Elizabeth Hall, Liverpool, lodging-house keeper, April 3 at 10, County Court of Lancashire, at Liverpool.-J. Woods, Liverpool, assistant to a hosier, April 3 at 10, County Court of Lancashire, at Liverpool. Alfred H. Brown, Barnstaple, Devonshire, chemist, April 5 at 10, County Court of Devonshire, at Barnstaple.-Wm. Parker, Milton-next-Gravesend, Kent, tailor, April 15 at 10, County Court of Kent, at Gravesend. Chas. Grey, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, shipbroker's clerk, April 13 at 10, County Court of Northumberland, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.-Christopher Nelless, Newcastle-uponTyne, cartman, April 13 at 10, County Court of Northumberland, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.-John Gallon the younger, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, blacksmith, April 13 at 10, County Court of Northumberland, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.-David Liddle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, general dealer, April 13 at 10, County Court of Northumberland, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. -John Gaddes, Gateshead, Durham, clogger, April 17 at 10, County Court of Durham, at Gateshead.-G. Weatherall, Nottingham, out of business, April 11 at 9, County Court of Nottinghamshire, at Nottingham.-Wm. Spiby, Nottingham, engineer, April 11 at 9, County Court of Nottinghamshire, at Nottingham.-George Fish, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, shoemaker, April 11 at 9, County Court of Nottinghamshire, at Nottingham.-Joseph Toms, Exeter, builder, April 18 at 10, County Court of Devonshire, at Exeter.-Charles D. Wills, Exmouth, Littleham, Devonshire, painter, April 11 at 10, County Court of Devonshire, at Exeter.-Henry Egginton, Sheffield, Yorkshire, brass turner, April 12 at 12, County Court of Yorkshire, at Sheffield.-Joseph Green, Sheffield, Yorkshire, beer-house keeper, April 12 at 12, County Court of Yorkshire, at Sheffield.-John Taylor, Sheffield, Yorkshire, anvil manufacturer, April 12 at 12, County Court of Yorkshire, at Sheffield. — Wm. Abbott, Sheffield, Yorkshire, shoemaker, April 12 at 12, County Court of Yorkshire, at Sheffield. -John Shaw the younger, Sale Moor, Cheshire, out of employment, April 29 at 11, County Court of Cheshire, at Altrincham.-Anne Turner, Hereford, fishmonger, April 13 at 10, County Court of Herefordshire, at Hereford.-E. G. Stone, Hastings, Sussex, tailor, April 17 at 11, County Court of Sussex, at Hastings.-Richard Neale, Coventry, Warwickshire, loom maker, April 19 at 12, County Court of Warwickshire, at Coventry.-John Henson the younger, Keresley, near Coventry, Warwickshire, grocer, April 19 at 12, County Court of Warwickshire, at Coventry.-Henry Nicholls, Coventry, Warwickshire, coachman, April 19 at 12, County Court of Warwickshire, at Coventry.-Frederick Short, Lyndhurst, Southampton, baker, April 7 at 10, County Court of Hampshire, at Southampton.-Martha Taylor, Leckhampton, Gloucestershire, out of business, April 18 at 10, County Court of Gloucestershire, at Cheltenham.-Owen Gormley, Manchester, publican, April 17 at 12, County Court of Lancashire, at Manchester. Thomas Ladkin, Shearsby, Leicestershire, licensed victualler, April 21 at 11, County Court of Leices tershire, at Lutterworth.-C. Marriott, Derby, butcher, April 15 at 12, County Court of Derbyshire, at Derby.-J. Martin, Litchurch, Derbyshire, beer-house keeper, April 15 at 12, County Court of Derbyshire, at Derby.- Barritt Greenwood, Manningham, near Bradford, Yorkshire, out of business, April 11 at 11, County Court of Yorkshire, at Bradford.Jas. Shuttleworth, Bradford, Yorkshire, beer-house keeper, April 11 at 11, County Court of Yorkshire, at Bradford. Saturday, March 25. Assignees have been appointed in the following Cases. Fur. ther particulars may be learned at the Office, in Portugalstreet, Lincoln's-inn-fields, on giving the Number of the Case. John Henry Nainby, Regent-street, Lambeth, Surrey, not in any business, No. 58,078 T.; Henry Saward, assignee.George Banks, Wilmington, near Dartford, Kent, baker, No. 64,251 T.; John Durrant, assignee.-John Becks, Waterloostreet, Camberwell, Surrey, out of employment, No. 64,219 T.; Thomas Reginald Kemp, assignee.-R. Robson, Ayton Stile, Durham, out of business, No. 77.545 C.; Henry Gilpin, assignee.