The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-01 00:00:00

So far as as the provisions of the measure. are
identical with the recommendations containe d in
the Report of the English Commissioners above
alluded to, and which, as the Lord Chancellor
stated, have been embodied in a Bill, the draught
of which was submitted for his perusal on the
14th ult., there is every reason to anticipate
that they have only been postponed for a brief
season. But the still more important questions
of the verification of pleadings, the extension of
the equitable jurisdiction of the Common Law
Courts, the removal of the landmarks by which
they are separated from Chancery, and, practically,
to the fusion of law and equity, will not we trust
be lost sight of, or consigned to the limbo of in-
choate reforms, without an energetic struggle for
the attainment of the advantages thereby offered
to Irish suitors.

We should not greatly regret the delay, although
its effect might be to transfer to other brows the
laurels that have been so meritoriously won—ifit also
led to the entire assimilation of the law and -pro-
cedure in the sister kingdom. It is difficult to
assign any adequate reasons for the distinctions
that have hitherto prevailed on either side of St.
George's Channel. Why one code khould be in force
in England and another in Ireland ; and why just
demands should be enforced, or unfounded claims
resisted by different processes in both countries ?
Why should we render so very conspicuous these
distinctions, the tendency whereof is to show that
they are different kingdoms and different people ;
and to prevent that full and complete union, that
thorough identification of interests, which is so
very desirable ? Render the union perfect, as it
is, we hope, indissoluble ; and if we are induced
to do so by the treatment of the present bill, the
delay will be richly recompensed—will, indeed, be
productive of no ordinary benefit to the people of
the United Kingdom.

As it is, however, its only effect is to render
the cry of " Justice for Ireland " for once well

founded. Why should the progress of legal re-
form in that country be checked and restricted,
because greater timidity is evinced here ? Why
should the Four Courts remain unpurified, be-
cause we are afraid to effect a thorough cleansing
of Westminster Hall ? Lord BROUGHAM truly
asserted that, "in many respects, the Courts in
Ireland were half a century in advance of those in
this country ;" and he spoke of "the satisfaction,
mingled with admiration," with which he regarded
"the course of legislation in the sister kingdom."
Why, then, should we restrain the progress of
that highly satisfactory legislation ? Why
should we slight the exertions and despise the
labours of the eminent men who have spared no
pains to ameliorate the administration of justice
and procedure in their native land, and give them
just reason to complain of the lagging legislation
in the Imperial Parliament ? Although the motives

may be perfectly unobjectionable, it is possible that
there may be found persons who will ascribe the

delay to jealousy, and an unworthy desire to avoid
receiving useful suggestions from the practice of
the Irish Law Courts, and from measures intro-
duced by Irish Barristers.

DEATH OF THE COUNTESS OF IVIINTO.—We regret to
have to notice the demise of the Countess of Minto,
which melancholy event took place at Nervi, in Pied-
mont, on the 22d inst. Her last moments were peace-
ful, and free from pain. Her ladyship, who was the
eldest daughter of Patrick Brydone, was married to
Lord Minto in 1806, and was the mother of Lady John
Russell.

DEATH OF LORD RIITHVEN.—This excellent nobleman
died at Freeland House on Wednesday morning. The
death was sadden, his lordship having taken some par-
riage exercise the day before, and walked in his garden
in the evening. He was an excellent and indulgent
landlord, and his treatment of his cottars was most con-
siderate and kind. To several of his tenants his lord-
ship was in the habit of saying, " Keep your cottages
in order, and I shall never ask any rent from you."
The piety of Lord Ruthven was evinced by his uniform
attendance upon religious ordinances, and by his daily
walk and conversation. Lord Ruthven was born in
1777, and, consequently, died in his 76th year. Lord
Ruthven has left no issue, and his estates will be in-
herited by his only sister, the Hon. Mrs. Hore, of
Harperstoun, Wexford.—Perthshire Courier.
APPOINTMENTS.—Mr. Louis Henry Meurant is ap-
pointed Resident Magistrate of Stockenstrom District,
in the division of Fort Beaufort, Cape of Good Hope.
Mr. J. Macleroy is appointed Registrar of Deeds at
Natal, in South Africa. Mr. John Bird is appointed
Chief Clerk in the office of the Colonial Secretary, and
Clerk of the Council at Natal, in South Africa.

