§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the fact that the Assizes throughout England have been fixed a fortnight earlier than usual; that this will have the effect of clashing with the Quarter Sessions which must be held on a certain week as fixed by Act of Parliament; that in several counties the Quarter Sessions will have to be adjourned, the courts being occupied by the Judges and the Bar, and that many officers of the county will necessarily be in attendance at the Assizes; and, whether he can give any hopes that this inconvenient state of things will be altered in the future, particularly as it is presumed a gaol delivery will be made at the Assizes whatever the nature of the offences may be?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, he had been in communication with the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice on the subject, and that he 195 hoped an arrangement would be made by which the inconvenience referred to would be obviated in future. If legislation was found to be necessary, it would be attended to without delay.
§ MR. C. W. WYNNasked the right hon. Gentleman, Whether the Judges do not go circuit under a commission of general gaol delivery; and, whether he is aware in Montgomeryshire that the Lord Chief Baron has declined to try any prisoners committed at the Sessions?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, he was not aware that the Lord Chief Baron had come to any such decision. He would, however, make inquiry into the matter, and give the hon. Member the result.