-D. Newman, Gloucester, lieutenant in the Militia, No. 18,721 T.; Thomas John Alderson, assignee.-Klein Grant, Maidenhead, Berkshire, physician, No. 77,518 C.; road, Paddington, Middlesex, civil engineer, No. 63.975 T.; William Bernand, assignee.-Peter Paul Couch, WaverlyWalton Pell, assignee.-Henry Holmes, Boyle-st., Old Bur. lington-street, Middlesex, clerk, No. 63,327 T.; John Hook, assignee. - James Garside, Rishworth, near Halifax, Yorkshire, publican, No. 76,241 C.; Henry Earnshaw, assignee. Saturday, March 25. Orders have been made, vesting in the Provisional Assignee the Estates and Effects of the following Persons:— (On their own Petitions). James Bonny, Reigate, Surrey, licensed victualler: in the Gaol of Surrey.-James Knapp the elder, Summer-cottages, Wertemberg-grove, Clapham, Surrey, out of business: in the Gaol of Surrey.-John Doggett, Old Church-st., Edgewareroad, Middlesex, out of business: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-Thomas Gibson, Wellington-place, Old Kent-road, Surrey, out of business: in the Gaol of Surrey. Simon Jonas, Clifton-street, Finsbury, Middlesex, dealer in jewellery: in the Queen's Prison.-A. Rowsell, Upper Eatonstreet, Pimlico, Middlesex, waiter to a coffee-house keeper: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-Charles Cole, Upper Eaton-street, Pimlico, Middlesex, waiter to a coffee-house keeper: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-Frederick W. Rudkin, Seymour-place, Eustonsquare, Middlesex, coal merchant: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-Thomas Stephenson, Calvert-street, Old Gravel-lane, Middlesex, out of employ in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-Wm. Lloyd, York-st., Westminster, Middlesex, licensed victualler: in the Queen's Prison.-Henry Corsten, Hungerford, or Grand Hall, Hungerford market, Strand, Middlesex, florist: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-Jas. Gordon, Jewry-st., Aldgate, London, teacher of mathematics: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-Samuel Wood Graves, Warwick-st., Pimlico, Middlesex, gentleman: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-John O'Hara, Talbotvillas, St. Columb's-road, Paddington, Middlesex, clerk to a builder: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.Jonathan Bath, High-street, Camden-town, Middlesex, beer retailer: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.Henry Houghton, Queen's-road, Bermondsey, Surrey, waterproofer: in the Gaol of Surrey.-Edward Scott, Haswellcottage, Epsom, Surrey, tea dealer: in the Gaol of Surrey.Henry Baker, Adam and Eve-court, Old Oxford-street, Middlesex, out of business: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.-Jonathan Bayley Shaw, Philip-lane, Wood-st., Cheapside, London, out of employ: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex. (On Creditor's Petition). Jane Bright, Northumberland-street, Strand, Middlesex, spinster: in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex. (On their own Petitions). Thomas Andrews, Ridgway, Worcestershire, innkeeper: in the Gaol of Worcester.- Ezra Evans, Bengeworth, Evesham, Worcestershire, nailer: in the Gaol of Worcester. — Ephraim Chamberlain, Moulton, near Northampton, attorney's clerk: in the Gaol of Northampton.-William Johnson the elder, Downham Market, Norfolk, bone crusher: in the Gaol of Norwich.-William Strickland Eccles, Burnley, Lancashire, foreman to a tailor: in the Gaol of Lancaster.-James Wm. Holland, Longsight, near Manchester, out of business: in the Gaol of Lancaster.-H. Smith, Portsea, Hampshire, builder: in the Gaol of Winchester.-W. Boyd, Kingston-upon-Hull, at 12. James Topliss, Ticknall, accountant. At the County Court of Sussex, at LEWES, April 18. James Crisford, Westfield, grocer. At the County Court of Warwickshire, at COVENTRY, Joseph Baylis, Birmingham, maltster.-John Bond Cooke, out of business: in the Gaol of Kingston-upon-Hull.-John At the County Court of Derbyshire, at DERBY, April 15 Brown, Manchester, salesman: in the Gaol of Lancaster.Thomas Cornall, Preston, Lancashire, labourer: in the Gaol of Lancaster.-D. Harrison, Blackburn, Lancashire, wholesale butcher in the Gaol of Lancaster.-Alexander Henderson, Manchester, stationer: in the Gaol of Lancaster-R. Roscoe, Salford, Lancashire, beer seller in the Gaol of Lancaster.James Cuttler, Buckland Newton, Dorsetshire, innkeeper: in the Gaol of Dorchester.