HL Deb 19 February 1841 vol 56 c736
Lord Brougham

presented a petition from Isaac Winter, of Wilton, in the county of Somerset, complaining of delays in the courts of law. The petitioner stated, that having attained the age of 70, he had been a litigant for the last twenty years in the courts of Westminster, and during the greater part of that time in their Lordships' House, The proceedings arose out of an action of ejectment, which was tried twenty years ago, and still remained undecided. The case involved points of extreme difficulty, upon which arguments were held repeatedly in the courts below, where great difference of opinion prevailed. When brought before their Lordships by writ of error, the assistance of the judges was given; it was again argued at great length, but the difference of opinion among the judges was by no means lessened. A second argument was ordered about a year and-a-half since; but the doubts and difficulties of the case were not apparently lessened, for the learned judges had not yet made up their minds upon the subject. Without imputing blame to any person, he hoped the long delay which had taken place was drawing towards an end, and that shortly after the return of the learned judges from circuit this most difficult and embarrassing case would be finally disposed of.