364 APPENDIX. [No. XXXIII 



the interpretation of the motives and equities of transactions, years after 

 their occurrence, upon the garbled statements of counsel and lawyers, 

 who stir up strife to live upon the contention. Men of fortune and 

 position now fear to undertake the duties of director, and yet for the 

 conduct of Life Assurance we want men as ' upright as the judges 

 themselves. 



England is the only country in Europe subject to the caprice of 

 Chancery. All other nations view it with the intensest horror. Here one 

 honourable judge praises an act done under difficult circumstances, whilst 

 another equally honourable judge, upon the same facts and upon the 

 arguments of the same counsel, declares the same act to be fraudulent, 

 and condemns the innocent victim in ruinous costs. Unprincipled lawyers 

 employ unscrupulous counsel, supposed to have private influence, and to 

 have the faculty of using strong language where the profits of a liquidation 

 are at stake ; and there have been scenes in court as to facts, so great is 

 the voracity of the vultures, when they see a prospect of a carcase to 

 devour. Some liquidations have taken years when they might have been 

 settled in months, but for Chancery. Contributories have been ruined ; 

 and what the creditors should have had, the lawyers, liquidators, and 

 counsel got. 



If Chancery cannot be abolished, and all its terrible demoralizing 

 machinery swept away, Life Policy-holders should require that their 

 companies be removed to some other kingdom, out of the jurisdiction of 

 the English Chancery, and away from the pernicious meddling of the 

 English Government officials. 



TRIPLE POLICY-HOLDER. 



JUDGES AND THEIR FAMILY RELATIVES. 



The propriety of barristers practising in courts of law presided over 

 by their relatives now demands consideration, as the matter requires 

 immediate action. 



The legal profession condemn the practice, as the public never can 

 respect decisions given under such circumstances. 



Rightly or wrongly, suitors anticipate defeat if a relative of the judge 

 is employed on the opposite side. 



On account of this prevalent idea, crafty solicitors seek to retain the 

 relation, whereby injustice is inflicted on other members of the Bar, and 

 dissatisfaction caused to the public. 



When suitors hear a relative of the judge make an unfounded state- 

 ment, or use strong language, they fear that their cause will be lost, and 

 when lost they believe the decision to be unjust. 



It is agreed on all hands that a relation of a judge must, in future, 

 be prohibited from acting before him. 



This rule may press heavily upon some barristers, but the time has 

 come when public opinion demands that barristers should not practise 

 before judges who are their family relatives. 



