THE PEERS IN THEIR JUDICIAL CAPACITY.
" When Lord Denman attended the House of Peers on Tuesday, for the purpose of taking the oaths and his seat, there were no Peers present to introduce his Lordship. 'flue messengers of the House were despatched in all directions; and at half-past twelve o'clock, Loud 'Melbourne and the :Marquis of Cholmondeley attended. The latter nobleman took the seat of Lord Prudhoe, who was hearing appeals; and the new l'ecr was introduced by Lotds Melbourne and Prod hoc. "—Da ff.s, Paper.
Here we have a specimen of the mode in which our hereditary
legislators perform their judicial functions. One of the judges was Lord Paunnos; a capital sailor, we have no doubt, but what a judge of Scotch appeals! Then this new Daniel descends from the judgment-seat, the trial still going on, to introduce Lord DENMAN; and who takes his place ? A nobleman in every way as competent to confirm or reverse the decrees of the Scottish Courts as Lord PRUDHOE—the Deputy Hereditary Grand Cham- berlain, the Marquis of CHOLMONDELEY! And what a hurry and scuffle there is about the town, to find a lord and a ready-made judge! Surely the scene is altogether admirably calculated to raise our notions of the appellate jurisdiction of their Lordships! But the Chancellor told the Scotchmen, that, if they came to the Peers for justice. they must not quarrel with their judge. It is no laughing matter to the suitors, otherwise their Lordships, in the exercise of their judicial capacity, would rather provoke jokes than anger. Is it not time this farce was put an end to?
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