The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-08 00:00:00

Last evening the first meeting of this society for the
lien 1553-4, was held at the Rooms, 21, Regent-street;
rr.".‘,l',r in the chair.
;art, the secretary, said he would
briefly recapitulate the progress made in law reform dur-
ing the past year. With regard to the law of real pro-
perty, it would be remembered that suggestions were
made for shortening deeds by reference to schedules—
this, however, had been but very little adopted by the
profession. But there was another suggestion, that re-
muneration for deeds by length should no longer, be the
governing principle, and in this respect considerable pro
gress had been made. Another improvement in the law
of real property, for making the transfer of it as easy and
simple as the transfer of stock, had been suggested, but
Was not at present carried out—though a committee of
the House of. Commons had recognised it as a possible
plan—and had reported in its favour. Another project
which he had the honour of introducing, was the assur-
ance of titles. That plan had not only been entertained
by a committee of the House of Commons, consisting of
several members of the Government, who not only
thought it a possible plan, but carried it further than he
had proposed. They recommended the assurance, or
warranty of titles by the state. This system would do
away with the present costly mode of examination into
the titles of a large estate, on the sale of a small portion
of it. Great progress had been made in the plan for
m 'king a large territorial map of the country, on a scale
sufficiently large for all practical purposes. A report had
been made and brought before the Treasury, and he had
been assured that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was
prepared to act upon it. The scale proposed was 2G
incises to a mile. The enfranchisement of copyholds had
been carried out voluntarily to a large extent, and he
had no doubt it would work advantageously to the
country. In common law the first thing he would refer
to•was the suggestion of the society in reference to the
law of partnership, recommending a linfited liability. A
committee had been appointed, and he had that day re-
ceived a series of questions on the subject, issued by the
commission. Next came the fusion of law and equity,
The opinions and hopes formerly entertained on this
subject were now gaining ground, and he had no doubt
that a bill would be brought in very shortly by Govern-
ment for this desirable object.

The CHAIRMAN said that a bill had been already
printed.
lti r. STEWART was glad to hear it. He had much
pleasure in referring to the reform in Chancery Just
before he came in he had met one of the taxing masters
of the Court of Chancery, who was as good a judge as
any lie could ask on this subject. He assured him there
was an entit-e change in the mode of conducting the
business in Chancery. All the ordinary business mat-
ters were conducted as cheaply and expeditiously as pos-
sible, and the Master's Office was greatly improved.
Things were now made as simple as possible, and neither
solicitors nor barristers as a rule complained of the
change. A board for revising bills had been proposed.
and some steps had been taken in this direction. Some
improvements had been also effected in the law of lunacy.
With regard to legal education some progress, though
not much, had been made. The inns of Court must,
however, come forward and have compulsory examina-
tions before conferring the degree of barrister. The
subject for their present consideration was the appoint-
ment of a Minister of Justice, They had no such func-
tionary at present, and it was unknown whether respon-
sibility in legal matters remained with the Home Secre-
tary or the Lord Chancellor. Every other great depart-
ment of the State had a responsible officer, and it was
only just that they should know to whom they were to
apply, in case of anything going wrong in the law. He
believed that if a Minister of Justice were appointed,
the duties of that society would be at an end ; but, until
some such functionary was appointed, they ought to
continue their existence. He hoped the society would
consider the propriety of some such department of the
State. He concluded by moving the appointment of a
committee to consider the expediency of establishing a
Minister of Justice. •

Mr. ALLEN seconded the motion, which was carried
UM.. con.

Mr. PULLEN then read a somewhat lengthy report of
the committee appointed to consider what improvement,
if any, could be made in the present system of Law
Reporting. The committee were of opinion that the
present system is defective and pernicious, both posi-
tively as respects the mode of making known the exposi-
tion of the law of the land, and comparatively as regards
the ()hi practice. The report concluded by suggesting
that a Board should be appointed by the Crown for
revising and editing reports of judicial decisions.
Mr. VANSITTART NEALE) seconded the adoption of
the report.

Mr: FEED. HILL suggested that instead of the appoint-
ment of a board, a single officer should be appointed
for the purpose.

The report was unanimously adopted.
The CHAIRMAN gave notice of motion "to consider
the law with reference to the receipt of property by
pawnbrokers and dealers in marine stores, to be referred
to the Criminal Law Committee."

A. vote of thanks was then given to the chairman,
and the proceedings terminated.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD, Nov. 7.

JESUS COLLEGE.—This mornin2. Mr. Edward Ad dams
Williams, 8.A., of this college, wile "was the only candi-
date, was elected a scholar on the South Wales founds. Lion.

CLASS MEN UNDER MODERATORS.—The following' aro
the candidates for classes, under the Moderation Examiners,
arranged under respective Colleges and Halls, viz. :
Christ Church.—Andrews, S.; Blunt, A. C.; Mayo, 11.;
Oswald, H. M. ; Rocke. A.; Rowley, R.
New College.—Bennett, G. ; Gordon, 11. D.; Grant, E.
Pode, J. d. ; Price, G. F.

Wadham College.—Bigsby, H. J. ' • Griffith, C.; Haritug-
ton, H. ; Minchin, H.H. ; Walker W.
Oriel College.—Caird, H. G. ; Christie, W.; Gar att,
C. F. ; Peile, J. B. ; Witherby, W. H.
Queen's College.—Capes, W. Thornton, S.
University College.—Clayton, W. ; Fitzwygram,
Balliol College.—Cordery, J. • Huntley, R. F. ; Mo nt-
gomerie, F. M. B. ; Newman, W. L. ; Shephard, J. G. ;
Wright H.
Trinle College.— Cunningham, H. S. ; Darner, L. D.
G. 1). ; oule, H. M. ; Sandford, J. D.
Exeter College.—Douglas, W. ; Good, C.; Harris,
G. C. ; Hinchen, T. L. ; Lestrange, A. G. K. ; Richey,
J. B. ; Robinson, H. H. ; Stone, H. ; Turner, C.
Merton College.—Hawkins, J. B.
Lincoln College.—Hicks, J. P.
St. John's College.—Hill, E.; West, T.
Pembroke College.—Horn, G. T. ; Wallage, C. H.
Jesus College.—Morris, A.
Corpus Christi College.—Nutt, J. G. ; O'Neil, J. It. ;
Swayne, W.
Bragenose College.--Putt, F. • Stiles, P. C. Walford, C.
Magdalen Hall.=Price, G. W.

