§ THE EARL OF DEVONasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Whether any change has recently taken place in the mode of appointment to the Commission of the Peace in the County of Lancaster; and, if so, the nature of such change? He understood that an alteration had been made, by which, in future, appointments to the Commission of the Peace would emanate, as in other counties, from the Lord Lieutenant, instead of, as hitherto, from the Chancellor of the Duchy. He hoped that such a change had been made, for the Lord Lieutenant was the best judge of the qualifications of persons for the magis- 1271 tracy, while the Chancellor frequently possessed no local knowledge.
LORD DUFFERINstated that from the 1st of May the appointments had been, and would continue to be, made by the Chancellor of the Duchy on the nomination of the Lord Lieutenant, instead of directly by the Chancellor. This was but reverting to the old practice; which, he believed, was altered on account of some misunderstanding between the Lord Lieutenant and Chancellor of the day. He was glad the measure had the approval of the noble Earl, whose experience of the Duchy rendered his opinion of double value. The Lord Lieutenant did not change with every change of Government; he was superior to party influences, and, from his local knowledge, was a much better judge than the Chancellor as to what persons were qualified for the Commission of the Peace.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock, to Friday next, half past Ten o'clock.