The Express. — London, England, 1853-04-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LOHDS.—MoNDAT, Arm 11. The Loki) Cu took his seat at S o'cluk. 1•Iii 1 HON?: PRKSENTED. N. %sautes --By the Earl of RODEN, from sereeal plat s in trete...l, peeving f a the sunpressi.n of nunneries. I'st:ll%4EN:ll4Y the Earl of EfiLIN TON, awl Es ti, FFIZWILLIAM, front places not heard, in I 41 ,,, 1r '1 the tree distribution of p tenementary pap titi.t ti.r. WITH A lace:Alm) WIPE'S SleTFlL—f:)' F.ul FIIZWILLIAM, Irons a Lice in Turk-Lure, iu fauna ut. COURT OE CHANCERY. Lord St. LEONARD'S gave notice that on Thur.day he would nut a quest tunas to the mlinthistration of the litu..3 of the Court ..t Clian•wry. EXAMINATION OF ATTACHES. The Earl of MALMESISURY referred to a e , .nversation which had taken phec with respect to the I duration and elimination of attnyhis 'afore they enti red int.. the !attic service, and wished to take that opportunity of stating that the scheme of his noble friend the member for Lyme whether sa•t•fectory or nit, had nut uri4inutid with the late government. (Hear, hear.) CANADA er.F:RoY RESERVES. The %atop of LX rEic (who spoke in an undertone) era. unders•oval to move for a copy of a letter from the bidiop of Toronto on she sulnect of the eltray reser/ex, which The Dike of NEWCASTLE consented to lay it on the table. IMPROVEMENT OF THE ART OF NAVIGATION. Lml Wife rp:a4LEy pee notice u.se a Fritl.ty week be wota:€l dir. et stienti m to, the carr,voluirnee betwseu the United Stints goeLriarnrnt tad t..e g ,vi rnmtnt or W. remarry with retereucu to the improvement of the Art of Naehgttioo. CO3iMISSION TO INQUIRE INTO TIIE CORRUPT PRACTICES AT TILE CANTERBURY ELEC. TIONS. . . . The Earl of ABERDEEN MN to move their lorilehips to give their assent to as uddress which heel come up trees th.• other house of parliament, praying that a conamissi might be appointed to inquire into the corrupt practices which had prevailed at the last election and :d preening ctimi. for the city of Canterbury. Their lordships had already declared their willingness to co.oeierate with the other house in end, orouring to diminish and cheek, by every meats in their power, thee.) corrupt practices at elections which bad been pared to prevail, and the time be thought was fully come when something should ho dune upon this suhject; for if matters eontioucd as at pre sent, he believed a serious blow would be stinek at the very principle of the representative system in this country. (Hear, hear.) He knew that sonic persons were Recite toured to view with comparative indiff:renee these practices, and to undervalue their consequences. Ile thought eue:i persons were greatly mistaken, for in his opinion the people of this country generally looked with increasing disgust upm the frequency and growth of corrupt practice at elections, and even the lowest among the people, who were deprived of the franchise, were indignant at the manner in which it was exercised by those who possessed it. ((dear, hear.) They hail been told that this evil had not in ereased, and that it had existed to an equal amount in former times. It might he so, although he greatly duulded the fact ; but, at all events, even if that were the case, what did it prove? It plainly proved that the practice of former times was worse than they had imagined it to have been ; and, under any eircuinstauces, it could not diminish the enormity of that which they now saw before their eyes. (Hear, hear ) lie did not think it necessary to enter into pirtieulars ot the evidence then on their lordships' table; indeed, he thought it would have been much better if their lordships had I. it all this preliminary part of their proceed ings to the House of Commons. (Hear, hear.) It they were to found leeislntive proceedings upon the evidence, then indeed it would be necessary to go minutely into the whole case, and see how far it would hear nut any enactment they might be called upon to make on this subj , et. But as it was, he leaked upon the present proceeding as merely laying the ground for an inquiry, and he trusted their lordships would not refuse their assent to the proposi tion which he had to make foe an inquiry which was quite sutlicieatly founded on the report of the House of Commons. The extent and amount of bribery in Canterbury were suf• ficient to justify them is at once agreeing to a further in quiry, reserving to themselves the power of dealing with any measure to which such :nquiry might probably give rise. (Hear, hear) Ile had been told, but he scarcely supposed it possible, that an objection might be taken to the course he proposed, arising from the terms of the report of the committee of the House of Commons, inasmuch as the report 01 that committee did not embody the precise is sins of the set of last year providing fur the better in quiry into ti.e existence of yen, matters. The committee reported that bedll ry in the city of Came rbury was a system generally preening as to the practices complained of, but the words of the set required it to be stated that bribery "extensively prevailed." Now, the House of Con.mons taking entirely what appeared to be the common sense view of the case—that where bribery was systematic and general it was extensive—adopted the words in the address which they had sent up to their lordships, very properly, too, as they aopeared to comply with the terms of the act. In their ad drea toe other house alleged that bribery did extensively prevail in the city of Canterbury, and by so tieing they adopted in substance the opinion reported by the commit tee tif the house, namely, that bribery was systematic. lie should much regret if such an objection, so purely tezhaieal, and which diJ not stand fur an instant in the House Id Commons, were to be made in their lordships' house, fur he really did think it would seriously endanger the belief of the nublie in their lendships* sincerity in co operating effectually with the other house, fur the suppession of the practices complained of. (dear, hear.) lla thought the discrepancy to which he had referred could not be urged as an objection which had any applica tion at all to the spirit of the proceeding adopted; and that it would only serve to place their lordship' house, in the eyes of the public, in a position in which ke should be very sorry to see it. (Cheers.) He therefore hoped their lordships would agree to the address which he had the honour of moving. The noble earl concluded by moving the address. Lord LYNDIiURST trusted his motive would not be misconstrued. No person could feel more strongly than he did the necessity of putting an end, by the strongest mesas, to that system of bribery which had so long pre vailed in the election of members: of the other house of parliament. No pewee could feel more disgusted than be did at the recent disclosures which had taken place ; but his experience in court, of justice led him to this emelusion, that caws of strong feeling, exciting great indignation, had led to bad law, and a forced construction of law; and neon all such occasions it was ne ermary to exercise the greatest degree of caution, so se to see that they were not misled by their feelings to steals the law to a construction which it ought not properly to bear. In the present ease the com mittee appointed to inquire into the validity of the election had pronounced its decision. The same committee might be appointed to inquire according to the law whether say corruption had prevailed at