Irttrio tit thr Cititur.
THE NEW COMMON LAW COMMISSION. Temple, 31st Hay 1850. Sni,-.1roit printed in your last number the names of the new Common L Commisi- loners. I think I may say,. they have surprised more than the profes.sieff, at least that part of it that wishes for a better and cheaper law■Prooedure, but who do not object to this being preceded by a fair and searching inquiry. Will this Commission impede or promote the desired reforms ? • That it stops them for the present, is admitted, and stops even other Parliamentary inquiries as to them ; for the Government has a ready answer to- all such—" The subject is unekr consideration"; a reply almost always accepted as a good one by a body se fond of adjournment as the llunk of Commons. But what sort of report are we likely to have? •and what has caused the issuing of the present Nommisaion ? Not the evils of special- pleading, but the success of the County Courts Bill; and it is said that in order to defeat this bill the Commission has been called into existence. Let the friends of the ' County' Courts Bill, then, be on the watch. For who have been placed on the Common Law Commission ? The Attorney-General; the amain 'opponent of the bill ; Mr. Martin; who "Sol- lowed- on. the same side - and three pleaders, learned and experienced, no doubt, but certainly not fnendly to County Courts. If a fair and impartial inquiry bad been desired before passing this bill, Was it not to be expected t at some Parliamentary friend to the bill should be placed 031 the Commis- sion ? Why not Mr. Cockburn' Mr. John Evans, or sonic other supporter of the bill ? What then is to be done as to the County Courts ? Will this Commission be used as a pretext for its. postponement ? ,This excuse might have been listened to if it had been a properly constituted. Commission. As the case stands, it is appealin,g from Sir John Jervis and Mr. Martin in the house of Commons, to Sir john Yenis and Mr. Martin in the Temple. Let the bill be passed; and not the least remarkable of its effects will lie the reform of-the Superior Courts, and the obtaining their reform .possibly from eminent Nisi Prins lecslersand learned pleaders.
Previous page
