proceedings are printed, or if pleadings follow, is on printed papers. Both patties having stated their case, which is deliberately decided, lie who is dissatisfied, may hying the whole matter again under review of the same division within an interval of 21 days. If now unsuccess ful, his only remedy lies in au appeal to the House of Peers. Thus, the systematic arrangements practised here, are admirably adapted for the administration of the laws.
The supreme civil court sits only 112 days in the year, infinitely too short a period for discharging the public service ; and there is an absolute cessation of duty in the determination of causes already brought into court dur ing four months at a time. Thus, any one who submits his case 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 shape, is about 2500 on an average of four years; but it has of late decreased, partly from the exclusion of sums below 251., partly from the pressure of the times; and in the year terminating 12th July 1814, when these observations were mitten, there have been 2485. Thus, the number for 1808 being 2867, the decrease is nearly 400. Of the whole number, scarcely a half are the sub ject of protracted litigation. On a gross calculation, not less than 400 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 20,000 printed pages in quarto. But there is some pre ponderance of business in this chamber. The expense of litigation is considerable; it costs each party, to he once heard, at least six guineas. If both unite in desir ing a decision, either believing himself right, a debt of 301. may, perhaps, be established for 151. to each. If the case goes farther, and is taken to the inner-house on printed papers, the costs under the same circumstances are not less than 301. From that they may amount to 2001., 3001., or 5001., according to the spirit of litiga tion by which the parties are animated. 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 having no entrance, except through the other chamber and outer-house. This court consists of a lord-justice-ge• neral, a sinecure office, which is to be abolished; a lord 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 so lemnity prevails in the proceedings of the court; so great, that an ordinary spectator could not credit that it is com posed 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 person in hazard of life or liberty. The sederunt of the court is at no definite pe riod, but according to the commission of crimes, which are but of rare occurrence; for not more than five indi viduals suffer capital punishment 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 capital sentence can be inflicted with in 30 days of its date south of the River Forth, or 40 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, 150 feet in length, and two stories high, fronting the High Street, proceeds from the north end of the Pai liament House, from which communica tions enter into it. The under story is designed to con tain a hall for the writers to the signet, accommodation for their library, and some offices connected with their establishment. The next story consists of a room or gallery, 136 feet long by SD in width, with a lofty roof, through which it is partly lighted, for receiving a library belonging to the faculty of advocates. There are also two smaller apartments on the same floor, and two lob bies below, one of which is to be reserved as an en trance for the advocates to the Parliament House, and a place for attiring themselves in their proper costume. This body has been particularly favoured by govern ment in the part of the new buildings allotted for them. The writers to the signet paid 50001. for accommodation in the ground floor ; the advocates contributed ground worth only 20001. or 30001., for a site to the edifice, and the portion they receive, though perhaps not so well adapted for use as a detached structure would have been, is estimated at 10,000/. or 12,0001. Some years ago, the buildings for accommodating the courts of law, certain public officers, and persons in confinement, being found inadequate for their respective purposes, the defect was proposed to be remedied by considerable additions to the Parliament House. Plans and estimates were accord ingly prepared, by which it appeared that the whole would amount to 51,0001. However, it was about the same time discovered, that a fund which had long before been appropriated for the salaries of the judges, of later years ceased to be directed into that channel, and then amounted by accumulations to about 30,0001.; therefore, above half the expellee could at once be defrayed. A bill was precipitately carried through parliament, chiefly founded on the opinions of individuals; and this enor mous irregular pile of building has now arisen. But in completing it, the architect has found it necessary to de stroy the original front of the Parliament 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 he derived.