Star.
London, England, 1812-07-14 00:00:00

ADMINISTRATION by JUSTICE.

Upon the Order of the Day being read for enter-
ing on the Report of the Bill for the better Admini-
stration of Justice,
Lord REDESDA LE rose, and observed, that the
Bill be4ore their Lordships had been founded on the
Report of their Lordship's' Committee of the 20th of
May, 1811, to whom such a measure had appeared
absolutely indispensible, on account of the increase
and multitude of Appeals and Writs of Error which
had of late years so accumulated as to render it im-
possible for any powers or faculties of the Lord Chan-
cellor to go through with them, together with the due
discharge of his important duties in another Court.
There were, at that moment, no less than 338 Ap-
peals and Writs of Error standing over. His Lordship
distinctly recapitulated his former arguments and
statements respecting the vastincrease of the business,
both Parliamentary and Judicial, which pressed upon
the Lord Chlncellor of the present time, compared
with that of Lord Hardwick, particularly in the Bank-
rupt Laws and Recorder's Reports, and thence de-
duced the absolute necessity of affording relief and
assistance to the Lord Chancellor.

Lord RADNOR suggested some verbal amend-
ments, which were agreed to.
The LORD CHANCELLOR should only trou-
ble their Lordships with a few words. Whatever
might be the opinions of other persons concerning the
weight and multitude of the public duties which it had
been his lot and his honour to sustain, or of the faci-
lity with which such duties might be discharged, be
was fully conscious, that to the very utmost of his abi-
lity, he had done his dwy, and when death should
have removed him from the exercise of those duties
and those cares, he was confident it would be found,
that he had not omitted or neglected any means or
opportunity of hastening and effecting the objects of
public justice. But it was not possible to conceal from
hirnself, or from the world, that the business both in
the Court of Chancery, and in that House, had so
accumulated, as to be at that time beyond the power
or faculties of any. individual to perform it with effect.
He would call upon his Noble ..nd Learned Friend
(Lord Redesdale) to confirm the statement he had
made. Particularly, in the single instance of the Seal,
which, formerly, and at no great distance of time, re-
quired but a single day for dispatch, but at present
demanded years. But abundantly and heay.ly as the
business in Chancery had recently increased, he
scrupled not to say, that with the incessant and perse-
vering application which he had devoted to the proper
discharge of it, he might be still able to execute it, if
his labours and attention were confined to that Court.
But when the duties which his station in that House
called on him to perform were considered, it was im-
possible for him not to shrink from a load and multi-
plicity of cares which no human mind, strength, or
faculties were equal to. It had happened in the last
and in the present Sessions, that he had listened in
that House to arguments in causes of appeal for thirty
days, and should he do his duty in such causes, must
add to the time spent in that House many hours and
nights of private thought. Impressed as he always
had been with that sense of his duty, he not unfre;
quently had found himself scarce able at night to
step into his house. If he were to indulge his own
private aad peculiar comfort, he should choose re-
tirement at that time, and he could confidently and
frankly say that the most pleasing thoughts which
could there press upon his mind, would be the recol-
lection
of the reflection on the fidelity and industry !
with which he had fulfilled his public and judicial
duties. His Lordship, in the course of his speech,
paid sorhe high compliments to the Master Of the
Rolls, than whom there could not be a m•re compe-
tent and exemplary Judge. The Report was agreed
to, and the Billiordered to he eugrossed.
Their Lordshipi then adjourned.