-James Gilchrist, York, beer seller: in the Gaol of York.-Richard Kent, Leeds, Yorkshire, dealer in milk in the Gaol of York.-Henry Watson, Birkenhead, Cheshire, civil engineer: in the Gaol of Chester.George Card, Tunbridge Wells, Tunbridge, Kent, fly driver: in the Gaol of Maidstone.-Richard Wm. Dadd, Rochester, Kent, out of business: in the Gaol of Maidstone.-John H. Drew, Plymouth, Devonshire, baker: in the Gaol of St. Thomas-the-Apostle.-Francis Denman, Bridgewater, Somersetshire, miller: in the Gaol of Wilton.-Henry Faulkner, Bridgewater, Somersetshire, coach builder: in the Gaol of Wilton. John Hedges, Battonsborough, Somersetshire, innkeeper: in the Gaol of Wilton.-John Daniels, Manchester, venetian blind manufacturer: in the Gaol of Lancaster.Herbert Woolley, Woolwich, Kent, third engineer in the Gaol of Maidstone. Thomas Walton, Manningham, near Bradford, Yorkshire, commission agent: in the Gaol of York. -Thomas Leeder Daniels, Saxlingham, Nethergate, Norfolk, butcher: in the Gaol of Norwich.-James Seddon, Ardwick, Manchester, pattern card maker in the Gaol of Lancaster. The following Prisoners are ordered to be brought up before the Court, in Portugal-street, to be examined and dealt with according to the Statute: April 11 at 10, before the CHIEF COMMISSIOner. George Giles, Natchez-villas, New-road, Twickenham, Middlesex, attorney-at-law.-Henry Ashley, Elizabeth-street, Eaton-square, Pimlico, Middlesex, tailor. April 11 at 11, before Mr. Commissioner PHILLIPS. Walter Whitelaw, Lower James-street, Golden-square, Middlesex, cutter to a tailor. April 11 at 10, before Mr. Commissioner MURPHY. Robert Elliot, Argyll-place, Regent-st., Middlesex, commission agent.-John Moss, Corrogated-row, Bermondsey, Surrey, horse dealer.-Samuel Wood Graves, Warwick-st., Pimlico, Middlesex, gentleman. The following Prisoners are ordered to be brought up before a Judge of the County Court, to be examined and dealt with according to the Statute: At the County Court of Kent, at MAIDSTONE, April 11 at 12. At the County Court of Gloucestershire, at GLOUcester, Joseph William Cave, Horfield, near Bristol, slater. COURT FOR RELIEF OF INSOLVENT DEBTORS John Hassett, Limerick, mineral water manufacturer. LAW BOOKS PUBLISHED BY STEVENS & NORTON, 26, Bell-yard, Lincoln's-inn; S. In 2 vols. royal 8vo., price 17. 5s. boards, FEARNE'S CONTINGENT REMAINDERS and EXE CUTORY DEVISES. Tenth Edition. With an Original View of Executory Interests in Real and Personal Property. By JOSIAH W. SMITH, Esq. In 2 vols. royal 8vo., price 14. 168. boards, Richard Thomas Hart, Wilmington, near Dartford, licensed victualler.-George Card, Tunbridge Wells, Tunbridge, mail cart sub-contractor. Wm. Wharton, Longfield, near Graves- PHILLIPPS'S TREATISE on the LAW of EVIDENCE. end, retailer of beer.-Richard Wm. Dadd, Rochester, out of business.-Herbert Woolley, Woolwich, third engineer. At the County Court of Worcestershire, at WORCESTER, April 11 at 10. Ezra Evans, Evesham, nailer.-Thos. Andrews, Ridgway, innkeeper. At the County Court of Cheshire, at CHESTER CASTLE, Daniel Briscoe, Ince, farmer's assistant.-Ambrose Clark, Mickle Trafford, in no business.-Henry Watson, Birkenhead, engineer. At the County Court of Norfolk, at NORWICH, April 12. At the County Court of Leicestershire, at LEICESTER, John Spooner the younger, Earl Shilton, saddler. At the County Court of Berkshire, at READING, April 13. At the County Court of Herefordshire, at HEREFORD, Caleb Gilbert, White Heywood, Craswell, Clodock, dealer in cattle. W1 Tenth Edition. In 8vo., price 78. 6d. boards, WATKINS'S PRINCIPLES of CONVEYANCING. Designed for the use of Students. Ninth Edition. By H. H. WHITE, Esq. In 8vo., price 10s. boards, WOOLRYCH'S TREATISE on the LAW of WAYS, including Highways, Turnpike Roads and Tolls, Private Rights of Way, Bridges, and Ferries, &c. Just published, in 4 thick vols. royal 8vo., price 77. 78. cloth, CHITTY'S EQUITY INDEX: a Digest of all the Re ported Cases in the several Courts of Equity in England and Ire land, the Privy Council, and the House of Lords, from the earliest period. Third Edition. By JAMES MACAULAY, Esq. Stevens & Norton, 26, Bell-yard, Lincoln's-inn, 8. Sweet, 1, Chancery-lane; and W. Maxwell, 32, Bell-yard, Lincoln's-inn. MR. ALBERT SMITH'S MONT BLANC, including the BERNESE OBERLAND and the SIMPLON. Every Even BEST ON THE PRINCIPLES OF EVIDENCE. ing, at 8 o'clock, (except Saturday), and every Tuesday, Thursday, A TREATISE on the PRINCIPLES of EVIDENCE and Saturday Mornings at 2. Stalls, 3s., (which can be taken at the and PRACTICE as to PROOFS in COURTS of COMMON Box-office every day from 11 to 4); area, 2s.; gallery, 1s.