The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-15 00:00:00

COUNTY COURT JUDGES.

TO HER MAJESTY'S ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
Sir,—l have read in the Observer and other papers
of yesterday strictures upon your conduct, and that
of her Mijesty's Home Secretary, with respect to the
regulation of the salaries of the county court judges;
and as an old member of the profession to which you
belong, allow me to say that you have done this newly
created body more than ample justice.
Hall men had possessed the same energy, the same
independence, and the same talent and integrity as
yourself, there would have been fewer applications fur
the appointment of county court judges, for, be it re-
membered, that if you examine the list of those ap-
pointed you will scarcely find one of them who ever
rose in his profession so high as even to become a
leader at a court of quarter sessions ; they are com-
posed principally of men of at least twenty years
standing at the bar, who, either from want of talent
or industry have never succeeded ; and if the salary
offered had been 6001. a year instead of 1,0001. a year,
you would have found not a single individual already
appointed would have retired from his situation. The
different clerks who act under the direction of these
judges woul d have been handsomely paid by a salary
of 250/. a year.
it is said these county court judges devote their
best energies and attention to their duties, but upon
inquiry you will not find that any one of them in the
most populous districts is occupied more than one-
fourth of his time. Is it so with the police magis-
trates, and other public officers, men of equal talent
and standing, and who perform at least three times
the labour ? It is too much fur drones (even in the
hire of lawyers) to expect to be paid largely for
duties which the commonest capacities could perform.
It is admitted on all hands that these new judges
may perform all their duties one week in four; and
although it might be unbecoming and undignified for
these learned personages to appear upon the circuit or
in a court of quarter sessions, there can be no good
reason why they should not take their places at ten
o'clock in Westminster Hall, when the courts are
sitting, and continue there until the courts rise, even
if they should get no practice, but for the purpose of
acquiring useful information.
Supposing, for example, one of these county court
judges should sit ninety days a year; the salary
amounts to more than ten guineas per diem, and it ,

pretty certain that very few of these learned gen-
tlemen ever got two guineas per day during 300 days
in any one year. On this account they are more
than amply paid, and in these times of reform,
economy, and retrenchment, you cannot act more
consistently with your profession than by putting a
veto to this rising generation of abuse.
It is preposterous in the extreme to compare county
court judges to judges of the superior courts—men
who have been selected from their high character,
great intelligence, and knowledge of the principles of
law, because they were well able to render the county
important services, whilst the county court judges
were selected principally out of pity and compassion
to themselves and their families, owing to their starv-
ing condition.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your
very obedient servant,

A MEMBER OP THE TEMPLE.
Temple, August 13, 1849.

BUENOS AYRES BONDS.
TO THE EDLCOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—It may be satisfactory to the bond fide
holders of Buenos Ayres stock to know, that the
Committee of Spanish American Bondholders have
addressed the Ulowing letter to a gentleman, in
answer to an application made to them to adopt the
same energetic course as in the Chilian, Mexican,
and other similar cases, with a greater or less degree
of success, in the financial settlements of those Govern-
ments.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
August 14. A. D. j