the elections, and they might then make a re port in the very words of the act of parliament. Therefore there was a simple and easy remedy for this blunder that had been committed; and he advised their lordships not to go from the strict rule in this case, however anxious they might be to suppress the extent of the evil which they all deplored, and which had been so disgraceful to the emantg. In all the feelings which his noble friend had expressed he entirely concurred; there had, however, been a great irregularity, and they ought not to proceed upon it—they ought not to proceed open an untruth. (Hear.) The LORD CHANCELLOR should deeply deplore the result if their lordships were influenced by the greet atitho city of his noble and learned friend not to adopt the reso lution which had just been moved. He should agree with him, if by making themselves parties to such a proceeding, they were stating en untruth to her Majesty, that they would be doing that which was disgraceful, and that which must inevitably entail future mischief. But it was because he was persuaded that they were stating nothing but the truth in the proposed address, that he trusted their lord ships would not have any difficulty whatever in seceding to it. (Cheers.) lie admitted, with his noble friend, that it was to be regretted that the parties who framed the „resolution did not follow literally the words of the act sot parliament, and he trusted such a course wouid be adopted in future. But when his noble and learned 'fiend said that nothing could warrant them in stating t o her Majesty that there hail been a resolution of the com a lieu stating that corrupt practices had "extensively pre y ailed" in the city of Canterbury, if it was not so set fo eth In the report ipaissionua cabin, he begged to say that h e differed from him. All that was asked was that they she aid so interpret the report as that they could agree tia an , address to her Majesty in the terms of the act of parlia men ; and he thought no one could say that in the present ( D n a , se they had ant gone as far as was necessary to comply w i t h t he se. L or a BT. LEONARDS differed with the noble and learned lord (t he Lard Chancellor), and was of opinion that the house h. set no power to join in the address. Lord Cl bMPBELL thought the very words need not be used, but only . neb as were equivalent to them; and he had no doubt that ewe used in the present case were sufficient. He would rem 'ad his noble and learned friend that this act was not confined to earrept practices which prevailed at the last election. Ilse words of the act were, "at any election or any elections." If the report showed that corrupt practices prevailed at airy election, it would be sufficient. The report in the present cue stated, that a system of corruption ex tensively prevailed at the last aod at previous elections. He thought their lordships were boond to concur in the ad dress, and he hoped that they would ; for he believed that both holies were equally desirous Of putting an end to those practices, and for the most effectual carrying out of this act of parliament. Alter a few words in explanation from. Lord Sr Leo - Lord REDVaDALE said that he thought that the best way for their lordships to secure parties from the oppres sion of a majority in parliament was to insist on the precise words of the act of parliament being used. The Duko of NEWCASTLE had listened with surprise to the speech of the noble lord who had just sat down, recollecting the part the noble lord took with regard to the bill, oa which this proceeding was founded, last year. Ii the evideace were looked at it would be seen that the ex istence not only of extensive, but of universal bribery Irlia estahlished ; and he 'eked if it was wise in this, a prelimin ary step, not a proceeding to disfranchise, but the instituting of a fan inquiry_ into the facts, to act on a teennicality oh this kind. (Hear) His noble friend (lard Red's dale) had not in this deloste, but often On previous CC, 4- sioss, esprosseel his opinion of what were the duties of the THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 12, 1853. TINAaiS MOUT (II:M.104D) BILL.—By Serjeant SII EH, from the inhabitants of Craigboy, In the barony of Ards, county Down. and Dellyhay, county Dawn ; Mr. SWIFT, signed by 1,220 inhabitants of the parish of Cirry, county Sligo; in Livour of. AriiittallATED AblAt'Ll's BI:L,—By Mr. PHINN, from Maidstone, signed by 4fis persons, in favour of, and praying that corporal ptniihment may be inflicted on persons con rived ut amanita on woinrn and children. REMoVAL AND SETTLEMENT OE THE POOR.—By Mr. FULLIiIt, from the board of guardians of West Elite, SUS- Sex. for the repeal r.f. RESTRICTION OF ItArLwAT TRAFFIC ON SVNTATS.— By Mr. WHALLEY, frion reterbarough, pining for. CocxTT Counrs JVIIISDICTION.—By Mr. WHALLEY, from the inhabitants of LI ingyllin, Montgomeryshire, prryinq for extension of to Chancery. Tue TRUCE STaren.—By Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, from the bakers and others to $u .bury, Suffolk, complaining of. At GMENTATION OF THE ARMY.—By Mr. THORSRLY, fern W.dstrharapton, against. TITHES, CHURCH RATES, ttE.—By Mr. HUME, from Sandbach, for the abolition of. COLONIAL PINNY POSTACIE.—By Mr. MOFFATT, from Tobago, in favour of. Pcitttc-nocses (SCOTLAND) HILL.—By M►. CRAU FURD, from merchants, spirit dealers, and inhabitants of Ayr Inumerously signed); Mr. litiME, from Montrose and Paisley ; against. to observe exactly how the matter stood at the time of the second reading. At the time that the bill was read a second time they were told that tho great object of the measure was to give to the Canadian legislature the sole power over all matters of purely local concern and interest, but when they examined this bill in committee they found it would not be confined in its operation to those matters which were purely of local interest, but that in fact it rioted to investments made in this country, and that it would enable the Canadian legislature to deal with those investments under the plea of local self government. No local interest was in any way affected by such investments. Again, at the time of the second reading of the bill, they were told that the effect of it would be to put the English and Scotch churches on precisely the same footing as the Roman ealiolic clergy in Canada, but when the question was exa mined in committee it appeared that they were placed on a very different fo.Aing, and that the endowments of the Ro • man cathulics could not be touched without the concurrence of the imperial parliament, while the endowments given to the protestant, in Canada could be touched, could be dealt with, and could be destroyed by a maj irity of the Canadian legislature alone. ([fear, hear.) Again, at the time of the second reading of the bill they were told, and properly, that there were certain existing interests reserved for them to whom they now belonged on the ground that the faith of the crown was ple:lged to maintain them, but when they pressed her Majesty's ministers to give them an an swer as to the way in which that pledge was given, no answer had as yet been elicited, because they knew that the faith of the crown was no more pledged to these particular interests than it Aram to the whole of th sc reserves. And, lastly, let ham point out that at the time of the Fecund revil ing of the bill they were told that the settlement of 1810 was nut a compact in the sense of its being a national agree