coach-maker, Dec. 19 at 12, and Jan. 9 at 11, District Court of Bankruptcy, Leeds: Off. Ass. Hope; Sol. Vollans, East Retford, Nottinghamshire.-Fiat dated Nov. 28. WILLIAM BELL, Bridlington, Yorkshire, merchant, Dec. 23 and Jan. 17 at 11, District Court of Bankruptcy, Leeds: Off. Ass. Hope; Sols. Mather, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Wetwan, Bridlington; J. & R. Towse, 24, Lawrence Pountneylane.-Fiat dated Nov. 28. JOSHUA BEAUMONT, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, victualler, Dec. 19 and Jan. 9 at 11, Leeds District Court of Bankruptcy: Off. Ass. Hope; Sol. Plaskett, Gainsborough. -Fiat dated Nov. 28. surveyor, No. 53,232 T.; James Staley and Wm. Anderson, | RICHARD RABY URRY, East Retford, Nottingham, assignees.-Richard Howell, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, hoop-maker, No. 60,756 C.; John Cooper, assignee.-James Cairns Penn, Groves, Kingston-upon-Hull, shipwright, No. 61,007 C.; Charles Hammond and John Pearson, assignees. -Wm. Maycock, Nottingham, provision dealer, No. 61,340 C.; Jas. Bywater and John Hodgkinson, assignees.-Richard Heague, Gloucester, innkeeper, No. 60,805 C.; William Hall, assignee.-Anna Long, Bristol, out of business, No. 61,022 C.; Thomas Martin Fox, assignee.-John Biffen, Plumtreestreet, Bloomsbury, tailor, No. 53,906 T.; Stephen Gower, assignee.-Wm. Hallam, Sandiacre, Derbyshire, retail beer seller, No. 61,341 C.; Jos. Smith and John Dodsley, assignees. -John Wilkes, West Bromwich, Staffordshire, miner, No. 60,576 C.; Edward Wakeman, assignee. Thomas Walker, Riddings, near Alfreton, Derbyshire, labourer, No. 61,343 C.; Samuel Argill, assignee.-John Lawes, Bath, Somersetshire, baker, No. 61,396 C.; William Watson, assignee.-William Strange, Abingdon, Berkshire, wine-merchant, No. 60,873 C.; Edward Toppin, assignee.-Ed. Smith, Old Radford, Nottingham, miller, No. 60,857 C.; Joseph Walter Healy, assignee.-Gabriel Nelson Doran, Bristol, butcher, No. 60,743 C.; James Paddon, assignee.-John Denner, jun., Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, tanner, No. 53,928 C.; J. Balster, assignee. John Davies, Clunton, Clunbury, Shropshire, shoemaker, Dec. 23 at 6, Downes's, Bishop's Castle, sp. aff.-Joseph Beard, Ipswich, plumber, Dec. 23 at 6, Grimsey's, Ipswich, sp. aff.-John Brokenshir, Ramsgate, Kent, and Brixham, Devonshire, smack-owner, Dec. 21 at 11, Wightwick's, Ramsgate, sp. aff.-Jacob Gee, Market-place, Heywood, near Bury, Lancashire, publican, Dec. 26 at 11, Commercial Inn, within Rochdale, sp. aff. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9. BANKRUPTS. EDMUND PETER POWELL, Southampton, tailor, Dec. MEETINGS. Waterloo-rooms, Birmingham, last ex.- CERTIFICATES pers, Dec. 30, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-W. Walford, Great Winchester-st., London, merchant, Dec. 30, Court of Bankruptey, London.-Wm. C. Golland, Cambridge, linen draper, Dec. 30, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-Mary Otley, St. James-st., Middlesex, milliner, Dec. 30, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-Robt. Jacques, Leeds, flax spinners, Jan. 2 at 11, District Court of Bankruptcy, Leeds.-Thos. Mennell, Leeds, cloth merchant, Jan. 4 at 1, District Court of Bankruptcy, Leeds.-G. A. Cator, Leeds, wool merchant, Jan. 3 at 12, District Court of Bankruptcy, Leeds.—T. T. Johnson, Wood-st., Cheapside, ribbon manufacturers, Jan. 3 at 1, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-Robt. Duffell, Bow-common, Middlesex, tar distiller, Jan. 3 at half-past 12, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-Wm. Ridge and Chas. Ridge, Chichester, Sussex, bankers, Dec. 30 at 2, Court of Bankruptcy, London. To be allowed, unless Cause shewn to the contrary. JOHN BURSLEM, King's Lynn, Norfolk, stationer, Dec. Walter Richardson, King-st., St. Paul, Covent-garden, wine 19 at half-past 12, and Jan. 13 at 12, Court of Bankruptcy, merchant, Dec. 30, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-J. DenLondon: Off. Ass. Green; Sol. Bankart, 34, Clement's-niss, sen., and J. Denniss, jun., Tooley-st., Surrey, linen dralane, Lombard-street.-Fiat dated Nov. 30. EDMUND OAKLEY and JOHN WISE, Poole, corn dealers and corn factors, Dec. 21 at half-past 12, and Jan. 13 at 11, Court of Bankruptcy, London: Off. Ass. Green; Sols. Moore, Wimborne, Dorsetshire; Bishop, 20, Southampton-buildings, Chancery-lane.