Note 18 — Chapter VIII
Reading edition
Note 18. Page 282.
In the year 1838, arrest on mesne process was abolished by statute 1 and 2 Vict. c. 110, (which recited that "the power of arrest upon mesne process was unnecessarily extensive and severe, and ought to be relaxed,") except in cases where a debtor may be arrested by order of a judge, to prevent his quitting the kingdom. In the year 1844, the legislature went so far (stat. 7 and 8 Vict. c. 96, § 58) as to abolish arrest on final process, in all cases of debts not exceeding £20, independently of costs. The policy of this measure is gravely questionable.