The Sun.
London, England, 1821-04-04 00:00:00

PITIInERS' APPOINTMENTS.

Messrs. Robert Young, to the Herries, to the
Chanticleer ; George Waller, to the Dispatch ; B. Worth, to
the Doris ; M. C. Stephens, to the Fly ; W. H. Hooper, to
the Fury.; W. C. Hilher, to the Glasgow; John Jermam;
the II ecla ; Thomas Fitzgerald, to the Impregnable ; Charles
Grills, to the Jaseur ; James ('fiery, to the Pandora ; J. S.
Butcher, to the Perseus; W. Grant, to the Pyramus; Robert
Golden, to the Queen Charlotte; J.. W. Parker, to the Sappho ;
W. Tuckfied, to the Scringapatarn ; John G. Lean, to the
Shamrock ; A. Le Neve, to the Tyne. ; Jas. Burgess, to the
Valorous, •

CHAPLAINS' APPOINTMENTS.
The Rev. J. B. Frowd, to the Impregnable ; the Rev. D.
Lloyd, to the Queen Charlotte.

A man, calling hiths..lf the Staffordshire Giant," and
professing to be eight feet high, was apprehended and lodged in
prison at Macclesfield, on a charge of obtaining money under
false pretences. His real height was about six feet six inches,
and he more a certain sort of buskins (so as to inzrease his
height) similar to those worn on the Grecian sttge.

FOR THE SUN.

SMALL DEBTS;

Mit. EDlToll,—SeVetal engagements have prevented my
pursuing the subject of Courts far Small Debts, and although
it has not attracted the attention of yor (.torrespontients which
its importance deserves, yet I beg to
~,'rouble you with the heads
of a-Bill -now in flrce for Recovery of:Smolt Debtit under Two
Pounds.—After the Preamble and tecit.al-of expediency, &c.
the enactments commence with—
The appointment of C0mn::..3%. sio:las, 3=l the style of the
Court.
The extent of jurisdiction, and times of;,toliine;

That three or more Commissioners form? quorum.,
The election of new Commissior.ers, in cue of death, refusal,
-or neglect of giving atter dane-.:. ibr more than. twelve-calcadar,,l
months. . .

Motle of appointment of Clerk and Sergeant to be made by-
eleven Commissioners or more. _

NO donathistiorwr, or keeper of a ptzblie • victualling house;
to hold the dice of Clerk. •• •

' Clerk to fx list of Commissioners itl CoUS-HOttse, to issue
summons, it.a.,..'and to registei Orders,..
SergFant.to serve precepts, and. other processes.
Limitation of the amount of debts-to.be aced for,and the- tr.ola
of service of summonses, which are ',to -be inade out by the
Clerk.; Commissioners to give.,iudgrnent, eithorlinal•orsinter-.
locutary, upon proof tif service of S.airlisnons, and due inquiry
upon testimony of the demand.
Five or more CommiS4Oners, in. Court assembled, may regu-
late proceedings so 6..s•ii6t to depart from the spirit of the act,
'otio alter the Ices regOlated by it. . •
Commissioners may administer oaths to plaintiffs, deferias.4.ts,,
and witnesses. •• •

On non-appearance of defendant, Court may proceed ex-parte ;
if plaintiff do not' appear, and prove his debt to satisfaction of
Commissioners, they may award costs to defendant.
Commissioners may aw ard execution agaiiit body (not exceed-
ing three calendar months) or goods of defendant, and if he se-
cretes goods, may be detained until the whole debt is paid.
Court may award debt by instalments. '
On execution,
Clerk to indorse debt and costs; Clerk to be
allowed one shilling for acknowledgment on,Court books, and
2s. 6d. for gaol fees upon liberation of defendant from prison.
Sergeant suffeting escape, or goods to be 'removed, to pay
debt and costs. '

Commissioners' qualification 301. per annum real estate, or
6001. personal estate.
Form of oath.-
Penalty of 501. upon unqualified person acting as Commis-
sioner.

No Attorney or Solieitor 1.. f any Court to have privilege of
jurisdiction, or to be admitted" As Attorney or Advocate for
either Plaintiff or Defendant.

