The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-17 00:00:00

eheniutt

T.ONDON, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1849.

The Palace Court nuisance has been repeatedly
exposed and held up to public indignation in all its
unmitigated atrocity. Some time since we explained
the system of plunder carried on within its precincts,
under the garb and sanction of law, and in common
with all not in some degree interested in the perpe-
tuation of the abomination, demanded its immediate
and total abolition. A legislative movement was
made in the same direction ; a remedy had long been
promised on the part of the Government. No ade-
quate reason could be assigned for the continuance of
a tribunal, the utility of which, if it ever existed, had
been completely superseded by the establishment
of County Courts, the portals of which
were open to all who might become suitors
of the Palace Court, and where substantial justice
could be obtained with greater expedition, and on
more reasonable terms, than in the Palatial Forum.
Although, however, the full extent of the grievance,
and the absolute inutility of the court was admitted;
there was a palpable unwillingness to approach the
subject manifested by those on whom the duty de-
volved of submitting the measure for its extinction to
Parliament, and it became more than probable that
the session would terminate before any Bill on the
subject could pass through its various stages. Under
such circumstances the Noble Lord the Member for
Marylebone came boldly forward. His constituents
suffered deeply from the operations of the Court
He himself beheld its operations in all their naked
enormity, and although, as a private Member,
he
could scarcely hope to carry a measure for
the total abolition of the evil, he was
determined to extract its virus, and to
render it practically innocuous. With a praise-
worthy promptitude he framed and brought forward
a measure, the chief feature of which was that every
person thenceforward sued in the Palace Court could
remove the proceedings to another tribunal. This
was felt to be almost equivalent to the annihilation of
its jurisdiction, for no perscin in his senses would have
permitted a case in which he was defendant to pro
ceed to a hearing therein, if any means of escape were
opened to him. The Noble Lord was in vain recom-
mended not to hiterfere with the promised Bill of the
Attorney-General ; he exhibited a laudable pertina-
city in pressing forward his own measure, declaring
that the limitation of the jurisdiction could do no
harm if the court were altogether abolished, and
that it would be productive of the most beneficial results
if, as he feared, the Government Bill should be post-
poned to another session. This firmness had the
desired effect, more especially when the noble Re-
former obtained a decided majority in favour of the
second reading of his Bill. The necessary stimulus
was applied, the Attorney-General was excited
into action, the long-contemplated measure was in-
troduced, even at the eleventh hour, and steadily
pressed forward, although many much-required
ameliorations were necessarily postponed, in conse-
quence of the early prorogation of Parliament. The
days of the Palace Court were numbered. It was
enacted that its existence should terminate with
the present year, and a period (already past) was
fixed after which no new proceedings could be in-
stituted, and for these happy results the public are
indebted to the zeal, energy, and determination of
Lord DUDLEY STUART in the great cause of reform.
But e'en in its ashes dwell its former fires. The
Palace Court could not close its sittings without
another illustration being afforded of the gross
tyranny and oppression, the infamous extortion and
legalised robbery, so long carried on with impunity
under its auspices. A case has occurred which has
elicited the public sympathy for the unmerited mis-
fortunes of the victim, and indignation for the frauds
effected by the legal harpies. A solicitor of the
Palace Court has come forward in the most creditable
manner, not merely by the handsome donation of 51.
for the relief of the sufferer, but also by tendering
his professional services gratuitously to obtain redress
from the Court itself. This case is still sub judice,
but judging from what took place on Friday last, on
the application of Mr. Cox, of the firm of WIL.
I.OUGHEY and Cox, whose generous exertions are
deserving of the highest praise, we fear that much
cannot be effected on behalf of victim.
The case of WILLIAM JONES must be fully in the
recollection of our readers. It cannot be forgotten
that the unfortunate man had been induced to go
security for the repayment of 51. by a friend, to one
of the numerous loan societies that are established in
every part of the metropolis. This sum was to be
repaid by weekly instalments, and the original bor-
rower had duly paid up the sum of U. 2s , with the
utmost punctuality. Owing, however, to some unex-
pected misfortuu2s, he was obliged to fall into arrear.
The first intimation received by poor JONES was the
service of a writ from the Palace Court, endorsed for
the sum of 31. 183. debt, and 1/. 103. cost, the costs
thus amounting in the very first step of the cause,
and before a single demand had been made on JONES,
to more than 40 per cent. on the entire demand.
Horrified at the prospect of absolute ruin, which
would be the inevitable result of additional legal ex-
p.-3meg, JONES hurried to the secretary of the loan
society, and at once paid the only sovereign of which
he was possessed, promising to hand over 10s., the
balance of costs, within a week, on which terms the
secretary undertook that the proceedings should be