

F, D I N B U R G H. 



Justiciary 

 Courfc 



duty in the determination of causes already Iirouglit 

 into court during tour months at a time. 'I'hus, any 

 one who submits his rase to trial here, cannot expect 

 a final decision in less than two years, especially if the 

 matter be contested. The number of causes brought 

 annually into court in every shajw, isabout'2500 on ;m 

 average of four yearn ; but it h:n of late decreased, 

 partly from the exclusion of sums below C25, partly 

 from the pressure of the times ; mid in the yonr termi- 

 nating 12th July 181+, when these observations were 

 w ritten, there have been 248/i. Thus, the number for 

 1808 being i2S()7, the decrease is nearly +00. Of the 

 whole number, scarcely a half are the subject of pro- 

 tracted litigation. On a gross calculation, not less than 

 4OO causes have been decided in one chamber of the 

 inner-house within the time now alluded to, a year ; 

 and the course of that procedure has occupied about 

 20,0(K) printed pages in quarto. But there is some 

 preponderance of business in this chamber. The ex- 

 pence of litigation is considerable ; it costs each party, 

 to be once heard, at least six guineas. If both unite in 

 desiring a decision, either believing himself right, a 

 debt of j 30 may, perhaps, be established for i 15 to 

 each. If the case goes farther, and is taken to the in- 

 ner-house on printed papers, the costs under the same 

 circumstances are not less than '.\Q. From that they 

 may amount to j200, jffSOO, or 500, according to 

 the spirit of litigation by which the parties are anima- 

 ted. Much depends, however, on the attornies who 

 manage the suit. 



One of the chambers of the Parliament House affords 

 accommodation to the supreme criminal court in the 

 trial of offences ; but it proves inconvenient, from ha- 

 ving no entrance, except through the other chamber 

 and outer-house. This court consists of a lord-justice- 

 general, a sinecure office, which is to be abolished ; a 

 ford-justice-clerk, who presides in the second division 

 of the civil court ; and five lords of justiciary, who are 

 always appointed from among the lords of session. 

 Great solemnity prevails in the proceedings of the 

 court, so great that an ordinary spectator could not 

 credit that it is composed of the same materials as the 

 court of session ; but the source of it must be sought in 

 the impression felt by the public, on beholding a per- 

 son in nazard of life or liberty. The sederunt of the 

 court is at no definite period, but according to the com- 

 mission of crimes, which are but of rare occurrence ; 

 for not more than five individuals suffer capital punish- 

 ment throughout all Scotland in a year. The judges, 

 however, travel through the country to try crimes twice 

 annually. Their sentences are not subject to review 

 by parliament, as those of the civil court ; but no ca- 

 pital sentence can be inflicted within 30 days of its 

 date south of the River Forth, or 4-0 days north of it, 

 in order to give time for an application for the royal 

 mercy. The judges wear crimson silk robes, faced 

 with ermine. 



A new structure, 1.50 feet in length, and two stories 

 high, fronting the High Street, proceeds from the 

 north end of the Parliament House, from which com- 

 munications enter into it. The under story is designed 

 Bo contain a hall for the writers to the signet, accom- 

 modation for their library, and some offices connected 

 with their establishment The next story consists of a 

 room or gallery, I*i6 feet long by 39 in width, with a 

 tefty roof, through which it is partly lighted, for re- 

 oeiving a library belonging to the faculty of advocates. 

 There ore also two smaller apartments on the same 



floor, and two lobbies below, one of which is to be re- Hiliiiimr,.-ii. 

 served as an entrance tor the advocates to the Purlin- '"""V"'' 

 ment House, and a place for attiring themselves in 

 their proper costume. This body has been particular- 

 ly lav. Hired by ijovernment in the part of the new build- 

 ings allotted for them. The writers to the signet paid 

 I..."i(KX) for accommodation in the ground floor ; the 

 advocates contributed ground worth only 1,.2( ( (I or 

 L.HOOO, for a site to the edifice, and the portion they 

 receive, though perhaps not so well adapted tor i. 

 a detached structure would have been, is t -tim.ited at 

 L. 10,000 or L 12,000. Sonic years a^'o. the buildings 

 for accommodating the court* of law , certain public 

 officers, and persons in confinement, being found inade- 

 quate for their respective purposes, the defect was propo- 

 sed to be remedied by considerable additions to the Par- 

 liament House. Plans and estimates were accordingly 

 prepared, by which it appeared that the v. hole would 

 amount to L. 1,000. However, it was about the same 

 time discovered, that a fund which had long before 

 been appropriated for the salaries of the judges, of la- 

 ter years ceased to be directed into that channel, and 

 then amounted by accumulations to about L.30,000; 

 therefore, above half the exjience could at once be de- 

 frayed. A bill was precipitately carried through par- 

 liament, chiefly founded on the opinions of individuals; 

 and this enormous irregular pile of building has now 

 arisen. But in completing it, the architect has found 

 it necessary to destroy the original front of the Parlia- 

 ment House, to make way for a piazza, forming part 

 of the plan. Perhaps, this is to be regretted, for it 

 was not only ornamental, but intimately corresponded 

 with the interior, setting aside the expence of that part 

 of the structure from which no material use can be de- 

 rived. 



Immediately adjoining to the Parliament House, and Court of 

 forming part of the new buildings, are several apart- Exche< l u<:r - 

 ments for accommodating the court of exchequer, 

 and a variety of offices under their controul, chiefly 

 connected with the revenue. The principal of these is 

 a court-room, approaching a semicircular figure, with 

 a handsome figured stucco roof, commodiously lilted 

 up for exchequer trials. Other apartments are called 

 the treasury chambers, where the barons of exchequer, 

 who are five in number, sit as lords of the treasury, or 

 determine causes without a jurv ; and various offices 

 fill the whole building, under different denominations. 

 The meetings of this court are held during short terms, 

 four times in the year ; but one of the barons is fre- 

 quently present in the course of the vacations, to over- 

 see and regulate such matters as may be necessary for 

 the public interest. In some of the offices there is a 

 great accumulation of business, and u subdivision into 

 sutxirdinate departments would probably be attended 

 with benefit. 



Kdinburgh is a royal borough, anil the magistracy, mimk-iraj 

 collectively called the town council, consists of .'!:< mem- cstablish- 

 bers, viz. a provost, four bailies, a dean of guild, and menu, 

 treasurer, and the same officers of the preceding year, 

 under the lesignation of old provost, old bailies, old 

 dean of guild, old treasurer, three merchant councillors, 

 two trades councillors, six ordinary, and ei^'ht extraor- 

 dinary council deacons. All are elected annually ; but 

 the provost may be re-elected a second year ; the old 

 provost, bailies, dean of guild, and treasurer, are one 

 degree lower in rank than the officiating magistrates of 

 this name, but precede the rest, and are elected as a 

 matter of course, after their own office expires. There 



