HL Deb 19 February 1844 vol 72 cc1103-4
The Lord Chancellor

laid on the Table an account of the Fees received in the Court of Chancery during the last year, and said, that he was happy to inform their Lordships, that, in consequence of the alterations in the Court of Chancery, the Fees of last year fell short of those of the preceding year, with the addition of the compensations now paid, the effect of which would be that the compensations continually falling in, the Fees would be greatly decreased, as compared with what they were before the alteration, previous to which the Fees were continually augmenting.

Lord Campbell

said, that his noble and learned Friend had alluded to the prospect of the fees decreasing upon the death of the persons to whom compensation had been awarded, but as it had been stated, that the compensation did not cease upon their death, but that their executors would still be able to receive it, he was led to ask the noble and learned Lord how that was?

The Lord Chancellor

said, it was not necessary for him to inform the noble and learned Lord how that was, for, no doubt, he had read the Act of Parliament, and he would find by a clause in that Act, that the compensation was extended to the widows and children of some of the parties, for a certain number of years.

Lord Langdale

said, that it might be satisfactory for him to state, that the expense of conducting the new system, considering the compensation as part of that expense, was less than the Fees, which also were less than the charges upon the suitors during the old system.

House adjourned.