ment, and when they got into committee the third clause was withdrawn from the bill, on the express ground that the settlement of 1810 was a contract so far as to alf,ct the liability of this country ; and mark the consequence—the consequence being that the prior obligation resting upon Ca nada in rsspect tit which the guarantee WAS given by this country could be entirely taken away by the Canadian legis lature. Now there wire clauses—there were anomalies with ri ference to this bill which convinced hint that it could not have been brought forward with that considera tion which he should have expected from her Majesty's government; and he could only account fur it in one of two ways, either because the government was divided on the question, or because—which he thought was perhaps as much the truth—that when the matter came to be discussed, they felt that the bill, as it originally stood, was not, in rc lettuce to what they did in 1310, either wise or lust. That 'acing so, let them examine on what principle this bill was founded, and what were the considera tions mainly inducing the government to being it forward. The principles on which it we: founded, and the considerations which induced government to bring it forward were moat ably stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; and he thought the argument pot by the Chancellor of the Exchequer might resolve itself into two points—first, that it was their duty to give to the Canadian legislature the largest power with reference to matters of purely local self-government ; and secondly, that if those powers were in any way abridged by them (the imperial parliament) there was a danger of promoting di-content iu that colony, nr, as he thought he forcibly put it, a danger of occasioning a collision between the colonial legis lature and the imperial parliament. Now there., he took it, were the main considerations which had induced the government to bring in this bill. Well, then, let them see how the matter stood. He was not going to dispute the question of local self-go ?moment, for he blieved he had advocated that question before some of those whom he now saw oppo. site to him had advocated it. Ile was for giving local self government in the fullest sense of the word to their dif ferent colonies as soon as they were capable of exercising it constialtionally but be doubted very much whether the question of selegovernmentnrese on this question, and for this reason, that he thought there were anterior obligations resting on the imperial parliament to take care that cer tain rights which were guaranteed by the imperiel parlia ment should be preserved to those for whom they were in tended. Assuming that there was a trust, he denied that the question of local self-government arose at all. If it did, he should concur with the government iu giving to the colony the power of exercising that government, but denying, as he did, their premises, he wax bound to resist their conclusion. (Hear, hear.) But now came the material question —was there suck a trust ? That must be determined by a refer ence to the statutes and charters under which the reserves were originally granted, and subseque ttiy confirmed to the protestant clergy of Canada. The title of these reserves was c seal with the cess:un of Canada itself. At that period the colony was peopled by Roman catholic. ; and there fore the parliament of this country most properly and most wisely, by a statute passed in the year 1774, secured to the Roman catholic clergy all their accustomed dues and rights, bat as it was thought desirable to encourage protestant im migration to this new posse. sion of the British Crown, the other dues and rights which had not been appropriated to the Roman catholic clergy were, by the same act of parliament, secured to the protestant clergy. That we, allowed by the royal proclamation of 1770, which directed for the first time' that one.seventh of the unappropriated lands should be applied for . . that purposelso . that the title of the Roman cilkolic and the protestant clergy rested upon precisely the same foundatieu ; and if they shook the one they must shake the other also. (Hear, hear.) No change wes made in the statute of 1791 by the imperial parliament until the year 1840, when it was enacted that one-half of the re serves shuuld be distributed by the governor and execteive council atrongst the different religious bodies in Canada in proportion ;to tho numbers of the respective sects in the colony. That settlement was considered to be a perma ne•t one; and he appealed to the house whether it was wise, or even decent, to disturb it? (Cheers.) If ever a settlement was solemnly made, if ever a guarantee was distinctly given, if ever a duty was imposed upon parlia ment, that settlement, that guarantee, and that duty were involved in maintaining the existing settlement. If they passed the bill they would be, in fact, establishing the voluntary system on the destruction of religious endow ments. In the next place, they would run the risk of ex citing great religious *trite with reference to those whose endowments they were not going to touch. And thirdly, they would shake the confidence of the colonies in the pro tection which they derived from the imperial legislature. Mr. DRUMMOND said that tlt nigh as the debate pro seeded since the introduction of the bill, it had been much simplified, and the bill itself had been somewhat altered, it was still neither more nor less than a measure of church plunder. (Hear, hear.) So many extravagant things had Men enunciated siuce its introduction, that he was loth to let it go away without something likes parting benediction. (Laughter.) When his noble friend at the head of the go vernment announced the principles on which the govern ment was to be conducted, he told them that they were to be those of "conservative melee's." The mea sure under discussion was a measure of " progress" no doubt, but he much feared that his noble friend, in sticking to the substantive, had forgotten the adjective, for the " conserva tive" quality in the measure he was at a loss to discover. (Laughter.) It was progressive, but it was in the direction of the destruction of all religious establishments. (Hear, bear.) The Aberdeenshire phrase, therefore, of " conser vative progress," when translated into pure Cornish, meant consistent radicalism. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) This measure certainly bore a greater analogy to the latter than to the former. (Hear, hear.) Another most extraor dinary thing connected with the bill was that when a bishop thought it right and fair to stand up for his absent brethren, he was forthwith denounced as the pest of hie diocese. (" Hear," and laughter.) Though it might be secundmin artem to abuse an absent ad versary, yet to abuse him in this manner was hardly fair, and it certainly was more like consistent radicalism than " conservative progress." (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) Another bishop, however, did strongly recommend the plunder of his brethren in Canada. This brought to his mind the anecdote of King James, Andrews Bishop of Winchester, and Neale Bishop f Durham. When the king asked if he might not take some part of the temporalities of the elute', the Bishop of Durham made answer, " Sire, you are the light of our eyes and the breath of our nostrils ; take what you please." Bishop Andrews was silent, and when the king asked him for his opinion, he said, " I think your