-Fiat dated Dec. 5. JOHN DAVIES and HENRY EDWARDS, Westminsterroad, Lambeth, Surrey, linen-drapers, Dec. 22 at 11, and Jan. 25 at 1, Court of Bankruptcy, London: Off. Ass. Lackington; Sol. Ashurst, 137, Cheapside.-Fiat dated PETER BLATCHFORD, Plymouth, Devonshire, miller, Dec. 20 and Jan. 19 at 12, Court of Bankruptcy, Exeter Off. Ass. Hirtzell; Sols. Stogdon, Exeter; Kelly, Plymouth; Harris, Lincoln's-inn.-Fiat dated Dec. 1. THOMAS HARTLEY, Liverpool, hatter, Dec. 19 at 1, and Jan. 10 at 1, District Court of Bankruptcy, Liverpool: Off. Ass. Bird; Sol. Grocott, Liverpool. Fiat dated ISRAEL WADE, Manchester, grocer, Dec. 15 and Jan. 16 at 1, Manchester District Court of Bankruptcy: Off. Ass. Dec. 7. Dec. 3. : Pott; Sol. Dearden, Manchester.-Fiat dated Dec. 2. ROBERT CHESHIRE JANION, Liverpool, merchant and commission-agent, Dec. 16 at 1, and Jan. 11 at 12, District Court of Bankruptcy, Liverpool: Off. Ass. Follett; Sol. Johnson, St. Helen's, Lancashire.-Fiat dated Dec. 6. E. J. Troughton, St. Michael's-alley, Cornhill, merchant, Dec. 30 at 12, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-J. Barsham, West Ham, Essex, oxalic acid manufacturer, Dec. 31 at 1, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-R. H. Goddard, Wood-st., London, fringe maker, Jan. 4 at 2, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-Benj. Hargreaves, Manchester, tailor, Jan. 2 at 1, District Court of Bankruptcy, Manchester.-Wm. S. Batson, J. Wilson, and J. Langhorn, Berwick-upon-Tweed, bankers, Dec. 31 at 1, District Court of Bankruptcy, Newcastle-uponTyne.-Benjamin Paice, New Windsor, Berkshire, victualler, Jan. 4 at half-past 1, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-I'm Jan. 2, at the same hour and place. Dunn, Southampton, merchant, Jan. 6 at half-past 11, Court Chas. Blizard, Earle-st. West, Edgeware-road, out of busiof Bankruptcy, London.-B. Ward, Charlotte-terrace, New-ness.-Geo. Jos. Rolfes, Ship-lane, Walcot-place, Lambeth, cut, Lambeth, shoe manufacturer, Jan. 6 at half-past 1, Court Surrey, clerk to a tobacco broker. of Bankruptcy, London.-Joshua Allen, Much Wymondley, Hertfordshire, dealer in cattle, Jan. 6 at half-past 10, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-Robert Collinson, Oxford-st., up- Sim, Johnston's-place, Mile-end-road, stone mason.-Wm. Geo. Saunders, Church-row, West Hackney, builder.-Jas. holsterer, Jan. 6 at 2, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-R. B. Hen. Birch, Uxbridge, tailor.-Geo. Wright, Uxbridge, shoe Thompson, Wood-st., Cheapside, warehouseman, Jan. 6 at half-past 2, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-John Dudley, ness.-James Phipps, Lower Queen-st., Rotherhithe, market maker.-John Scott, jun., North-pl., Lambeth, out of busiLondon-terrace, Hackney-road, chemist, Dec. 30 at half-past gardener.-Hen. Savory, George-st., Portman-square, out of 1, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-John Protheroe, jun., business.-Samuel Buttenshaw, Lower-terrace, Lower-road, Bristol, commission agent, Jan. 12 at 11, District Court of Islington, general agent.-Thos. Watson, Union-pl., StepneyBankruptcy, Bristol.-A. G. Gifford, Mark-lane, wine merchant, Dec. 30 at half-past 1, Court of Bankruptcy, London.-mission agent.-Edw. Collins, Leadenhall-st., tea dealer.—T. green, Great Tower-st., and George-yard, Lombard-st., comThomas Stephenson, Manchester, coach maker, Dec. 30 at 1, Betts, Chester-st., Kennington, cabinet maker.—Anne RichDistrict Court of Bankruptcy, Manchester.-Joshua Russell, ardson, Cloak-lane, out of business.-Thos. Davies, PrincesManchester, merchant, Jan. 3 at 2, District Court of Bankruptcy, Manchester.-James Wilson, Manchester, and Work- Deighton, Grange-row, Kennington-road, stay maker.—Sam. street, Rotherhithe, Surrey, Trinity Channel pilot.-Ralph sop, Nottinghamshire, commission agent, Jan. 3 at 1, Dis- Barley, Stamford-hill, bricklayer. trict Court of Bankruptcy, Manchester.-John Alexander and Henry Gibbons, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, chemists, Jan. 2 at 11, District Court of Bankruptcy, Birmingham.-F. W. Fiddian, Birmingham, architect, Jan. 3 at 3, District Court of Bankruptcy, Birmingham.-Thos. Hampson, Liverpool, broker, Dec. 31 at 12, District Court of Bankruptcy, Liverpool.