The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-20 00:00:00

PROPOSED CONCENTRATION OF THE

LAW COURTS.

The Report of the Royal Commission on the se-
lection of new sites for the courts of law has jast
been issued. The Attorney-General's scheme for
appropriating the entire space between Carey-street
and the Strand is carefully considered by the com-
missioners, who are unanimously in favour of adopt-
ing that scheme. They propose that the different
offices, 14 in number, shall all be brought together ;
that the law courts, instead of sitting at Westmin-
ster, Guildhall, Basinghall-street, and Doctors'-
commons, shall be domiciled together. The site is
midway between the Temple, Lincoln's-inn, and
Sergeant's-inn, where most f the solicitors and
counsel dwell. Lincoln's-inn-fields and Chancery-
lane are complete dens for lawyers, and they
would thus be able to transact their business in very
nearly half the time that they are compelled to
devote to it now. One large firm employing some
70 clerks estimate that if the alterations are carried
into effect they shall be enabled to do increased
business with half that number, as owing to the
courts and registry being so disposed, when once a
clerk goes out to attend them they never know
when to expect him back. It is proposed, should the
plan be adopted by the House of Commons, that
the first building to be erected shall be one for the
registry of the Court of Probate and for the Di-
vorce Court, as • these departments stand in need
of pfoper accommodation more than any other.
This the commissioners estimate can be accomplished
in two years from this time, providing that a
bill be passed this session ; otherwise it will be
more than three years before the first buildings
can be erected, because the Office of Works will
have to give the usual notice for the acquirement of
the necessary property. Whether the Office of
Works is favourable to the scheme or not has not
transpired, but one thing is quite clear, that they
do not expect it will be put in operation for some
years to come, because the office is laying out
some £30,000 in acquiring and repairing some
very old and dilapidated property in Doctor's-
commons for the use of the Probate Court ; and.,
further, it has given notice to purchase the freehold
of a property let on. lease; of which-some 18 years
are unexpired. The cost of acquiring the site, the
purchase of existing houses, and the erection of
other houses will, it is estimated, take an enor-
mous sum. This, however, does not deter the com-
missioners in their report from advocating the plan,
on the ground that the unclaimed suitors' fund, with
the exception of some £16,000 to be provided for
out of the consolidated fund, will be quite sufficient
to cover every expense. All that the House of
Commons will have to do will be to pass a short
bill authorizing the expenditure of the money, and
guaranteeing that in case any of it shall hereafter
be claimed the Treasury shall be empowered to
make it good. Simple, however, as it appears,
there is little or no chance of this measure being
passed this session. There is a larger amount of op-
position to the scheme than the commissioners antici-
pated. The owners of property in the neighbourhood
-of the courts and registries which are proposed to'
be removed are doing everything they can to pre-
judice the public mind against the proposition. On
many of them it would entail absolute ruin, and
,therefore it is not to be wondered at that they are
up and active in their opposition. They may ntt
,eventually prevent Sir R. Bethell's project from
being carried into effect, but they may, and pro-
bably will, delay it considerably. In the interim,
while the present uncertainty exists, the profession
is put to much inconvenience ; they know not what
to do, or where to pitch their tent. But indepen-
dent of this, the cost entailed upon the country by
providing temporary accommodation is something
tremendous. The Probate-office will cost at the
least £30,000, but probably very much more,
and all for two or three years' accommodation.
Lord Palmerston has expressed his determination, if
possible, to pass the Bankruptcy and Insolvency
Bill this session, if he asks Parliament to sit until
the end of August. Now, if this takes place, fresh
offices will be required for the new Bankruptcy
Court, or else alterations will have to be made. which
will entail a very large outlay, all to be thrown away
when the new courts are erected. The scheme of the
commissioners has met, we believe, with the support
of the Lord Chancellor and all the judges, and the
only members of the bar who are opposed to it are
those who are either members of Parliament, or
those largely engaged in Parliamentary practice.
While the courts are held at Westminster they
can go from the committee-room to the courts, but
if they are removed for six months in the year they
must confine themselves to one line of practice or
the other.

THIS DAY'S MARKETS.

CORN EXCHANGE.

The arrivals of English wheat fresh up to-day, coastwise
and by land-carriage, were limited, and the show of sam-
ples was, consequently, small. Both red and white quali-
ties were in steady, but by no means active demand, at ls.
per quarter above last week's currency.
Foreign wheat—the fresh imports of which are 11,030
quarters—has moved off steadily, at extreme rates. There
was a moderate inquiry for floating cargoes, at full prices.
Barley was in short supply and fair request, at full quota-
tions.

Although the show of malt was very moderate, the de
mand for that article ruled inactive, on former terms.

We have to report a fair sale for eats—the imports of
which continue liberal—at the late improvement in value.
Both beans and peas were firm in price, and there was a
fair inquiry for flour, some kinds of which were the turn
dearer.

ARRIVALS THIS WEER.
Wheat Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
English ........ 1,020 I 540 I 1,610
Irish.. ..... 20 3
Foreign. 11,030 1,700 23,950 I 1,390 sacks.
9,660 brls.