The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-29 00:00:00

.; 41 ,
MAY 29, 1850,
•

drenched garments before it. The spit was of no great
size, you might walk round it in five minutes, and just
enough elevated in the centre to have our tents and fires
in a dry berth ; but to us it was "any port in a storm."
I got the dip here, and towards evening the wind was
lulling and sea going down, with sky clearing and stars
showing, so we hopo for fine weather to-morrow—ther-
thometer during the day 35 to 38.
On tnc, morning of the 23d it was fine, with a mode-

rate westerly breeze; and at ten minutes after three A.M.
we shoved off and ran away eastward, making good pro-
gress. At 3.30 P at. rounded Kay's Point, with the wind
light, and by 4 quite calm; and we did not reach the
mouth of the river until the evening of the 26th, passing
betw.en Cape Reef and the main, where we saw the last
of the Esquimaux.
On the evening of the 27th we entered the river,
having been employed all day observing and explor-
ing our locality ; fur I was doubtful of my position,
but perfectly satisfied of my being on a branch of the
l'sfackenzie. We did not go far up, for Whale Island is
yet to be visited; and I determined to leave the greater
part of the party.and Mr. Hooper here, on the left bank
two miles from its mouth, and proceeded the next day
with one boat and seven men, including myself and ice
master, with a week's provisions; most thankful to that
blessed Providence who has conducted us thus far in
safety.
On the morning of the 28th I left the camp, with wind
strong from S.W., ran across Shoal Water Bay, and
along the north shores of Tent Island, and steered to the
N.E., and in the•evening got up to Ellice Island, when
we were stopped by strong N.W. winds, and every ap-
pearance of a change for the worse, fur it was now very
cold. During the night it rained hard and blew heavy,
clearing up a little in the morning, but wind still the
same, dead against ua; so I made up my mind to return,
until seven o'clock, with no appearance of change for the]
bettir. We shoved off on our way back, and had not
made much progress when it came on heavy sleet, fol-
lowed by hail, and finally snow; piercingly cold continued
all day, with but slight intermission; and I can safely
say it has been the most miserable day I have had since
the commencement of our voyage. At one time it was
so thick, and blowing strong, that we could only just see
the bank we were close to, under which we stopped for
such shelter as it afforded, stamping our feet, and beat-
ing our hands to get them at all warm, for there was no
walking, the dwarf willow too thick to allow of it. At
six we reached the camp, and found they were not in a
much better condition.
Throughout the night we had snow, but the morning
of the 30th was fine, although very cold. the thermo-
meter 32 deg., with a light westerly wind. At 7 A.M.
we commenced the ascent of the river by tracking, which
was not a very easy job; from the top of bank to water's
edge in many places thickly covered with the dwarf
willow.
On the morning of the sth of September we reached
the first of the Hudson's Bay posts, and one of which
my orders speak of—namely, on the Peel River; but
our getting here was quite accidental, having mistaken
the Rat River, not in my chart, for the mouth of the
Peel, and turning into it instead of keeping on. Again,
not seeing mountains on the left, as in my chart, I was
not sure, although very doubtful.
The night of the 4th an Indian came to us (one of
the Louchoux), and told us the white men were not far
off, so 1 determined on going on for the next day at
least, until I had got sufficient observations for what I
wanted. It was about 10 Lat. when we reached the
post, and were kindly welcomed by Mr. Ilardisty, the
gentleman in charge, who gave me such good intelli-
gence of being able to keep a part of our party, that I
resolved on leaving five of them and Mr. Hooper here,
together with one boat, and the greatest part of the pro-
vision, with orders to join me in the spring of the year,
when the Company's people come on with the returns of
the year for shipment for England.
I intended pushing on with the rest of the party
(seven men) to Point Separation, and the next post
cleared the boats, and had the Logan and Supply loaded
with 20 days' provisions for eight men, and seven cases
of pemmican; and on the afternoon of the 6th, taking
one of the Company's men as pilot, w© shoved off, got
to Point Separation the next morning, where I found a
note in the "cache" from Sir J. Richardson, saying we
were to go to Fort Simpson, and winter on the Great
Slave Lake. I left three small cases of pemmican nearly
equal in weight to his one, a note with an account of
our proceedings, and shoved off, crossed to the right
bank, and commenced tracking.
On the morning of the 11th I found it very necessary I
to get rid of one of our boats—namely, the Supply;
sorry was I to do it, for I bad hoped to have carried bar
on to England as a specimen of the naval architecture
of the Western E-quimaux, and for the good service she
rendered us. But there was no help for it; she retarded
our progress terribly, and was a great weight to the men
in tracking, who were now beginning to feel the work,
and getting foot-sore and weary, although the strongest
of the party. Those I left at Peel River, at least three
of them, were in a very weak condition, which was
partly my reason, together with Mr. Hardisty's assur-
ance of there being plenty of provision, for leaving them;
at all events, they have at least 50 days' provision of
what we had in the boats, besides four small cases of
pemmican. After breaking up the Supply, I had the
skin out into three pieces (considering it would make
good mocassins for the men), and stowed it in the Logan,
together with other stoles, which made us very deep,
particularly when nine men got into her; but she was
lighter on the line, and we were getting on better, when
a light breeze sprung up from the south, to which we
made sail; and on its increasing took all hands in, and
flew along at a rapid rate, but dare not keep any distance
off shore, so much sea was there raised by the strong
wind against the downward current. As our flour and
bread were all out, I opened a case of pemmican as a
substitute.

