The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-03 00:00:00

LAW AMENDMENT SOCIETY.

The fifth general meeting of this society was held
last night; Mr. Vaughan, in the absence of Mr.
Collier, Q.C., M.P., occupied the chair. After the
usual preliminary proceedings,
Mr. EDGAR moved, " That considering the valu-
able and lengthened services of the Right Hon. Lord
Brougham, the president of this society, in the cause
of law reform, and especially with reference to the
treatment and punishment of criminals, the society
have learned with regret the omission of his lord-
ship's name from the commission recently issued to
inquire into the question of convict discipline, and
desire to place on the minutes their protest
against such omission." He contended that as
the subject of criminal law had largely engrossed
the attention of Lord Brougham, and as this society
had made it almost its own by its discussions and
inquiries, it was to be expected that the noble lord
who was their president should have been chosen as
one of the commissioners.

Mr. WEBSTER seconded the motion, contending
that Lord Brougham, as president of this society,
and a most eminent member of the profession, ought
to have been placed on the Royal commission in
question.

Mr. BRISTOWE thought that the resolution should
be negatived, for the society was going out of its
legitimate way in agreeing to any protest of this
kind, its business being to promote the amendment
of the law. He begged to move that the meeting
proceed to the order of the day.
Mr. STUART supported the resolution, suggesting
that they should express their regret, but not pro-
test.

Mr. BERE seconded the amendment.
Mr. ELLIOTT hoped the amendment would be
withdrawn, but that the resolution would be toned
down to a compliment—a well-merited compliment
--to the noble lord ; but at the same time he re-
gretted that the subject had ever been mooted there.
Mr. HASTINGS, although he should not have re-
commended that such a resolution should have been
brought forward, felt that it having been proposed
it was entitled to their most cordial support, pro-
viding the terms of it were modified.
Mr. EDGAR amended his resolution, by omitting
all the words after the word " discipline,"
Mr. BRISTONVE withdrew his amendment, ex-
preising the regret he felt that the subject had been
brought forward.

The CHAIRMAN thought it would have been quite
as dignified if the society had not noticed the omis-
sion of Lord Brougham's name from the commis-
sion. Notice having been taken of it, he thought
it inexpedient not to pass the resolution.
The motion as amended was carried.
Mr. G. J. SHAW' LEFEVERE then read a paper
"On the Discipline of the Bar." The paper gave a
history of the bar, and pointed out the absence of
all rules to regulate the proceedings of its members
and to constitute the benehers of the inns of court a
formal tribunal to punish breaches of discipline on
the part of members of the bar. The paper also
went at great length into the details of the regula-
tions affecting the bar as regarded fees and practice,
subjects of great interest to members of the society,
but not calling for a lengthy report.
After a brief discussion on the paper,
A vote of thanks was returned to Mr. Lefevre for
the manner in which he had brought the matter for-
ward.