HL Deb 22 July 1853 vol 129 c586
LORD BROUGHAM

presented a petition from the corporate body of Procurators of Glasgow, under their seal, and signed by their Dean of Faculty, against the Lord Advocate's Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Bill. His Lordship said that he greatly objected to this measure as wholly insufficient. Although there might be much difficulty as to the most effectual plan of abolishing the double Sheriffships, there could be none as to extending the small-debt jurisdiction, so as to put it on the footing of the English County Courts. The proposed extension of 8l. 6s. 8d. to 12l. was a mere homœopathic remedy for the evil complained of. His noble Friend (Lord Aberdeen) was thus only taking a small step indeed, though in the right direction; but it was very much better than if he took a step in the retrograde direction, which he was thankful to him for not doing, as in the present state of parties he could carry that with equal ease. The present position of himself and his noble Friend (Lord Aberdeen) reminded him of what passed half a century ago between his predecessor, a great State physician, and an irregular practitioner—the late Mr. Addington and Mr. Horne Tooke. When Mr. Addington had carried a Motion for Mr. Tooke's exclusion from Parliament, the latter respectfully thanked him for not having moved to have him hanged on the lamp post in the lobby, as the Minister would have had the same majority for that Motion. In like manner, he (Lord Brougham) was thankful for the very small step in advance, as relieving him from all apprehension of a retrograde movement, if, indeed, his noble Friend was capable of such a thing, which he believed he was not.

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