Welsh Judges, and nicknamed them the "yellow admirals of the law." Lord Brougham, in his "Recollections of a Welsh Judge," says that "there was a great charm about the old Welsh Circuits. The whole appearance of the Court was different from an English Court; the habits of the people, and even their dress, was distinct; and then, as in most cases the witnesses could not speak English, and had to be examined through an interpreter, you might well fancy yourself in a foreign country. Indeed, in addresses to the jury, whether by the Bar or from the Bench, it was but too obvious that the majority frequently understood but little of what was said to them."
The Courts sat only in spring and autumn, the circuits lasting about six weeks. Each circuit court was supreme within its own jurisdiction, resulting in the establishment of a peculiar standard of practice which alone was acknowledged as having authority within its own district. The Judges had not the power to compel the attendance of witnesses residing out of the counties within their immediate jurisdiction, and they were compelled by statute to sit six days in each circuit town. The course of business on each circuit was that on the Monday, the first day, the Court was opened after the Judges came into the circuit town. On Tuesday the Judges went to church at twelve, and afterwards charged the grand jury. On Wednesday, the "do nothing at all day," any adjourned cases were disposed of. On Thursday Crown cases and trials of prisoners were proceeded with. On Friday new issues were tried; and on Saturday morning a Court was held for any other business, and in the evening the Judges left for the next circuit town. When the two Judges differed in their opinions, no judgment was pronounced, and there was no appeal in equity matters except to the House of Lords, or by writ of error in matters of law to the King's Bench. Applications for a new trial had to be made immediately (to the same Judges who had tried the cause) at the close of the first trial. All barristers of the English Inns of Court were