On the noon of the 14th we met the Company's boats
on their way to the Peel, with their winter supply; and
at 6.30 P.M. we arrived at Fors Good Hope. I remained
here until Monday morning, getting from Mr. M'Beath,
the gentleman in charge, a supply of mocaasins for the men,
for the heavy boots were not at all fit for such work as
we have to perform; the walrus hide (skin of supply),
made up, also a case of pemmican and quantity of dried
meat, leaving our boat, the Logan, as she is quite unfit
for the work, also all the stores we did not require,
bringing off nothing but the two marines' muskets, and
taking one of the company's boats Mr. M'Beath had at
the station; two men, a Canadian and half-breed, the
former steersman, and two Indians to assist in tracking;
and good service they rendered us, for we should not
have been here yet if they had not been with us, not
knowing the river, and particularly the rapids, where
we should have been at fault.

On Monday, the 24th, the thermometer at 6 was down
to 26, with a light easterly air; when at 7.10 A.m. we
moved on with the tracking line; and on Sunday, the
23d, at noon, arrived at Fort Norman, got a supply of
pemmican, a bag of flour, 301bs. of dried goat's flesh
from Mr. M'Kenzie, the gentleman in charge;
discharged our two Indians who were to return
to Fort Hope; and on Monday, the 24th, pushed
on again, greatly missing our two Indiana, who were as
sorry to leave as we were to part with them, and reached
this place on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 11 o'clock in the
forenoon, most hospitably welcomed by Dr. Rae, Mr.
Bell, and Mr. O'Brien; the former the Arctic voyager,
and in charge of the post.
In conclusion, I beg to assure their Lordships that
every endeavour has been made to gain intelligence of
our missing countrymen; and it I have at all deviated
from my orders it was with a firm conviction that I was
doing all for the best. I have had little or no trouble
with natives in making them understand what we wanted,
even those with whom we had the skirmish were ques-
tioned on our first meeting, and all that we have met,
they have looked at us gravely and with astonishment.
Every corner, every part of the coast, has been thoroughly
searched, with the exception of the depths of Harrison's
Bay, and there I should not think it likely they would
go; again, the natives at Point Berens would have
known it, had any one been there. The northern shores
of Herschel Island I did not visit, as at the time we were
there it was blowing hard from N.W. to S.W. ; and
oar time was getting very short. All marks on the
coast, and many poles have I seen and examined,
taking us often very much out of our course, and
giving us a wet walk ; in fact, I fear to say, there is
but little hope of any news of our gallant countrymen,
at least the way we have come ; and none, without Sir
James Ross gets any, or they return to England. I
have seen no difficulty in a proper ship getting on by
the nine route as we have come, and can hardly think
there is one deep channel into the Mackenzie, where
such a rapid current is met with. Our boats I found
very small for the voyage ; if we could have kept the sea
at times we should have performed it in half the time.
In the river work the men have been greatly at fault,
particularly when wo came to the tracking over large
stones, our only way of getting on; and we arrived here
very weary, the gentlemen and parties at the different
posts wondering how we got on, and expressing astonish-
ment at our small and deeply-laden craft; nevertheless
they did do their work well, and I should have much
liked to have got them home. I have been obliged to
draw largely on the company's stores for clothes for my
men; for such a ragged set as we were on arriving I have
not for a long time seen. We all started with but little
hope of getting thus far, and it was out of the question
our taking much, with so much of other stores, and I
knew there was not a blanket among the 14. But, thank
God, He has been with us, and it is only by his help
and assistance we aro here. We are now waiting for the
boats from the Great Slave Lake, where the men winter,
sod in June next all start for York Factory in tt e Com-
pany s boats.
On my arrival in England I hope to lay before their
Lordships a track chart; my journal is full, with all
notes and observations I may have obtained on this most
interesting expedition. I cannot help recommending
Mr. Hooper, acting mate and my second, to their Lord-
ships' most favourable consideration. He has been active
and zealous in the performance of his duty; and all the
dip observations along the coast up to the Peel were ob-
tained by him.
I hope their Lordships will not think me presuming
in taking the liberty of inclosing with this a letter for
my wife, which I beg you will he good enough to have
posted. I have, Scc.,
(Signed) W. J. S. Puumr,
Lieutenant of her .:‘lsk,ty's brig Plover,
Commanding the Boat Expedition.
I To the Secretary of the Admiralty, Loudon,

