§ COLONEL GREVILLEsaid, he would beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any Report had been received by the Government as to the state of business in the Incumbered Estates Court, and whether it was the intention of the Government to make any increase in its Judicial Staff to assist in the despatch of public business?
§ MR. HORSMANsaid, the Government had received very strong representations from the two Commissioners who now presided in the Incumbered Estates Court, as to the very great inconvenience which arose from the attempt to carry on the business of the Court with only two Judges. When the subject had been under discussion last Session, his (Mr. Horsman's) noble Friend at the head of the Government, in compliance with the wish which had been expressed upon both sides of the House, had consented that Baron Richards should no 345 longer sit as one of the Commissioners, and that the experiment of leaving the business of the Court to be transacted by his two Colleagues should be made. That experiment had been made—certainly but for a brief period—but the time was of sufficient duration to show that the evils resulting from it had imperilled the very existence of the Court. The Government had, therefore, come to the determination to appoint a third Commissioner, and, if necessary, so to strengthen the staff of the Court as to wipe off the great amount of arrears which at present existed.