The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-28 00:00:00

LAW REPORTINO.

A report on the mode of publishing the decisions of
our courts of justice has been lately presented to the
society, and the council trust that the subject will not
be allowed to drop. It would be desirable to inquire
whether. in addition to the greatly needed improvements
in our system of law reporting some plan might not be
adopted fur the classification and ultimate codifying of
all the reports.
In conclusion, the council hare to congratulate the so-
ciety in the increase which still continues in its mem-
bers, more especially in those of its corporate members,
which have been trebled during the present session, and
to express their hope that the influence exerted by the
society in favour of the great object for which it was
originally established may be commensurate with its
numbers and prosperity.
Sir E. PERRY, in moving the adoption of the forego-
ing document, observed that law reform should not de-
pend exclusively on lawyers for success. As regarded
the Minister of Justice, he feared that if the Lord Chan-
cellor held the office, as it was proposed that he should
do, and introduced useful measures, those measures
would not in all cases be adequately supported by the
law officers of the crown. In his opinion the Home
Minister was the officer who should receive the new ap-
pointment, entrusted as he was with the administration
of justice and assisted by lawyers of the greatest emi-
nence. The present duties of the home department were
almost entirely matters of routine, and would not pre-
vent the alt ration which he suggested.
Mr. D. POWER seconded the motion. He did not
share in the despondency of some as to the progress of
law reform. A great advance bad already been made,
and it had been shown by experience that the interests
of lawyers were promoted instead prejudiced by the im-
provement of the law. He agreed with the preceding
speaker that the Lord Chancellor could not advantage-
ously hold the office of Minister of Justice, but could not
admit that the Home Secretary would be a good substi-
tute, or that his present duties were of a light nature.
What was wanted was a department in which the coun-
try had confidence, and the machinery of which wool I
ensure that acts of Parliament were properly framed for
the carrying out of their object. (Hear, bear.)
The CHAIIMAN congratulated the society on the num-
ber and variety of subjects embraced in the address of
the council. The question of the registration of lands
involved the whole subject of real property, and there
was no branch of the law that stood more in need of re-
form. As one of the commissioners who had investi-
gated the matter, he should be glad if the society would
bestow great attention upon it. He was unable to con-
cur in all the recommendations of the commissioners.
The subject was se I age that it was noakely that there
would be concurrence of opinion till there had been
ample discussion. As regarded law reform generally,
all saw the evil, but there were differences of opinion as
to the beet remedy, and hence it was that progress was
so sl Nothing would contribute more to the object
than precise measures embodying the principal recom-
mendations mails on the subject dealt with. The scheme
of appointing a Board of Justice was beset with difficul-
ties. He agreed with Mr. Power that the Home-office
had sufficient to do already. It being, too, a purely
executive office, he did not see how it couli be com-
pelled tl undertake additional labours, or how it could
be induced to introduce new bills when the probability
was that they would not pass. On the other hand there
would be great jealousy of an independent department
whose sole function it was to frame new measures ; and
failure would bring it into discredit. He was therefore,
inclined to the opinion that the best minister of justice
would, after all, be that society. (Laughter )
The address was then adopted, and after some busi-
ness of a routine character the proceedings terminated.

EXTRAORDINARY NEW MOVEMENT BY

THE T.NACT.ARIAN!S,

A movement has been set on foot by the Trac-
tarians which will somewhat startle the religious
world, and especially the Evangelical party in the
Church, when they become acquainted with it
through the medium of our columns. Deeply
mortified at the series of admirable ecclesiastical
appointments which Lord Palmerston has made
since his advent to the Premiership, they have
determined on addressing the Queen, the two
Houses of Parliament, and the two Houses of Con-
vocation, praying that either the present system
of appointing bishops may be altered, by taking
the power of appointment out of the bands of the
Premier, or that if it should be deemed expedient
to continue that power in the hands of the Prime
Minister, that there may be an impartial selection
from all parties in the Church, so as that clergymen
of every variety of religious t:elief in the establish-
ment may have their relative share of the higher
class of good livings. It is confidently expected
that out of the 18,000 clergymen in. the Church,
from 6,000 to 7,000 will sign these addresses.
Morning A dvertiser.

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.—On Monday evening
the brothers of Court 2,681 celebrated their second an-
niversary at the Perseverance Tavern, kept by Brother
Gibson—Br .ther Robertson in the chair, faced by
Brother Forster. After the din.)er, which was of a
first-rate kind, both as regards quality and quantity, the
chairman save the usual loyal toasts. Mr. Forster, in
returning thanks for his health having been drunk, had
occasion to advert t.) the failure of the Royal British
Bank, in which he had, on the part of the London
United District Society deposited 2001. ; that sum was
of course sacrificed, but he (Brother Forster) had made
that sum good. (Cheers.) He was obliged to refer to
the circumstance, ivasmuch as it was mentioned by his
fraternal proposer. The affairs of the Court were briefly
adverted to, and sufficiently proved that it was one of the
most prosperous. A vile of thanks was given to Brother
Gibson, for his indefatigable exertions on behalf of the
Court, and for his attention and liberality on that occa-
sion. Brother Gibson returned thanks, and the brethren
gaye him the " Foresters' Fire." Several of the brethren
contributed to the harmony of the evening, one singing
" The Good Rhein Wine" in first-rate style. The party
—which was one of mirth and fraternal jollity—broke
up at a little aft• r one. _ _

COAST DEieNeEs.—At a special meeting of the town
council of Aberdeen, on Thursday, a communication was
read from Lord Paninure, to the effect that, acting upon
representations made from several localities during the
late war, pointing out the great insecurity of the com-
mercial ports of the United Kingdom, in the event of
any desultory attack by an armed force or an enemy's
orui-ere, his lordship had been induced to cause the sub-
ject to be inquired into, and a committee of °facers had
recently visited Aberdeen, in order, to report upon the
necessary measures for its protection. This report bad
been approved of, and his lordship proposed that there
should he (1) a 9-gun battery commanding the bay ; (2)
a 4-gun battery fronting the town ; and (3) one gun of
the heaviest calibre commanding the approaches to the
harbour. His lordship asked the co-operation of the
authorities in providing the sites, and the council con-
firmed a former reselution on the subject, granting site
—about two acres will be required—at a merely nominal
rental, to preserve the right of the town to the property.
LoLA MoNTEz. A despatch from Louisville, Ken-
tucky, dated 10th inst., says :—" Quite a row occurred
at the theatre here. It was the benefit of Lola Montez,
and she wanted carpet, instead of green baize on the floor
of the stage. The stage manager refused this, and ap-
pealed to the audience, when a war of words took place
between him and Lola. The manager afterwards made
1.-4 speech, and so did Lola. She refused to play, and the
' money taken waa returned to the ticket-holders.