-Egyptian | LAW; with Elementary Rules for conducting the Examination and Hall, Piccadilly. Cross-examination of Witnesses. By W. M. BEST, A. M., LL. B., of Gray's-inn, Esq., Barrister at Law. CONSTANTINOPLE, at the EGYPTIAN HALL, is NOW OPEN every Day at half past 2 o'clock, and every Evening at 8. The Lecture is delivered by Mr. Charles Kenny or Mr. J. H. Stocqueler, and has been written by Mr. Albert Smith and Mr. Shirley Brooks.-Admission, 1s.; reserved seats, 28. HEADLAM'S NEW CHANCERY PRACTICE. In 8vo., price 8s. boards, S. Sweet, 1, Chancery-lane. SIR EDWARD SUGDEN'S TREATISE ON POWERS. THE NEW CHANCERY ACTS, (15 & 16 Vict. cc. 80, 86, and 87), and all the GENERAL ORDERS,(including those of This day is published, in 1 vol. 12mo., price 10s. 6d. cloth boards, the the 3rd and 4th December); with Notes, an Index, and References to Second Edition of Daniell's Practice. To which is added, an Appendix of Forms, &c. JERVIS'S PRACTICAL TREATISE on the OFFICE By T. E. HEADLAM, Esq., M. P., Q. C. Stevens & Norton, 26, Bell-yard, Lincoln's-inn. Price 58. cloth, DAX'S COSTS.-The NEW BOOK of COSTS in the and DUTIES of CORONERS: with Forms and Precedents. The Second Edition. By W. N. WELSBY, Esq., Barrister at Law, Recorder of Chester. S. Sweet; W. Maxwell; Stevens & Norton. Superior Courts of Common Law at Westminster: also Bank-LAW FIRE INSURANCE SOCIETY.-Offices, Nos. 5 ruptcy and Conveyancing. By EDWARD THOMAS DAX, of the Exchequer Office, Gentleman. Stevens & Norton, 26, Bell-yard, Lincoln's-inn. BOOTH BY'S SYNOPSIS.-SECOND EDITION. A SYNOPSIS of the LAW relating to INDICTABLE OFFENCES: in which the Crimes in alphabetical order, the respective Punishments, the necessary Evidence, together with Observations, embracing a condensed Digest of Cases, are tabularly arranged; and comprising also References to Precedents of Indictments for each Offence, and to the Text writers on Criminal Pleading and Evidence. By B. BOOTHBY, Esq., now Puisne Judge of her Majesty's Courts at Adelaide, South Australia. The Second Edition. and 6, Chancery-lane, London. Subscribed Capital, £5,000,000. TRUSTEES. The Right Hon. the Earl of Devon. The Right Hon. Lord Truro. The Right Hon. the Lord Chief Baron. The Right Hon. the Lord Justice Knight Bruce. The Right Hon. Sir John Dodson, Dean of the Arches, &c. Insurances expiring at Lady-day should be renewed within fifteen Including the recent Alterations in the Practice in Criminal Proceedings GUARDIAN FIRE AND LIFE ASSURANCE COM and Punishments. By LEOFRIC TEMPLE, Esq., of Lincoln's-inn, Barrister at Law. W. Maxwell, 32, Bell-yard, Lincoln's-inn. In 1 vol. 12mo., price 12s. cloth, SHELFORD'S LAW of COPYHOLDS.-The Law of Copyholds in reference to the Enfranchisement and Commutation lane. In 1 vol. 12mo., price 10s. 6d. cloth, JARMAN'S NEW CHANCERY PRACTICE, as esta blished by Statutes, Orders, and Decisions of the Court; with Practical Directions relative to the Conduct of Suits, whether by Bill, Claim, or Original Summons, and of Proceedings in the Judges' Chambers; including Forms of Costs and other Forms, and a copious Index. "It is most ably executed."-Law Magazine. London: W. Maxwell; S. Sweet; and Stevens & Norton, Law Publishers. Just published, Second Edition, price 10s., Henry Sykes Thornton, Esq. John Henry Smith, Esq. George Keys, Esq., Secretary.-Griffith Davies, Esq., F.R.S., Actuary. LIFE DEPARTMENT. - Under the provisions of an act of Parliament, this Company now offers to future Insurers FOUR-FIFTHS of the PROFITS, with QUINQUENNIAL DIVISION, or a Low RATE OF PREMIUM without participation of Profits. The next Division of Profits will be declared in June, 1855, when all THE LAW of ATTORNIES and SOLICITORS, (cor- Participating Policies which shall have subsisted at least one year at WISE & EVANS'S LAW DIGEST for the last Halfyear. Price 8s. 6d. boards. COX'S CRIMINAL LAW CASES, with Precedents of Indictments. By H. MACNAMARA, Esq., Barrister at Law. Part 5 of Vol. 6. Price 5s. 6d. Third Edition of SAUNDERS'S NUISANCES ACTS, with all the Orders, &c. Price 4s. 6d. Sixth Edition of COX & LLOYD'S LAW and PRACTICE of the