12 May 1807

Scotch Reform

Letter VI

Letter VI

IV. Sheriffs Courts

When an obscure, untitled, unofficial drudge like myself, makes professions, they must be sincere, my Lord, his chance for obtaining attention depends upon it - they must be sincere, or wear upon the face of them, at least the colours of sincerity - they must not be openly contradicted by practice. /By/ Authority /a man is/ exonerates a man from this as from all other obligations. Day by day to wring the matter of fees in dribbles out of the bowels of the innocent and injured, to any "worth the time of the Court in considering matters of little or no importance" -(if that Court which is so far from having time enough for matters of the highest importance -) wastes its time in doing what depends upon time to " render useless" that jurisdiction on which like that of the other seat /those other seats/ of unsophisticated /uncorrupted/justice, he is bestowing all the while his self-contradicted insidious eulogies. Day by day, in the process of his work, he may trample upon the laws which he is sworn to give execution by his obedience upon the acts of Parliament. And of what Parliament? Of the Parliament of Scotland - of that regretted Parliament by which his country was governed before the intrusion of the mongrel legislature which is now occupying itself /now so busily occupied in/ in making breaches in the Session (art:2.││) and in passing acts which if they were /are/ passed would /will/ as those Ministers of Justice upon your Lordships (art. / . 35-38) be not only "urgent" but "illegal", and contrary to law. Acts of Parliament contrary to law! Behold there, my Lord, a doctrine avowed by Judges!