The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-05-16 00:00:00

FIFTH HARM, OF THE EXCHEQUER IN SCOTLAND.

Lord A..H.ISIILTON rose, in penance of notice,
to bring this subject under the consideration of the
House, and in doing so he thought it unnecessary to
preface his motion with any circumstances which might
impress the House with a sense of its importance.
There was no circumstance in his mind which could
add to its own weight, more powerfully than the re-
membrance of the deep distress which prevailed
throughout the country. When he bad first introduced
the subject to the notice of the House, be certainly
was net aware of the variety of considerations or per-
sons that have since been collaterally connected with
it. But since the Noble and Learned Lord opposite
had introduced to the attention of the House a paper
containing the opinions of the Lax Officers of Scot-
land upon the appointment in question, that circum-
stance materially added to the importance of the mo-
tion. To come then to the facts connected with the
case, be would remind the House that it was six years
ago since an Hon. Friend of his proposed the appoint.
ment of the Commissioners to inquire into the state of
the Courts of Justice in Scotland, and to recommend
such alterations in the number and emolument of the
officers as to them should seem meet. Their first Re-
port was dated in 11415. the motion for their appoint-
ment being dated in the previous year. From 11415
until the present moment, not one of the recommenda-
tions which they bad made have been carried into
effect.—(hear, hear'}—The sixth Report %%as made
last year: two other Reports had since been made,
!but to this hour n•, recommendation had been made
by his Majesty's Ministers to the (louse to carry into
effect one of their suggestions. It was !malt ularly un-
fortunate, that the very first intimation upon the sub-
ject should be the effecting of a measure in direct con-
tradiction to the recommendation of the Cotunsissioners.

Last Session he had moved for pig:erg containing any
references to the jndgment of the Liw Officers of the
Crown with respect to these Iteportg, a'!d he obtained
one paper which at that time he thoaght of li tle im-
portance : but if it were considered now, it would be
found top. ove the futility of the argument of the Learned
Lord, u well as of the document produced by the Noble
•

and Learned Lord. It was referred to the Commis-
sioners to see what reduction. w re practicable in the
Courts of Justice, and undoubtedly it was no fault of
t .eirs, if, after five years' labour, no measure was taken
:o carry their suggestions into effect. He disclaimed
any &act hostility to the officer wbo bad been lately
appointed; but he thought it most discreditable to
his predecessor and to his Majesty's Ministers, that
such an appointment should take place at all. The

Cunimintioners concarrei that five Barons of the Ex.
chequer were more than enough; that four were quite

slot-tient, and with this

it was his ob-

jeer to move a resolution that the !louse should agree.
If the House mould sanction cut only the appointment,
the moat in which it was roa..!c, the breathless haste
*Wb which it was harried un, the next thing they
to do. would be to save ti the country the expence
•t Alt ttich Commissioners. and to confide to the Mi-

E.:eter. !:e duty, r,ducrions

I

~;