-Thomas Allen, Macclesfield, silkman, Jan. 2 at 1, District Court of Bankruptcy, Manchester.-Charles Biggs, Manchester, commission agent, Jan. 2 at 12, District Court of Bankruptcy, Manchester. FIAT ANNULLED. Stephen Thomas, York, victualler. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVed. J. S. Watson and Saml. Wix, Winchester-buildings, Great Winchester-st., London, attornies and solicitors.-J. H. Sellers and John Blomley, Rochdale, and Todmorden, Lancashire, attornies and solicitors.-Chas. Hinnell and Robert Willan, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, attornies and solicitors. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. J. H. Wilson, Dundee, flesher.-Matthew Tod, Hoprigmains, Gladsmuir, brickmaker.-A. J. Kilgour, Overgate, Dundee, glass dealer.-George Macfarlane, Glasgow, merchant.-Lauder & Co., Jedburgh, brewers.-James Scott, Leshmahagow, grocer. INSOLVENT DEBTORS. INSOLVENT DEBTOR'S DIVIDEND. Wm. Upton, Exmouth-street, Commercial-road East, coal meter, Dec. 7, Syer's, Sydney-pl., Commercial-road: 3s. 6d. in the pound (in addition to 68. 4d. by former dividends). MEETINGS. Rob. Thorpe, Tolworth, near Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, gardener, Dec. 31 at 10, Walter & Demainbray's, Kingston-upon-Thames, sp. aff.-Nich. Chas. Gelsthorp, Shirley, near Ashborne, Derbyshire, miller, Dec. 31 at 11, Tomlinson's, Ashborne, sp. aff.-Henry Tomlinson, Birmingham, printer, Dec. 29 at 12, White & Eyre's, Bedford-row, Middlesex, sp. aff. MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN PARLIAMENT. The Hon. James Stuart Wortley, for the county of Bute, in the room of the Right Hon. Sir William Rae, Bart. deceased. MASTERS IN CHANCERY.-The following gentlemen have been appointed Masters Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery:-John Scratton, of Tenterden, Kent; Charles Theodore Bewes, of Plymouth; Charles Bridges, of Birmingham. HITTY'S GENERAL PRACTICE of the LAW juries, and Remedies, as ameliorated by recent Statutes, Rules and Decisions, and the Practice in Arbitrations, before Justices, in Courts of Common Law, Equity, Ecclesiastical and Spiritual, Admiralty, Prize Court of Bankruptcy, and Courts of Error and Appeal; with New Practical Forms, complete in three very thick volumes, royal 8vo., price 67. in boards. The following Prisoners are ordered to be brought up before the Court, in Portugal-st., on Friday, Dec. 30 at 9. Rob. H. Mossman, Princes-st., Stamford-st., Blackfriarsroad, schoolmaster.-Sam. R. Gilbert, Maidenhead, Berkshire, attorney at law.-Edw. Slater, York-buildings, Newroad, schoolmaster.-Thomas M'Elmeen, St. John's-street, Clerkenwell, tailor.-Jos. Newton, Tenter-ground, White's*** A new Edition of Vols. 3 and 4, consisting of Parts 5, 6, row, Spitalfields, lead cutter.-Wm. Adron, Quickset-row, and, but now compressed into One Volume, is just pubNew-road, St. Pancras, statuary mason.-Richard Knowles, lished, edited by ROBERT LUSH, Esq., Barrister at Law. Bradford, Yorkshire, and Basinghall-street, London, worsted This portion of the work contains the Practice of the Suspinner.-Margaret Wilson, widow, Park-street, Gloucester- perior Courts of Law, Forms and Proceedings in the Ecclegate, Regent's-park, out of business.-Wm. Hall, Hatfield-siastical Courts, &c. &c., and has been carefully revised and place, Westminster-road, Surrey, out of business.-Henriette brought down to the present time, by the introduction of all D'Ambre, New Bond-st., in no business.-Wm. Buck, jun., the later statutes, rules, and reported cases on the various subCoulsdon, Croydon, Surrey, bricklayer.--Wm. H. Robinson, jects of which it treats. Vol. 3 by itself, price 27. 10s., boards. Lower Sloane-st., Chelsea, surgeon.-William Gidden, sen., S. Sweet, 1, Chancery-lane; Stevens & Norton, 26 and 39, Little Park-place, Lock's-fields, Walworth, currier.-Wm. F. Bell-yard, Lincoln's Inn. Of whom may be had, West, Back Church-lane, Commercial-road, Whitechapel, brass founder.Sam. Jas. Sherman, Bethnal-green, clothier. Dec. 31, at the same hour and place. Richard Maples, Evans's-court, Kennington-lane, Surrey, commission agent.-Thos. Rose, Palsgrave-pl., Strand, out of business.-Edw. Allford, Westminster-bridge-road, Lambeth, and Stafford-row, Pimlico, upholsterer.