APPELLATE JURISDICTION. (Hansard, 25 April 1823)

The Earl of Liverpool
rose to call the attention of the House to the state of the appeals before it. He said, he intended to propose the appointment of a committee to consider the subject, and he therefore recommended to noble lords to abstain at present from the proposal of any remedy, in order that they might come to the committee without any bias on their minds. When the measure was first proposed in 1813, for hearing appeals during the whole morning three days in the week in that House—and which had been rigidly adhered to—it was expected that when the then existing arrear of appeals was got rid of, the number would be so kept down, that one day in the week would suffice for hearing them, and that his noble and learned friend on the woolsack might then be enabled to devote the other two days to the business of the Court of Chancery. So far, however, from this being the case, the number of appeals had actually increased since that period, the number lodged being 570, considerably more than the number heard and decided. Under these circumstances, it became absolutely necessary to consider of some other measure, not only with a view to facilitate the administration of justice in that House, but also to prevent the delay of justice in other courts, arising from the present mode of bearing appeals. The noble earl concluded by moving for the appointment of a committee to consider of the best means of facilitating the administration of justice in that House with regard to appeals and writs of error.

The Earl of Roseberry
expressed his thanks to the noble earl for the measure he had brought forward.

§ Lord Cawdor
referred to the papers laid before the House, respecting the administration of justice in Wales, and wished to know whether it was intended to found any measure upon them? He thought the subject might with propriety be referred to the said committee.

The Earl of Liverpool
said, he had no intention at present of proposing any measure with reference to the subject alluded to by the noble lord. He thought it would be better not to embarrass the question, by referring to the committee the subject suggested by the noble lord.