The Lord Chancellorpresented a bill for the better administration of justice in Scotland, the object of which he briefly stated, namely to divide the court of session info two chambers, one consisting of the lord president and 7 judges, and the other of the lord justice clerk and 6 judges. His lordship stated, that he did not wish any proceeding should be had upon the bill this session, but merely that it should be printed and lie over for consideration next session.
The Earl of Selkirkthought it would be preferable to constitute the 6 justiciary lords of the court of session a court for the trial of jury causes, they being accustomed to trial by jury in criminal cases, and that the other nine judges should constitute a court of equity, with power to send causes for trial by jury into the other court.
The Earl of Lauderdaledeclined going into the subject at present, but stated, that there were several petitions from different parts of Scotland, ready to be presented in favour of extending the trial by jury to that country.—The bill was read a first time, and ordered to be printed.