The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-22 00:00:00

cellor was appointed, those judges should sit in turn i 'n
chambers, in which case the business would be thoroughl 'y
transacted.

Mr. ROLT agreed with the right hon. baronet in the in ►-
portance of having judicial matters disposed of by i ~i gas,
and introducing such legislative provision as would pro-
vent, as far as possible, referring such questions to the offi-
cers of the court. He did not think the equity judges could.
satisfactorily preside at chambers disposing of accounts,
which would unfit them for theirjudicial business. If a ques-
tion of law were at chambers the chief clerk might express
an opinion, and if the parties were dissatisfied they might
appeal to the judge. He did not think the time had arrived
when a new judge would be necessary, for although the
judges were fully occupied there were no arrears, and he
was not aware that any business had been referred to cham-
bers which ought not to have been transacted there. Mr.
Buckley had been acting with the Master of the Rolls for
three years, and if they did not accede to the clause pro-
posed by Mr. Hadfield they would be limiting his judicial
staff. It should be remembered, too, that the Master of the
Rolls had strongly recommended this appointment, and
that representation he thought should be attended to.

Sir J. GRAHAM said he should like to know in what
manner the Master of the Rolls has obtained the assistance
of Mr. Buckley during the last three years.
Mr. MALINS agreed in the main with Sir J. Graham,
and said that unless it could be shown that an additional
clerk was necessary for the Vice-Chancellor, he could not
agree that it was necessary to give another clerk to the
Master of the Rolls. The Vice-Chancellor's clerks did quite
as much work as a single judge could superintend, and if
another chief clerk were appointed for each of the courts
there would be more work than the Vice-Chancellor could
adequately supervise. He was not of opinion the time had
come for the appointment of a new judge, but he did not mean
to say that it was far distant, inasmuch as by a bill now be •
fore the house, which would enable viva voce evidence to be
taken, the Chancery Court business would greatly increase.
In reply to Sir J. Graham's question, the hon. and learned
gentleman had said that Mr. Buckley was clerk to Master
Blunt, who died in 1856. He was entitled to £l,OOO a-year
as such clerk, and three years ago one of the clerks of the
Master of the Rolls having become ill, Mr. Buckley offered
his services without any additional salary. Since that he
had discharged the duties, and if he continued to discharge
them he would not receive any additional salary to that to
which he was at present entitled. He thought that under
the circumstances the services of Mr. Buckley might be re-
tained.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, from the language
he frequently heard in the courts he could not help think-
ing that a portion of the duty of the courts strictly judicial
was transferred from the judges to the chief clerks, and he
should object therefore to adding another chief clerk to the
establishment of the Master of the Rolls. But the Master
of the Rolls, having pledged himself to the performance
of certain duties, he was disposed on that ground, and that
ground alone, to assent to his continuing to receive Mr.
Buckley's assistance, so long as the Lord Chancellor
might think fit, on the condition that if the business de-
creased he should be dismissed, and have no claim to
compensation, and if business increased he might be trans-
ferred to the office of one of the Vice-Chancellors if neces-
sary. The hon. and learned gentleman moved a clause, in
which he embodied those views, as an amendment to the
clause proposed by Mr. Hadfield.
Mr. HENLEY thought all judicial business of import
ante should be transacted under the immediate supervision
of the judges. He suggested that the Attorney-General
should allow Mr. Hadfield's clause to be negatived, and then
to have his own printed, in order that it might be brought
up with the report.
Sir J. GRAHAM said he viewed the amended clause
with great jealousy. He thought it would be well to add to
the clause that if a fourth judge were appointed Mr. Buck-
ley should be transferrel to him as his chief clerk.

-The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he should have no
objection.

It being 10 minutes to four, the CHAIRMAN reported
progress.
The other orders on the paper were postponed, and the
sitting was suspended at four o'clock.
At six o'clock the house resumed.
RETIRING ALLOWANCES IN THE NAVY.

Sir J. PAKINGTON asked the Secretary of the Admi-
ralty whether it was true that the officers on the 14s. 6d.
list were to be exempted from the application of the system
of retirement which applied to the oth6r lists, ald if so,
what was the reason of that exemption, and also whether
the noble lord had received any representation from the
officers of the navy on the subject ?
Lord C. PAGET said the captains on the 14s. 6d. list
had the alternative given them of remaining in the same
position as they were then, or accepting the permanent al-
lowance. In the 10s. 6d. list retirement was compulsory.