§ MR. DUNLOP moved for leave to bring in a Bill to allow the verdict of juries in civil cases in Scotland to be received in cases where the juries were not unanimous. He said the extension of the jury system to civil cases in Scotland, where the juries were required to be unanimous, was a method to which the people of Scotland were not accustomed, and in many instances it had produced injurious effects. Some time ago a measure was carried allowing juries to return a verdict by a majority after they had been for six hours in deliberation, and the working of that measure had given great satisfaction. But six hours was a longer period than most 789 men could endure to be confined, and he proposed by his present Bill to shorten the period. The measure had the approbation of his hon. and learned Friend the Member for Leith (Mr. Moncreiff), and he hoped the Lord Advocate would not oppose it.
§ THE LORD ADVOCATEsaid, he did not rise to oppose the Bill, but to state that he understood a measure of a similar kind either was or was about to be introduced into the other House, proposing a somewhat similar change in the law of England on this question; and he would, therefore, suggest to his hon. and learned Friend that he should not press his measure forward to have a discussion upon it till they had an opportunity of looking at the measure proposed for England.
Motion agreed to.
Bill to amend an Act of the seventeenth and eighteenth year of Her Majesty, for allowing Verdicts on Trial by Jury in Civil Causes in Scotland to be received, although the jury may not be unanimous; ordered to be brought in by Mr. DUNLOP and Mr. MONCREIFF.