GRAND ENTERTAINMENT TO THE
JUDGES BY THE LORD MAYOR.

Yesterday the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress
gave a splendid dinner to the judges. It has been the
custom of the chief magistrate to entertain the judges
annually in the Long Parlour, but upon the present oc-
casion it became necessary, on account of the numerous
invitations to distinguished persons to meet their Lord-
ships, to make preparations upon the most splendid
scale in the. Egyptian Hall for the banquet, which was
supplied by Messrs. king and Brymer, of Cornhill, in
suet a manner as fully supported the high character of
the hospitalities of the mayoralty.
Among the company stwe observed the following :
The Bishop of Worcester and Mrs. Pepys, Lord
Brougham, Lord Campbell and Lady Stratheden, Chief
Baron and Lady Pollock, Baron and Lady Parke,
Baron an Lady Alderson, Baron and Lady Platt, Sir
John and Lady Pattesov, Sir J. T. and Lady Coleridge,
Sir Wm. and Lady Wightman, Sir T. and Lady Tal•
fourd, Sir John and Lady Dodson, the Attorney General
and Lady Jervis, the Queen's Ancient Sergeant and
Mrs. Manning, Sir John and Lady Hensler, Sir F. Kelly
and Lady Mallet, Mr. Swanston, Q.C., Mr. Rogers,
Q C., and Miss Spalding, Mr. Temple, Q.C., Mr. J.
Evans, Q.C, Mr. Spence; QC., Mr. B. Andrews, Q.C.,
Mr. Skirrow, Q.C., Mr. Crowder, Q.C., Mr. Chilton,
Q.C., Mr. Knowles, Q.C., Mr. Whitmarab, Q.C., Mr.
Mathews, Q.C., Mr. Cooper, Q.C., Mr. Koe, Q.C., Mr.
Stuart; QE., Mr. Teed, Q.C., Mr. Turner, M.P., Q.C.,
iNfr. Walker, Q.C., Mr. R. Bothell, Q.C., Mr. W. P.
Wood, Q.C., Mr. Whately, Mr.„Montagu Cham-
bers, Q.C., Mr. Roupell, Q.C.', Mr. Butt; Q.C., Mr. Mar-
tin, M.P., Q.C., Mr. Hayward, Q.C., Mr. Alexander,
C.,Ar. Walpole, M.P., Q,.C., Mr. Phrker,"Q.Qo Mr.
%fins, Mr. W. Lee; Q.C., Mr.umplarey,
'Mr. Rolte Q.C., Mr. Greenwood, Q. 0.,
Q.C., Setteant D'Oyley and Mrs. D'Oyley, Sergeant
and Mrs. Shee, Sergeant and Mrs. Gaselee, Sergeant
and Mrs. Jones, Sergeant and Mrs. Clark, Sergeant and
Mrs. Kinglake, Sergeant and Mrs. Bellasis, Sergeant
and Mrs. Bain, Sergeant and Mrs. Wilkins, Sergeant
and Mrs. Channel', Sergeant and Mrs. Dowling,
Sergeant and Mrs. Goulburn, Sergeant and
Mrs. Thompson, Sergeant and Mrs. Byles,
Sergeant and Mrs. Jones, Sergeant and Mrs.
Wallinger, Mr. Alderman Thompson, M.P., and
Mrs. Thampson, Mr. Alderman Farebrother and
Miss Farebrother, Mr. Alderman Humphery, M.P., Mr.
Alderman Gibbs, Mr. Alderman and Miss Hooper, Sir
Geo. Carroll, the Recorder, Mr. Alderman and Mrs.
Musgrove, Mr. Alderman Hunter, Mr. Alderman and
Mrs. Challis, Mr. Alderman Sidney, M.P., and Mrs.
Sidney, Mr. Alderman Moon and Miss Moon, Mr. Al-
derman and Mrs. Finnis, Mr. Sheriff and Mrs. Lawrence,
Mr. Sheriff Nicoll and Mrs. Allen, the Town Clerk,
Judge of the Sheriffs' Court, Mr. Common Pleader and
Mrs. Locke, the Bridge-house Comptroller and Mrs.
Brand, Colonel Percival, Mr. Henry, Mr. Arnold, Mr.
Elliott, Mr. Broughton, Mr. Birnie, Mr. and Mrs.
Jardine, Hon. G. C. Norton, Mr. Burrell, Mr.
Seeker, Mr. and Mrs. A'Beckett, Mr. and Mrs. Maine,
Mr. and Mrs. Clarkson, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Norris, Mr.
and Mrs. Bodkin, Mr. and Mrs. Yardley, Mr. Beadon,
Mr., Mrs., and Miss Ballantine, Mr. and Mrs. John
Wood, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Starling, Mr. Stone and
Miss Albers, Mr. and Mrs. Collis, Mr. and Mrs. Wain-
wright, Mr. and Mrs. Gould, Mr. and Mrs. Borns, Mr.
and Mrs. Brooksbank, Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, Mr. Abra-
ham Brooksbank, Miss Homing, Mr. Bellamy Webb,
Mr. and Mrs. Vizard, Mr. Under-Sheriff Millard, Mrs.
and Miss Millard, Mr. Under-Sheriff Wire and Mrs.
Wire, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Towse, Mr. and Mrs. W.
Jones, Mr. T. B. Cox, Mr. Deputy and Mrs. Lott, Mr.
and Mrs. Anderton, Mr. Arkcole and Miss and Miss C.
Stone, and the Lord Mayor's Chaplain. About 360 sat
down to dinner.
Mr. Harper performed as trumpeter on the announce-
ment of each toast, and Mr. Harker (as a matter of
course) was the toastmaster, &c., on the occasion. The
musical arrangements were under the direction of Mr.
Hobbs, assisted by Miss, Ransford, Miss Messent, Mr.