COUNTY COURTS; containing all the New Jurisdictions, Statutes, and Cases to this time. Price 21s. cloth. FRANCIS'S LAW and PRACTICE of CHARITIES under the New Statute; with all the Rules and Forms. Price 78. cloth. GOODWIN'S COPYRIGHT ENFRANCHISEMENT Price 8s. cloth. ACTS. The PRACTICAL STATUTES for 1853, for the bag or pocket. Price 10s. 6d. cloth. Second Edition of GOODWIN'S SUCCESSIONS DUTIES ACTS; with Instructions and Forms. Price 6s. 6d. cloth. PATERSON'S NEW TAX ACTS; with a Table of Stamps and Taxes. Price 5s. cloth. Crockford, 29, Essex-street. Christmas, 1854, will be allowed to share in the Profits. At the several past Divisions of Profits made by this Company, the Reversionary Bonuses added to the Policies from ONE-HALF the Profits amounted, on an average of the different ages, to about One per Cent. per Annum on the sums insured, and the total Bonuses added at the four Septennial Divisions exceeded 770,0001. FOREIGN RISKS.-The Extra Premiums required for the East and West Indies, the British Colonies, and the northern parts of the United States of America, have been materially reduced. INVALID LIVES.-Persons who are not in such sound health as would enable them to Insure their Lives at the Tabular Premiums, may have their Lives Insured at extra Premiums. LOANS granted on Life Policies to the extent of their values, provided such Policies shall have been effected a sufficient time to have attained in each case a value not under 501. ASSIGNMENTS OF POLICIES-Written Notices of, received and registered. Medical fees paid by the Company, and no charge will be made for Policy Stamps. Notice is hereby given,-That Fire Policies which expire at Lady-day must be renewed within fifteen days at this Office, or with Mr. SAMS, No. 1, St. James's-street, (corner of Pall-mall); or with the Company's Agents throughout the Kingdom; otherwise they become void. Orders for THE JURIST given to any Newsman, or letter (postpaid) sent to the Office, No. 3, CHANCERY-LANE, or to STEVENS & NORTON, 26, BELL-YARD, LINCOLN'S-INN, will insure its punctual delivery in London, or its being forwarded on the evening of publication, through the medium of the Post Office, to the Country. Printed by HENRY HANSARD, PRINTER, residing at No. 14, Park Square, Regent's Park, in the Parish of St. Marylebone, in the County of Middlesex, at his Printing Office, situate in Parker Street, in the Parish of St. Glies-in-the-Fields, in the County aforesaid; and Published at No. 3, CHANCERY LANE, in the Parish of St. Dunstan in the West, in the City of London, by HENRY SWEET, LAW BOOKSELLER and PUBLISHER, residing at No. 41, Great Coram Street, in the Parish of St. George, Bloomsbury, in the County of Middlesex.Saturday, April 1, 1854. ADVERTISEMENTS. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. PRICE 18. Reg. v. The Commissioners of Land Tax for the Tower ..... COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. Lewis v. Clifton.-(Pleading-Discharge of Contract ...... EXCHEQUER CHAMBER. Gilpin v. Fowler.-(Libel-Privileged Communication COURT OF EXCHEQUER. Dent v. Basham.-(6 & 7 Vict. c. 73, s. 37-Attorney ....... COURT OF ADMIRALTY. 285 291 292 ...... 295 The Scale of Charges for Advertisements will in future be University, the degree in which would be considered a as follows: test of competency previous to admission to certain of the more important of the public departments." It will be remembered that the Government of India Act of last session established the principle, that all appointments in the civil service, and in the scientific branches of the Indian army, should be thrown open to merit; and, acting on the same principle, Sir Charles Trevelyan and the Rev. Mr. Jowett have prepared a plan, somewhat of the same kind, with respect to the organisation of the civil service in this country. One portion of the plan, to which a great objection has been urged, is, We believe that the time has arrived when the that this immense mass of patronage would be pracquestion of legal education may be considered to some tically transferred from the heads of departments to extent apart from the exclusive and peculiar interests a board of examiners. Into this objection we do not of the Profession. No doubt it is a matter of great propose to enter, for if a degree were received as a test importance that we should possess in this country an of competency, the