Majesty may securely take the property of my brother Durham." (Laughter.) It was well worthy the consideration of the Chancellor of Ale Exchequer whether he might not take in like manner the temporalitiesof the see of Oxford. (Laughter.) The dis cussion of this bill afforded a curious instance of the way in which gentlemen could commit crimes, provided they did not use harsh language. There were on the ministerial bench many soi-disant friends of the church, and the words sacnlrge and ecclesiastical plunder sounded very harshly in their hearing. They therefore banished these words, and said they would not hear of such things in Canada, but they said " we will allow the Canadians to deal with church property." (Cheers.) Now he believed that the gentlemen behind the ministerial bench who supported this measure had too much sense to quarrel about words. (" Hear, hear," from the liberals.) Yes, " Hear, hear," but he would ask her Majesty's ministers if the same argument and language would not be as strong if Ireland were substituted for Canada. (Hear, hear.) He doubted very much whether the " Pope's Bran Band " would care very much about the word, provided they got the power of dealing with the church property in Ireland. (Hear, hear.) He did not think so badly even of the dishonesty of the proposal as the humbug with which it was sought to be glossed over. (Hear, hear.) The Chancellor of the Ex chequer said he believed and hoped that the Canadians would not secularise the church property. Faith and hope were cardinal virtue+, and he should be sorry to deprive any gentleman of them, and he knew no persons who needed a larger share of them than Chancellors of the Exchequer. (Laughter.) But faith and hope •ere good or evil, according to what they rested on. He had faith, but no hope, that they would secularise this property, because they said plainly that they meant to do so, and because a great many of those who supported the measure in that house did so with that avowtd intention. (near, hear.) Ho (Mr. Drummond) did not like doing things by halves, and since her Majesty's government were going to act the part of Filch in Canads, they ought with equal justice play the part of Sixteen String Jack in Ireland, and follow it up by coming out as Cap4oi.l Macheath in England—making a beginning with the see of Oxford. (" near, hear," and laughter.) When ever he joined them in their system of church plunder, he gave notice that he would begin his plunder with the rich instead of the poor man. (near.) He would plunder the wealthy church of England, and not the poor church of Canada. (Hear, he ir.) The morality would be the same, and the profit would be much greater. (" Hear, hear, " and laughter.) It might be a good thing or them, when they were fairly quit of those colo hies which had got representative government, and which would begin by secularising church property. They they . thought it would be little what was involved confined to cotton and to corn. The separation of those i b n ad th g a u t t q f u teu estron d ot free but th tritTe bsult if colonies would he the necessary consequence of that mea sure. lie hoped that this was the view taken of this great question by her Majesty's government. The colonies would be glad to come to a compromise by getting leave to rid of colonies elect • president. This would enable them to g et rid of many troublesome questions when they got that brought nothing to them but disgrace and shame. (Bear, hear.) Mr ' li. - SEYMER said that he intended to vote for the thirdreading of the bill, and not with the view of having I these clergy reserves secularised—a circumstance which he should see with regret. (11,ar.) Ile should support the bill as a conservative and for the conservatiun of the union between the mother country and Canada. (Hear, hear.) Mr. LIDbELL said that they heard a great deal in the course of this debate of the majority of public feeling, but ho denied that a majority of public feeling was:al ways a just criterion of what was right. The early French republic acted in accordance with public feeling when they confiscated property ; but would it be contended that it was right to be guided Ly public feeling in such a case . ? What was the use of supporting a large force in Canada if it was not for the purpose of maintaining the dignity of the crown and the English law in that country ? Ile maintained that it would Le a breach of faith to pass this measure ; and the right hon. gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had admitted that it would !v., inch in ISM The minority in Canada had been faithful and loyal to the mother country, and it would be using them must ill to pass this measure in despite of their feelings. (Hear, hear.) He should certainly vote for the amendment; and he re gretted that this iniquitous bill had ever been laid on the table. (Laughter.) Sir E. DEItINU said it appeared to him important that the house should determine whether or not the enact ments of 1791 and 1840 were to be considered permanent and irrevocable. If they should be of opinion that no alteration whatever could be made without a breach of faith, it would, he apprehended, be their bounden duty, totally irrespective of the opinion of the people of Canada, to apply the rest reel to these purposes, end those purposes only, for which they were originally de signed; if, on the other hand, it should appear that they were susceptible of revision, the question then narrowed itself into the issue, was legislation to be undertaken by the imperial or by the colonial legislature ? (Hear, hear.) Having listened with great attention to the various argu- ments which had been adduced, he had arrived at the con clusion that the existing arrangement was not to be consi dered permanent and irrevocable. Placing reliance on the religious feeling of the people of Canada, he would cheer fully leave to them the solution of the question ; confident that they would pursue such a course as would secure to the colony the blessintts of internal peace Red tranquillity, and thus contribute most effectually to its future welfare and its lasting prosperity. (Cheers.) Mr. CHILD looked upon this as an imperial ques- tion, and one which if decided in accordance with the wishes of the Canadian parliament would involve a viola tion of the plighted faith of this crown and kingdom. Mr. F. PEEL said that he had before explained that the principles he ventured to lay down with refer ence to this bill had no reference whatever to re ligious endowments generally, but to one particular country, Canada ; and to one particular endowment, namely, the clergy reserves of that province. It was not because lie supported a certain applicatiou of these rest ryes in Canada, that therefore he wavered in his attachment to the esta blished church. Ile supported the church of England be cause he himself belonged to it, and because it was in unison with the sentiments of the great body of the people, hut the case was entirely different with respect to Canada. It had been attempted to Paten upon the government an imputation of breach of trust, but he (Mr. F. Peel) felt satisfied that they had fulfilled every obligation of public faith. They had respcsted all existing rights, and miuisters of every religious endowment had been held intact in the positions they previously occupied. Having recapitulated the history of previous legislation on this subject, which has been more than once reported, the hon. member proceeded to say, that