Star.
London, England, 1820-05-16 00:00:00

in hair. When he returned he was not able to at-
tend ; he was as much a non-entity as the dope-
porters of 'that House—(Hear, hear). If then the
Chief Baron could be spared for three years, why not
spare a Junior Baron altogether ?—(lfenr, hear).—
He did not advocate this as a party question, or for
- -the purpose of perplexing the Ministry. The present
were times when no man who would consult the
welfare ref his country would stand up against any-
thing which was truly venerable in its institutions.
He had no!earthly motive in coming forward than
one which he thought perfectly correct, when he saw
an appointment made injurious to the Courts of Jus-
tice in Scotland, and likely to make a generally un-
favourable impression. Never was a time when it
was more necessary to uphold the character of the
Courts of Justice than at present ; and he would add,
that never vyas a time when a i:erson inspecting those
Courts could give them greater praise than for the
last few weeks—(Hear, hear). They spewed a sig-
nal example of persevering patience in investigating,_
nnea and of perfect irtiality in deciding—(Cheering,
and Hear, hear). The Noble Lord proceeded to re-
mark, that the Chnimissioners all concurred in the
Report to which he so often referred, with the excep-
tion of the Commissioner whose name was -at its
head—he meant Sir Bay Campbell; and he added,
that the opinion of that Commissioner deserved less
weight than any one of the others. The individual
appointed tb the situation of fifth Baron was Sir Pa-
trick Murray, whom the!.Noble* Lord described to
have been recommended to that ofsceless by his pro-
fessional acquirements than by hispOlitical exertions.
One way, indeed, Sir Patrick Aurrak was well
known, and that was, as a troublesome candidate for
the County of Perth. Indeed, no person could take
a better way to recommend himself to Government,.
than to present himself as a candidate at an elec.
• Lion against the candidate who stood on the,. popular
• interest, and no man in the House knew this better
than tiro L.srd Registrar—( Hear, hear! /recta laugh).
The Noble Lord then compared the authority of the
Lord Advocate, for it was a question of authority,
with that of the Commissioners, whom he highly
praised, with the exception of Sir hay Campbell: in-
deed, a recommendation for the reduction of unne-
cessary offices would come from Sir Ilay with pecu-
liar weight, because he might justly add, " quorum
pars magna.juitr, —(Hear, hear! and air:ugh). With
regard to the appointment of Sir Patrick Murray, it
was well known to have been a long time promised
before it took place. He came now to the ',ape:.
which was produced by the Learned Lord opposite,
and which was supposed to contain his justification.
But that document, if it proved anything, proved
that three Barons, not five, would be sufficient for
the Exchequer; for his argument went upon the
ground that the number should not be equal, because
if equal, they might never decide. Now, the number
of three would conduce to that end as well as five
- (Hear, hear). In England, too, it would be recollec-
ted that the decisions in the Court of Exchequer
were all made by four Barons—(Harr, hear).—
He should now proceed to shew what extraordinary
recommendations could emanate from persons of the
-highest authority. The Commissioners had given it
as their opinion that the office of one of the Clerks ofl
Session was inexpedient, and that the principal Clerk'
was sufficient to do the duty. Now, would the House
believe it when he told them; that, although there
was no more business in the Court than one Clerk
was able to perform, Sir Walter Scott had been ap-
pointed a Clerk of that Court ?—( Hear, hear). A
Gentleman was appointed to an office, no part of the
duties of which it was to be expected that he could
ever fulfil—a Gentleman whose time, as every body
knew, was Ed much occupied in other respects. To
burthen the country with unnecessary expenses of
(his kind was an act which ought to be scouted from
the Orkneys to the Land's End ; it was treating with
contempt the opinions of those persons who had been
appointed by Parliament for the purpose of enquiring
into, with a view to the correction of, public abuses.
While persons in authority talked of retrenchment
2nd economy, they seemed determined never to touch
any Gy which their own patronage was likely to be
affected— (Hear, hear). Sir Walter Scott was em-
ployed in very different pursuits from those of the
business of a Court of Justice ; he was writing more
than any man could read ; and while his time was
so occupied, how could he perform the duties of a
Public Officer? He was sure that many of the ap-
pointments to which he alluded were made unknown

-•
to the Ministers ; themselves and he did Dot believe

that the Ministers would have made such appoint-
ments. There was no Court which abounded with

so much systematic abuse as the Court of Exchequer
in Scotland. The Remembrancer of that Court acted

by a Deputy, he r.liarged whatever he might consider
a suitable remuneration for his trouble, and there
was no controul over his charges. Whatever vote
the House might come to on this question, would not
be a matter of any consequence to himself; but this
he was certain of, that if the vote should be hi fa-
vour of the transactions to Which he alluded, they
would not carry conviction to the Public—who
would still continue to entertain the same opibion of
them that he himself did : and the time might not
be far distant when such a vote would contribute to

increase that ferment that already unfortunately pre-
v,kiled in the County of Lanai k ; when it would even
le ill the mouths of those whose duty it was to re-
press the disturbers of the public peace in that part
of the kingdom. How could be himself go forth as
a De.pwy Lieutenant to repress them, without feeling
some compunction with regard to these transactions?
—(Hear, hear). Some of the persons engaged in
t!lost: tumultuous proceedings we: e a disgi ace to their
co';r.try ; bat would not their numbers be multiplied
vlien they heard that the House of Commons sanc-
tioned such transnctious as those in question ?
(Jfear, hear). The House had passed laws for the
suppression of Public Meetings ; but if the People
were not allowed to express their opinions openly,
they would give vent to their feelings in some other
way. He concluded with moving—

That this House do agree with the Report of the Commis-
si,m2rs appointed to inquire into the Duties, Salaries, and F.mo-
Lint:2'ns of Courts of Justice in Scotland, as far as relates tis the
C:utt of Fachequer, concerning which the Report declares five

Barons to he more than necessary. and that the business enuld

be done equally well with four, u in England, without materi-

ativ adding to the duties of the remaining officers."

—(Te Noble Lord teas loudly cheered as he sat down).