Wilkinson,
Sr.i
ek
nil
si JOHN'Sos nab
eCeba L Ee
CAIIBRIDOE Nov. 7. )-
cted scholars
,lairiandefertmheisntsieoenieetdy s:_tu
Jae. nyfis
Foxley, Falkner, Sampson, Grabliam, Jessop,
Hutchinson, Capel, Bates, J. T. Moore, Birch, Smethurst,
Marton, Cutler, .1. A. Collins, J. Wright, sea., Carter,
Snow, Barlow, Haycock, Gorst, Ku, Dixon, Bagshawe,
Hill, Ford; .Ambery.
CRANE'S CHARITY.—Thou trustees of Crane's Charity for
the relief of sick scholars have given notice that they in-
tend meeting at Trinity-hall-lodge, on Tuesday, the 15th
inst., at ten o!clock to consider and determine the claims
of applicants for the benefit of this charity. The applica-
tions of scholars must be made by the tutors of their re-
spective colleges, and contain full particulars both of the
applicants.
have
medical charges and of the circumstances of the
ahes
The grants will be confined to such charges
incurred during the half year immediately preceding the
meeting.

DURHAM.
The following degrees have been conferred :
MASTER or ARTS.—The Rev. W. Whyatt, 8.A., Bishop
Hatfield's Hall, curate of St. Peter's, Leeds ; the Rev. J.
Dodd, 8.A., University College. The Rev. H. Holden,
M.A. of Balliol College, Oxford, head master of the Cathe-
dral Grammar School, has been admitted ad eundenz,
BACRELOR OF ARTS.—S. Buck Keene, University Col-
lege ; W. H. Lukin and T. Birth, Bishop Hatfield's Hall.
The Rev. R. Chaffer, Mr. J. H. Carr, and Mr. C. Coiling-
wood, all of University College, have been elected Fellows.
The Rev. the Professor of Divinity has been appointed
Sub-Warden of the University.
The following scholars have been appointed :—Knowlson,
University College,. Clarke, University College; Thornton,
Bishop Hatfield's Hall, to open scholarships. Wearing
and Walsnaro have been elected on the Chllapbe electedter
Founda-
tion;t Austin and Brown on the Pemberton Foundation.
The examination of candidates for King's scholarships
in Durham School will take place in the Chapter-room, 0
Saturday, Nov. 2G, when seven scholars i
supply the present vacancies.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.
0 nc'l held their first session for the academical
Ty eTaTill.fi: eleryBscsta3: w'-';5:014e, °el threeBmatru. lTlAlhaonymdlraaesswt:ss'ayseahgeol;mrships as follows :
the secomd, 45/., to
:re, William B. Jones ; the third, 45/., to Mr. William M.
Bompag. Examiners—The Professors of Latin, Greek,
Mathematics, and Natural Philosophy ; for the
council,
Mr. George Long, classiest • Mr. J. It. Younm, mathematics.
They received notice
investment, in the namefro :Am thelar 'clotl°legeger, Gin'adthdeenLoonfththoef
July last, of the Liston Medal Fund, of 2921. 9s. 3d.
Three-and-a- Quarter per Cents. ; and were informed that
the the had been executed by Mr. Leonard Wyon, at the
expense of the subscribers.
The medal (value 8/.) with, on one side, the head of the
late Mr. Liston, on the other, the following inscription,
" ainices Chirurcicaa inter Alumnos, Coll. Univ. bond.
Peritissimo," wasc' produced. It was awarded to Mr.
Sampson Gamgee. Examiners ; Professor Erichseu and
Mr. John Marshall.
Fellowses clinical gold medals werelawar_dedto
_xMr..
George Buchanan. and V Mr. Frederick Sayer._ -6
aminers : Professor Parkes, M.D., Walshe, M.D.,Garrod,
M.D.

. .
The following prizes, awarded at the end of -the last
session, not before announced, were reported : '
The Williamson prize of 501., for the most successful
experimental research undertaken in the Birkbeck labors-
to Mr. Arthur Winkler Wills.—Botany : Gold medal, Mr.
A. 0. Black ; silver Mr. J. G. Blake.—Pathological ana-
tomy—Gold medal, Mr. G. Buchanan ; silver, Mr. J. W.
de Tunzelmann.—Midwifery : Gold medal, Mr. F. G.
Clarkson ; silver (oaq.), Mr. S. Nesfield, Mr. H. Edwards.
-Medical jurisprudence : Gold medal, Mr. F. G.
-L- Clark-
nacti
lthfeel Uni-
versity Ma teria medica : Gold modal, Mr. W. P. Jones ;
first silver, Mr. J. B. Scurrah : second silver, Mr. J.
Fawens.
At the close of the last session six former students of
the college, who hatNiegr re appointedad
ui with
by itthe
honoursversity of London, v
of the college, viz.—Edward Ballard, M.D., John To -
ham, M.D. (physician to the Wolverhampton hospital
William Ridout Wills, B.A. solicitor, Charles Somedon,
B.A, Robert Nicholas Fowler, Ma., and John nation
Taylor, AB,' barrister-at-law.