-Geo. John Dickens, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, grocer.-Benjamin Peverley, Upper-st., Islington, clerk to a solicitor.-Jas. H. Cunnew, Lower Deptford-road, Rotherhithe, victualler.-Thos. Davis, Three Cups-yard, Bedford-row, dairyman.-Hen. J. Sendell, College-st. West, Camden-town, funeral-feather maker.-John Mills, Gloster-st., Queen-sq., butcher.-Jas. Hemming, Great Northampton-st., Compton-street, Clerkenwell, tailor.-John Prescott, Cold Harbour-st., Hackney-road, out of business. Thos. Davies, St. George's-road, Southwark, tailor.-Benj. Newnham, Grosvenor-st. West, Eaton-sq., Pimlico, tailor. BURN'S ECCLESIASTICAL LAW. In 4 thick vols., 8vo., price 31. 16s. boards, BURN'S ECCLESIASTICAL LAW. The Ninth Edition, corrected, with very considerable Additions, including the Statutes and Cases to the present Time. By ROBERT PHILLIMORE, Advocate in Doctors' Commons, Barrister of the Middle Temple, &c. &c. *** Very considerable Additions have been made by the present Editor-several Chapters are entirely new; such, among others, are those on the Legal Status of the Church in Ireland and Scotland, in the Colonies, and in Foreign Dominions-on the Practice of the Courts in Doctors' Commons-on the Ecclesiastical Commissioners-on the Marriage Acts-on Chaplains on the Councils of the Church, &c. &c. &c. Throughout have been added copious Marginal Notes, both to the Old and New Text, and to all the principal Chapters a Table of Contents with pages of reference to the subject. Just published in 12mo., price 38. boards, HE NEW STATUTE for the RELIEF of IN TSOLVENT DEBTORS, 5 & 6 Vict. c. 116, with Ob servations and Notes; and an Appendix containing the Rules and Forms issued by the Court of Bankruptcy. By H. T. ERSKINE, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, Barrister at Law. Thomas Blenkarn, Law Bookseller, 19, Chancery-lane. Just published, in cloth boards, price 15s., ENGLAND. By GEORGE BOWYER, Esq., M. A., Barrister at Law. "This work manifests great learning and research."-Legal Observer. James Burns, 17, Portman-street; and sold by John Richards & Co., 194, Fleet-street. CLERICAL, MEDICAL, AND GENERAL LIFE DR ASSURANCE SOCIETY.-INSTITUTED 1824. A Third Quinquennial Division of Profits was made in January, 1842, and the Bonus then divided amounted, on an average, to 287. per cent. on the Premiums paid. By comparing the Rates of Premium, (as below), it will be seen that they are LOWER than those of most other Offices, particularly for Terms of Years. Persons of all ages may be assured in this Office. A liberal Commission allowed to Solicitors and all Members of the Legal Profession. Further information can be obtained of GEO. H. PINCKARD, Actuary, 78, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury. ***The Income of this Society, which is steadily increasing, now exceeds 97,9001. per annum. Just published, in 12mo., price 58. boards, A PRACTICAL TREATISE of the LAW of IN TERPLEADER, with an Appendix, containing the Interpleader Act, and Forms of Notices, Affidavits, Rules, Feigned Issues, &c. By HENRY A. SIMON, Esq., of the Middle Temple, Barrister at Law. Thomas Blenkarn, Law Bookseller, 19, Chancery-lane. This day is published in 12mo., price 18., containing upwards LA of 120 pages, the AW and GENERAL ALMANACK; containing, besides the usual Lists, the Statutes 5 & 6 Vict. relating to Bankrupts, Insolvent Debtors, Lunacy and Chancery Practice, with all the New Orders promulgated under them; many other useful Statutes of the past Session, and the New County Courts Bill as amended in Committee, &c. &c. London: Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., and sold by Just published, Vol 2, Part 2, price 98. 6d., RURY & WARREN'S REPORTS in the HIGH COURT of CHANCERY in IRELAND, during the Time and under the Sanction of LORD CHANCELLOR SUGDEN; which is intended to form a Continuation of that originally commenced by Messrs. LLOYD & GOOLD, and continued by Messrs. DRURY & WALSH. The decisions of Michaelmas Term, 1841, have been reported by Messrs. DRURY & WALSH; but Mr. WALSH having found it impracticable to continue the further prosecution of reporting, that duty has devolved on Mr. WARREN, who has undertaken the task in conjunction with Mr. DRURY. Hodges & Smith, 21, College-green, Dublin; John Richards & Co., 194, Fleet-street, London. This day is published, price 16s. boards, Part II., (containing CHANCERY, BANKRUPTCY, and CRIMINAL LAW, with a copious Index), of PRINCIPLES of the LAWS of ENGLAND in the various departments; and also the Practice of the Superior Courts: in the form of QUESTION and ANSWER; for the assistance of ARTICLED CLERKS in preparing for Examination, and incidentally for the use of Practitioners. By RICHARD SARGENT, Solicitor. Second Edition, revised and much enlarged. Thomas Blenkarn, Law Bookseller, (late Crofts & Blen karn), 19, Chancery-lane. **The work may now be had complete in one thick rol, 8vo., price 17. 