Fee for Clerk.—Entering cause, 6d.: issuing suinmons, 6d. ;
for calling Plaintiff or' Defendant into Court, 3d. ; for hearing,
6d. ; swearing witness, 3d ; orders or decrees, 6d. ; and almost
every other proceeding, 6d.
Fees for Sergeants executing every interlocutory process,,6d.,
within a mile; and 9d for every mile
.beyond ; for calling
Plaintiff or. Defendant,, Id. ; for every attachnient Or .execution,
Is. for the first mile, and 9d. for every mile!afterwards.
Table of fees to be hung up in Court Ilonse..
Fine 10s. to 405., for taking greater fees..
Power to dismiss Clerks and Sergeants.
No person to act as Conunissimner where interested.
Power to fine persons for eonteanitts or diSobediene to pro-
cess, ss. t 0.405., or 'to imprison for •trree. -cclendar 'months—
Copy of this.clause to be hung up in'Court House.
No action for debts recoverable Herein to be brought into' any
other Court. •

Debts of certain descriptions not to be included, such, as
specialties, rents, where the title to the land may come in.ques-
tion, wills, matrimonies, bets, forfeitures under, renal statutes, debts of 6 years staniling,.as in,Courts above'; Penalties, on
wilful perjury, same as superior Courts.
Fifty shillings penalty for. witness disobeying summons.
No writ to be sued' out against Commissioner until•-'one
calendar month's notice 'of cause of action, •who in that time,
may tender Plaint not to produce, eviderfce other
than. what shall be contained in such notice ; money may ho
paid into Court before issue joined ; limitation of such actions
to 6 calendar months after cause of action accrues : Clerk's re-
fusal to allow. persons aggrieved to search .Register--penalty,
201.—(Punmc ACT.)
In an Act for recovering debts not exceeding 151.. it would
be desirable to have Commissioners to consist, in the first in-
stance, of such neighbouring gentlemen (professioind or other-
wise) and merchants, or traders, as should be chosen at any
public meeting, to be appointed in, every market town-for that
purpose, provided they are qitalified, by holding such property,
real or personal, as may be deemed a qualification, three or five
of whom (if one by a .Barriiter or an Attorney -of five years
standing) to be a quorum. The jurisdiction should ei.tend to all
debts incurred within JO or 15 miles of the market town. The
sittings to be held quarterly or monthly.- The debts to be
proved by witnesses; or by satisfactory evidence, but the Plain-
tiffor Defendant should not be allowed to take an bath himself
.for fear of perjury.
Allowance of fees to Clerks and Sergeants might be regulated
-as above, with a percentage of 6d. inthe pound for the Clerk,
and Id. in the pound for the Sergeant upon all debts exceed-
ing 1:2.
• The presiding Barrister or Sericiterrnight be allowed two or
five guineas for his attendance at each sitting, to be provided
for by,a per =tar. of 6d. in the pound upon all .Clefts rece-
veredin the Court; according as such per tentage and the busi-
ness of the Court will admit ; such pet tentage to be paid by
the defendant the same as other costs.

No Solicitor or Attorney should preside where a Barrister is
in attendance, and each Solicitor .or Attorney choSen as a Corn-•
rnisSioner, to be- allowed to take his rotation in the absence of a
Barrister.

The Court to be TiAd in any Puble. Room or Court House,
where_any -erected'or'otherWise'at‘ such Public House or Place
as Commissioner may within such Market Towns appoint.
These • are the leading features of ; Bill, which, if enacted
with such modifications as prudence and the experience of the
Legislature may direct, would bring the power of recovering
small debts within the reach of every individual at a moderate
expence ; a power which can never be attained by (Aging
parties from a distance to appear at 'the County Town with his
witnesses, either under an improved mode of. holding. County
Courts, or under • the ,j-yresent system of carrying debts to the
Assizes, or calling together a Jury to aseeruuntne damages by
an Inquisition beihre the Sherifi:•
I am afraid the length of this Letter is trespassing too much
upon your columns, but I trust that the great importance of tits
Lubject to the public at large wilt plead same excuse for me.,
I am, Sir,
Your obliged humble Servant, -
AN OBSERVER.

March 29, 1821.

•' • Alz OneEivtn will have - teen that Tzir.-Sum has al-
ready contained an Abstract of the Bill in. question, but, wish-
ing fully to illustrate a subject,bf such interest to the commu-
nity, we readilk insert his letter altogether. •.