The Court of Queen's Bench decided on Wednesday in the
case of " Wason v. Walter " that a newspaper publishing a report of Parliamentary proceedings is, even if it contain defamatory matter, privileged against an action for libel. This decision over- rules the celebrated opinion of Mr. Justice Littledale iu " Stock- dale v. Hansard," and considering that the House in theory forbids the presence of reporters, is considered by some lawyers rather a strong specimen of judge-made law. The Lord Chief Justice, however, in delivering judgment laid great stress on the necessity of interpreting laws in accordance with the civilization of the age, and of preserving that adaptability to circumstances which is the credit of the English Common Law. This is all wise, provided the judge is a man who knows how to distinguish between a. real -change in the temper of the times, and a mere surge of popular feeling. All judges do not.
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