Star.
London, England, 1830-05-12 00:00:00

might he not have been exposed to the danger of Wanting the
..altiett of false imprisonment, or even murder, no he would
have done, in court notlegally commissioned. 'Phis (Lord Mil-
ton) said to show that it was a case at least requiring very great
circumspection. He did not complain of the government lay-
ing taken measures for establishing another judge in the place
of Mr. Willis. He did not impufm the decision of the Privy
Council, because, with all the light of legal authority which
in Mtjeled, be gave it credit for having correctly overruled the ob-
Palms of Mr. Willis ; but his object was to lay before that house,
and pertkularly to submit to his right honourable friend, the ruin.
ous silket of the measures which had been adopted in regard to this
unfortunate individual, whose prospects in life were likely. in the
result, to be blighted for ever. Such consequences should not fall
upon Mr. Willis, for having conscientiously exercised his disczetion
on a subject, which, it could not be denied, was open to some
reasonable doubts. What he (Lord IWiltnn) then stated, he
had stated in private, and also to the Under Secretary of the
Colonies; and he now submitted it to the consideration of the
House.
Sir G. MURRAY hoped the house would pardon him if he tres-
passed for a short time on its patience. He was sure the subject in-
troduced to their notice b the noble lord was one of considerable
importance—certainly nothing could be more important than what.
ever could be supposed to influence the independence of Use Bench
..-nothing more worthy of the attention of that house than a transac-
tion which involved the removal of a Judge from his situation. He
(SIT
G. M.) was exceedingly happy that this petition had fallen into
the hands the noble lord, for the house must teed with him that there
was no individual whose weil.known character and principles could
eV, more weight to an inquiry of this kind. He (Sir G. M.) thought
necessary to enter into the circumstances of this case a little
in detaiL Mr. Willis had been recommended to Government for the
situation of Judge in Canada by Sir Charles Wetherell, when At-
torney-General, in which capacity he continued to ate until the
Chief Justice, having been absent from England for seventeen years,
obtained leave to return thither for some time. In the first tam
afta this event, Mr. Willis discharged his duty in the King's Bench
Court, in Canada; but in the interval between that and the second
term, he adopted the opinion that the court was incomplete, as
by the colonial statute it sou constituted of one chief and two
mains judges. Mr. Willis expressed this opinion on the first
day of term. His brother judge differed from him in that
view of the case, and proposed an adjournment of the Court until
next day, to which Mr. Willis objected, on the ground that the
Court had ceased to exist. He then addressed a letter to the &-
eatery of State, and another to a gentleman in his office. These
letters he presented to the Governor to transmit to England ; to
which proposition the latter refused to acquiesce, as he sou not
aware of their coutents. Mr. Willis then transmitted them open
to the Secretary, and he stated that although unwilling to sit in
Court, he was ready to perform any other business, of the legality
of which he had no doubt. A communication was, in conse-
quence made to him to know what he considered legal, and what
not ; but he ,declined an explanation on that head. He then
not only declared the court dissolved during the absence of the Chief
Justice, but asserted that all the business transacted in the tam
which ad just passed, was illegal and void. The house would per-
ceive that it was impossible for such a state of things to continue.
In consequence Mr. Willis was suspended. He (Sir G. Murray)
should advert particularly to the observation made by the noUe
lord relative to this matter having been decided by the governor
of Canada on the 26th, and only submitted to the council on the
27th of June, 1628 ; but the house should know that the council
bad sat also on the 25th of June, when this matter was communi li
-
cated to it for its approbation. As this question then appeared to,
him (Sir G. Murray) to be one of law. he resolved to sub.
mit it to his Majesty's privy council ; and as Mr. Willis complained
of the expense of this mode of proceeding, the government under-
took to meet his expenses. In the privy council on this occasion
were the Chief Baron, the Vice-Chancellor, and Sir Christopher
Robinson, so that its decision had the authority of persons high in
rank, and of distinguished ability in the profession of the law.
That tribunal considered the objections of the petitioner, and de.
tided that " the removal of J. W. Willis from the Court of Ca-
nada was not illegal and void." He (Sir George Murray) had thus
recounted this whole transaction fully, and he trusted the house
would feel that government had pursued the only course which sou
open to them, and equitable.
The petition was brought up, and ordered to lie on the table.
Lord MILTON presented a petition from Leeds, signed by not
less than 13,000 of its inhabitants, praying for reform.
The rayer of the petition was supported by Mr. MAIIIHALL.
Mr. DUNCOMBE said be should support the petition as far as
respected retrenchment and economy. But he should certainly not
vote for annual parliaments or vote by ballot.
Sir T. ACKLAND presented a petition from 20,000 inhabitants
of the county of Devon, against the tithe system.
Lord Ea at ItaTON supported the prayer of the petition.
Sir T. ACKLAND presented a petition from Teignmouth, against
the duty upon coal borne coastways.
Petitions was presented from Galway. against the increased duty
on stamps in Ireland; frees Kirkcudbright, Bridport, against the
Beer 811 l ; from W the Insolvent Debtors' Bill;
from Reading, in favour of iftetßEL
Mr. MONCK supported the pra etthe petition from Reading,
as he thought the sale ribose t set be made too free. •
Mr. D. W. HARVEY mimed he ahem of the numbers of
writs of inquiry issued by the emmindestas of public charities
ahem the year 1898; also the awls incurred by such processes, sad
tube the results of the several inquiries so instituted. The returns
alsaA7d
WIN 'mimed ; as were as the meths of the same hon. member,
soma returns of the fees by the several superior courts.
The CHANCELLOR the HICHEQUER presented a
tit from Armagh, agelest the fine eased duty on stamps in

Mr. BROWNLOW wished to bays heard It said by the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, that it was imet his Intention to impose any
further tax on Irish newspapers, which were already unproductive
speculations. The petition was then laid on the table.
On the modest of Mr. HUME, a bill was brought in for the abo-
lition of fess chargeable on patents to public officers, on the demise
of the Crown.