3 May 1807

Scotch Reform

(5) 30

Letter V? VI

Letter V

English Review Courts

Memorial

To discover /determine/ therefore what from the operation of the above principles [...?] be the degree of the reduction reasonably to be expected in the number of Appeals from the Court of Session to the House of Lords (and without the interposition of any Chamber of Review) let us compare the appeals withdrawn and dismissed taken together on the one hand, with the appeals affirmed, reversed and remitted, taken together on the other.

But, forasmuch as the latest period of 3 years ending with the present year - a year not as yet brought to its conclusion would present /include/ causes of irregularity, as well in that account, as in the account of the influences that may be supposed to have been exerted, by the increase of the stagnation on appeals of both descriptions hear, and by the conception of that stagnation as entertained without doors, (in the number of bonâ fide Appeals /Appeals of both sorts.) let us take that period of three years which being at the same time [...?] enough to have passed under a Court of Session composed of the same Number as at present, shall present the greatest number of causes heard.

This period is the three years period ending with 1804. For this period the proportions are as follows, viz.

Malâ fide causes, 33: viz. withdrawn, 17: dismissed for not being presented, 16.

Bonâ fide causes, viz: all the causes heard, 44: whereof

Affirmed 28: reversed or modified, 16: viz. reversed, 9; remitted (supposed for modification) 7.