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go on with the measures he had proposed, and some further discussions in both Houses, near the close of the session, terminated in the passing of the statute 4 & 5 Vict. chap. 56, whereby the punishment of transportation for life is now substituted for death in all those cases of forgery and embezzlement which had before remained capital, and the crime of rape is made subject to the same mitigated penalty. The latter change was much opposed in the House of Lords, and passed by a majority of four votes only.

At an early period of the session the Attorney-general moved for leave to bring in a bill to improve the administration of the law in the courts of equity; the first instalment, as he stated in his introductory remarks, of a reform which was intended to be hereafter applied to other departments of the law. The great delays in the courts of equity were, however, the evil he first proposed to remedy, which were caused by the vastly increased amount of business which of late years had pressed upon those courts, whose judicial establishment had experienced no addition since the reign of King Edward the 1st. The arrears in the court of chancery now amounted to between 1200 and 1300 causes. The average interval between the setting down of a cause for hearing and its being heard, was not less than three years. The consequences of these procrastinations was great distress to individuals, great encouragement to fraud, and an immense accumulation of extra costs. These delays were really as hurtful to the practitioners as to the suitors. To redress these evils he proposed, first the abolition of the equity jurisdiction of the

court of Exchequer, which on account of various disadvantages incident to its constitution had fallen into disrepute. If this court were abolished some substitute for it must, however, be provided. Even during its existence an increase of the judicial power in equity had been deemed necessary, and in 1828 lord Lyndhurst had proposed a bill which he regretted to say was lost in the House of Commons, creating a new Vicechancellor. If therefore the equity branch of the exchequer were now abolished, two new judges would be required for the business which would devolve upon them. Under the present state of things no one ever thought of going into a court of equity for sums under 1007. Up to this amount therefore the practice of the court of equity operated as a practical denial of justice. There were further measures connected with the appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords and the privy council, which it might be thought the present mea sure should include, but his present object was to keep clear of all debateable ground, and to avoid the introduction of matters which might impede the present bill, which he desired to proceed with as expeditiously as possible. object of the bill therefore which he now moved to introduce was the abolition of the equitable jurisdiction of the court of Exchequer, and the creation of two new Vice-chancellors.

The

Sir E. Sugden said, that the appointment of two additional judges, as proposed by this bill, necessarily involved the creation of two new courts, with their respective bar, suite of offices, and separate edifices. Now, if there were a greater evil than a want of

judicial power sufficient to meet the exigencies of the country, it was in his opinion the existence of a greater number of courts of justice than the business of the country required. From the creation of a court of justice intended to be only for a temporary purpose, the greatest inconvenience would ensue. He disputed the correctness of the statements made by the Attorney-general with respect to the amount of causes in arrear, and the delays which he had stated to take place, and went into some detail of facts for the purpose of showing that the arrear was, in fact, very much less than was represented. He had no doubt that the appointment of one additional judge, therefore, would amply suffice for the object required. It would be easy, afterwards, to create another court, if one were found insufficient; but not so easy to reduce the number if we created more than were needed. The office of the masters in chancery was that which most imperatively required reform, and the appointment of additional judges would be altogether valueless unless this department were improved. The higher courts of appeal also must be remodelled. The appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords was, in truth, a great anomaly. All appeals from the court of chancery, were, in effect appeals to the chancellor himself. This system was one which ought not to continue. At the same time, he did not wish to take away anything from the powers of the House of Lords. He would still leave to that house its ultimate appellate jurisdiction, but he would propose the appointment of two new equity judges, whom he would style," the lords' assistants,"

in the House of Lords, in case of appeals. Such a plan, he thought, would impart a great increase of weight and authority to the decisions of the House of Lords. He proposed that these two judges, when not occupied in the House of Lords, should sit in the judicial committee of the privy council, which possessed at present a most defective constitution, being without regular judges, or fixed sittings. These were the outlines of the plan which he intended to propose, not in opposition to the attorney-general's bill, but in addition to it, and he should move for leave to introduce his bill at the same time as the attorneygeneral's, in order that both bills might be before the house at the same time.

Mr. Lynch contended, that the state of business in the equity courts at the present time, and the large arrears existing, fully demanded the appointment of two new equity judges as proposed by the Attorney-general.

The Attorney-general, in reply, vindicated the appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords, which, though it might be open to objec tion in theory, the result of his experience had convinced him, worked satisfactorily in practice. He admitted an alteration was called for in the judicial committee of the privy-council, and though he feared Sir E. Sugden's plan of having lords' assistants would never take place, he should offer no opposition to the bill, but would gladly lend his assistance to the objects proposed by it.

Leave was then given to both the Attorney-general and Sir E. Sugden to bring in their bills.

Upon the house going into committee on the Attorney-general's

bill, some further discussion took place, and Sir E. Sugden renewed his objection to the appointment of two additional judges. The proposition, however, was supported by Mr. Pemberton, and the clause passed without a division. Considerable delay, however, having occurred in the progress of the bill, the consideration of the report upon it was not moved till the 9th of June, before which time those events had taken place, materially affecting the relative situation of parties in the House of Commons, which we shall have hereafter to relate. Under these circumstances, a proposition made by Sir E. Sugden, with respect to the time at which the measure should come into operation, was carried against the strenuous opposition of lord John Russell, who, indignant at his defeat, threw up the bill.

