PRIVATE

15 March 1807

A + + (1)

Letter V

Beginning

Of the 17 heads of which the chain of Resolution is composed, these 5 viz: Resolutions 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, have a more particular connection with each other.

Of this part of the plan the general policy, if I apprehended it right, is this:- I mean the ostensible or exterior policy, as presented to Your Lordship by the learned Reformer: for as to the interior policy, that was, or at least may have been, quite a different affair. But Your Lordship will judge.

I speak now of the ostensible policy. To prepare the way for his plan, I figure to myself the learned Reformer addressing himself to Your Lordship to some such effect as follows - Your Lordship knows, and every body knows, to what a degree, and for what a length of time, the House of Lords has been overloaded with

law-business

: the greater part of it made by Appeals from

Scotland

. Now, my Lord, suppose Parliament were to give us a Court of Appeal at

Edinburgh

: if the Judges of it are no others than what we have already, so far there will be no addition to the expence. A great part of the suitors will be satisfied with the decision of that local Court: the greater the better! Suppose, for example, it were but three fourths. Here is the time of the

House of Lords

eased of three fourth parts of the number of

causes

, that now come up to it from Scotland: and, as to the corresponding part of the whole number of

Suitors

, parties to Appeals, though to be sure they will not save the

whole

of the

expence

, yet they will save the

difference

, between the expence of trying the Appeal at home, and that of sending it 400 miles, up to London, to be tried.

Print this in Italics