The Lord Chancellor, in moving the Second Reading of the Trial of Offenders in London and Middlesex Bill, observed that there was no necessity for him to make any observations on this occasion, as he only wished to move a Clause which would be open to consideration hereafter. That Clause would go to prevent the inconvenience which might arise, as to laying the venue, in consequence of the commission of offences in different counties. It was proposed that those parts of Kent, Essex, and Surrey, which the Bill comprised, together with Middlesex, should, for the purposes of this Act, form a metropolitan county, by which means one venue would do for all. He would take that opportunity of mentioning an alteration which he was inclined to propose to Parliament, and which would tend to equalize the business in Westminster-hall. It referred to the proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas, and he felt that it was due to his noble and learned friend (Lord Wynford) to say, that he, together with Sergeant Lens and Sergeant Shepherd, had always been of opinion, that such an alteration as he contemplated should take place. The proposition was, that all counsel whatever should be allowed to practise in the Court of Common Pleas, as well when the Court sat in Banco as at Nisi Prius; and that, as an equivalent, the sergeants should be allowed to hold briefs alone, and to open a case, which they could not do at present.
§ Lord Wynfordsaid, that he approved of the suggestion of his noble and learned friend, which he had no doubt would confer a great benefit on the public.
§ Bill read a second time.