Star.
London, England, 1821-06-05 00:00:00

ABUSES IN Tilt IRISII COURTS OF LAW.

Lord SIDMOUTII moved the second reading of
the Bill fOr correcting abuses in the Iri,h Law Courts.
This measure had been adopted in consequence of
the abuses which were found to prevail there, and in
consequence of the inconvenience which the suitors

in those Courts expeiienced. The House of Com-
mons had instituted an inquiry into the state of these
Courts ; and the necessity for such an inquiry he had.
never heard disputed. The Commissioners had re- '
commended the abolition cf exorbitant and unlimited

fees, and the establisshment of moderate salaries to the

Judges, and other Officers. This was the principle
of the Bill. It was proposed to take an average of
seven years, and to cut off 311 fees established in that
time; and then to grant salaries according to the
average of the seven years. A great abuse was the
giving fees to the Officers who taxed costs, in pro-
portion to the amount of costs so taxed. The amount

of salaries was intended to be made good by addi-
tional duties on stamps for law proceedings.
Lord DONOUGHMORE denied that the Reports
on the table from the Commissioners of Inquiry into
Courts of Justice in Ireland warranted the introduc-
tion of these Bills ; and he, therefore, wished the No-
ble Secretary of State would postpone the further
progress of them until they had time to read the Re-
ports and evidence taken by the Commissioners. He
saw no reason why the practice of the Law Courts in
Ireland should be made different from that of Eng-
land. If the alleged abuses did exist for twenty years,
the Noble Secretary ought to take shame to himself
that he did not know of them ; and, if he knew of
them, that he did not correct them long ago. The
real principle of the Bill was, to give to the Crown
the patronage of salaries to the amount of £15,000
a•year. He contended, that Ireland would not be

able to pay these exorbitant salaries, and the People
of England must. The Commissioners were ient.to
spy out the nakedness of the land in Ireland, and they
would find that the unfortunate people in that coun-
try were beggared. By this measure they would
take from Ireland the administration of the English
mode, and burthen her with additional taxation. He
concluded by moving, that the Bill be read a second
time that day six months.
Lord REDESDALE had considerable doubt as to
the policy of substituting salaries instead of fees in
the Courts of Justice in Ireland. He was afraid it •
would introduce great carelessness in the discharge
of the public duty of the Officers of those Courts.
Still he was far from being adverse to the general
principle of the Bill.
The Earl of LIMERICK defended the Bill. He
asserted that the opinions of the Judges of the Courts
of King's Bench and Common Pleas, in Dublin, were
entirety coinciding with those of the Commissioners,
namely, that the Officers should be paid by salaries
and not by fees. The fees in the Court of Exchequer
alone amounted to MONO.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that in some
offices he should prefer salaries, and in others fees.
Public opinion would be sufficient security for the
faithful discharge of the duty of the different Officers
in Courts of Justice. Wherever fees are allowed they
ought to be fixed by law; and not left to the discre-
tion of the Officers themselves. If the Stamp Duties
were to be on the People of Ireland generally, it
would require much consideration ; for none but the
suitors should pay them.
The Mat quis of LA NSDOWN thought these mat-
ters would be better considered in the Committee.
At the same time he must say, that the opinions of
the Irish Judges had great weight with him—namely,
that under the present system they could not answer
for the correction of abuses in their Courts. If any
additional burdens were to be thrown on Ireland by
the Bill, he would be .the last man to support it ;
but he understood it to be intended to relieve the
suitors in the Courts of that country.
The Bill was then read a second time without a
division.

On the motion of Viscount SIDMOUTH, the Bill for
the better Administration of Justice in the Court of
Chancery, was read a second time, and ordered to
be committed on Friday ; and the. second reading of
the Nisi Prius Bill was postponed till to-morrow.