the present bill fulfilled all engagements of public faith, and maintained the strictest impartiality and equality of dealing towards all religious denominations, while, at the same time, it supported that policy which had been of late years carried out with such eminent success in Canada—he meant that of leaving it, in so far as was consistent with its dependency on this country, in the entire and unrestricted management of its own internal affairs. (Hear, hear.) Mr. NAPIER, thought that the question would be very simple one if the view taken by the hon, gentleman who had just sat down was the view in which the govern ment presented the bill to the House of Commons, but that did not at all appear to be the case. There had been great evasion, and changing and chopping in the arguments of the government. One argument on which the bill had been rested was, that it was to place the protestant reserves and the property of the church of Rome in Canada on a footing of perfect equality. That, however, was not at all the fact. (Hear, hear.) Ile maintained that the ecclesiastical rights of the church of Rome would remain protected both by the aces of 1791 and 1810, and that thus that church would remain, under this bill, in a better posi tion than the church of England. (Hear, hear.) The faith of the crown was pledged, and could not be broken by law ; and because they could not violate it themselves the government proposed to put it in the power of others to violate it. (Hear, hear). The guarantee was not to pay 7,1001. a.year, but one-third of the value of all the land that might hereafter be sold. The contrast ought to be kept as a contract would have been kept between the noble lord and Sir Robert Peel. It ought to have been kept as an arrangement between two honourable gentlemen. They ought not to ride off on an opinion of the law officers of the crown, that if the reserves were secularised the guarantee would be lost. The mission of England was not merely to make a great market for Manchester ; but she had a great moral obligation to discharge. (Hear, hear). Let us pre serve our own honour and faith, and whether our colonies remained ours or not, we should retain a position before the world that would be worthy of the name and glory of old England. (Loud cheers). The SOLICITOR-OLNERAL would not have troubled the house but for some words and principles which had been freely used by the right hon. gentleman who had just spoken. They had heard a great deal about parliamentary title and private rights ; and so far as they existed they were preserved entire iu the bill. (Hear, hear.) lie de sired the house to discriminate between parties who were in the enjoyment of stipends and the power of giving a society here in England to distribute a large amount of money amongst certain individuals they might cleft. (Hear, hear.) He would admit that when a private indi vidual, or even a public body, had acquired property, it ought to be preserved. The act of 18411 had provided cer tain stipends during the lives or incumbency of the Cana dian clergy, and then it stipulated that the whole should be thrown into one sum for tho benefit of the people of that colony. (Cheers.) The right hon. gentleman hail talked about parliamentary conduct, the faith of the crown, and public duty ; but fur whose benefit had the stipulation been entered it.to ? For the people of Canada ; and what had been called breaking a compact was simply to put the compact under their control and disposal. (near, hear.) Having made provision for a certain number of men, they said to the Canadians, " There, now, deal with it as you please. We meant it for your advantage, deal with it as in your own judgment you think is best for your own in terests." (Cheers.) Yet that was represented as an inva sion of private rights. By a singular confusion of terms it was called a breach of parliamentary and royal faith to re move from the people of Canada that badge of subjection involved in having this money doled out to them by a so ciety in England, and to commit the management of those funds to the representative body of the whole people. (Cheers.) Bir J. PAKINGTON said that in his opinion the pro ceedings of that day had thrown a stain upon the character of British statesmen—(laughter)—and that that opinion had not been affected by the short and feeble speech which they had just heard. (Hear, hear.) He should be sorry to say anything personally offensive to any member of the government or to any hon. gentleman on the other side of the house; but the time had come when those who had any respect or reverence for fair dealing and honour in the conduct of public affairs ought not to shrink from a declara tion of their feelings in plain terms and at any cost. (Hear, hear.) After the extraordinary course which the govern ment had taken, he was not disposed to dilate upon many comparatively unimportant features of the debate; nor ' would he dwell upon the singular vacillation, the inconsis tency, the self-contradiction, and the contradiction of one another which marked the proceedings of the government upon this bill. (Cheers.) lie would pus over for instance the attempt of the right hon. baronet (Sir W. Moleswortb) to show that the object of the bill was to place Roman catholic and protestant interests on the same footing— a statement which the noble lard had been obliged to cor rect. Surely the right hen. baronet, of all men, ought to , have known something of the measure, seeing that when , the late government had refused to touch it, he had himself given notice that he would bring it in. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord, again, had said that bill was doubtfully worded as to the right of either house to interpose by en address to the crown ; and he had amended it upon report by the insertion of the word,' 39th section :" but he (Sir J. Pakington) was told by learned friends that the clause woo ' still ambiguous. What was the noble lord's next proceed• ing in committee? Why, Ito omitted the third clause, be ' cause, as he had told the house, he felt hound to retain the guarantee upon the Consolidated Fund which had been given by the act of 1810. Yet that night , the noble lord had told them that though it was the opinion of the law officers that the guarantee would be lost if the estates were secularised, yet he did not intend to propose any , clause to prevent that from being thecase. He (Sir J. Pakington) was grieved and astonished at the noble lord's announcement. The noble lord and his colleagues were bound either to withdraw the bill, or to insert in it a provi sion which should give due effect to the guarantee. (Cheers.) It was a sadday for England. (Laughter.) No affected ridicule should deter him from giving expression to his sentiments. (Hear, hear.) Ile treated such affected ridicule as it deserved, and lie repeated that it was a sad day for England when party necessities and party feeling in duced men, whom he believed to be of as high honour and character as any in this "reentry in their private capacity, when they were transacting the public business, to deviate from those principles which would have actuated them in their private affairs. He regarded this bill as an act of spoliation; it had become more so than ever after the aclnrisa' which Lad beets made tomightfrith regard to the guarantee, and lie denounced it as, in his de liberate conviction, a breach of faith on the part of the crown, a compromise of the honour of