head of the department would be order of advocates, distinguished by their learning, ac- enabled to make his patronage and his responsibility quirements, and general ability-an order from which still go together. Of course, we do not propose that our judges are selected, and an order which has given every clerk in the Customs or in the Post-office should many of our greatest statesmen and orators to Par- be a graduate well up in classics, mathematics, and liament. The question which has recently been sug-in public and private law; we confine our observations gested, rather than definitely stated, in Parliament, on this subject, is, whether it would not be possible so to improve the curriculum of legal education, by giving it a more general and scientific character, as to attract to the Legal University those young men who are candidates for appointments in some of the higher branches of the public service. This point was well put by the Solicitor-General in the course of the discussion which took place on Mr. Napier's motion for a commission to inquire into the system of legal education provided in the Inns of Court. The honourable and learned gentleman said "he hoped to see the time when a great Legal University would be constituted, to act in co-operaVOL. XVIII. M to those departments of the public service in which a knowledge of law is not a mere gentlemanly accomplishment, but an absolute and indispensable necessity. Anciently England possessed a Legal University, which is described by Lord Coke "as the most famous university for the profession of the law, or of any human science, that is in the world, in which the readings and other exercises of the laws therein used are most excellent and behoofful for attaining to the knowledge of these laws." When "the readings, mootings, boltings, and exercises," so much commended by Lord Coke, became mere forms, all scientific instruction in our own common law-which was the only branch of jurisprudence taught in the Legal University-may be said to have departed the realm. A system of instruction, however, insensibly and necessarily grew up, which was found convenient, and eminently successful in forming the mere technical lawyer-we mean the system of reading in chambers; and we could cite many illustrious instances of men of superior intellect and indefatigable industry, who, almost by their own unaided and undirected endeavours, by hard reading and the irksome task of copying pleadings, have become profound masters of particular branches of jurisprudence. Within the last ten years various attempts have been made to improve the system of instruction which exists in the different Inns of Court. Lecturers have been appointed, scholarships have been established for the most distinguished students-in short, a great improvement has been effected; but still the examination is not compulsory, and therefore any person who wishes to acquire the status of a barrister can do so by payment of a certain sum, by eating so many dinners, and by attending so many lectures. When he is called to the Bar, not the slightest test is required for the purpose of ascertaining whether he has ever opened a law book, or whether he knows the commonest principles of that Profession of which he is thus permitted to become a nominal and an honorary member. If we are to have an efficient system of legal education, the first measure will be to require an examination in all cases, as a test of competency; and the second will be to increase the number of the professors. The existing chairs are those of civil law, constitutional law, real property, equity and common law; to these there should be added chairs of commercial law, comparative law, international law, medical jurisprudence, and logic and rhetoric. It will readily be admitted that a knowledge of commercial law is most important in a country like England, with its enormous trade in every quarter of the world; and the events which are passing around us at the present time shew the absolute necessity which exists, not only that lawyers, but that our merchants generally, should be acquainted with those laws of war which affect so directly their personal interests. In the diplomatic and consular service, it is a matter of the highest importance that all attachés, secretaries of legation, and consuls should have a competent knowledge, not only of the