their own best judgment. These commissioners were men of ability and good standing in the community, and they received no pay for their services. The costs of suit were merely nominal, thus enabling the poorest as well as the richest subject to obtain justice. We give the table of fees, which was kept hung up in open court : — For every summons, to the clerks, 3</. For the service, to the beadle, id. For calling plaintiff or defendant, clerks 2d, bea dle id. Nonsuit, to the clerks, is. For paying money into court, to the clerks, 6d. For every hearing, to the clerks, 3d. For a copy of every ex parte order, and of every judgment of nonsuit to be served, to the clerks, d. For the service of every such order, to the bea dle, 2d. For every execution, clerks, 8d. To the beadle, for levying the same, is. For acknowledging satisfaction in full, clerks, 2d. For every search, to the clerks, 2d. No lawyer's services were required in these courts; the commissioners simply questioning the disputants and then rendering judgment. Hutton, in his interesting work upon the subject, cites a number of cases which came before the Birming ham Court. . We quote one, as showing the extreme simplicity which characterized the proceedings : — Court. What is your demand? Plaintiff. Eleven shillings. Court. Is it just? Defendant. No; I do not owe him a farthing. Court. How does the debt arise? Plff. There is a pump in the neighborhood, for the joint use of the tenants. It has lately been repaired; each tenant pays a proportionate sum, according to his rent; all have paid, except the defendant. Court (to the defendant). Was the pump out of repair? Deft. Yes. Court. Was any part of the expense unnecessary? Deft. I suppose not. Court. What objection can you make against paying your quota? Deft. I have never paid anything, neither have I a right to pay. I gave no orders to have it done. I never promised payment, neither has any man a right to lay out my money. Court. Should you think it fair, if all the neigh bors went free, and the whole expense was saddled upon you? Deft. No.
Court. Then what reason is there that you should go free, and your neighbors bear the whole? Had they been all of your mind, they would have been deprived of one of the greatest blessings we know; or rather, like you, would wish to enjoy it at the expense of another. If you have never paid to former repairs, they have granted you a favor you do not deserve. As they have all an equal right to the pump, they have an equal right to pay. If you gave no orders, it was not because orders were not necessary, or the water not wanted; but that another, more spirited than yourself, might step forward and furnish you with a pretext. If you had promised payment, you would have stood in a more honorable light. He lays out his money himself who pays for a necessary article, which cannot be had without; but if you take that article, at the expense of your neighbor, you do him an injustice; so shall we, if we do not order payment. In the Birmingham Court the number of com missioners was seventy-two. Once every two years ten of their number were stricken from the list by ballot, and ten others chosen out of the body of the inhabitants. Six were summoned alternately by the beadle to attend bench every month, but their attendance was wholly optional. Any three formed a quorum.
A Lucid Proclamation. — The following is a proclamation made at the Market Cross of Inverary, Scotland, less than a hundred years ago : — "Ta hoy! Te tither a-hoy! Ta hoy three times! 1! an' ta hoy — whist! By command of his Majesty King George, and her Grace te Duke of Argyll: If anybody is found fishing about te loch, or below te loch, afore te loch, or ahint te loch, in te loch, or on te loch, aroun te loch, or about te loch, she 's to be persecuted wi' three persecutions : first, she 's to be burnt; syne, she 's to be drownt; an' then to be hangt. — An' if ever she comes back, she 's to be persecutit wi' a far waur death. God save te King an' her Grace te Duke o' Argyll." — Irish Law Times.
In the reign of Charles II., Scroggs (that infa mous justice of the King's Bench) and all other judges declared, under their hands, " that to print or publish any new book or pamphlet of news whatsoever, is illegal; that it is a manifest intent to the breach of the peace, and they may be pro ceeded against by law for an illegal thing." — limb's Legal Anecdotes.
