cellor made a note of the objection by a dash on some blotting-paper. At this moment Lord Cole ridge arrived, causing some disturbance in the pro ceedings. The Chief-Justice having embraced the Chancellor and the Master of the Rolls with much emotion, and having smiled benignly on the other judges, took his seat, where he reposed for the rest of the sitting. Lord Halsbury said the first question to consider was whether the Civil Service order for compulsory re tirement at sixty-five applied to the Judicature branch. He spoke without prejudice, being himself above all such jurisdiction; but he had on his list of applicants for possible vacancies several distant connections — Mr. Justice Hawkins, who had just come in, here interpolated that he had never considered himself a member of the civil service. (Laughter.) Mr. Jus tice Wills said if his conscience would allow him he would retire at once. Mr Justice Uenman wished to inform the court that he would rot in his seat first. The Chancellor thought it would be best to pro ceed to the next subject; namely, the blockheads in Chancery, — he meant the block in the Chancery Division. He was sure his learned brethren would be glad to hear that her Majesty, by his advice, had determined to appoint two new judges for that divi sion (cheers from the Chancery judges, and cries of " Name! "); namely, Mr. Justice Mathew and Mr. Justice Vaughan- Williams. (Sensation.) Lord Cole ridge, having just awoke, " ventured to propose a vote of thanks for the transfer of two such estimable colleagues of his own humble self. They had been already mortgaged to the Chancery Division, and now they were forever foreclosed. Hinc ilia lackrymee." The other Queen's Bench judges unanimously sup ported this vote; Mr. Justice Collins hoping they would enjoy themselves as much as he had in the Divorce Court last summer. A whispered colloquy now took place between Lord Halsbury and Lord Coleridge. During the pause Mr. Justice Lawrance was heard to inquire, "How the jeuces — lie meant how the judges — of the Queen's Bench were to get along? " Lord Halsbury now resumed that no doubt it would occur to many to remark that this would diminish the strength of the Common Law bench. But he was of opinion, after consulting with the Lord Chief-Justice, that this could be remedied in two
ways. First, he meant to throw the Admiralty and Probate work into one court. This would release Mr. Justice Jeune. (Murmurs.) Secondly, he re gretted to say that the judicial time might be more, or rather less, economized He was told by Lord Cole ridge that some judges were not in their places by 10.30 a. m. (Here there were loud protests, and the proceedings becoming animated, the Chancery judges left the Council.) Lord Halsbury moved that the judges should enter the times of their arrival and departure in a public note-book. Mr. Justice Haw kins moved as an amendment that this should be done by the judges' clerks. This was carried by a large majority. Lord Halsbury said that the only other topic for discussion was the circuit system, on which he moved three resolutions, — one for its extension, one for its limitation, and one for its total abolition. The di visions were equal on each proposal, and the Chan cellor gave his casting vote in favour of all three. It was hereupon decided to reserve the matter for further consideration. Mr. Justice Grantham then rose to move the health of the Chancellor, the Crown, the country, and her Majesty's Judges. Lord Justice liowen moved, as an amendment, " that, the health of her Majesty's judges being ever under the tender solicitude of the Bar, they should go on to the previous question." " That question undoubtedly was," he said, " Why had they come there? or, as he should prefer to put it, Why should they not go?" This was greeted with up roarious cheers, and the Council dispersed at 1 30 p.m., the Lord Chief-Justice having already previously been called away by urgent domestic affairs. The various alterations and changes proposed are without number, and in many instances of too technical a character to be of general interest It is not likely that any very radical measures will be adopted in the near future, nor would this be de sirable. The bulk of the proposals made by one and the other are too clearly empirical and incon sistent to support the hope that even the best of them would be better than what.it is affirmed they ought to supersede.
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