The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-14 00:00:00

LAW AMENDMENT SOCIETY.

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Last night a meeting of the Law Amendment So-
ciety was held in their roomsi, 21, Regent-street; Mr.
Commissioner Fane in the chair.

Mr. STEWART said he had some important com-
munications to reed from Mr. Dudley FiQld, contain-
ing the opinions of some of the judges of New York,
as to the operation of the new code, combining equity
and common law in one court. The first was from
Mr. Justice Sanford, who was one of the Vice-
Chancellors under the old system. The Learned
Gentleman read the opinions of Mr. Justice Sandford,
Mr. Justice Parker, and Mr. Justice Harris, the first,
who had been a Vice-Chancellor under the old sys-
tem, expressed a modified approval of the new sys-
tem; the others, who were judges in the Supreme
Courts, gave a strong and decided opinion in its fa-
vour, though they admitted that time would be neces-
sary to perfect its details. He (Mr. Stewart) thought
that these letters, even if no others were to be laid
before the society, were sufficient to warrant it in
appointing the committee, of which he had given
notice, to consider in what respect, if any, the proce-
dure and principles of our courts of law and equity
might be assimilated, taking into consideration the
provisions of the New York code. Ile begged to
nominate as the members of that committee, Messrs.
Pane, M. D. Hill, Creasy, Bethel], Trower, Vansit-
tart, Neale, Pigott, Stewart, IV. Hawes; Mr. Alder-
man Salomons, and Mr. Elliott.

Mr. MACQUEEN thought the step they were called
upon to take was extremely important, not o►►ly to
that society, but to the public. Would not the so-
ciety by appointing that committee commit itself to
the scheme which had been adopted in New York ?
That scheme had not proved successful, as not one of
the judges whose opinions had been read to them,
had expressed unqualified approval of it, and one at
least had expressed great doubt. The plan itself was
no new thing. More than three centuries ago it had
been propounded by Sir Thomas More, but a greater
man had disapproved of it—Lord Bacon. He was
aware the committee was merely for inquiry, but he
thought they should pause before taking such a do.
cided step. He wished it to be understood that the
society did not express any general approval of the
scheme.

Mr. TROWER, on the contrary, hoped that the so-
ciety would distinctly say that they generally ap-
proved of the scheme.—(Hear, hear.) The opinions
of the judges were so strong that they were urgently
called upon to go fully into the subject.—(Hear,
hear.) If they looked at the philosophy of the sub-
ject, there was no essential distiction between equity
and law, and to continue separate courts was at this
period perfectly absurd.
Mr. M. D. HILL supported the motion for a com-
mittee. Even had this change not been made by the
state of New York, the question was one which in
itself challenged their most careful inquiry and deli-
berate attention. Mr. Stewart and himself had had
am interview recently with Mr. Pride,
a member of
the New York Law Society, while on his way through
London to the Continent. That gentleman alas op-
posed to the change, but his own experience since it
was made had made him a supporter pt. it. He (Mr.
Hill) did not advocate such a change in the law as, by
depriving the legal profession of fair emoluments,
would drive men of learning and ability frem the pro-
fession. That would be a greater curse to the ipuhlic
.constructed s
than the most ingeniouslysystem for