parliament, and as inconsistent with the welfare of the country. Lord J. RUSSELL—I must, in the first place, say, that the hon. and learned gentleman tho member for the Uni versity of Dublin and Cie r;glit hon. gentleman who has just sat down, have not from 'sting all the fatal and lamentable coneequencee which they anticipate from this measure. They bare not Meister, either, frote etatiem that if the refusal of this power to the legislature of Canute should lead to the separation of Caned* from this empire, they are prepared to embrace that alternativ e . W ear, hear.) Now, before the house rejects a bill from w eed, such consequences are predicted, it is surely worth their while to ceusider whether there are any sufficient reasons, in justice or policy, why that rejection should take place. The right hon. gentleman has epoken much of the pain with which he has viewed them guarantees broken, and those princiel, s departed from which he thinkeought to be maintained. (Hear, hear) Ilut before we assent to by doctrines on this subject, let us look a little at the nos. ture of this property of the clergy reserves, anti mime is its present position. In Feel, Mr. Pitt, proposiug to separate Canada int, two provinces, of which the one should bePench and Renton Catholic, and the tither should be English and protestant, peeweed that, in order to 111101 Min a pruttstaut clergy in respectability, onemeventh of the land, beleneing to the crown, the waste lands, sh ou ld be devoted to the maintenance of a protestant clergy. Wh m premed by Mr. Fox us to the inconvenience of such an arrangement, as to the numbers there might be jellaba log that province, who were not protestant),, or being pre testauts, did not belong to the Church—Mr. l'itt said, fairly awl candidly—" This is an arreugement open to revision ; and if it should be found that the quantity of land is too much, that the protestant clergy do oat require so large provision. this, liee every other part of the act I am propos. ing, will be sate et to revision.' Accordingly a power to altar and repeal that act was included in it. In 1831, Lord Goderich, with the opprobution of the crown, advised the legislature of Upper Canada to part with the endowment altogether, and to appropriate other wise the fun& arising front that endowment. Nor did Lord Godethh, the le..eretary of State, swum that this was an inelientible endowment with regard to which the bononr of the cr iwn was pledged. In lel3 bill came over here from Creeds proposing to make an alteration in the distribution of the proceeds of these clergy reserves. I found that it was impossible to obtain the ap probation of parliament to that bill. I found that it WO6 liable to objection in poiut of law. I found alto that so arrangement of a similar kind was out likely to pass through the other ho me of parliament; and I cemented, though I did not think the arrangement au equitable one, to a division of the recce& of these r. serves. lem yeti ready to state that I considered this is the view of a lied arrangement of the matt. r, that I believed the churches of Ei.gland and &ottand would employ those sums which were devoted to them by that act of parliament. At the same time, it woe impeeiehle not t e see that, in the coarse of events, the etfairs of Celia& might take that CAR. plexien, that it would be it: peasible to maintain that guarantee. Well, what has happened ? For men; years the arrangement was undisturbed. The right roan. gentleman who hoe just sat down sees that the Rummies has been lightly withdrawn. Was it lightly withdrawn? In:J sly, 1330, the Canadian Assembly addressed the crown, requesting to have the power to dispose otherwise of the clergy reserves, or of the funds re isiiig from them. 'the opplication was considered by the government of that day; and Lord Grey answered that it was a matter exclusively affecting the domestic concerns of Canada, and therefore, although the government greatly regretted that the act of parliament should be disturbed, yet they could not, accord ing to all the principles which they had held and professed, refuse to Canada the power of interfering with that are !enurement, and making a new distribution of those re serves. (Hear, hear.) Was it a matter of domestic con cern for Canada, or not, that the members of the Church of England, being one-eighth of the population of Upper Canada, should have o"•-half of the proceeds of these re. serves? Was that a domestic concern of Canada, or of Great Britain, or of the United Kingdom, or of the empire at large? (Hear.) I think it cannot well be denied that the persons most interested in that arrangement were the people of Canada themsele CA, (Hear, liar.) But what said the right hon. gentleman when he was Secretary of State ? He mid he was Inc re-distribution. (Hear, hear.) lie said that he should not object, when it woe shown to be expedient, to depart from or disturb the existing arrange ment. But now he says that re-distribution it entirely different from spoliation. (.' Hear, hear," from the opposition.) Tire right honourable gentleman and Mr. Walpole have talked of the various arguments that have been put, anti have said that there is no end to the melees grounds upon which the Pleasure has been supported. The tact is, they have endeavoured to shift the ground ; and when they have been answered upon all these points, they turn rouna and say, " lota argue the question upon various grounds, and do not put it upon any great issue." But that has only been done to meet the shifts and expedien's by which they were endeavouring to oppose this bid. (Hear, hear.) We have never denied that the great (Lime is. whether or no you will give the province of Canada the power of legislating on this subject. (Hear, hear.) And that is my answer to Mr. Walpole,who tells the house that the voluntary principle is a very bad principle, and that the principle of church estableh ments is a very good principle, and leads the people to prosperity and to happiness. All I have to say upon that subject at present is, that is an argument which I advise the right hon. gentleman to ad dress to the Assembly of Canada. (Hear, hear.) If we were arguing the question in this house , with respect to the United Kingdom I should Agree with him. But with re gard to this question as it effects the people of Canada (for Ido not shrink from that consequence) I say we arc of opinion that church establishments are not for the benefit of Canada, and that religion will not be injured by Adopt ing the voluntary principle ; and that neither the church of England, nor the church of Rome, nor the ministers of any other denoinination, sh iuld have incomes from the state, or any part of these clergy reserves, it' that is the conclusion, the strong determination, of the people of Canada on this question. (Cheers.) I say they must have their own will in tare matter. (Cheers.) On the other hand, if they shall think that at least a large portion of these clergy reserves should he ilistributee equally among the ministers of religious denominations, I believe they will come to a very wise conclusion ; but it is a conclusion which I will use no force or compulsion to make them arrive at. (Cheers ) The right hon. gentleman has argued as if this was a new principle altogether, and we were endeavouring to establish a system which had been hitherto unknown. But if he will loot back to tire debate in 1791, he will see that, en the first in troduction of the Conetitutional Act by Mr. I'itt, Mr. Foe laid down that rule which we now adopt, and which we think must be our rule on this suteect. Ile said "he was willing to declare that the giving to a colony so far distant from Eugland the power of legislation and of governing it self, would exmedingly predispose him in favour of every part of the plan. If the colony was to have a local govern ment liberally formed, that would incline him to overlook defects in other parts of the bill because he was prepos sessed with the belief that the only way of retaining distant colonies with advantage was to enable them to govern them selves." That was the principle laid down by Mr. Fox in 1791, 62 years before the present time. (Cheers.) It is the only principle by which we can hope to maintain harmony and union between this country and Canada. If we say we must have our own notions, must make our own ideas prevail, and that our own laws and regulations must be the normal rules and regulations of Canada, then indeed the connexion between this country and that great province will be very doubtful. