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

OrtIMINAL LAW.

When tL•e council last addressed the society, at the
commencement of the present session, a panic was pre-
valent lin the codntry on the subject of our criminals,
and a giineral disposition was manifested in favour of re-
turning to a wholesale system of transportation. The
criminal law committee reported against any such retro-
grade step, believing that transportation at the best was
but a clumsy substitute for a vigilant and judicious ad-
ministration of secondary punishment at home, and that
a return to it in the present state of our colonial empire
could only be attended by disastrous consequences. The
committee recommended an increase of the terms of penal
servitude, and a stricter and more discriminating appli-
cation of the ticket-of-leave system. The measure in-
troduced by Sir G. Grey was in a great degree in accord-
ance with these views.

The Industrial Schools Bill of last session received the
warm support of the society, •aiming as it does at the
prevention of crime by the arrest of some of those causes
which lead to its development, and the council trust that
the, same support will again be afforded to it, in conjunc-
tion with the National Reformatory Union and the Bir-
mingham Educational Association, when this 'measure
again comes before the house.

LAW REPORTING,
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 he 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 have 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 this crown. In his opinion the Home
Minister was the officer wio 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 swggested.
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 bold 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 machinety of which would
ensure that acts ofPailiament were properly framed for
the carrying out of their object. (Hear, hear.)
The CEIAIRUAN congratulated the society on the num-
ber and variety of mil jests 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 bad investi-
gated the matter, he should be glad if the society would
bestow great attention upon it. Hooves unable to con-
cur in all the recommendations of the commissioners.
The subject was so large that it was notlikely that there
would Lie concurrence of opinion till there bad been
ample discussion. As regarded law reform' generally,
all saw the evil, but there were differences of opinion as
to the best remedy, 'nd hence it was that progress was
so slow. Nothing would contribute more to the object
than precise measures embodying the principal recom-
mendations made 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 cool t he com-
bo Induced to introduce new bills when the probability
pilled to undertake additional labours, or how it could
wag that they would not pass. On the other hand there
vroulsi great jealousy of an independent department
whose sole itzction it was to frame new measures ; and
into discredit. He was therefore,
the best minister of justice
Tailor© would bring
.and. after some besi-
(Laughter )
wi noctii iinje,dafttoertahlei,oeti,ntihoant
ciety:
prou4ecogs terminated.
nesTs hoei adrdoruestsi
ewcahsatrhaeonte adopted,rat

EXTBAO_RDINARY NE-Vir MOVEMELVT BY
THE TBACTABIANS,

A movement has been set on . foot by the Trac-
tariars which will somewhat startle the religious
world, nod espociilly the Evangelical party in the
Church, when they bedome acquainted with it
through the mod'um of our gehtlntls. Deeply
mortified at the series of admirablo ecclesiastical
appointments which Lord Palmerston Las made
since his advent' to tiro Premiwship, they have
determined on addressing the Qti.P9n, the tWO
Rouses of Parliament, and the two nougat, of 0,41-
vocation, praying that either the present syston
of appointing bishops may La altered,' by takinc,
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 sOection
from all parties in the Church, so as that clergymoin
of every variety of religious belief 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 those addresses.
Morning Advertiser.

ANCIENT ORDER OF Foorsnes.— On Monday evening
the brothers of Court 2,681 celebrated their second an-
niversary at the Perseverance Tavern, kept by Brother
Gibson—Brother Robertson in the chair, faced by
Brother Forster. After the dinner, which was of a
first-rate kind, both as regards quality and quantity, the•
chairman gave the usual loyal toasts. Mr. Forster, in
returning thanks for his health having been drunk, had
occasion to adve!t to the falore 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, inasmuch as it was mentioned by his
fraternal proposer. The affairs of the Court were briefly
adverted to, end sufficiently proved that it was one of the
most prosperous. A vote 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
gave 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 after one.
COAST DEFENCES.—At a special meeting of the town
council of Aberdeen, on Thursday, a communication was
read from Lord Panmure, 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
cruisers, his lordship bad been induced to cause the sub-
ject to be inquired into, and a committee of officers bad
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 be (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 resolution on the subject, granting sites
—about two acres will be required—at a merely nominal
rental, to preserve the right of the town to the property.
LOLA Motagz. -A despatch from Louisville, Ken.
tocky, dated 10th inst., says :—" Quito a row occurred
at the theatre here. It was the benefit of Lola Monte;
and she wanted carpet instead of green hr.ize on the floor
of the
relased this, ..u:d ap-
peeled to the audience, when a war of words took place
between him and Lola. The manager afterwards made
a speech, and-so did Lola. She refused to play, and the
money taken was returned to the ticket-holders,