§ LORD BROUGHAM moved for Returns connected with the Court of Bankruptcy, in continuation of former returns which 266 were ordered. He wished to take that opportunity of saying, that some observations he had made on a former occasion had been understood to convey some mistrust of the Bankrupt Commissioners. Nothing, however, could possibly be further from his meaning than to signify the slightest want of the most entire confidence in those most able, most learned, and most diligent officers. He had known them long, both at the bar and on the bench, and he would say that better or more able officers were never placed in any important judicial position in this country. He should also add, with respect to his right hon. Friend the Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce, though there were fewer appeals in bankruptcy before him than formerly, that he had, in reference to those appeals, had an opportunity of displaying his great talents and acquirements, and that nothing could be better or more satisfactory than his administration of the bankruptcy law of the country. To which common justice to that most able, learned, and indefatigable Judge obliged him to add, that, independently of the bankruptcy business, he believed there never had been a greater sacrifice of time, or a greater bestowing of labour (labour ably bestowed, and time worthily sacrificed), than by that most learned and eminent Judge, during the three last months of the last judicial year. In consequence of the absence from illness of the late Lord Chancellor (Lord Cottenham)—in consequence afterwards of the absence from illness of the Vice-Chancellor Wigram, and of his late right hon. Friend the late Sir Launcelot Shadwell, the whole burden of the equity business of the country had been thrown upon his right hon. friend Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce for the period of three months; and, during that time, he certainly had discharged all those duties, not merely the duties of his own court, but those which had devolved upon him, owing to the unfortunate circumstances which he had mentioned, not only with the greatest assiduity (amounting almost to a sacrifice of health), but with that learning and ability which all who knew that eminent Judge must have expected from him.
§ Returns ordered.