The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-03-06 00:00:00

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-HOUSE OF VVINIONS.
MISCIILLANSOUP.
Mr. CURTEIS moved for several !Warns relating to
Bark imported into this country, fur the years subse-
quent to Itll9.—Onlered.
Mr. LOCKHART presented a Petition from certain

Orempievoef Lase at Doncaster; UM! _
peer. of Land in Dorsetshire, complaining of agricul-
tuna di stress, and praying for protecting duties:A/ram:id
to tiebn the table.
Mr. CU lIW EN presented a Petition from the inhabit-
nets of Wigton, in Cumberland, praying for a revision of
the Criminal Coile.—The Petition, after a few words
front Mr. Curwen in its support, was .ordered to lio on
the table.
Mr. LOCKHART ave notice, that on the 16th inst.
he should more for leave to bring in a Bill to faci-
litate the recovery of the possession of small Tent-
merits heist over by Tenants after the expiration of
their terms.
The Sogar Duties' Bill. the Exchequer Bills' Bill,
and the Transfer of Aide Bill, were read a third time
anti passed.
Mr. Alderman WOOD bronght up the Report of the
Committee appointed to consider the Petition of the
City of London, respecting the repair of London-bridge.
Mr. HOLM'''. SUMNER objected to the course takeu
by the City on this occasion. He had no doubt lie should
beinstrneted to move fora Bill to take down the present
hthlayss and 'mild another.
Sir F. OAINIANU spoke a few words, we believe, in
'apnea of the observation of Mr. H. Sumner. •
Leave was then given for bringing in a Bill to repair
the bridge.
Mr. CHETWYXD gave notice, that on Tneeday rest
be should more for leave to bring in a Bill for more,
effectually enforcing the Laws against Beggars, and
for giving additional powers to Magistrates for that
purpose.
The Marquess of LONDONDERRY, in the absence,
from indisposition, of his Right lion. Friend (the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer), postponed until Tlinrsday
next his flight Hon. I. riewl'm notice respecting the So-
rg-animation Bill. Ile would here observe, that there
was a notice of the Hon. Member for Aberdeen, on the
,books, respecting some Accounts relative to the Conso-
lidated Fund. The information required by the Hon.
Member wool.' be detailed in the measnre about to be
proposed by his Right Hon. Priem'. The Hon. Member
wont.' prohably, therefore, not object to his motion gis-
ing off for the present, at it would he obvious that be
might revive it, if the information alluded to should not
he satisfactory.
The Report of the Committee of Supply upon the
Nave Estimates was brought up by Mr. Brogden, and
agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. CROKER, leave was given to
bring in a Bill for regulating his 'Majesty's Marino
Forces on short.
Sir M. W. RI DLEY moved for n Return of the Rental
of the several Estates belonging to -Greenwich Hospi-
tal, and of all slims expended or allowed for the Repairs
thereof, and a Return of the shunter of Agents employed
in the management of those estates, with the amount of
the several salaries, and also a Return of the number of
persons holding offices in the Hospital, stating whether
any, and which of those offices were executed by Depu-
ties; the amount of the salary for each office; and
stating also whether any of such officers held any other
office, with the amount of the salary attached to the same.
--Ordered.

ACTIONS AGAINST lIUNDRCDS.
Mr. DFNISON, pursuant to notice, rose to move for
1c ive to bring in a Bill for facilitating the Recovery of
euiall claims against llnntireds, in respect of damage
done by Rioters. The Hon. Member stated, that it .
would be quite sufficient for him to inforM the House of ,
the proceedings which had taken place in the county
of Surrey last year ; and having done so, he thought he
should not have occasion to offer. another word in sup-
port-ot his elation. At the Spring Amities, II actions
were brought to trial to recover sums amounting alto-
hßober to 691. 7s. 6d. ; and the costs of there actions
ad been taxed in the proper courts, at LICA/. 9s. 10d.
At the Summer Assizes four actions were ll:might to
trial to recover 71. Cs. IL and the costs of these were
titer, in the same manner, at MIL Gs. Id. One of the
elections was to recover ISa. rihd the costs of that action
were taxed at 1121. Yet every one of these actions bad
been unavoidably brought, because the remedy by action
was the only one left open by Law for those whose pro-
petty was injured. The House west be satisfied that so
• monstrous a grievance called loudly for redress; and
with the permission of the House he would subunit a
Dill, giving the Quarter Sessions jurisdiction over
causes ...herein the sum sontritt to be recovered did not
cweed 201. The Hon. Member accordingly moved for
le‘ve to Itring in such a Bill.
Mr. B. WILIIRAHAM said, he could confirm the
statement of the lion. Mover as far as regarded the ge-
urrAl amount of the Lew expenses compared with the
en-a to be recovered. This evil had been so deeply felt
in the county of Lancaster, that it was contemplated by
the Bench of Magistrates to instruct hint (Mr. Wilbra-
ham) to bring in a Bill similar to that now moved for.
lie was happy the subject had been taken up by the
lion. Member.
Mr. SCARLETT approved of the Bill; but thought
it was not necessary to confine its effect to any particu-
lar sum. The mode of recovery might be simplified
generally, without taking away the principle upon which
the present law was founded. All that the law required
was tlnit the right of the person seeking the remedy
should be-established by a Jury.
Mr. LOCKHART highly approved of the Bill, and
imaged it would be only a precedent for others. The
present mode of administering justice was disgraceful
to a civilized country ; and he trusted the subject would
be taken up by the (loose.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
SCOTCLI JUST LAW.

Mr. KENNEDY brought forward his promised mo-
tion respecting the present mode of conducting criminal
proceeding. in Scotland with reference to Juries. lf,
however, the Learned Lord opposite would introduce the
subject into the measure he was about to propose, he
(Mr. K.) would not press his motion.
The LORD ADVOCATE said be so widely differed
in opinion from the Honourable Member upon the sub-
ject in question, that he thought it would be more ad-
visable for the Honourable Member to proceed with his
motion.
Mr. KENNEDY resumed. He would shortly inform
the house of the present state of the Criminal Law of
Scotland. The chief Criminal Court was the High
Court of Justiciary, and the members of this Court held
Circuits twice a year. The Court next in importance
was the Sheriff s Court. The Sheriff was, in Scotland,
a Judge appointed by the Crown, and selected front the
Bar. He decided many civil and some criminal cases,
and in others the latter description he sent the accused to
trial, his adjudication being in the nature of thefinding
of a Grand Jury. The Jury was in Scotland,eomposetl
fifteer persons, and a majority decided the question.
These fifteen were selected from forty-five summoned for
the purpose, and the selection was made by the presid-
ing Judge. The prisoner had not the right of challenge
which was given by the English law. lie could only
offer certain legal defined exceptions to any Juror to
whom he objected, and the presitlingJudge deeidell
upon those exceptions. The Bill he proposal was prin-
cipally for giving the prisoner the right of changer,
and bad been modelled upon the measure lately adopt-
ed for encoding the trial by Jury is Scotland to Civil