented. constant obstacles to its
reformation. They • are now to be brought
to an end, and after arranging a compensation
to the present holders, it will be declared that
after a certain day the doctrine of compensation
as to all future holders will cease, as it is high
time, indeed, that it should. The abolition of

the separate Welsh Judicature is also to take
place iimnediately, and the administration of

justice in Wales will be assimilated to that of
England. The Welsh Judges are to cease, and
their places will be supplied by the additions to

lie 'Courts at Westminster, each of which is to

have a fifth Judge, so that fifteen Judges will
be able to dispatch the Circuit business of both
England and Wales. The salaries of the new
and all future Judges are to be 5,0001. per
annum, instead of 5,500?., as fixed by the late
Bill ; a retrenchment which will still leave an
ample allowance for the dignity and labours
of the Bench of Justice. Mr. PEEL
further intimated his intention of consolidating
the laws against False-Coining, which is no
longer to be High Treason,--of amending the
Forgery Laws, and those relating to Justices of
the Peace—and of introducing various changes
into the Scotch Judicial System, particularly the
transfer of the Scotch Jury Court to the Courts
of Session,—the reduction of two of the Barons
of the Scotch Exchequer,—and, in all probabi-
lity, that of two of the Lords Ordinary. With-
out entering into details, the Home Secretary
has thus, at all events, placed it beyond a doubt]
that some alterations are about to happen.
Without being so ungracious as not to be
thankful for the ameliorations our law is to
receive, or not to appreciate the value of the
Commissioners' labours, we must be permitted
to say we arc not at all satisfied with the very
contracted limits of their suggestions. The
Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and

Exchequer, ought not to remain so constituted
that all the business continues to concentrate in
the first, whilst that of the second is stationary,
and of the third, decreasing. We cannot un-
derstand upon what grounds the Commis-
sioners have recommended that the Common
Pleas should remain a monopoly to the Sergeants
at Law—nor why the three Courts should not
be all open indifferently to all kinds of actions,
or some arrangement made which should divide
the business compulsorily, and give-the Barons
of the Exchequer their fair share of Work. The
new Judges, it appears, are not to increase the
numbers of the Courts sitting in bans°, but are
to be employed in trying causes, taking bail, and
other matters, to relieve the accumulation of
work without disturbing the Court. Now it
does seem that two Judges, instead of one,
might be dCtached for these purposes without
inconvenience to the Court, which would of
course doubly accelerate the extra business. The
Law Commissioners think four is the best num-
ber of Judges to compose a Court, because
nothing can then be done without the unanimity
of three of them. Now we are surprised that
it should not have occurred to them, that the
unanimity of three Judges can be obtained as
well in a Court consisting of three only, as in
one composed of four ; and that they should have
overlooked the awkwardness arising from an
equal division of four Judges upon a question,
which cannot then• be decided at all, and whose
discussion is consequently a mere waste of time.
Mr. O'CoNKELL's speech deierved the com-
pliments paid him by Mr. PEEL for the tone
and manner in which it was delivered. The
Learned Member for Clare, however, unlike the
generality of his professional brethren, appears
to he a staunch disciple of BENTH AM, and ad-
vocated particularly those two principles of that
eminent Jurist, which lay down, that one Judge
is always better than more—and that a Code is
better than Judge-made law. Mr. PEEL said
something against codification, the best answer
to which are his own works as a codifier. What
is hi, justly boasted reduction of 272 criminal acts
into eight, but codification ? All that is wanted
is to codify in like manner the decisions of the
Judges, and to extend to our Civil Law the im-
provements which the criminal branch has already
received. We hope Mr. PEEL will live long
enough to add many more to his good works ;
he does not speak out so plainly as Mr. O'CON•
NELL, but he is of the reforming stock, and will
in time do much to remove " the turnpike tolls
which obstruct the road to justice."