THE LORD CHANCELLOR AND THE MAGISTRACY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE"SPECTATOR.']
Sus,—Your article on " The Lord Chancellor and the Magis- tracy" in the Spectator of January 5th omits an important point which is omitted also in the letter of the Lord Chancellor to Sir John Brunner. The abolition of qualification has placed within reach of the Lords-Lieutenant many persons, gentle- men and others, who ar•e presumably fitted for the Commission of the Peace. Very many of them are Liberals, and some are Conservatives. It has now become possible for Lords- Lieutenant to recommend many persons who were previously excluded by Act of Parliament, but who were more or less fit for the office of Justice of the Peace. Formerly, only persona of a certain position were available, and, whatever might be said against them by political partisans, they were efficient, independent, and acceptable. " I've been fined 2s. 6d. for sending my pigs to market without a license by that there Tompkins, d—n nu. If it had been Major Blank, I wouldn't 'a' minded it. He is a gentleman, he is." A new stamp of J.P. will now be admitted to the County Benches, and a difference in the conduct of business may ensue. In some cases these J.P.'s, even with the best intentions, will find it difficult to maintain the respect which has hitherto attached to the Justices. Their companions, and perhaps their• customers, may turn upon them if they act with impartiality. In fact, there will arise two classes of J.P.'s, as was anticipated many years ago when the late Lord Hersehell, acting with the best intentions, placed on the Commission of the Peace a large number of political persons of sorts. It is well to note the following passage in Lord Loreburn's letter to Sir J. Briumer :—" The great majority of M.P.'e who have sent use lists have taken pains to recommend only suitable names, though even they are misled by false information." This, with allowance for courtesy of language, is an improve- ment upon what occurred in Lord Herschell's time, as will be seen by comparing the words used by him when taken to task by two hundred and eighty " Gladstonian" M.P.'s, Novem- ' her 15th, 1893. On that occasion he told them that "names have been put before me by M.P.'s in their constituencies, of those who according to judicial records were grossly and utterly unfit to be put upon the Bench."—I am, Sir, &c.,
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