1828.] Welsh Jurisprudence. 479 
2. Gloucester. Worcestershire, 
Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, 
Herefordshire, South Wales. 
Independently of the obvious benefit of the substitution of a better 
for a worse system of judicature, there are many advantages which 
would ensue from this consolidation of jurisdictions. The increased 
intercourse which would thereby be engendered with this country—the 
greater resort of the suitors of Wales to our courts—the progress of our 
judges through its counties, with its necessary result of an extending 
identity of language—would all conspire to promote the advancement of 
our less civilized neighbour ; while we believe what Lord Cawdor tells 
us as the result of one part of the existing system, is equally applicable 
to the whole—that it actually operates to deter individuals “ who would 
otherwise be tempted to invest capital in Wales, either in the purchase of 
land or in commercial and mining speculations.” 
It may be gratifying to learn, that in the discussion of any projected 
improvements in this matter, we may hope to be spared a little the sound 
of that disgusting werd “ compensation” —a word which, we apprehend, 
would never have found its way into the glossary of any government 
whose grand agency was not corruption. That, instead of being compelled 
to disgorge a little of the past, men should have to be bought off from 
the means of future robbery on the public, is a system so absurd, that 
we cannot imagine how it could ever have been tolerated for an instant. 
Yet to such an extent is this claim now urged by every place-holding 
vampire, that we should not be surprised if fellows transported to 
Botany Bay for pick-pocketting, should not soon put in their claim to 
compensation, for being forced to relinquish their profitable walks on the 
London pavement. Lord Cawdor, however, states, that the four last 
judges appointed in the Court of Great Session, have, he believes, 
accepted their offices under the express understanding that they were to 
have no compensation in case of any alteration in the court. He adds, 
“nor is there any reason why they should have it”—a proposition, we 
apprehend, which would be readily assented to by all but the parties them- 
selves, even had his lordship not added the qualification, “on account 
of any sacrifice made by them; for a Welsh judge (unfortunately he 
has to state) unlike an English one, does not give up his practice on 
_ coming upon the bench ; his income as judge is entirely additional.” 
Still, whoever imagines this to be the only obstacle—or a very con- 
siderable one in the way of reform—will, we apprehend, be grievously 
mistaken. Patronage must take care that it is not injured in any way 
before government is like to set very heartily about the work ; and 
it would seem that Lord Cawdor had some secret misgivings on the 
subject, for he thinks it necessary in concluding a work—the simple 
object of which was “to show that the remedies which have been applied 
to the grievances felt in the administration of justice in Wales, by no 
means meet the evil,” to issue the formal manifesto, that he has done so 
« from no feeling of hostility to the government.” 
In addition to this, there are, most probably, other sinister interests 
to be grappled with; and sinister interest, like an American sharp- 
shooter, is, in this country, indued with a presence so universal, that 
_we only discover him by the ball of his rifle. 
