Mr. Secretary Peelbrought in a bill for the better Empanelling of Juries. The right hon. gentleman observed, that at that late period of the session it was not his intention to press the measure forward, as it was undoubtedly one of very great importance. Its object was, to consolidate 1469 and amend the various laws which related to the empanelling of juries. And here he wished to state, injustice to the parties concerned, that those highly respectable persons Mr. Le Blanc and Mr, Lushington, had shown the most praiseworthy anxiety to co-operate with him in an efficient alteration of the law. By the bill which he now introduced, it was provided, that the name of each and every person qualified to act as a special juror should be written on a piece of card, and placed in a box, from which 48 names should be drawn, in the same indifferent manner as was observed in that House when an election committee was ballotted for. The whole forty-eight having been drawn by lots, it would remain to reduce them to the proper number in the ordinary manner. This, as it appeared to him, would remove every objection that at present existed against the mode of empanelling special juries.
§ Mr. Scarlettfelt great obligations to the right hon. gentleman for having introduced this very useful bill. But, whatever complaint might have been made with respect to the mode of striking special juries, he would say, that a man of greater integrity or ability than the master of the Crown office did not exist.
§ Leave was given to bring in the bill.