§ LORD BROUGHAM moved an Address for Return of the number of Prisoners untried in gaol, 5th June, 1855, distinguishing the counties, and distinguishing the number of those who had been in gaol for twenty-eight days and upwards, and of those in gaol for forty-two days and upwards. The noble and learned Lord said, the matter to which this return related was the greatest grievance that existed in connection with the administration of the criminal law. A return for 1853 showed that in that year there were 28,000 commitments, and that of that number 6,200 were either acquitted on their trial or discharged, because there was no prosecution. The average period during which the not guilty prisoners were confined in eight counties containing a large population was six weeks; and as regarded the 22,000 persons convicted, nearly one half of the persons convicted in two counties were sentenced to periods of imprisonment of less than two months. He trusted his noble and learned Friend on the woolsack would not delay bringing forward the Bill which he had promised with the view of providing a remedy for the state of things of which he complained.
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, there was no objection to the returns for which his noble and learned Friend had now moved. As regarded the Bill to which he had referred, one object of which would be to increase the number of sessions from four to eight, and to hold three assizes instead of two, in the year—he hoped to be able to lay it on the table either on Thursday or on Friday; and he did not apprehend any serious opposition to it in either House.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ House adjourned to Thursday next.