The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-03-29 00:00:00

THE BENCH AND THE BAR

The following scene, which we copy from the Southern
Reporter, is vividly descriptive of similar occurrences which
have taken place at almost all the assize towns; between the
Right Hon. Lefroy, and the gentlemen of the bar. The case
upon trial at the time the conversation detailed below took
place was an action upon an 1 0 U for the amount of £loo.
The case for the plaintiff having closed,
Mr. Bennett, on the part of the bar, hoped his lordship
would adjourn the court.
His Lordship said that Mr. Bennett could not be in earnest
to adjourn the court in the middle of a case.
Mr. Bennett said they were quite exhausted by so length-
ened a sitting ; they could not do justice to their clients by
proceeding at so late an hour (seven o'clock.)
His Lordship replied that it was a most improper system
to adjourn the court in the middle of a case of this description.
They had only got through one case during the day, and he
would, therefore, decline adjourning the court.
Mr. Bennett stated that it' that was his lordship's decision,
he had to tell him, on the part of the bar, that they found it
quite impossible to proceed with the business, and be pre-
pared for the business on the following day.
The Court would not adjourn.
Mr. Bennett.—Well, my lord, if you go on this way you
will be the death of me, and you will have to provide for my
wife and children.
His Lordship would adjourn the court if he thought no
inconvenience would be the consequence ; but, under the
circumstances, he would protest against being dictated:to by
the bar. _ _ _

Several members of tha bar then retired, and Mr. Collins
was about following them. when

His Lordship inquired if he had any witnesses to produce
for the defendant ?

Mr. Collins.—Yes, my lord, but I must respectfully de-
cline producing them until to-morrow.
Court.—l see how the matter is now ; and, as I am deter-
mined to uphold the dignity of the bench, I must decline
being dictated to, and request that you call on the witnesses;
otherwise I will dispose of the case, and then let the courts
above decide who it was that acted properly.
Mr. Collins.—Your lordship must excuse me acting further
in the case ; for I must be guided by the conduct of my
senior brothers at the bar, and retire.
Messrs. Collins, Venn, Bennett, and Freeman, then left
the court, and the remainder of the proceedings were con-
ducted by the agents at both sides.
The defendant was examining several witnesses, when it
was intimated by the jury that they were perfectly satisfied
with the evidence produced, and that the defendant might

close his case.
The issue was sent up, and a verdict returned for the de-
fendant with 6d. costs.
We understand that a meeting of the bar was held on

Tuesday morning, in the bar-room, in obedience to a sum-
mons from Mr. Bennett, Q.C., Father of the Munster Bar,
at which a resolution was passed in approval of the conduct
of Mr. Collins, Q. C., on the previous evening, hereby
censuring the course taken by the learned baron (Lefroy.)—
Cork Examiner.

EMIGRATION.—The expatriation of artisans from the ma-
nufacturing districts to America continues unabated. In ad-
dition to extensive preparations for emigration of large num-
bers from Ashton-under-Lyne, Strines, Marple, Mellor,
&c., we may mention, that, at the beginning of this week,
an accredited individual proceeded to Liverpool from Comp-
stall Bridge, to ensure the passage of sixty emigrants, by the
deposit of for each individual.—Manchester Guardian.
THE WEATHER AND THE CORN TRADE.—The weather
has, since our last, been characteristic of the month, very
high winds having prevailed, and partial though rather heavy
showers having fallen ; in the neighbourhood of the metropo-
lis it 'rained hard on Thursday night : our country letters
make no mention, however, of much wet. Durine the last
day or two, the atmosphere has been highly absorbent, and
there is now little superfluous moisture in the land ; indeed,
most soils are in admirable working condition : rapid pro-
gress has, therefore, been made with sowing and other out-
door labours, and this department of husbandry is in a state
of considerable forwardness. Though the air has been keen
and piercing, the thermometer has not, we believe, sunk be-
low freezing point, and vegetation has consequently received
no injury from the cold. The accounts respecting the ap-
pearance of the young wheat plant continue, on the whole,
aoetwi s u
renyrt'
taken some pains to ascertain
are
haveratpr lately
present situated with regard to stocks :
ss
we have been able to gather prove, however, so
tshhaffcanecrotmo
various, that we fear to place much reliance upon them.
From the very general complaints of deficiency of last year's
crop, and the liberal manner, in which supplies have since

harvest been brought forward by the growers,
Lea still it we
think, be safely inferred, that the quantity of w
the farmers' hands must be smaller than is usual at t may,
aill's
of year, and that a large portion of foreign will yet be 're-
quired before another crop can be, secured. Of the 2,500,000
quarters of wheat imported in September, there is now not
much more than 500,000 quarters remaining in the kingdom,
whilst the bonded stock but little exceeds that quantity.
From the South of Europe little more can be expected, un-
less prices advance here considerably ; and, though there is
no doubt that all the wheat there is to spare at the different
Baltic ports will find its way to this country, there seems no
great chance of our being overwhelmed with foreign, even
under the new corn bill—at least, for one year ; hut its effects
will unquestionably (after it has been some time in operation)
be to lower prices here. Little progress has been made
during the week in getting this measure through parliament,
and it is yet uncertain how soon it may come into force. The
decided fall which took place in the price of wheat at Mark
Lane on Monday last, has imparted additional languor to the
trade ; and at nearly all the leading provincial markets held
in the early part of the week, the value of this grill" has
suffered further abatement—Mark Lane Express.