Francis, Mr. Young, Mr. Lockey, Mr. Bradbury, and
Mr. J. L. Ration.
On the removal of the cloth, the grace from the Laudi
Spiriluali was sung.
The usual loyal toasts having been drunk with every
demonstration of loyal feeling,
The LORD MAYOR gave " The health of the Lord
Bishop of Worcester and the Church."—(Cheers.)
The Bishop of WORCESTER returned thanks for the
manner in which the toast had been received, not only
as applicable to himself, but to that Church of which he
was a member. He was aatisfied,that the prosperity of
the State depended on that of the Church.
The LORD MAYOR next gave " The Right Hon. the
Lord Chief Justice of England and the rest of the Judges
of the land." lie was sure that the feeling of the com-
pany would be that of pleasure in meeting on this occa-
sion so many of the most distinguished ornaments of the
bench of England.—(Applause.)
Lord Chief Justice CAMPBELL returned thanks for
the honour which had been conferred upon the judges.
He felt, however, that no portion of the applause which
had been evoked could be applicable to himself, as he
had so recently been enrolled on the list of the judges
of the land; but through lite he should always follow
the example, the bright example, of his brethren on tbo
bench; and he was proud to say that that bench was
never more highly respectable, or more worthy of imi-
tation. He assured the Lord Mayor that the judges of
the laud were at all times most proud to pay their re-
spects to the first magistrate of the first city of the
world; and they felt that in the good opinion of their
fellow-citizens they had their best reward for the labour
they had to undergo in the administration of justice.
There had long been a cordial good feeling between the
judges of the land and the corporation of London, and
long might thst good feeling continue.
The LORD MAYOR next gave," Lord Brougham and
the House of Peers."—(Cheers.)
Lord BROUGHAM said he felt highly sensible of the
very kind manner in which the company had been
pleased to receive the kind mention of his name as
connected with that illustrious House of Lords with
which his name had been associated. If any thing
could add to the pleasure which he felt on
such occasions as the present, it was to find
himself associated with those who had been his earliest
and dearest friends at the bar—with them for upwards
of half a century he had been on habits of intimacy. He
c aild never feel otherwise than happy when he found
himself amongst his fellow citizens in that great city
which was the cradle of English liberty, in which
English liberty had been nurtured and brought up, and
which cradle if the city of London lost she would not
follow the hearse of her freedom to the grave, but would
be borne forth to be interred along with it. With re-
gard to the House of Peers, he must say that if that il-
lustrious House should be uprooted, English liberty
would be shaken to its foundation, for he looked upon
the House of Peers to be just as essential a prop of
English freedom as the Commons House of Parliament
itself.—(Great applause.) In conclusion the Noble and
Learned Lord gave the health of their host—" The
R ight Hon. the Lord Mayor."
The LORD MAYOR responded.
His LORDSHIP next gave, " Her Majesty's Privy
Council."
Mr. Baron PARKE responded.
The LORD MAYOR gave " The Attorney-General and
the Members of the Bar," which was duly acknowledged
by the Attorney-General.
Several toasts followed, including " The House of
Commons," responded to by Mr. Walpole; " Her Ma-
jesty's Counsel," eloquently acknowledged by Sir F.
Kelly ; " The Sergeants-at-Law," coupled with the.nama
of Mr. Sergeant Allen, and " The Lord Mayor of
York."
The Right Hon. the Lord May or Yof _ YORK responded
—This was the third time that he had enjoyed tno
hos-
pitality of the city of London, and, surrounded as e
was by the merchant princes of London, and by
the luminaries of the law, to whom he had ever
;
"The
Lady up with respect, he might well be proud of his
present position. in return his Lordship gave he
Lady Mayoress."
The LORD MAYOR returned thanks, and the majority
of the guests then took their departure.

