r.
As the motion was merely for the production of papers, and the
attorney-general was willing that the papers should be produced, there
was no debate, but the general impression of the house seemed to be that
the prosecutions were harsh and vindictive, and that Sir James Scarlett,
notwithstanding his Whig education and opposition life, was inclined to
be a very dictatorial attorney-general. Sir James attempted to recover
the favour of the house by a bill to mitigate in some respects the laws
of libel as they existed in what were called the Six Acts. By one of
these acts it was provided that a second conviction for a seditious or
blasphemous libel might be punished with transportation; and another set
forth that every person who should publish a newspaper, or certain other
publications, should first enter into a recognizance of three hundred
pounds, with two sufficient securities, in the metropolis, or of two
hundred pounds, if in the country. The object of this clause was to
guard against the circulation of blasphemous and seditious libels, and
to ensure a forthcoming fund, out of which their authors should pay
the awarded penalty. By the bill now introduced the punishment for the
second offence was to be repealed, and the securities demanded raised
from three to four hundred pounds in London, and from two to three
hundred pounds in the country. To the first of these propositions there
was no objection; but a strenuous opposition was made to the second, to
adopt which, it was said, would be imposing new shackles on the press.
When the bill was in committee the clause was rejected on a motion by
Lord Morpeth; but on the third reading, the attorney-general having
collected a more numerous attendance of ministerial members, moved and
carried its restoration.

ALTERATIONS IN COURTS OF JUSTICE.

Committees of the house of commons, and the law-commissioners appointed
by the crown, had recently found much to blame in the arrangements for
the distribution of justice in Wales. In consequence of this an act
was passed during the present session abolishing the separate system of
Welsh judicature, and annexing the jurisdiction of the Welsh judges to
that of the judges of England. By the same bill the number of puisne
judges was increased from twelve to fifteen--a new one being added to
each of the courts of king's bench, common pleas, and exchequer. In
Scotland, on the other hand, while courts were abolished, the number of