The Sun.
London, England, 1823-05-05 00:00:00

OXFORD CIRCUIT.

Our respect for the Bavinduces us to insert the
following Correspondence respecting a contro-
versy which has recently excited much attention
in the legal circles :

, London; March 5, 1823.
Sir—l presume to-address you as leader of the Oxford Cir-
cuit, to state what perhaps may have already come to your
knowledge—my wish and intention to join that body. As I
know this step is not a usual one, of my standing at the bar, I
feel it due to you and the other Gentlemen of the Circuit, to
inform you of the motives which have induced me to adopt it.
I have lately succeeded to some small landed property in the
County of Worcester, and it is my wish to reside upon it, which
I find I cannot accomplish, and continue on the Home (a dis•
taut) Circuit; for if I continue there, I shall never be able to
reach home until the month of August, after the Summer Cir-
cuit; and perhaps not for a single day in the spring. Under
these circumstances, I must either abandon a place to which
am much attached, or change my Circuit for the Oxford. I ain
making a considerable pecuniary sacrifice by the change, which
repels the presumption of any capricious or mercenary motives ;
being, indeed, only actuated by a wish to increase my domestic
comforts in my new arrangements. I have deemed, it right
thus to apprise you of my intention, and the reason of it, trust-
ing'that you and the other Gentlemen of the Circuit will not
object to receive me into your society.—l remain, yours,
T. Jervis, Esq. J. CUItWOOD.

Worcester, March 10, 1823.
Dear Sir—l have taken the earliest opportunity of laying
your letter to me of the sth inst. before the Members of the
Oxford Circuit, and have it in command from that body to
transmit you the following answer thereto :—" At a General
Meeting of the Oxford Circuit, assembled at Worcester on the
10th of March, 1823, Mr. Jervis having communicated to the
Memben4 of this Circuit, now assembled at the Circuit table, a
letter of the sth inst. from Mr. Curwood to him, intimating his
intention of joining the Oxford Circuit, the same was taken
into-consideration ; when .t was resolved unanimously, that,
considering the standing of Mr. Curivood at the Bar, and the
length of tune that he has been a Member of another Circuit,
the Members of the Oxford Circuit cannot, for the reasons stated
in Mr. Curwood's letter, consistently with the known rules of
the profession, consent to receive him as a Member of their
body: and that Mr. Jervis, as the senior Member of this Cir-
cuit, be requested to signify this resolution to Mr. Curwood."
I have the honour to be, dear Sir; your obedient serVant,
J. Curwood, Esq. T. JERVIS.

Worcester, March 11, 1823.

