THE LORD CHANCELLORpresented a Bill for improving the procedure of the Court of Chancery, which had been found necessary owing to one of the greatest improvements ever effected in that Court— namely, the abolition of the Masters in Chancery—a measure first suggested many years ago by his noble and learned Friend (Lord Brougham). Those gentlemen had performed their duties, so far as the system would allow them, in a very exemplary manner; but under that system suitors were kept oscillating between the Lord Chancellor and the Masters, and vast delay and ruinous expense were the result. One of the rules of the Masters was that they would never hear a cause for more than one hour at a time, and after the first hearing the hour was almost spent in recapitulating the proceedings which had taken place before, so that a cause which should have occupied but a few days lasted nearly as many years. A Bill at length passed, by which the Masters' Offices were abolished, and Chief Clerks 156 were appointed who should act under the Judges, and for whose proceedings the Judges should be held responsible. That was found a salutary alteration, and one which had greatly expedited the transaction of business. Some of the functions performed by the Masters, however, such as taking notice of persons committed for contempt of the Court and pauper defendants were not provided for by the measure then passed. The Bill he now presented remedied these omissions. It provided that the Solicitor to the Suitors' Fund should be the officer whose duty it should be to visit the Queen's Prison and examine the prisoners therein confined for contempt, and report to the Lord Chancellor, and to be the ex officio solicitor to pauper defendants, and to lunatic prisoners; It provided also for an additional salary to be paid to the solicitor for the performance of these duties. The Bill provided also for the custody of deeds in the care of the late Masters; and for the appointment of an additional Chief Clerk, and two junior Clerks to the Master of the Rolls, who, however, might be transferred to any of the Vice-Chancellors if business should require it.
§ Bill, to make better Provision for the Relief of Prisoners in Contempt of the High Court of Chancery and Pauper Defendants; and for the more efficient Despatch of Business in the said Court, read 1a.
§ House adjourned at half-past five o'clock, till To morrow half-past Four o'clock.