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Walpole says that the imperial legislature must govern the colonies according to its own views, leaving the colonial assemblies to regulate minor matters. It is quite obvious to me—and I am sure the majority of the house will agree with me— that that is not the kind of connexion which can long sub sist. (Cheers.) When you have a province with two mil lions of inhabitants, which is daily and hourly increasing in population and wealth, which is 3,000 males from our own shores, the condition of which differs in many respects from that of the United Kingdom—ie it wise—is It possible to say to such a province : " We will make laws, leaving to you only the minor regulations ?" (Hear, hear.) No, sir, the conuexion must be founded upon liberal and upon generous principles. (Cheers.) If you so conduct your legislation, 1 believe the connexion may long endure. 'They will value yeargenerosity ; they will maintain their deference for the name of Britons. (Cheers.) I believe that such a con nexion—highly honourable to both, highly honourable to thes country and to the colonies—may be the source of pros perity to both. (Hear, hear.) But if, on the other hand, you attempt to go back to that system of minute regulation, then indeed you may bid adieu, not to this noble colony alone, but also to many others. (Hear.) These principles are not new principles; they are the ancient principles upon which our colonial empire wan fouaded. I hope the house will not depart from them this night; and if you confirm the third reading of this bill, I believe you will strengthen and perpetuate the connexion with our colonies. (Cheers.) The house then divided— For the third reading Against it The bill was then read a third time, anti passed. CONSOLIDATED FUND AND NATIONAL DEBT NOTICES OF MOTION. THE ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES BILL. Mr. H. DHUMMOND gave notice that on whatever day the hon. awful). r (or Meath Bxtt his motiou for the repeal of the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, he should move that tilt house be called over. THE EXPULSION OF MII„FRAUFORD FROM SC AN Y. Lord I). STUART gave notice of his intention to bring this guseei.ni boure the house on Thursday. COUNTY RATES AND EXPENDITURE BILL. Cot. ItAttcomr gave notice that cm this bill going into committee, he should move in clause 4, after the words " elect two persons to be members of tha hoard," the addi tion of the words " with the exception of the Isle of Wight wl.ich shall return six members." CUSTOMS DUTIES. Mr. J. WILSON gave notice that ur. Thursday next he should move for certain papers in relation t the report of the customs duties committee, and in reference to the se. port made by the commi.sioners, and that he intended to take that opportunity of stating to the house whet steps the government intended to take in reference to that important matter. lie hoot d that be should be able to bring it on on Thursday, because he believed there was very great anxiety among the commercial public to know whit' steps would be taken. CUBA. Sir DE LACY EVANS moved for copies of cor tethondeuce between her Britannic Majesty's government and those of the United States, Spain, ■nd France, c in censing alleged projects of conquest and annexation of the bland of Cuba, and the late attacks made upon that ter ritory, end the threatened repetition of the same from United States porta. Lord J. RUSSELL agreed to the motion with an altera tion, so that extracts only should he given. CANADA CLERGY RESERVES BILL.— GUARANTEE. Sir J. PAKINGTON asked what in the opinion of her Majesty's government, and when he used those words of tonne he me ant the opinion of the law officers of the crown, will be the force and effect of the guarantees upon the Con solidated Fund, in see. 8 of the Act 3 and 4 Vie., cap. 78,10 the event of the clergy reserves being secularised by the legislature of Canada. Lord J. RUSSELL said her Majest3's government had not asked for the written opinion of the law officers of the crown, but he bad seen the law officers of the crown, and they had given their opinion to him that in the event of the clergy reserves being secularised by the legis lature of Canada and the act receiving the royal assent, there would be no claim on the Consolidated Fund of this country. (Hear, hear.) Sir J. PAKINGTON said the answer of the noble lord made it necessiry that he should ask him another question. lie wished to ask the noble lord whether it was the inten tion of her Majesty's government to take any steps to give effect to that guarantee, the obligation of which he had so distinctly recognised. Lord J. RUSSELL—Certainly not ; it is not the inten tion of her Majesty's government to take any such steps. POOR-LAW SETTLEMENT. Sir W. JOLLA FFE asked the President of the Poor-law Board whether it is the intention of the government to bring forward, daring the present session, measures either to alter or repeal the laws with respect to pauper settlement in England and Wales; and, if bills with t.at or any other poor-law objects are to be proposed, at what period they are likely to be upon the table of the house. Mr. BAINES said, some days before the hon. baronet gave notice of his intention to put this question to him, a notice had been given by the hon. member for Stafford, that he proposed to put the tame question on Monday next to the noble lord the member for the City of London. Oa Monday next, his noble friend would state to the house what the intentions of the government were, and he humid therefore that the hon. baronet would excuse his declining to answer the question now. REFORM OF THE UNIVERSITIES. Mr. M. MILNES said, in his speech on education, Lord John Itussell stated It was the desire of government to give encouragement to the universities to institute measures of reform so as to adapt themselves more completely to the present state of things. 