§ MR. HERBERT GLADSTONE (Leeds, W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government 1846 has been called to the fact that for the first time in the history of the North Eastern Circuit the Assize business has been commenced at Leeds instead of at Newcastle; whether he is aware that Her Majesty's Judges have been unable to finish the civil business at Leeds and have proceeded to York, it being stated that they will return to Leeds at a future date to finish the civil business; and, whether he will take steps to prevent a recurrence of an arrangement by which great inconvenience is caused to the public?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; it is the fact that the Judges arranged to go to Leeds first, instead of to Newcastle this Circuit. The Lord Chancellor informs me that he has no official intimation as to the second paragraph of the Question. If it should be found at Leeds, or elsewhere, that inconvenience has been caused by the recent attempt to discontinue the grouping of counties for criminal business without unduly prolonging the Circuits, the Judges will, no doubt, carefully consider the matter, and, if possible, remedy it, if that can be done without causing still greater inconvenience to other places.