Magistrates have duly taken their recognisances. But neither the Sheriff nor the Magistrates nor myself have any means of ascertaining until the moment of trial that the recognisances have been fulfilled, and that the summonses will be attended. It is incompatible with their and my proper functions to assume those which none but a regularly educated and practising Attorney of the Court can satisfactorily discharge.
His Excellency may, pending the decision of the Secretary of State, make some provision for this exigency, without any material increase of expenditure. The Crown Solicitor would be the person to prepare all Informations, which at present are contracted for at so much the Information with Mr. Smithers, whom His Excellency allowed to be employed for that service. The Crown Solicitor would have charge of all Admiralty proceedings.
The Crown Solicitor would relieve the several public departments of so much of their periodical business as consists of correspondence of the nature of that which, where the parties are private persons, is or more fully may be conducted by their professional advisers. Finally, the assistance of the Crown Solicitor in the Survey and Land Offices would be invaluable.