The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-10
A retser arom Henry sEu,inall, Esq.

| LONDON, July, 1910.
| While was in Switzerland l promised to
give you sketch OF the courts of law ana
lawyers haunts in London. On my return
to this great city from the Continent sit
down to draw long breath, and, per-
chance, 4 sigh for the cool shades of Swiss
wales, and in this favorable mood l think
Will try 10 perform my promise to You.
London, you know, is the scat Of the
| highest tribunals OF tie Kingdom, and 4
magnificent building, occupying Il space OF
eight acres, called the New Law Courts, is
now in process Of erection, intended for
the accommodation OF all the principal law
courts upon one site. This superb build
ing, In the decorated Gothic style, with
pointed towers, is on the north side OF the
Strand, between the Church OF st. Dunstan
Danes and Temple Bar. at present, as for
ages past. the various courts are, as is the
case in Richmond, scattered all over the
city. The Court Of Appeals sits in Lin
cUlus Inn, before the Master OF the Rolls
and two Lords Justices from Westminster.
1t was before this court that MIR. Benjamin
is said TO have exclaimed in style OF melo-
dramatic elodueuce peculiar TO Americans,
Il appeal to high heaven!" when the Mas
ter of the Rolls quietly interrupted him
with "No, Mr.. Benjamin, your proper
course OF appeal Will be to the Court OF
EycheQuer Cnampcr.'
The various divisions OF the newly-erect-
ed High Court Of Justice" sit in courts
abutting upon Westminster Hall, in Chan
Gerry lane. Lincoln's Inl. or at Lambeth
Palace, where the Court OF Arches holds its
sessions for matters ecclesiastical. The
I Central Criminal Court, or Old Bailey, as it
is commonly called, is branch OF the High
Court Of Justice, and is presided over by
two Judges from Westminster, assisted by
the Recorder and Common Sergeant OF the
city. The Quarter Sessions for the city OF
London are held at the Old Bailey. The
minor civil Jurisdiction Is entrusted TO the
Lord Mayors Court, held at the Guildhall,
under the Recorder and Common Sergeant.
The day I was in the Guildhall the court
was presided over by the Recorder. Sir
Thomas Chambers, an elderly gentleman
with Il very red face, and in features bear
ING q close resemble to the Hon. Fayette
McMullin, of Smyth. There ale also coro-
! ncrs' courts, city police courts, and metro
politan police courts.
On one Of my visits 10 Westminster en-
loved the pleasure OF witncssnga session
of the aigh Court OF Chancery, held in the
chamber OF tie House OF Lords, and pre-
sided over by the Lord Char csll0r, Lord
Hather!ey, Lord Blackburn, ard Lord Cor
don. The case was Clayton Us. PcDzanc",
, and one OF the court "a very venerable lord,
; was reading an opinion in 4 scarcely audi
ble voice, but as nobody seemed to lie pay
ing any attention the tone was matter OF
minor importance. His lordship stood
= while delivering the opinion of the Court.
: Passing through St. Stephens chapel
r whose walls once reSoundcd with the elo'
/ qucnce OF Chatham. Burke, and Canning,
| entered a small room in which the Court
of holden "
Justice Denman. The case was The Emma
Silver Mining Company rs. Lewis II Son,
before a special jury. His lordship was
charging the jury upon the evidence. The
suit was to recover damages against defend
ants. who are metal brokers in Liverpool,
for conspiring with one Trenor w. Park, in
1871, to induce the plaintiff company to
= come into existence and purchase the Emma
G mine OF Utah, at price far above its rea
value. So far rs | could understand, the
: verdict OF the Jury was to the effect that
they were in fog about the whole matter
\ short but interesting discussion between
counsel and the Court followed as 10 wh31
= was the most convenient course to be
), adopted upon this finding, and finally it was
Il agreed that his l9rdship should adjourn the
,. case for further consideration upon the
points of law raised, and give Judgment ac
: cordlngly. Lord Denman is Il remarkably
r fine looking man OF about fifty years Of age
IL and talks like the BostonianS: ut least, they
. both talk alike. ! an not prepared to say
r which caught the style first. It is better
/ than the affected drawl of the Oxford men
: but does not quite come up to tue ore TO
j. tundo enunciation OF educated VireinianS
a Everybody who ha. ever heard OF Il will
! or had expectations OF legacy, OF has claim
to Il distributive share in the Jennings eS
ta:e. has heard OF doctors Commons
r One pleasant afternoon, while rummagus
+ about St. Pau's church-yard, stunlblct
: upon the Deans Court-a narrow, archet
/, passage leading UP to very quaint old two
story brick building, surmounted by i hip
roof, with curious dormer windows, Whlcl
seem to eye you with suspicion. Latin in
- scriplions in large gilt Roman characters rul
around the walls. 1t seems impossible II
get into the building, but when you have
!, at length succeeded in passing the threshold
5 a mysterious awe and misgiving come ovel
) you rs to the possibility OF your ever get
;. ting out. This is the especial district o
d ecclesiastical law-Doct0rs' Commons, 81
called from the Doctors OF Civil Law. herr
> living and commoning" together in col
IS legate manner. The will office has beer
removed to Somerset House, in the Strand
= but the "Court OF Faculties and Dispense
llOus, DS NulCu ulS auI
ed, and the :" Consistory Court OF the Bisho,
. OF London" are still held here. Near b,
$, is Heralds' College, formerly the tow,
house OF the Earls OF Derby, the first o
whom married the Countess OF Richmond
mother Of Henry VII. Here you can fint
your pedigree, il you have any, and if yol
have none, the attendants, to compensat
: you for your disappointment. or to pas
!, away time, will show you the sword, dag
!. ger, and ring OF James w., OF Scotland
I Slain at Flodden Field.
: AneientIy matters OF maritime laW Were
cegnizable by the Doctors OF the Civil Law
here; but the practical details Of maritime
9 regulations now belong to Trinity House
!. pain building on Tower Hill, erected il
: 1888. This building is the property Of th'
: masters, wardens, and assistants Of thu
t"Guild Fraternity or Brotherhood OF tht
I Most Glorious and Undiyidable Trinity" {
: company founded in 1915, and incorporated
: under the above name and style by Henry
; VIII. The Society consists OF MASTER
! deputy master, tbirty-one elder brethren,
and an unrestricted number OF younger
brethren, and was founded with a view to
the promotion and advancement OF English
navigation. Its rights and duties. which
have been defined by various acts OF Parlia-
! ment, comprise the regulation and manage
D ment of lighthouses and buoys round Ishe