THE OVERSTOCKED BAR—LOCAL COURTS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
SIR—You were led into a mistake in last week's Spectator, by a blunder in the paraglaph which you copied from the Worcester Herald, which induced you to infer that there were counsel to the astounding number of 302 on the Oxford Circuit ! The fact is, that there are upwards of a hundred barristers on the list, but the bar rarely musters seventy strong at anyone Assize-town; and in the smaller counties, not fifty. At Woicester, there were 46 counsel, and only seven causes; but then there were between 20 and 30 prisoners for trial. Your remarks, however, lose little of their force, for a dozen counsel are suffi- cient to du the business of the circuit. The others, who attend Sessions as well as Assizes, are, generally speaking. 2001. a year out of pocket by so doing. The majority of the members of the bar, putting the leaders out of the ques- tion, who of course are interested in opposing any change of system, advocate the establishment of Local Courts, though not exactly constituted on Lord BROUGHAM'S scheme. The Instittrion of a tribunal in every Assise.town, having jurisdiction over the whole county in all civil and criminal matters whatever, and giving an appeal to the Supreme Courts at Westminster, would not only benefit the country, but the higher branch of the legal profession, which at present enjoys any thing but an enviable position. Justice would be cheaply, speedily, and more effectually administered; buainess would be more fairly and equally iliyided among the liar; the profession would then, instead of being confined to the Metropolis, be dispersed throughout the country ; and talent would then have some chance against the monopolizing system of patronage from connexion and interest, instead of moping away years of ob- scurity in BIDS Of Court, or wearily and despairingly attendiug Westminster Hall, and travelling to Assizes and sessions.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, A MEMBER OF THE ORFORD CIRCUIT.
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