municipal law of their own country, but of international law, commercial law, the interpretation of treaties, the rights of belligerents and neutrals, &c.; for it has sometimes happened that an individual in a subordinate position | has been obliged, in the absence of his superior, to undertake, upon the instant, the conduct of most difficult and delicate negotiations. To clerks in the foreign and colonial office, as well as to candidates for diplomatic employment, the degree of the Legal University, we are persuaded, might be required with great advantage to the public service. With regard to medical jurisprudence, a knowledge of that most important subject is only to be acquired by attending medical jurisprudential lectures at some of the great hospitals; and this circumstance has, on many occasions, led the public to appoint members of the medical profession to the legal office of coroner, solely on account of their medical knowledge, and without regard to the important con sideration, that a coroner should also be equally acquainted with the rules of evidence and the general principles of criminal law. Under the proposed measure for the establishment of public prosecutors, & course of this description would be most valuable, as well to magistrates as to all other persons concerned in the administration of criminal justice. This system would, in fact, be nothing more than a substantial reconstitution of the Inns of Court as a great Legal Uni. versity. Fortescue, C. J., says, "that the Inns of Court consisted of two sets of collegiate houses-one called the Inns of Chancery, in which the younger students of the law were usually placed, learning and studying the ori ginals, and, as it were, the elements and principles of the law, who profiting therein as they grew to ripeness, so were they admitted to the greater inns of the same study; and in these inns of both kinds, barons and knights, and other grandees and noblemen of the kingdom, were accustomed to place their children, though they did not desire to have them thoroughly learned in the law, or to get their living by its practice." We trust, therefore, that the effect of Mr. Napier's motion will be, not only to improve the course of instruction afforded in our Inns of Court, by enlarging its basis, and rendering it of a more scientific character, but that it will attract to the study of the law those public servants in the higher departments of the State, to whom, we repeat, some amount of legal knowledge is an absolute necessity. We would not, however, confine these advantages to the Legal University; we hope that Oxford, Cambridge, and the London University will offer to students the same course of instruction; and that, for the future, no man will have the opportunity of saying, as the Solicitor-General stated before Mr. Wyse's committee, "that it is obvious to every person who is thoroughly acquainted with the tone and manner of the education of young men, that their habits as students are directed by what you may denominate merely practical attainments; and that you can scarcely find an instance of a young man who has commenced his legal studies by laying anything like that broad foundation of the study of jurisprudence in such a manner as you would desire it to be done as a prepa. rative to the practical details into which the student must almost immediately enter." In almost every other profession and calling a preliminary test of competency is required. The physician, the surgeon, the apothecary, the master of a ship, and the solicitor, are required to undergo some preliminary and compulsory examination, necessary both for themselves and for the benefit of the public at large; and we are at a loss to conceive on what principle an individual should be allowed to purchase the status of an advocate without the slightest or the most indefinite test of competency. Mr. Napier deserves the thanks of the Profession for having called the attention of Parliament to this subject; and we trust, that by means of the inquiry which is now to be instituted, the Inns of Court will at length be restored to their ancient and dignified position as integral portions of the Legal University, and that they will exercise that general and systematic control over the instruction of students which is as necessary for the interests of the Profession as for those of the public at large. |