TESTIMONIAL TO WILLIAM PAYNE, ESQ ,
CORONER FOR THE CITY OF LONDON.
A deputation from the subscribers to this testimo-
nial bad the honour of presenting to Mr. Payne, on
Monday, a tributary acknowledgment of his important
services as a meritorious Civic officer, especially in re-
viving the ancient public investigations into casual-
ties of firer.
The testimonial
consists of a large oval badge, 3
inches by 2 diameter, and is intended to be worniis
dressjewel, suspended on the breast by a handsome
a
gold chain round the neck. The centre medal
blue enamel, upon which are embossed Mr. Payonnel'as
arms poper, ornamented and relieved by diamond
scrolls and ribbon of brilliants, the helmet and crest
being of friezed gold, and the latter enriched with
diamonds. The border, half an inch in width, con-
sists of scrolls and clusters of large and small
bril-
liants of the finest water, as likewise the loop from
which the badge hangs. The effect of the whole is
superb in the extreme, and as a new gentleman's
presentation badge of honour, will supersede plate or
the usually adopted tokens, when these are not deemed
appropriate. On the back of the ornament, which is
of polished gold, is the following inscription richly
engraved :
'.Presented to William Payne, Esq., in teqtimody of
bis public services as Coroner for London, 1850."
The value of the whole is about three hum it d
guineas.
The testimonial was presented in due form
in , anti in
accepting it the worthy coroner express&l himself
becoming terms.
The coroner was al ,o compliminite_ .d on the fact
that the public mind was being mad) to the
nece:sity and imp
rtanee of the investigations in the
inquire recent
revival of which he had been solely instrumental.
The Phceuix Fire-office had in the case of a
intothe calledth e „
ourpi
go theln oi the
fiCoronerre,, ftoFrerfirst
inquiry Finsbury to
of
the
made for ventures in that parish—thus acknow-
ledging the correctness of the adage that " prevention
is at sll times better than cure,"

