§ MR. M'MAHONsaid, he wished to ask Mr. Attorney General, Whether Her Majesty's Government proposes to bring in, and, if so, when, a measure for re-arranging any other Circuit beside the Northern, and for holding an Assize for civil busi- 497 ness in other counties beside Lancashire, and for removing the inconvenience of accumulating country causes for trial in London and Middlesex, and for so arranging the town sittings as not to interfere with Circuits?
THE ATTORNEY GENERALreplied that the state of the Northern Circuit and of other Circuits was under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, with a view to effect such rearrangement as might seem to be expedient. But, whether a measure on the subject would or would not be introduced into Parliament depended on the nature of the proposed change; for, as his hon. and learned Friend well knew, the powers capable of being exercised by an Order in Council, without the intervention of Parliament, were very extensive. There was no present intention of holding a third Assize for civil business in any county where one was not already held; and there was no such measures in contemplation as was referred to in the last part of the hon. and learned Member's question.