Star.
London, England, 1823-05-07 00:00:00

JUSTICE IN WALES.

Lord CAWDOR made his announced motion
with regard to the administration ,of justice in
Wales. He referred to the three Reports of the
Select Committee of the Ilouse of Commons on the
present state of justice in Wales, from whose con-
clusions be differed in pat t, and whose opinions he
wished to be referred to their Lordships' Appeals
Committee, to examine and report on the same. He
considered this motion as peculiarly fitting, when the
Commons Committee had been sitting for three Ses-
sions (18'20, 1821, 1822) upon the subject. It was
desirable to ease the Noble and Learned Lord upon
the Woolsack of the Appellant Jurisdiction for Wales.
What was most objectionable was the accumulation
of expenses in the law proceedings of the principa-
lity, and the unsatisfactory way in which the admi-
nistration of justice was conducted in Wales.—Here
his Lordship took occasion to advert to cases, in
which it was proved that the result was uniformly to
fill the pockets of attornies at the expense of suitors.
Such cases of injustice and oppression were never, he
believed, heard of in any other country in legal
Courts. He confessed, in conclusion, his incompe-
tency to propose an effectual remedy for these evils.
There was, indeed, a certain Bill (Great Sessions in
Wales Bill), which he trusted had no respect to the
supposed opinion of the Noble and Learned Lord
upon the Woolsack, whose advice he himself should
always be happy to have, and whose
. assistance was
most desirable in the present .case. His Lordship.
now moved that the Reports-of the Select Committee
of the House of Commons, on the Administration of
Justice in Wales, be referred to their Lordships select
Committee pn Appeals 'Ecc.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL,' while he wished to be
understood as not undervaluing the motion of the
Noble Lord, objected to it upon the plain ground that
questions of such magnitude were under the consi-
deration of their Lordships' ConiMittee, that, till those
(questions were disposed of, all additions to their in-
quiries would
_render their progress more compli-
cated, and embarrass their prospective course. What
might, however, grow fairly out of the labours of
that Committee, so extended as to its investigation,
was another thing; as it might possibly lead-to re-
forms in the administration ofjustice far beyond t
purview of the motion now ;before the House. ' Wi
respect to the Bill before the other House tp
the Noble Lord (Cawdor) had alluded, it would
better to await its coming up rather than attempt Ort•
anticipate its results with Noble Lords. •
Lord COLCHESTER considered the motion Of
the Noble Lord (Cawdor) to contemplate in its tip.
ration, if effected at all, an increase in the number
the Judges. Now, with regard to this measure, lie
could only say, that every calm consideration lie
could give it confirmed his doubts respecting both
the policy and• expediency of such a measure; but
even the opinion of the Publiq was not distinctly
made up upon the point. The motion now before their
Lordships was foreign from the object of the Com-
mittee on Appeals ; and, if entertained in any way, it
would be better-as a separate branch of inquiry.
The LORD CHANCELLOR could safely say,
that all he knew respecting a Bill in the other House;
to which the Noble Lord (Cawdor) had called his at-
teatian;4as derived from having seen it mentioned
in .the Newspapers. Whenever that measure should
come up to their Lordships, his mind,- he trustee,
would go into its merits qqite unprejudiced. It hallo
however, been suggested ?hat relief might possibly•
be had, in this instance, by addresiing the Throne;
but an Address to the King could not be of any use,
as it* Icing'had pe power in the present case.
The Mareeils.bf BUTE supported the motion; be-
eause.he Cobeeivid it not, proper to tell the people of.
Wales, at this era, that they were unprepared to prac-
tice the same justice as the MS* of England.
Lord CAWDOR, in reply, complained that
sufficient reason had been stated- why his mod'
should not be agreed to. ~.t -•
' After the motion had been pit, it was negativ
lwithout a division; and, at tstlefatt,
r House adjourned, till to-mbrrditir -Morning -ick
hearing of Appeals. j, .
11
-
011 SE orOcirients.
Oa the motion
it ai r. aitwahe.
was read a third tins. , .
Mr. D. GILBERT-moved the inirmliscijoii ertiiAitipp to
authorise the election of additional Trustees by* V,ssatipiod
Churelnwraleas of the !atish.
Atter a conversation, in which the foilowius 00101114;411114
a part—Mr. Hamm Sir Jamas Gsauaw. BuTIPMWOII-
Mr. _ -
and Mr. Maar
rider

_Ali,
A. P. Mariass.ll4:Jiiiis 04:44•10•41.. AarArr, 1
the clause was agreed to, and added as a ' .to the Bill; and
the Bill then paned. -
Sir RUIsiALD FBRGUSSON presented a Petidon frons the 1
•rchants and Traders of '' - . ' Houie v.-

Dundee, praying that the would
remove the restraints ns .e imposed on our own fisheries by se-
vend Seotch Acts of Yarilement..by a fresh Statute oo the subject.
• PORTSEA ,IstelNG BILL;
POY.NTE moved the third reading of the Ponsaa
Tu b-
ins Bilk
NG BERNAL opposed the BIN as an unfair atiinfir stt,