The general intelligence and personal respectability
of your Committee entitles your report to attention.
But it will be obvious that that document has no
claim to be received as a representation of the senti-
ments and interests of the commercial classes of this
country.
The respectability of your customers, and the sta-
bility of your affairs (as leading mercantile capitalists),
exclude you from that very experience of the neces-
sity of an economical administration of justice, which
falls to the lot of those who embark on the perilous
speculations of commerce, with less capital, less know-
ledge, and with less power of choosing the customers
they may have to trust.
An isolated action in the superior courts may be a
trifling experiment to a man of large capital and es-
tablished connexions, who makes but few bad debts ;
but to the retail dealer, whether in London or in the
country, it is a poor substitute for courts in which he
may enforce debts without risking large sums, or tying
up in litigation a moderate capital, of which the free
use may be indispensable to the working of his trade.
Fair and honourable intentions on your own part
blind you to the abuse to which unequal laws are open,
in the hands of the unscrupulous and the reckless.
You, as plaintiffs, would never employ the terror of
litigation, except to bring to reason debtors of bad
and unprincipled character. But the low practitioner,
the harpy of the law, daily and hourly oppresses by
the same means men against whom he has no claim.
The occasional advantages (rest or imaginary)
which may be derived from the superior courts by
you who live in London, where those courts have
their seat, do not extend to the commercial classes of
provincial towns, to whom the expenses, both of the
preliminary and final proceedings, of those courts are
rendered unendurable by the inevitable necessity of
employing attorneys and other agents to act for them
in their absence.

To the cause last alluded to are traceable the pal.
pable fallacies which your report contains, as to the
relative expenses of the superior courts on the one
hand, and of the county courts on the other.
From your comparison on this subject you entirely
exclude—

First, the costs of a London attorney, which to a
country client are inevitably large (owing to corre-
spondence, &c.), even when an action terminates in
one of those earlier stages, of the nature of which
your report gives such erroneous conceptions.
You exclude also the heavy costs of travelling and
loss of time to which a suitor is exposed in all cases in
which he has to go far from his own home.
In nearly all the actions I have had to try in the
county courts, the plaintiff has been able to come
from home and return on the day of the court. Most
plaintifft—being tradesmen of the town in which my
courts are held—commonly are scarcely an hour,
often not more than a few minutes, absent from their
usual avocations.

The mere court fees are a trifling consideration
compared to the saving of the incidental expenses of
litigation, which local courts effect.

The suggestion of your report is, that debtors may
be commonly induced to submit, by the dread of
costs in the superior courts, sooner and at less ex-
pense, than by an open trial in the county courts,
would, if correct, form no reason in favour of the
former mode of bringing pecuniary disputes to a ter-
mination.

Every suitor has a right to a fair and impartial
hearing, and any defects in our laws which give an
advantage to intimidation and undue inluence, detract
from the character of our courts.

Bad laws favour the dishonest man, whether plain-
tiff or defendant. Costs have that tendency. They
encourage a dishonest plaintiff to try to terrify a de-
fendant to pay an extortionate demand, and they
equally encourage rogues to rely on the dread with
which costs inspire the fair creditor.
Mercy to the debtor is vary commonly the beat
boon to the creditor himself. Men who would give
up in despair, if exposed to the oppressive burthen of
the superior courts, are daily and throughout the
kingdom clearing off their debts by small payments,
a system which I can testify has contributed not
merely to advance the ends of justice, but also rapidly
to advance the people in prudence and in moral prin-
ciple.

