The Lord Chancellorsaid, that he had it in command from his Majesty to present to their Lordships the sixth Report of the Common-Law Commissioners. The Report was one of great merit, and the investigation leading to it, their Lordships were aware, had arisen out of instructions which had originated in the other House of Parliament. The inquiry related to the constitution of the four Inns of Court, so far as their privileges were connected with persons entering with a view to become students of law, and of being called to the Bar. This had been inquired into by the learned Commissioners, and the Report contained their opinions thereupon. The Report was accompanied by the evidence upon which the suggestions made were founded. He had the honour of being a Bencher of one of the Inns, and he very well knew, that the Society to which he belonged wished for the fullest inquiry to be made into every thing which related to their constitution, to their property, and to their proceedings, in the exercise of their rights. He would also briefly call their Lordships' attention to the Commissioners, who had performed their task to the advantage of the country and very much to their own credit. Those learned persons had now for nearly two years, performed the duties gratuitously. For his own part, he had always considered it very wrong, that those learned Gentlemen should be required to make such a sacrifice, for they had their own professional business to attend to, and held no public situation by which they were remunerated for such a loss of time. He had always considered it an act of great generosity, very creditable for them; but he doubted whether the public ought to have accepted of their services on such terms. They had his best, thanks, and, he doubted not, that of their Lordships, 482 for the exertions they had made, and for the very able manner in which they had completed their labours; nevertheless he could not help thinking it unworthy of a great country like this, to accept the services of gentlemen on such terms; for no gentleman in his private capacity would permit another to execute for him work for which no remuneration was given.
§ The Report was laid upon the Table, and ordered to be printed.