The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-11 00:00:00

STATUTE LAW.

Lord PALMERSTON moved for a select committee to con,-
sider so much of the second report of the statute law com-
missioners as relates to the proposition therein made for the
adoption of means to improve the manner and language of
current legislation, and to report their opinion thereupon to
the house. Nothing, he said, could be of more importance
than this subject. Everybody who had-turned his attention
to the framing and language of the statute law must have
seen what confusion frequently arose from the diversity of
construction, from oversights, and from conflicting enact-
ments ou laws that were passed at different times. He re-
membered, as an instance of this, that a bill some years ago
was brought into the house in which, by oversight, the gram-
matical construction of one of the clauses went to provide far
the case in which Good Friday should fall ou a Sunday.
(Laughter.) Besides these ridiculous results there was a want
of precision in the language of our statutes, and a waist of
sufficient care in providing that harmony should be preserved
between bills brought in and laws in existence. And, indeed,
when they considered the method in which bills passed in
that house, it was very natural. A bill was brought in fre-
quently by an independent member with such assistance as
he might he able to command, or a bill was brought in by
Government, who employed an officer, whose time was very
much engaged. Neither of these framers of bills was able to
give sufficient attention to the language, or to examine all
existing laws, to sec that the bill did not conflict with those
laws ; that, iu short, the hill should be an improvement, and
should not lead to confusion. Well, the bill was brought in,
and in debate amendments were suggested which were after-
wards carried out in committee. One member had a particu-
lar case in mind for which he wished to provide, and he pro-
po,ied a clause. The mover of the bill, taken on a sudden,
finding that to accept this clause would smooth the passage
of the bill, without, perhaps, having the opportunity or the
means of ascertaining exactly the bearing of the clause on the
other parts of the bill, or on existing laws, adopted it. The bill
passed that house, and in the other house amendments were
made in the same way, and additional clauses were inserted,
without sufficient opportunity or time to ascertain their bear-
ing, and the result was frequently that a bill came down,
passed into the law, and the next session another bill had to
be brought in to alter it, as was the case lately in reference
to a bill for the collection of rates in the metropolis. A great
advantage, therefore, would arise if sone proper officer were
appointed, who should be servant to the two Houses of Par-
liament in regard to these matters, who should, when a bill
was referred to him, examine the legal effect of it, its opera-
tion on existing laws, whether it repealed or altered existing
laws, whether it left in existence laws on the same subject
wholly or partially repealed—in short, to report to the
Houses of Parliament the effect of the bill, both as to its ope-
ration and also as to its language and construction. A great
improvement might no doubt be made in the phraseology of
our statutes. (Hear, hear.) A great many superfluous
words were frequently used. Lawyers, in order to prevent
mistakes—ex abundanti cautela—very often caused mistakes.
He therefore thought it would be a very desirable thing that
a committee should be appointed to take this report into
consideration, lie was bound to say that the authors of the
second report had shown by their example how it was possible
for able men to have clear ideas on the subjects referred to
them, and to express these clear ideas in the most perfect
and lucid manner. Though gentlemen might think that
reading a report on law amendment was not an agreeable oc-
cupation, yet he could assure them that any one who read
b T report would have great pleasure in reading it.
Sir G. GREY obCt°ailin
The motion was agreed to.
NedTlYeavCeOtNoSbTiAinEgLEinSa.
the appointment bill to facilitate
of chief constables for adjoiningcounties,
and
and to confirm appointments of chief constables in certain
eases.

Upon the motion oßf MANKS OF ISSUE.
GLYN, returns were ordered of
any banks, being banks of issue previously to the passing of
the act 7th and Bth of Victoria, chap. 32, which had ceased
to issue their notes, and the amount of circulation of such
banks respectively ; of the amount of Bank of England notes
issued under order in Council, according to the provisions of
the act 7th and Bth of Victoria, chap. 32, for replacing the
amount of circulation thus withdrawn, and up to what date ;
and of the banks of issue, if any, -which had ceased to issue
their own notes, and the amount of circulation of such banks
respectively since tho date of the above issue of Bank of Eng-
land notes (in continuation of a former return).
The Select Committee on Rating of Minos was appointed,
consisting of Mr. Kendall, Mr. Michael Williams, Mr. Deedes,
Mr. George Cavendish, Mr. Child, Mr. Bouverie, Mr. Hut-
chins, Mr. Philipps, Colonel Pennant, Mr. Ridley, Viscount
Monck, Mr. Spooner, Mr. Hussey Vivian, Mr, Littleton, Mr.
Hume, Mr. Henry Herbert, and Mr. Colvilo.
•
The house adjourned at half-past eight.

MR. JOHN MACG.REGOR, M.P., AND TilE
ELECTORS OF GLASGOIV.

On the 30th December last a meeting was held,
in the Second Ward, Glasgow, for the pu.rp )se of
taking into consideration the present condition of
the representation of the city, in relation to Mr.
Macgregor and his share in connection with the
Royal British Bank, whe❑ the following letter was
agreed upon, and forthwith despatched to its des-
tination :

"23, Monteiti.-row, Glvgow, Dec. 31, 1856.

" Dear Sir, At a meeting of a few of your supporters
o last
calling evening,
a p u bfioi
or
the purpose
nodi
discussingMunicipalthWeaprrt balddprhieelty f
meeting of the district, to take into consideration the
position in
with the Royal British Bank have placed you with the
community of Glasgow, it was deemed by there present
more respectful to you to let you know that such an
intention existed, in the hope that your reply might save
thenecessity of any such meeting being held.
~ In
a hasty note written by you some mime ago, you
promised to give an explanation of your share in thesis
occurrences. We think if you were fully aware of the
opprobrium that is daily heaped upon the electors of
Glasgow, your sense of justice would induce you no
longer to delay giving such r xplanation, or of adopting,
such other alternative as would free the citizens of Glas-
gow from those reflections, which are both painful and
discreditable.
" You are aware that the electors of the Second Ward
have always given you a generous and hearty support,
and we do not think it unfit or uncourteous in them to
ask such txplauation, or course, as above indicated. No
unfriendly or unkind feeling was manifested by any one
present, but a necessity was felt that you should now
take some steps to set yourself right with the electors
generally, but more especially with those who have hi-
therto generously supported you. With this view they
have desired me, in their name, to send this communica-
tion. —I am, itc.,
(Signed) " WILLIAM RAE,
" Representative in the Council from the
Second Municipal Ward."
To the above letter no answer bas been received.