10s. boards. MACNAMARA ON NULLITIES AND IRREGULARITIES IN LAW. Just published, price 6s. boards, A PRACTICAL TREATISE on NULLITIES and IRREGULARITIES in LAW, their Character, Dis tinctions, and Consequences. By H. MACNAMARA, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, Special Pleader. S. Sweet, Chancery-lane; and V. and R. Stevens & G. S. Norton, Bell-yard, Lincoln's Inn. Of whom may be had, recently published, ARCHBOLD on the LAW and PRACTICE in BANKRUPTCY, Ninth Edition, with Supplement, containing Statutes 5 & 6 Vict. caps. 116 and 122, and the New Rules and Orders. By J. FLATHER, Esq. Price 27s. boards. SHELFORD ON TITHES.-THIRD EDITION. The ACTS for the COMMUTATION of TITHES in ENGLAND and WALES, with the LAW of TITHES in reference to those Acts, and Directions and Forms 1 by the Commissioners; also the Report as to Special Adjudi cations, &c. &c., and the Plans. By LEONARD SHEL FORD, Esq., of the Middle Temple, Barrister at Law. Third Edition, price 16s. boards. The LAW and PRACTICE RELATING to IDIOTS, By LEONARD SHELFORD, Esq., Barrister at Law. In LUNATICS, &c., with an Appendix of Statutes, Forms, &c. 1 vol. 8vo., price 11. 88. boards. Orders for THE JURIST given to any Newsman or letter, (post-paid) sent to the Office, No. 3, CHANCERY LANE, or to V. & R. STEVENS & G. S. NORTON, (Successors to J. & W. T. Clarke, late of Portugal Street), 26 and 39, BELL YARD, will insure its pundica delivery in London, or its being forwarded on the evening of publica tion, through the medium of the Post Office, to the Country. Loro Row, and Published by STEPHEN SWEET, BOOKSELLE London: Printed by WALTER MDOWALL, PRINTER, 4, PIN No. 310. LONDON, DECEMBER 17, 1842. PRICE 18. ** The following are the Names of the Gentlemen who favour THE JURIST with Reports of Cases argued and decided in the several Courts of Law and Equity:— LONDON, DECEMBER 17, 1842. ted; nine of the seventeen were discharged by proclamation, or from not having bills found against them, or A FEW weeks since was published a pamphlet, inti- not prosecuted. On the other hand, it appeared, that tled "Facts and Arguments in Favour of a more Fre- twenty-five convicted felons were sentenced to impriquent Delivery of Gaols, by Lord Western." Its ap- sonment, the longest period of whose confinement was pearance at that time seems to have been caused by a six months, being the shortest period of confinement of report which then prevailed, that a commission was those who were imprisoned before the 1st of October. about to be issued to deliver the gaols in the course of It might be said, that some of the convicted felons were the present month. No such commission has however imprisoned some months before trial. It was common been issued; and if such an intention was ever enter- for the Court to address the prisoner, and tell him, that tained by the Government, it must have been, for the in consequence of the time he had lain in prison, his present at least, abandoned. We quite agree with the sentence would be for a short period, say for instance, noble lord in thinking, that "a strong feeling in the one month only:-two men brought to the bar who had public mind of the necessity of a more frequent delivery each been in prison six (five) months, the one convicted of our gaols, generally and regularly, is becoming very is told, that in consequence of five months' previous imprevalent." The facts stated by him so strikingly il-prisonment, his sentence would only be for one month lustrate this necessity, that we think we cannot in the present Number employ our pages better than, as far as is in our power, calling to them the attention of the public. In 1819, Lord Western, then a member of the House of Commons, moved an address