On what ground a distinction has been drawn
between debts above and those below 201., I cannot
understand.

The allowance of instalments may be as necessary
to a debtor in the one case as in the other. It is not
the amount, but the nature of the debt, and in both
cases the means of the debtor that ought to regulate
the order made.

To creditors a jurisdiction above 201. will be far
more beneficial than one confined to 201., because,
while the plaintiff will recover a larger amount, the
loss of time to himself, and the expense of his wit-
nesses will commonly not be greater than in cases for
smaller sums.

The restricted jurisdiction of the County Courts is
an injury and an injustice to all classes of the com-
munity.
Were the jurisdiction of the County Courts en-
larged the costs might be greatly reduced. What
would be thought of a railway company that should
exclude the higher classes, and try to make its returns
by doubling the fares of its Parliamentary train ?
By local courts suitors for large sums will gain
greater advantages (than the present suitors) for other
reasons besides those mentioned above. As they will
commonly belong to a higher class in society they
will save more in travelling expenses and in time than
those to whom those expenses would be lower, and to
whom time is of less value.

The inconvenience a plaintiff may in a few isolated
cases incur, when living at a great distance from the
defendant, has been industriously put forward,
through the press, as a solid objection to a system
which, in 99 cases out of every 100, has brought jus•
tice to every man's door.
As if either local or assize courts could remove the
obstacles of time and space which those who think
propsr to trust distant or vagrant customers volun-
tarily impose on themselves !
Facts will best show the frivolous character of this
objection. Plaintiffs and defendants generally. either
live in the same district, or they reside within a
moderate distance of each other, and the judges of the
county courts have commonly given plaintiffs leave to
sue in the district in which the cause of action arose.

_For these reasons plaintiffs in those courts have
nearly always had the choice of the district in which
their plaints have been entered. Within my own
experience the exceptions have not exceeded a few
occasional instances in several thousand plaints.
Consistency is not a characteristic o the various
objections that have been made to the countycoutrhtast,
which have been established in accordance with the
views of the greatest jurists and law reformers, from
Bentham to Lord Brougham.
The Attorney-General's unfounded charge,
the county courts are plaintiffs' courts, has had no
weight with the country. But that charge (if well
your reporta is your
N
founded) is the severest that can be made against any
tribunalever
tfho
er decidingeas,
the
betweenkeystone mannf and
rian
approval of the superior courts, because they enable
plaintiffs (at a trifling cost to themselves) to intimi-
date defendants (by the dread of oppressive and ruin-
ous cost
thats)to tasubymnuitr
eitherwithou t
palatirnitaiffs trial.
Courts
have no claim to the character of courts
I remain, dear Sir, with every sentimentor o
fd
of
jurset defendants,icspee.t
yours faithfully,
A JUDGE OP THE COUNTY COURTS.
May 25, 1850.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Mr. B. Webster, Sole Lessee and Manager, Old Brompton.
,ntip.: ply EN 1,4.=

Will be presented an entirely new and original Comedy,
by Douglas Jerrold, entitled THE CATSPAW. Captain
Durgonet, Mr. Howe ; Mr. Snowball, Mr. Keeley ; Doctor Petgoowe,
Mr. James Wallack ; Audley, Mr. Charles Selby; Appleface, Mr.
Buckstone ; Dust. Mr. Tilbury; Coolcard, Mr. Benjamin Webster ;
Duggens, Mr. Ellis ; Snowball's Servant, Mr. A. Brindal ; Mrs.
Peachdown's servant, Mr. Coe; Mrs. Peachdown, Miss Reynolds;
Cassandra. Mrs. L. S. Buckingham ; Rosemary, Mrs. Keeley.
To conclude with the Last Edition of IVA.NIIOE, with all the
newest improvements.
Cedric the Saxon, Mr. J. Bland ; Sir Briant de Bore Guilbert, Mr.
Selby; Sir Wilfrld of Ivanhoe, Mrs. Keeley; Wamba, Mr. Rink-
stone ; Isaac of York, Mr. Keeley; Robin Hood, Mrs. Fitzwilliam ;
Bobecca, Miss P. Horton.
The itta-offlzo is under the direction of Mr. I. T. Archer.