Dear Sir—This morning I received the letter which yOn did
me the honour to address to me, in reply to one to you on the
subject of my intention of joining the Oxford Circuit, and' in
which you transmit to me the resolution of the circuit upon that
matter. By the copy of that resolution it appears it was
resolved unanimously, " that considering my standing at the
Bar, and the length of Mime I have been a member of another
circuit, the Oxford Circuit cannot, for the reasons stated in my
letter, consistently with the known rules of the profession, con-
sent to receive me as a member of their body.' As a prelimi-
nary observation, I must express my surprise that such a reso-
lution should have been unanimously adopted ; because to se-
veral of the members of the Oxford Circuit, whom I saw in
Court, and who, I presumed, formed a part of the table which
joined in that resolution, I had long ago, and on many occa-
sions, in Westminster Hall, stated my intention, and the rea-
sons for it as given to you in my last letter, and who professed
to me that they thought those reasons sufficient and satisfactory.
Indeed, it is now above twelve months since Ifirst made known
my intentions, and but from one man did I hear an objection
to ik on the ground of violating any professional rule. He had
the frankness to tell me that he thou,,,eht it would be irregular,
and if asked, would state such to be-his opinion. As ads vote
is consistent with his avowed opinion.? I will nitme
Campbell. But to the more important matter : the resolution
states, that the members of the Oxford Circuit cannot admit
me because my change of circuit under the circumstances is in-
consistent with the known rules of the profession. This, Sir,
pitting the matter upon a short and clear issue. If I have
violated any known rule of the
.profession, I deserve reprehen-
sion, whether I have done it in ignorance or not, for I ought not
at my standing to be ignorant of any known professional rule ;
but if there be a known rule, it must be a certain rule, I pre.
sume, and not subject to the arbitrary construction of those
who may be interested parties. I need hardly recall to your
mind what is said by a great master of . our profession of the
miserable state of those bli jig; rat vaguin ant incognitum.
Is there, then, anyknewn certain rule? If so, where is it to
be found ? It must be either in former. recorded resolutions of
the profession, in precedent, or in general understiinding. I did
not adopt the step I have taken hastil I made:every inquiry
as to the rule ; recorded resolutions I could find none t, prece-
dents,
of course, cannot be many, because no man who has ac-
quired business in one circuit will abandon it to begin again in
another, unless he has motives from other causes out of pro.
fission, to which he looks for compensation for his Moss: but
with respect to length of standing at the Bar, I can state one
precedent on the Home Circuit (with whose historyl um best.
acquainted). Sergeant Kempe came from the Western to the
Home Circuit, and at once took the lead of it. Phasic also
heard that Lord Loughborough first went the. Northern, after
he had obtained a silk gown. With respect to general under.
standing, I found the rue fo be so variously understood that I
could arrive at no certain conclusion. With some it was un-
.derstood to lie an absolute right to change once—others thought
that any change in a man's own peculiar circumstances was a
sufficient justification. That a man has a right to change his
circuit, has been a thing so often done, that no one doubt can
exist upon the understood right in the al;stract, but at what stand-
ing, or under what circumstances, are wholly undeflfid, or at
'castes fur as I can learn. The only conclusion I courttcometti,
was one as stated by a gentleman of rank on this circuit, who, m
speaking to me on the subject, observed, " that in his opinion,
it was entirely a matter of feeling to be decided onthe peculiar
circumstances of each individual ease." It was upon this last
principle that I -acted : I felt I was not influenced by any un-
worthy motives, or taking advantage of any peculiar circum-
stances in the circuit, against the junior members of it ; and
although I hope I shall, ever be open to conviction if' am in
error, yet if it be a question to be decided upon correct feeling,
I shall always feel, decide, and ultimately act for myself. I
will not condescend to make professions of the purity of my
motives ; I boldly appeal to the whole conduct of my past life,
private and professional, as a voucher for the correctness of my
intention:; and if it becomes a questionDetween me and,others,
as to the correctness of those feelings, ors that conduct, general
opinion must decide between us. I have thus, Sir, gone more
into detail of the question between me and the Oxford Circuit.
If there be any known rule as the resolution asserts, I shall not
presume to infringe it ; but I wish to convey to the gentlemen
of the circuit, and my most anxious wish is to do it in a man-
ner and language as respectful as any body of gentlemen can
require from an equal, that I will not abandon, but firmly
maintain, a right for myself and others who may he in like cir-
cumstances hereafter, until the asserted knoln rule of the pro-
fession is distinctly proved to exist. lam extremely sorry that
you should be the channel of what, to me, is a painful coinniu-
nication ; but, trusting to your polite attention and former
friendship for pardon, believe me, Sir, ever vour's respectfully.
To T. Jervis, Esq. • J. CUItWOOIJ.

Stafford, March 14,1823.
Sir,--I have the honour to communicate to yqu the following
resolution of the Oxford Circuit At a meeting of the Ox-
ford Circuit, holden at Stafford; at the Circuit table, on the 14th
March, it was unanimously resolved, that the Members of this
Circuit, having considered the answer of Mr. Curwood to Mr.
Jervis's letter, see no reason for receding frmn the resolution
passed at Worcester, and therefore cannot recognize Mr. Cur-
wood as a Member of this Circuit."—l have.the honour to be,
Sir, your obedient servant, T. JERVIS.
To .1. Curwood, Esq.
Stafford, March 15, 1023.
Dear Sir,—l have been in doubt whether Fought to reply to
your note, conveying me the last resolution of the Oxford Cir-
cult, in answer to my second letter. Upon the best judgment
I can form, I think it is due to you, Sir, to state nay feelings on
the subject. I certainly expected, that in a case where it was
matter of controversy, as to the existence, extent, and appli-
cability of an alleged professional rule, the question should have
been, properly, referred to the profession at large, or to the se-
niors of each circuit; but as the Oxford Circuit themselves,
being parties, choose also to be judges in their own cause, I
cannot implicitly bow to their decision. I shall therefore my-
self, next Term, submit the correspondence between us to the
members ,of the profession at large, and shall regulate mycon-
duct according to their judgment, as Lox as I can collect it.
I do not address this letter to the Circuit, and I trust you
will believe me -when I say it is meant as a mark of respectful
attention towards yourself. With much regret that you should
have had, what Iltnow you have felt to be, an unpleasant pro-
fessional duty between me and the Circuit. believe me, sin
erely yours, with great respect, J. CURWOOD.
T. Jarvis, Esq.
My dear Sir,—l have pee used with great pain the cor-
respondence between you and 111 r. Jervis. lam certainly not
aware of any known rule on the subject of changing the Cir-
cuit, and I can truly say that 1 should not have thought it ob-
jectionable for a gentleman, situated as you are, to change from
the Oxford or any other Circuit to the am, dear Sir,
ever yours, A.. ONSLOW.
J. Curwood, Esq.—April 17, 1823,

COUNTRY MARKETS AND FAIRS,

DURING TRE LAST WEEK.

