278 on delays in the court of sefsion. -^ug. 21 J 

 in their present state, that they must generally be al- 

 lowed to be safe changes, and for the better, though 

 unfortunately opposed by the interests of some of 

 the members of court. In the outer-house proceed- 

 ings, the representing days, are as strictly in ob- 

 servance as the reclaiming days are in the inner- 

 house. But a salutary regulation takes effect in the 

 inner-house, that has no place in the outer. Only one 

 reclaiming bill or petition can be received against an 

 interlocutor of the court. This is establifhed in ten 

 lines, hy the act of sederunt, November 26th 1718; 

 and a similar act prohibiting more than one re- 

 presentation would have the happiest effect *. 



Such a regulation would, it is true, affect the in- 

 terests of many respectable members of court. To 

 the clerks of court, it would fhorten the length oi 

 extract ; to the clerk's afsistants, it would much le(- 



* For the information of readers in foreign parts it may he pro- 

 T)er here to observe, that the court of sefsion is the supreme court for 

 ileterminin" all civil causes, those respecting revenue matters alone 

 fixcepted, in Scotland. It consists of a president, and fourteen ordina- 

 ry members, commonly called lords of sefsion. For dispatch, the 

 businefs that comes before this court is separated into two depart- 

 ments ; in one of which each judge acts separately, and decides as an in- 

 ihvidual. In the other, the court acts in its corporate capacity, as 

 a court of review of their sentences individually given. 



When the judges act as individuals, they officiate in a large open 

 liall, which is called the outer house, in which, as there are erected 

 three tribunals, three judges officiate at once ; — the whole court 

 e.>;cept the president taking this businefs in rotation. A judge offi- 

 riiiting in th s capacity is called the lord ordinary. From his decision 

 w appeal lies to the court in its corporate capacity; which from its 

 itting in an inner chamber is called the inner-house. From the de- 

 -isionsof this last court, lies an appeal to the house of peers. Edit. 



