Star.
London, England, 1831-06-27 00:00:00

CHANCERY SUITS IN DOMINICA.

The following corresniaCerwe tat. en
place with the Colonial-othce on the of the
exorbitant charges incurred for procec:lis in
Chancery in the island of Dominica. Of dudr
kind, the facts stated are, we should Lope, quite
unique, and they perfectly justify foe remark of
Lord Goderich, that " the continuance of such it
state of things most entirely destroy the pro-
sperity and exhaust the resutircen of the colony:"

" DOMINICA, JAN. 25, 1331.
"My Lord.-1 am again impellzd by dire nee.:ssil to
trespass on your valuabk time. to imptirc the intertsraire
of His Majesty's Government in putting an tint to the in-
ert:sq.% cells of the pi e,ent 'lac! ice of the Court o: Chan-
cery in this. Ward.

`` Although I have not been heard in my defence, 1 have
been again cotnpelld to par an enormous attm, antonntini
to 1.5171. ss. 34. as complabant's cost., in a cause recently
Wont:fed by the Attemey.General, in the name of to lega-
tees of the late Thomas .Sirrpson, agafmc a Sir. Willi:tin
Anderson and myself. tw t e the executors of the will of
ha deceased, a copy of which bill-I have now the honour
to transmit, numbered 5.
" In the alrence of a decker of fees for counsel in Chan.
eery, the blaster tatei costa at his own pleasure, and in every
succeeding suit the amount considerably weeds the preced-
ing: in proof of which I brg leave to refer to crp'ea at
of costs, taxed in five several suits. Nod. I. to 5, and stilt
herewith, by • &ch it will be perceive I that the costs aa‘e
increased within the last twenty years nearly threefold.
" I therefore most respectfully. but earnestly, entreat your
Lordsb.p to take this came into comeekration, and adopt
such measures as may appear best calculated to attain the
objat desired I have the hanout to be my lewd, your
most obedient humble servant..

"CHARLES COURT.
" I'o the :tight Um. Lord Viscount tioderieh, dm."

k s. 11.

No. 1.-1809 w 1812. J. A. Corlet and R. A.
lit 'Oman v. George Metcalfe - 633 0 104
2.-1820 to 1826. Rover v. Flourillons 971 10 3
3.-11122 to 1828, J. C. Larticux v. Frs.
Sin on - - - - 939 9 6
4.-1829, P. dineau v. Atkinson and Gil-
son and Court . - 1.107 12 0
5.-1828 to 1830. Rumbold ar4 others v.
Court and Andtroon - 1,547 5 3

" Downing.street, April I. 1831.
" S r.—T hare had the honour to receive your &spate)),
dated the 26 h t•fJ nu.-try Etat. No. 6, enclosing a letter. ad-
Mowed to nit/pelf. by Alr. Court, respecting the exhorbitant
fees d •mantled by the officers of the Colonial Court of
Chancery. and eapeeially reerring to a rcetnt suit, in
which he has been compelled to pay coats, amountirg to
1,5471. ba. 3d.

1- I entirely concur with you in thinking that the con-
tinuance of such a state of things must entirely destroy
the prosperity and exhaust the resources of the colony;
no rtn.sdy which ;I is within the power of his Slajerty's
tiovernment to apply. or to recommend to Parliament,
frr the redress of so intolerable a grievance will be un.
attempted.

•• The two first ch•rges in the Fist bill of costs transmit.
led by Mr. Court appear altog thcr extravagatt : 661. are
charged as a counsel's retaining fee, and 491. 10s. for draw.
ing nil engrossing the bill. The same counsel then charges
61. 12.. for signing the bill which he has thus en:ans....it
and drawn. I observe in other parts of the same bill, that
the san•e coun44 charges 331. for arguing the • cause,' and
no lest than 1271. lOs. for five copies of this document I
am informed, that according to the me allowed in this
country for making copits ot similar instruments. this
ek rge should not have exceeded 101.
" In the next bill of costs I find the Attorney -General.
Mr. Blanc. demanding the sums of $6l. for his retaining
fee ; 6ttl. for drawing a bill ; 161. 10s. for perusing, settling,
and signing the bill, which lie himself had thus drawn ;
91. 18s. for engrossing the same draught ; and 61. 124. for
making a copy of it for his own use. Thus, above 1701.
were charged to the client before the suit had advanerd it.
first stage. In the very same cause the Attotney.Oeneral.
for abridging his own work, and drawing up a summary of
the OM, demanded 821. 10a.; and, inereditable as it might
seem. has charged 331. for assigning the reasons with which
the case thus drawn up concludes. The same gentleman
has demanded 33L for attending the printer, and correcting
the press. on the printing of this case; and then (as though
it had been Mr. Blane's purpose to render the administra-
tion of justice at once a subject of burlesque, and a ground
of the most just indignation) he has charpd 261. 2s. for the
printer's MI1; 661. for making copies of the awe (as though
it had not been printed): 131. 4s. for a copy of the same
ease for his own use (as though it had not been in print);
and 661. for arguing the cue itself.
" It la Impassible to pursue any further the details of this
D°ll; but I am bound to say, that had I not received the
rap from yer•rself. I should have considered it as utterly
inet-411hle that such charges had been made by the members
of a liheral itroemshtn, and sanctioned by any et an of justice.
" Fees even vet more extraordinary appear in some other
ems This I find 2591. charged tin a retaining fee ; 1321.
for drawing a bill ; and 1001. fee arguing the cause in the
ca‘e of • Lerrirux and Simon.'

