Lords Sitting of 2 February 1807

MINUTES.
On the motion of the archbishop of Canterbury, the thanks of the house were ordered to be given to the bishop of St. David's for his sermon preached before the house at Westminster Abbey, on Friday last; and his lordship was desired to print and publish the same.—Lord Eldon gave notice of his intention of submitting to their lordships a bill for the better and more effectually regulating the practice of the court of chancery, as far as the same related to suitors whose monies were paid into that court to abide the event of its decision; a measure which his lordship said, was of the utmost advantage to the safety of the suitor and the ease of the chancellor, and the want of which he deeply felt when he himself had the honour of filling that office. The lord chancellor quitted the woolsack, and declared that the noble lord should have his sincerest thanks for his attentive consideration of that object; and he assured him,

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that it was with infinite satisfaction he heard his determination that night, for, certainly, as the practice was at present, every chancellor must feel considerable difficulty in conducting his decisions, and in adjusting his judgements with suitors of the description adverted to by the noble lord.

SLAVE TRADE ABOLITION BILL.
Lord Grenvillehaving moved the order of the day for the second reading of the Slave Trade Abolition bill, observed, that those of their lordships who had witnessed his extreme anxiety to carry forward this important measure with the least possible interruption, would readily conceive that he now felt great regret in finding himself under the necessity of proposing a further delay. Unfortunately, however, two of his noble friends, whose sentiments respecting this measure it was important the house should be in possession of, and whose assistance he much wished to have upon the discussion of the subject, were too much indisposed to be enabled to attend the house. He therefore proposed that the second reading should be postponed till Wednesday.—Ordered, and that the lords be summoned for that day.
The Earl of Westmorelandpresented a petition from the ship builders, ship owners, manufacturers, and others of the port of London, against the Slave Trade Abolition bill; which was ordered to lie on the table. A short conversation took place respecting the propriety of hearing counsel in behalf of the petitioners against the bill.
Lord Grenvillesuggested the propriety of making some order upon this subject, if it was the pleasure of their lordships to hear counsel, in order that they might avoid the inconvenience which occurred, of having a preliminary discussion of this nature, on the very day on which the measure proposed was to be brought forward.
The Earl of Westmorelandmoved, that such of the petitioners as thought fit, should be heard by their counsel on the second reading of the bill.
Lord Grenvillethought it would be expedient to make some regulation with respect to the hearing of counsel in order to prevent unnecessary delay. As to the propriety of examining evidence, that of course would be decided on, after their lordships had heard counsel. He thought, however, that it would be sufficient to hear one counsel upon each petition, as the greater part of the arguments which the counsel must necessarily touch upon, had
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already been often repeated, and as it was of so much importance to avoid delay.
Lord Eldonalso expressed himself decidedly hostile to unnecessary delay, but at the same time it was of the utmost importance that a subject of this magnitude should be deeply and closely examined, and that the parties whose interests would be affected by it, should be fairly and fully heard.
Lord Hawkesburysuggested, that the interests of the petitioners might be equally benefited, and the time of the house less taken up, if the petitioners were classed according to the interests of those petitioning, which would be found to be divided into three; namely, the old planters in Jamaica and other islands, the new planters in the island of Trinidad, and the shipping and commercial interests of the ports of this country, and counsel heard for each interest.—After some further conversation, the petitioners were ordered to be heard by their counsel on Wednesday.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN SCOTLAND.
Lord Grenvillegave notice that he should, on this day se'nnight, present to the house a bill founded on the Resolutions passed last session, for rendering more effectual the Administration of Justice in Scotland. (See vol. vii. p. 730.)
Lord Hawkesburyexpressed a wish that full time might be allowed the learned gentlemen of the law in Scotland to make up their minds upon such a complicated and important measure before it passed into a law.
Lord Grenvillesaid, it was his wish that sufficient time should be allowed for the consideration of the subject. He must however remark, that ample time had already been given for its consideration since last session, during which interval there had been an opportunity of obtaining the opinions of professional men of eminence with respect to the details of the measure. If it was meant that an interval of equal, extent should again be allowed, it was evident the measure could not be carried through parliament in the course of the present session. That some measure of this nature should be adopted without delay was, he conceived, of the greatest importance, not only on account of the great defects which were acknowledged to exist in the Administration of Justice in Scotland, but also, on account of the discredit thrown upon that house, in consequence of the great number of appeals from Scotland, and which, from their being so

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numerous, unavoidably met with much delay in their decision.
Lord Eldonconfessed that he felt the difficulties as well as the advantages of the measure proposed by the noble baron. He had been employed in more Appeal causes than, he believed, any other man now living, and no man could be more convinced of the necessity of such a measure than he was. Not only Scotland but Ireland felt that necessity. He hoped, however, the intended bill would throw more light on the question than the resolutions afforded. At all events, he should most cheerfully contribute all that his experience and humble abilities enabled him to afford towards the advancement of the business.