HC Deb 21 May 1819 vol 40 cc664-5

Mr. Davies Gilbert moved the order of the day for going into a Committee on this bill,

Mr. Primrose

objected to the principle of the bill, which, by attaching the office of the justice general, as was proposed, to that of the president of the session, would give to a civil judge a criminal jurisdiction. He wished, therefore, that the bill should be altered, and that, at all events, it should not be discussed during the absence of the lord advocate.

Mr. W. Douglas

said, the bill created new duties, which would occasion great expense to the judge who was to perform them, while there was no provision made to answer it. He did not see the propriety of continuing the office as an effective one, after the demise of the nobleman who at present held it as a sinecure, and at the same time withdrawing the salary.

Mr. J. P. Grant

concurred with the two speakers who had preceded him, and requested Mr. D. Gilbert to withdraw his bill.

Mr. D. Gilbert

professed himself unacquainted with Scotch law. The bill was put into his hands with a request to bring it forward; he had done so; but finding the sense of the House unfavourable to it in its present form, he should ask leave to withdraw it, in order to bring it forward at a future time in a more improved form.

The bill was accordingly withdrawn.