It was revived, however, in the short session which followed the election of the new parliament in the autumn, and then passed into a law.

The bill of serjeant Talfourd, now for the third time brought in, to extend the period of copyright to literary works was again defeated, though not as in former sessions, by delay. An able speech of Mr. T. B. Macaulay, who opposed the measure as at once ineffectual to secure the benefit proposed to authors, and injurious to the public interest, produced much impression on the house; and the bill, the principle of which had been so many times affirmed, was now rejected on the second reading, by a majority of 7: there being, for the bill 38; against it 45.

CHAPTER V.

FINANCE-Mr. Baring's Financial Statement-Development of his Plans for the Year-Speeches of Mr. Goulburn, and of Mr. Hume and other Liberal Members - Remarks of Mr. Christopher and Viscount Sandon on the threatened change in the Corn-laws-Lord John Russell announces his intention to propose a moderate fixed duty-Speech of Sir Robert Peel, of Viscount Howick, and Mr. Labouchere-Preparations on both sides for the approaching contest

Proceedings of Associations and Public Meetings Anti-Corn-law Movement's-Union of interests against the Government measure— Debate in the House of Lords on the Corn-laws-The Duke of Buckingham quotes a Speech of Viscount Melbourne's against himViscount Melbourne vindicates his own consistency-Speeches of the Earls Ripon and Winchelsea-Viscount Sandon gives notice of a resolution with respect to the proposed change in the Sugar-dulies— Counter-resolution announced by Lord John Russell-Notice on the same subject by Mr. O'Connell-Debate on the Sugar-duties-Important petitions presented on both sides—Able introductory Speech of Lord John Russell.-Viscount Sandon moves his ResolutionDebate lasts from 7th May to 18th.-Mr. Handley and other leading agricultural Members declare against the Ministerial plansDr. Lushington opposes the Budget on anti-slavery grounds—Mr. Grote's answer to this argument-Summary of the Speeches of Lord Stanley, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Robert Peel, and Viscount Palmerston-Viscount Sandon's Resolution is carried by a majority of 36-Public excitement consequent on defeat of Ministers-The Chancellor of the Exchequer gives notice of moving "the usual Sugar-duties." Severe Remarks of the Earl of Darlington on the tenacity of the Government-Preparations for a General Election-Sir Robert Peel gives notice of a Resolution affirming want of Confidence in the Government-Lord John Russell throws up the Poor-law Act Amendment Bill-The Chancellor of the Exchequer moves the usual Annual Sugar Duties-He is seconded by Sir Robert Peel-Speeches of Sir de Lacy Evans, Mr. Wakley, and Lord John Russell-Discussions on the Corn-laws in the House of Lords-Progress of Agitation, and state of public Opinion.

THE

THE Chancellor of the Exche- which had been announced for the quer's financial statement, 31st April, was expected with un

usual interest, as well on account of the known embarrassed state of the public finances, as because rumours had been circulated that the government intended to propose some very bold remedy for those difficulties, more especially with a view to the critical political situation in which they were now placed, and the anticipated event of a dissolution of parliament. The excitement of the house, which was before sufficiently high, was, how ever, considerably increased by an announcement made by Lord John Russell, before going into committee of Ways and Means, that on the 31st May he should move, "that the house resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, to consider the acts of parliament relating to the trade in corn."

The Chancellor of the Exche quer then entered into his financial statement, of which we shall present a concise summary. He said, that when he came forward last year he had anticipated that the expenditure would amount to 49,499,000l., and the income to 48,641,000l.; leaving à deficiency of 858,000l. The actual results of the year had been less favouraMe than he had anticipated, for though the expenditure had amounted only to 49,285,000l., the income had only reached the sum of 47,443,000l., leaving a deficiency of more than 1,840,000%. The right honourable gentleman then went over the revenue tables, and enumerated the several items in the Castoms and Excise, in which there had been a falling-off or an increase. Among those in which a more marked falling-off had taken place, he enumerated currants, molasses, spirits, sugar, tea, wine, and sheep's wool; but for the decline in each of these, a reason

would readily suggest itself to the house. The diminished revenue from sugar and molasses, Mr. Baring attributed to the exorbitant price to which that article had risen; the anticipation of a commercial treaty with France had naturally tended to interfere with the duty arising from wine; and in the diminished consumption of spirits Ireland bore a large share— but, however that circumstance might inconvenience his statement that evening, he should be ashamed of himself if he did not allude to it with sincere pleasure. The revenue from the post-office had fallen short of his expectations; but that was owing not to a defciency in the anticipated increase of letters posted, but to the increased expenses which had become necessary in consequence of the opening of railroads, and of the great augmentation in the business of the office. For the ensuing year, he calculated that the national expenditure would be

Interest on the debt £29,424,000
Other charges on conso-
lidated fund

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2,400,000

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Extraordinary expenses for Canada

Expedition to China 400,000

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Making a total of. £50,731,226

The items having been given in round numbers, the total would not exactly agree with them, but the total was as he had given it. The chancellor of the exchequer next entered on the items of the revenue which he anticipated for the ensuing year. The Customs, he expected, would produce 22,000,000l.; the Excise 14,000,000l.; and the Stamps

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