LIVERPOOL CORN EXCHANGE, April 29.

The importation of all' descriptions-of Grain, during the I
week, has been trivial in the extreme. Since this day se'n-
night we have had great agitation in the market, and both
Wheat and 'Oats have risen rapidly in consequence. This
day's was well attended, and considerable sales were made, both
of Wheat and Oats, at an advance of tid. to Bd. per bushel on
the former, and:3d. to 4d. on the latter. Flour and Oatmeal
were each 2s. to 3s. per pack higher, and Beans 2s. per quarter.
There was no alteration in the price of Barley or Malt. The
holders of Foreign Grain are asking more money for it, and
some considerable parcels are shipping to foreign markets.
Wheat, Englisb,Old
New Bs Od a 9s Oil
Ditto sound Os od a Os od
Scotch, ON Bs Od a 8s 9d
Foreign (in bond) Os Od a Os Od
Irish, Old • 6s 10d a 7s Rd
New
.„8s 4ci
Barley, English, Old
New
Irish, Old
New
Scotch, Old 4s 2d a 4s 44
New
Oats, Potatoe, Old
New , ss 44 a 3s 64
Limerick, Old 3s 4tl a 3s 6d
. New
Welsh, Potato, New 3s 44 a 3s 6d
Malt, Fine ..
• Ditto, middling..... 7s 3d a is 9d
Beans, . Old 33s ad a 38s Od per quarter.
• New 32s Oda 375 Od •
Superfine Flour, Old
• , New
Oatmeal, Old • —s ad a—s Od
New • 29$ Od a 32s Od
American Flour, sweet, (in bond), —s Od a —s Od per barrel
of 1861bs, net.—Sonr, (out of bond), 32s a 345.
• Imptirt of Grain for the Week ending April 28.
Wheat I Barley Oats I Floor Scks Irish.
Bsh. 701 bi. • Bab. 601bs. Bib. 451bs. Am.Brls. per 2401b5.
•- 5,490 • • • 1,210 10,660 310

CETESTER, April 26.
Wheat, per 75 lb. is 041 a Bsod—Barley, 38 qts, Os 041 a
Os 041-oats, Os Od a Os 0(1.

April 96.
Wheat, per 751 b., tis 811 a 7s—Barley, 4s 4d a Is GLl—Dats,
2s lid a as Od.

CANTERBURYtAptiI 26.

Wheatßrown.... 55s a 66s 'Picks
White.... —s a—s Hog Pease .. —s a 34s
New ..... 584 a 7ls Boiling Pease.... 40s a 44s
Rye —s a a.-s Flopr
Barley 32s a 40s Hay, per ton .... 70s a 80s
Oats t 22s a 32s Clorrr 7os a 75s
Beans 2Bs a 335 Straw

MAIDSTONE March 24.
Wheat, Red 485 a 60s Beans, Tick .... 24s a 28s
-- White 60s a 66s --Small ..., 28s a 325
Barley
Oats lB5 a 28s Boiling . 30s a 365
Price of Oil Cake at Tovil Mills, 1 11. Os. per Thousand.
TENTEIIDEN) .April 25.
Wheat Red 36s a 42; Beaus
--- White.... 98s a 445 Pease White 28s a 301
Barley - Grey 265 a 28s
_ .

Oats l6s a 22s I
CAMBRIDGE, Ape
Wheat
Rye
Barley

it 2G.—Average.
Oats
Peas
Beans
HUNTINGDON, April 26.
Wheat 231 Od a :16s Od Oats lss Od a 23s Od
Barley .... 25s Ott a 30s Ott Beans .• 96s Od a 293 Od
Peas —s Od.
WISBECH, April 26 —Average.
Wheat
Barley
27s Od Peas
aye
HARSTON DlSTRlCT.—The'Receiver of Assize Rettirns re-
ports 4308 bushels of wheat bought for 14181 135 7d, and 83424
bushels of flour sold for 14671 18s 3d.

',lVoacrsTEtt, April 2G. •
Wheat .... 4s 10d a Gs lOtl I Oats
Barley .... 2s 10(1a 31 10‘1 Beans 3l Otl aSs 6cl
Pease
YoRK, April 26.
Wheal
Barley
Rye

Beans

BATE!.

IVlteat
Barky