§ Sir M. S. Stewartpresented a Petition from the Society of Writers at Dundee, and from the Society of Procurators before the Courts of Law in Perth, in favour of the Bill before the House respecting the Administration of Justice in Scotland.
§ Mr. Cutlar Fergusonobjected to the Bill, as forcing a Jury-trial upon parties, whether they desired it or not. He was friendly to the Jury system in Scotland, but he wished to see the qualification raised.
The Lord Advocatesaid, that the qualification of jurors presented considerable difficulty. The jury system was not sufficiently understood in Scotland to give that weight to the opinion of the Judge which it ought to have. If the whole working of 1196 the system were looked to, it would he found that it had operated beneficially. It was a mistake to suppose that parties were compelled to accept a jury trial. There was nothing in the Bill to that effect.
§ Mr. Robert Grantinquired if the learned Lord intended to introduce bills in the course of the present Session, redeeming the pledge he had given for regulating the police of the Scottish Burghs, and for regulating gaols in Scotland.
The Lord Advocatesaid, he intended to lay a Bill on the Table of the House relative to Burghs, and afterwards submit it to a committee above-stairs. He also intended to introduce a gaol-bill this Session, to be discussed in the next.
§ Petition to lie on the Table.