Ayes, 39—Noes, 97—Majosity, 58.
1. i NrEntot TAXATMV.:: '
Mr. S. RICE moved the seeondi*Oing of the• L-
imerick Taxation Bill. The object of it was to pre-
vent the misapplication of the Rinds of the City.—
The Corporation
.were bound to' ertiploy:.them in
building gaols, and repairing roads and bridges; in.
stead of this, they converted them to whatever pur-
pose they pleased, and then levied taxes on the in-
habitants. The consequence was; that they were
obliged to. borrow money ; and they were now in-
debted to the. Consolidated Fund to the amount of
5,000 i. It would be useless 0 bring the matter into
a Court of Law, as the old books, by which the rights
of the inhabitants could be proved, were fraudulently
got possession of, and either secreted or destroyed.
Mr. WODEHOUSE said, there were circumstan-
ces appeared before the Committee perfectly revolt-
ing to every honourable mind.- If any legislative re-
medy could be found, he should willingly support it.
Captain O'GRADY said, he was surprised to hear
the measure supported on public grounds. It was
merely a Bill to increase the political power of the
Hon. Member (Mr. Rice) and his friends. If the Bill
passed, no Corporation could be safe. That of the
City of Limerick contended, that they *ere not hound
to apply their funds to the uses mentioned. They
were ready to try the matter in a Court of Law. The
Bill was not brought in according to the forms of the
House. He would move on these grounds, that the
Bill be read a second time this day six months.
The Amendment was negatived without a division.
The Bill was read a second time, and commizted.
Sir R. HERON said, he wished to kno v what the
course of business was to be that day—whether they
were to proceed on the inquiry, or go on with the
business of which notice had been given?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ex-
ressed a wish that the inquiry might be gone into
or the purpose of bringing it to a conclusion as soon
as possible. He hoped Gentlemen on both sides of
the House would con,ent to postpone. their Motions
which stood for that day. The Noble Lord opposite
(Hamilton), he understood, had no ol4ection. to put
off his Motion. a: !: .: . ..
Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE wished to !mow
what was the intention of the•Rik;ht Hon. Gentletzian
(the Chancellor of the Excfiequer) withrelkct ;iodic
Motions which stood for Priday? . ,
... The CHANCELLOR cf the- EXCHEQW said
he had, no objqtjuit•that the. rticl,tioUs whiiir'stdod for
id4r iblloidahitte .pi ecedenctiratihe Orders'
7 Mge.C,ALCR,AFT expressed-a wish that be might
have the priority of some Order Day for his,Meition.
- Mr.'Sedietary PEEUthought it was bettet: to go
to with:the inquiry; than to expend time biu en-
deavouring to' arrange the order of business, which
wduld bd better done by_ private agreement. ''. '
Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH expressed lei's readi-
ness to coneuewith any arrangement most. conveuieht
to the House.

THE SHERIFF OP DUBLIN.
On the Motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE-
QUER that the house do re.olve it elf into a Commit-
tee of the whole House to inquire into the conduct of
the Sheriff of Dublin, a conversation ensued bete een
Mr. F. BUXTON, Sr T. LETIIHRID:IE, and Mr. TIER•
NZY "relotivg to the postponement (rt. other business.
dolonel BARRY feared it would not be possible
for the House- to get through the whole of the in-
quiry this week, as, from the nature of some of 0:e
testimony deliVered last night, it had become neces-
sary for him to call for other witnesses, who, resitii.g
is Dublin, could not by possibility.reach Londchi be-
tore Monday nest.
• • ,
Lord NUGENT wished to inform himself what
business was likely to come.on rialluirsday next, 14
which day a Motion of his was fixed opon a suhjrct
of considerable importance to- a large :class of the
British community. (For leave to bring in a Bill to
place the English on a. footing with the Irish Ca tholics).
The CH ANCELLOR of the EXCH EQUER said
it. was-undoubtedly competent to the Noble Lord to
rtake what steps he might think proper in the event of
the inquiry continuing beyond to-morrow ; but he
trusted that at least great progress would be made in
the affair by to-morrow night.
Mr. ABERCRONIBY had also a Motion fixed for
ou Thursday. shld the House- determine to go lilt
with. the inquiry, he would bow to its deci.ion, but
lie laid claim to the indulgence. of Ministers in per-
rAtiagtim to bring it forward at an early day, hay-
ing lost the opportunity of doing so last Session from
his having consented to postpone it at their request.
The House then resolved itself into the Committee,
Sir R. HERON insthe Chair.
AIr.PLUNKETT.begged to say, a few words be-
fore any witness should be called in, upOn a subject
of some importance. In the examination Of a wit.
ness, John Al.Connell, before the Cuminittce last
night, some facts came out connected ,with another
person summoned before the coma:slava—a Mr.Bar-
tett Wadden, alio was stated to have ;eft Ireland for
ptirpos.l.9.4.,4voiding his creditors. Tiat