" In the ease of • Bedincatt; charges amounting to 1.071.
Ms. and In the awe of • Rumhold and Court, charges,
amounting to 1,8341. 13' Ad. are preferred, although them
'teems no reasou to think that in either any queadoo of nn.
usual difficulty or importance occurred.
" I have entered thus largely into the particulars of some
of th-se demands. partly in the hone that the gentlemen of
the legal pi ofeasion in the island of Demititca may he it•duced
to think that an enlightened regard to dt. ,r own rnuetent
interests, a-d, I 111111., be pereitted to add, a proper consider-
ation of their own poemsl character*, should lead them to
the practice or greater moderation.
•t But my chief it•ulteceunent has been the hope that the
Council and Asicemiily of Dominic.' will interpose to rescind
the colonist,' from demands wiici• mutt very shortly ol.aruct
the administration of justice altogether. I write ad 1114.1.1 k,
when I •av the services which appear to have been rend.rcti
to the suitors in these melt would have been amply eimp.-11.
sated by row-sixth part of the Aunts wo,ich they have beep
compelled to p..y. Even that allowance I should estrum as
very littoral.
•• You will transmit to the Council and Assembly a eal,y
of this despatch. and you will assure then, of the moat cor-
dial co.operation of ills Majesty's blovethon nt in any .ffit.t
they may make for the aupprussieta of their abuses. I at
aware of no season why a moderate table of ftes should not
be established. nor why any rerane•.a making a di/nand, or
receiving a fee not expressly a riaed by tiff table should
not be subject to a prompt and lisrmivable penalty. I sot,
Indeed, aware that acne are ti any private tottittes opposed
to this essential refine,. end to at Cite persons wt o profit most
largely by the abuse eNercise a very powerful influence in ohs
colonial legislature. I cannot, h w.ver, peinsit ntyself to
believe that this it fluent. would be earned to protect such
a system as that witch their bills of cal (Nodose; GI that
if. unfortunately. such at avenipt should be made, there
would not be public spirit at d resolution chivith autongm
the other members of the legislature to trims ph over any
such opposition. It is fit, at haat. that the tsperimout
►hou'd be made, slid tlw result ascer.ai; lid

" Vou will transmit to \. r. Court a copy of thir dotsfisteh
and assure him that it is with very sit etre rtgrit I lad my.
self unable to administer a more immediate at.d tactual
relit( against the grievance which be has most properly
brought under my my notice.— I nave dir honour to be, Sir,
your most obedwut servant,
(Signe) .• COPERIC H.
(A true copy.) (Signed) J. W PATTLN,
'• bresident's Si.ert•ary."
" The Officer edministerlog the Gortrnment, Duniii.ita.

"WI ATION OF TIIF. QVARAN FINE LA IFS.•••••
Captrin Stride, of Eiiitg, near Southampton, bee
for this offence been fined 50C1. an.: to le impti.
soned for six rr.o the, or until the Gee be Maid. Net,
is master of a brig jt.st a►rived from Rip', lad•*
with reheat. Witl.out stopping to perform
tine at the At ott.ertool., lie sailed (Stec' into
South.nui ton reads, and allowed part of his crew to
go ashore. . .
Ex PFAISII.NTAI. V Lsst . —Two experimental
♦essels are at present building in the dock* at Slimi-
ness, a steamer, to be called the Salansander, and
a frigate, to•be ranted the t 411eups. The Sciki.
slander is intended for a ship of wag, twa is to bf:
made sufficiently strong to carry a mortar. She ib
176 feet in the keel, and 200 feet aloft, and %it
mount 32 guns.