NEW MONEY ORDER OFFICES. -- GENERAL POST.
OFFICE, July, 1853.—Minor money order offices will be
opened at the undermentioned places, on the respective
dates named : England—Handcross, Sussex, August 1 ;
Harrington, Cumberland, August 1. Ireland—Bon-
mahon, Waterford, August 6. Scotland—Kirkintilloch,
Lanark, August 3 • New Galloway, Kirkcudbright,
August 20. Llandilo and Llangadock, having been re-
duced to sub-offices under Carmarthen, are now served
(as respects money order advices) from that place.
MAIL CONTRACT STEAMERS.—Sir Jame Graham on
Thursday announced that the Board of Admiralty has
given a general notice to all companies, under contract
for the conveyance of mails, that the contracts will
henceforth be enforced with more rigour than heretofore.
CASE OF THE BARONESS VON BECK—DERA v. DAWSON
AND OTHERS.—We learn by telegraphic dispatch received
this morning from Leamington, that this case, which
was to have been tried at the Leamignton Assizes to-
day, is postponed till to-morrow, in consequenCe of the
illness of the judge who was to have tried the case.
The court was crowded to excess, admission being by
ticket only.
PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.—.The day at present
fixed for the prorogation of Parliament is Thursday fort-
night, the 18th instant, but it is not improbable that
ithe, pressure of business may rEnder it necessary to ex-
,end the session till Saturday, the 20th. Her Majesty,
is understool, will prorogus the Parliament in

person.

integrity, but that there are already indications of
its being seriously mutilated and curtailed of its
fair proportions during its progress through Com-
mittee in the -Upper House. The measure itself
had elicited the cordial and almost unanimous ap-
probation of legal reformers. It had proceeded
vigorously, but, at the same time, cautiously.
Not a single proposition had been advanced
which had not been maturely weighed and
and canvassed in all its details, and which, after
the most stringent and searching investigation,
had not a large preponderance of argument in its
favour. But while there was a total absence of
any rash or hasty legislation on the subject, there
was likewise a want of that undue timidity which
prevented any interference with ancient abuses,
however clearly defined, merely because they were
ancient. The able and energetic authors of the
measure, Who were justly described by Lord
BROUGHAM, as " men of consummate learning,
great knowledge of the practice of the laws, par-
ticularly in Ireland, and of very great skill in the
preparation of such bills," had not hesitated
to invade the sacred precincts of the equit-
able jurisdiction whenever such a step was
essential for the purpose of giving a cheap,
an expeditious, and a complete remedy -to the
suitors of the Superior Courts of Common Law.
They had not hesitated in requiring some ;species
of security against unjust demands and against
vexatious actions, by requiring the verification of
the pleadings by the oaths of the parties, and
whenever the circumstances-of the case adniitted
of such a course, they proposed legalising the
assignment of choses in action. All that they have
accomplished by immense labour, combined with
great experience and high ability, which, .as we
have already stated, was Successfully mrried
through the House of Commons, having been
closely scrutinised in all its branches, is to be post-
poned for another year.
The measure is, it appears, to be divided' into
two portions, one consisting of the exten'si on to
Ireland of the principles last year adopt, ed in
this country for the improved administrat ion of
justice by the statute commonly called the Cora-
,mon Law Procedure Act ; the other of stil 1 fur-
ther and more important ameliorations which
have not as yet received Legislative recogl iition,
although a large proportion of them have, since
their introduction, been embodied in the E;ccond
Report of the Common Law of the Commissioners
of England.
The first of these portions—namely, thee appli-
cation of the Common Law Procedure Act ,to Ire-
land is, it appears, to be carried into practiva 1 ope-
ration previous to prorogation, while the othk T part
is to stand over " for further consideration." We
trust, however, that the time and trouble a f the
eminent practitioners who so ably and effia iently
piloted the measure through the popular 13)..anch
of the Legislature will not be wasted or n isap-
plied, but that, notwithstanding the present pro-
crastination, the good seed which has been. cast
abroad may be suffered to bring forth its fruits
in due season.