The Sun.
London, England, 1820-01-13 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

BILL FOR THE MORE EAST RECOVERY OF SMALL

DEBTS. !

Ma. EnlToß—it Noble and Learned Lord hav
;rig given .notiee in the House of Peers, last Sea-
•inns, that he should, during the ensuing Sessions,
introduce a Bill of this nature, and such a mea-
•ure appearing to be of high importance to the
Community, it may be permuted me, through the
respectable medium of your Paper, to invite pub-
lic attention to its purview and objects.

About 10 years since a Bill of this description
was in►roduced by the same Nobleman, with whom
the Writer of this bad the honour to correspond
on the subject at that period ; it was read a first
time, and ordered to be printed. The Learned
Lurd has announced, tbat the measure in contem-
plation is similar to that which be before intro-
duced, awl the Public will be enabled to estimate
the probable benefits from an untline of the printed
Bill then offered to Parliament.

It is intittded " An Act for the more convenient
recovery of Sinai! Debts in England and Wales."
After reciting that " the administration of Justice
" would be assisted by establishing Courts in the
several Counties of England mill Wales for re-
" covery c►f Small Debts ;" it enacts, that a Bar-
risterfat Law of fix years standing, shall he ap-'
pointed Judge of a Court to be established for
recovery of Sinai( Debts in every County, and that
the Justices of the Peace shall yearly at their
General Quarter Session, fix the salary to be paid
to such Judge out of the County Rates.
That the Judge so appointed shall, in case of
illness or inability _to attend, appoint a Deputy
being also a Barrister, and subject to the appro-
bation of the Lord Chancellor, Lord Keeper, or
Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, to act fot
such Judge.

That the Judge shall appoint. a proper person
to be Clerk of such. Court to be subject to re-
moval when and as such Judge shall think proper.
That all money which shall be paid into any
such Court, shall be paid to such Clerk, for whom
the Judge shall be responsible, and 'shall take
security from him ; and all money so received
shall be deemed a Debt of Record to the King,
and be paid accordingly, and the order of Court
for payment of such money by the Clerk shall be
made a judgment of such Court, upon which pro-
cess shall issue against such Clerk, as upon a
judgment; for a Debt due to the King.
That the, several Judges and Clerks shall re-
spectively take oaths of office faithfully to exe-
cute such offices.

That all persons having freehold lands or here-
ditament' of the yearly rent of 51 , or freehold and
copybold lends or hereditaments of the rent of
101., and all occupiers of lands, tenements, or he-.
reditaments, of the rent of 501., being of the ag•
of 21 years and under 70 years of age, shall be
deemed liable and qualified to serve as Jurymen in
the said several Courts.

That two lists Of the names and residence of
such qualified per6ns shall be returned to the
Justices of the Peace, and to the Sheriffs of die
Counties, in the same manner as lists are return-
ed of persons qualified to serve on Juries at As•

sizes.

summon
That the Sheriff of each County shall
twelve of the perilous so returned to attend every
Court to be holden, of whom six shall be a July;
and that the Justices of the Peace shall give di-
rections to the Sheriff with respect to the number
of persons to be summoned, and the rotation in
which they shall be so summoned.

That if the Justices shall be of opinion a larger
number than 12 may be summoned, and a larger
number than six may serve, such Justices may so
order. Provided that the Persons so summoned
shall in no case exceed 24, and the Jury to be
sworn shall in no case exceed 12.

That the summons shall be personally served
on every Juryman, or left, at his place of abode
with his wife or servant, six days at least before
the Court shall be holden ; or at the discretion
of the Court, at a greater distance of time, not
exceeding in any case teu days before the holding
of the Court.

And that if any Juryman drily Immnoned shall
pat attend, or make lawful excuse, the Judge to
impose a fine on such Juryin fn.

This, Mr. Zlitor, is an outline of the Court
proposed to be established in each County, to
enable suitors to obtain payment of small debts,
without incurring those disproportionate ex-
pellees cvhich too frequently attend suits in the
superior Courts at Westminster HAIL 11l my
next,.l shall detail briefly the nature of the pro-
ceedings on the part of plaintiffs and drfendants,
from the commeocenteot of the suit to .the time
of hearing in such proposed Courts, and in the
meanwhile remain Your's,
Temple, Mb January. W.