to the Prince Regent on this subject, and from the facts which he then collected from the returns made to the House, he has selected the following, which, after allowing for the difference that exists between the several counties of England, in the average amount of crime committed within each, may be taken as fairly representing the state of all. "At the Maidstone Spring Assizes, (we presume in 1819), there were 177 prisoners for trial, of these twenty-nine were in prison before the 1st of October, eighty-three before the 1st of January. Now, it is evident, that the shortest period of those confined before October was six months; and it is notorious, that six months is considered sufficient punishment for half the felonies that are committed. But the case is stronger yet, when we consider the case of those who were afterwards acquitted-seventeen of the twenty-nine above mentioned were acquitW W VOL. VI. more; the other is acquitted, perhaps no bill found against him, and has endured five-sixths of the punishment of those who were found guilty. There were three at Maidstone, who, after being about seven months in prison, were discharged by proclamation, whilst various convicted felons suffered only six-sevenths of the punishment, including the imprisonment before trial, which was inflicted upon these three persons against whom no bill was found." "By the returns of the Spring Assizes at Chelmsford, the cases were not less striking than those at Maidstone 3 the total number tried was 166; of these, twenty-five were in prison before the 1st of October, of whom eleven were acquitted, and of these eleven, six were discharged by proclamation, two were in prison eight months, three, seven months and fifteen days; whilst, on the other hand, sixteen convicted of felony were considered to be sufficiently punished by imprisonment under six months. Upon the whole, it appeared by the papers on the_table, that 405 of those persons who were tried at the Spring Assizes had been in gaol before the 1st of October, whilst from the annual return it would be seen, that 800 persons convicted of felony suffered under their sentence a lighter punishment than the 405 experienced before trial." These facts speak so strongly for themselves, as scarcely to require any comment. Since the period they refer to, the extensive alterations in the criminal law had, until recently, made many offences triable at the quarter sessions, which were then obliged to be sent to the Assizes, for although the Justices in sessions had, in point of law, jurisdiction over almost all of fences inferior to treason, it was not the practice for them to try any indictments for capital felonies: and thus, when the offence ceased to be punishable capitally, the Justices assumed to themselves the trial of it. Now, however, as by the act of last session they are prohibited from trying any offence, which, when committed by a person not previously convicted of felony, is punishable by transportation for life, matters have been restored to nearly the same state as they were in 1819; or perhaps we might say, that, as several crimes not within this class are taken out of their jurisdiction, the number of prisoners who must be tried at the Assizes will now be greater than ever. The more forcibly to illustrate the hardship which this delay of trial inflicts upon persons whom the law always presumes to be innocent, and who the above returns shew not unfrequently are so, we will take the case of a crime, which, although its punishment may be transportation for life, is in many instances visited with only a short term of imprisonment. A man causes the death of another under circumstances which amount in law to the crime of manslaughter. They may even be such as to leave no doubt in the mind of any person that his punishment will be of the lightest nature. But unfortunately for him, the Summer Assizes are just over, the Judge has just left the town, he is taken before a magistrate, witnesses are examined, who clearly prove the committing of the act-and what follows? If he be a rich man, the magistrate may admit him to bail, and his liberty at least he retains, but with a long period of anxious uncertainty before him. But if he be cursed with poverty, and with no friends but such as share it with him, he has no alternative but to go to prison, there to remain for eight long months, herding with felons of every description, and learning within the precincts of a gaol vices which to him were before unknown. Contrast this with another case. Just before the same Assizes, a man commits a felony, for which he is immediately tried, convicted, and sentenced to a few months' imprisonment. With respect to these two men the law has said, that the latter ought to be more severely punished; but practically it has inflicted the greater punishment upon the former. True it is, that the Judge in passing sentence may and generally does take into his consideration the imprisonment which the person has already undergone; a fact which greatly supports our argument. Imprisonment before trial is of a different nature from that which follows it; and, properly, ought not to be at all regarded in the light of punishment. And where, after a long imprisonment, a man is acquitted, or no bill is found against him, not even this atonement can be made. Extreme then, as it may be said, is the case we have put, others of greater injustice may be supposed. And all of them are proved by the returns to be of not unfrequent occurrence. By approximating the times of committing the crime, the injustice is not removed, only the degree of it is lessened. We know, indeed, that it cannot be entirely removed-for that we do not contend-what we wish is, that all that the law can do should be done; and, at least, that the months of April, May, and June, should not be made the best times in the year for committing serious crimes. There are many we believe who, admitting the force of the foregoing argument, and without denying the necessity of a change in the present system, are averse to it, because they think the duties of the Judges are already so great as not to admit of being in any way increased. This assumes that the additional gaol delivery must be made by the Judges; and perhaps, as it would include the highest offences in the law, it would not be well to put in their place persons of an inferior rank. But we incline to think, that, at this period of the year, the business in London does not require the presence of more than two, or at the most three, of the Judges of each Court, and the remainder might hold a general gaol delivery throughout the country, with the assistance of Queen's Counsel and Serjeants, some of whom, no doubt, might be found with whose professional avocations the performance of such duties would not materially interfere. Or if the Judges cannot be spared, we would content ourselves with the latter personages, it being better, we think, that it should be done by them than left undone. But, in truth, the difficulty of carrying the plan into effect, ought not to prevail against its undoubted justice. In the administra tion of the other parts of the law, but little hesitation is displayed about the alteration of old or the establishment of new tribunals. There, a speedy decision is thought desirable, but not so, it would seem, in the Criminal Law, as if the anxiety of mind respecting the result of an action were greater than what is felt for the issue of a trial where life or liberty is at stake. We hope the Legislature will take the subject into con sideration during the ensuing session; and the noble Lord, whose name we have mentioned, has our hearty thanks for his benevolent exertions. Review. A Practical Treatise on Nullities and Irregularities in Law, their Character, Distinction, and Consequences. By W. H. MACNAMARA, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, Special Pleader. [S. Sweet, and Stevens & Norton, 1842.] We cordially recommend this little book to the attention of our readers. There are few of them, we dare say, who do not sometimes find themselves anxiously inquiring what is an irregularity, whether it can be amended, or whether it has been waived. To these questions it affords them the means of obtaining 4 ready, if not always (when they are the irregular parties) a satisfactory answer. We have more than once expressed our opinion against the unnecessary multiplication of text-books, which is now so prevalent; but in the present instance we agree with the author, that the branch of practice he has chosen to treat of, besides being in constant request, presents materials so |