'the noble lord used in his speech the word " university," and it had been a subject of anxious interest whether in using that word he intended to use it in its more restricted sense of the corporate body of the uni versity itself, or as including the colleges which formed the university. It was well known that there was a large body of persons in the universities who were anxious for ahem -' themsel bound 'l EEL tions, who, nevertheless, thought —.soaves ..od by &e.) ; Bills. certain obligations from which nothing but a superior NON-PROSECUTION OF ELECTION PETITIONS. power could release them. He therefore wished to put the The SPEAKER announced that he had received from question of which he had given notice, whether the noble the agents letters announcing that the petitions in the fol. lord, in his declaration of the intentions of the government lowing cases would not be proceeded with:—County of on the subject of the reform of the universities, in. Carlow, county of Leitrim, borough of Cashel, and Sales- tended to imply that the support end assistance of the buy government would be given to such colleges as may be PUBLIC BUSINESS. desirous to obtain the aid of parliament to enable them to PETITIONS PRESENTED. dispense with their obligations to their present statutes, end ADMISAION or Jews TO PARLIAMENT.—By Sir W. to substitute such other statutes as may seem to them idyls. CODItINOTON, from the clergy of the deanery of (Note- able for the advantage of their separate societies and for the enter; Mr. DAVISON, from the congregation of the Hag- public gond. dalen Episcopal Church in Belfast; Mr. FULLER, from Lord J. RUSSELL said, from the general way in which Salesburst ; Mr. M. SMITH, from Tunbridge ' and from his hon . friend had put his question, he was unable to give the archdeacon end clergy of the arcbdeaconry of Rochester ; en affirmative answer, because the question seemed to im ' Mr. LOCKHART, from the presbyteries of Edinburgh and ply that, w h atever the statutes might be, the govomeent Lanark, from the session of St. James, Glasgow, and from were to say whether or not they were to give theid to the inhabitants of Avebury, Wilts; Mr. STIRLING, from the colleges for their dispensation of those statutes ' and the the presbytery of Du:al:thine ; Mr. FLOYER, from Lyme substitution of other statutes. He did not wish to bind the Regis ; against. Mr. COBDEN, from Kendal, from government to such an extent as that, but he certainly did Sydney, Coleford, Tytheriogton, Thornhury, Falfield, mean, that with regard to the colleges end the universities, Oleoston, all in Gloueestenhire ; Mr. J. H. VIVIAN, from that suppose public justice was to be attained, the govern- Jews of Swansea; Mr. BASS, from inhabitants of the bo. ment would take into consideration any proposition from rough of Burton•on.Trent; in favour of. the universities. OPENING or THE CRYSTAL PALACE ON SI:IMAM—By LOSS OF THE DUKE OF SUTHERLAND STEAMER. Mr. STIRLING, from the president, proprietors, managers, Mr. F. DUNDAS asked the Lord Advocate whether be and workmen of the Derision Cotton Factory ; Mr. J. If. has received any report from the local authorities at Aber- VIVIAN, from the working meu of Swansea, numerously dean of the circumstances connected with the wreck of the signed; Mr. WIORAM, from the inhabitants of Stoke Da. Duke of Sutherland steamer on entering the harbour of moral and certain residents in London; Mr. FLOYER, Aberdeen on the afternoon of Friday, the Ist instant; and from Armiogtou, Dorsetabire ; Mr. C. TURNER, from whether it is intended to adopt any means by which, in fu the ministers, cougregation, end others of the district of St. tam, the rocket apparatus and life boats, usually resorted blak'is Church, Liverpool; Mr. FULLER, from Sales- to in cases of shipwreck, may be rendered more available bunt; Sir W. CODRINGTON, from the district of St. and efficient. Luke's, Gloucester, and from Radmaston ; Mr. COWAN, The LORD ADVOCATE said he had not yet received from the inhabitants of Bono rig, Lasswade, and neigh • any report with regard to the circumstance in question. bourhood, in the county of Edinburgh, signed by 613 per- He had no doubt that the ordinary authorities on the sons; Mr. WILKINSON, signed by 3.750 of the labouring spot would feel it their duty to institute an investigate's. classes in Lambeth; Mr. MILLIGAN, from the church but he might state further, that looking at the serious and and congregation assembling in College Chapel, Bradford, lamentable loss of life, be had thought it right to give spe and other inhabitants ; against, vial directions for a full inquiry into the matter, and that CANADA CLEW/7 Itaseaves.—By Sir J. MATHEWS, inquiry would embrace the question whether Capt. blanby's from the presbytery of Dingwall; Sir W. CODRINGTON, rockets were used on the occasion. from Stroud cod the deanery of Gloucester; Col. BLAIR, Mr. KENNEDY asked the President of the Board of from the presbytery of Ayr, signed by the Moderator; Mr. Trade whether any investigation had been made by her STIRLING, from the presbytery of Dumblane ; Mr. Majesty's government into the causes of the numerous die- LOCKHART, from the presbyteries of Glasgow and La- asters which bad recently occurred in the coasting and nark ; against. Channel trade of the United Kingdom, more particularly MATNOOTII 011 ANT.—By Mr. M. SMITH, from Ton- those having reference to the following vessels—the Mi bridge Wells end neighbourhood ; Mr. COWAN, from nerve, the Prince Arthur, and the Duke of Sutherland, inhabitants of Bonnyrig and neighbourhood, county of Edin- with a view to the prevention of such occurrence' ; end burgh (signed by 649 persons) ; also from the Free Church whether any and what steps had been taken by her Ma st Bankhead, parish of Midmar, in the county of Aberdeen • jest 's government on the report made by Captain Walker against. ' of t he causes attending the late wreck of the steam-ship ATTOILNETS' CIETIPICATE Derv.—By Mr. M. SMITH, Queen Victoria, of Dublin? from the attorneys, solicitors, and proctors of Gravesend ; Mr. CARDWELL said the orders of the Board of Trade Mr. R CLIVE, from the attorneys and solicitors of Lod. were that reports should be made on every occurrence of low ; for a repeal of. this kind; and with respect to the Queen Victoria steamer ADVIINTISINENT,NEWSPAPEN, een STAMP Dumas.— steps bed been taken with the secretary of the ballasting By Mr. BAINES, from letter-press printers at Leeds ; Mr. board to prevent such occurrence, in future. EWAItT, from the members or the Anan Mechanics' In- NEW WRIT FOR CARLOW. stitute ; Mr. MILLIGAN, from the inhabitants of Eccles- Viscount MONCK moved that a new writ be issued for hill, near Bradford (numerously signed), also from the in- the county of Carlow in the room of Colonel Bruen, de habitants of Idle, near Bradford, and from the operatives ceased. It would be recollected that a petition was pre of Albion Mill, Eccleshill, and from the Apperley Bridge seated against his return, and that his death occurred some Mutual Improvement Society; for the abolition of. time since It was not competent. however, on the parties Scot ruin UNIVEREITY TESTS BILL.—Mr. KINNAIRD, to withdraw the petition at the time, but since the house from the North Unties presbyterian congregation of Perth ; met it had been reported that it was not intended to proceed Sir J. ANDERSON, from the united presbyterian churches ' with the petition. of Queen Ann-street, Dumfriesshire, North Church, The motion was agreed to. Biggar, and Dunrion • Mr. LOCKIIART, from the DOWIE'S PATENT BOOTS. presbyteries of Edinburgh and Glasgow ; Mr. STIRLING, Sir J. SHELLEY moved for copies of correspondence on from the presbytery of Dunblane, and the presbytery of , the subject of Dowie ' a patent boots, which has passed be- Auchterarder ; Colonel FERGUSON, from Kirkcaldy ; ' tween the authorities of the Horse Guards end other mili- Mr. THORNELY, from the presbytery of Kirkcudbright; f tary authorities and the patentee, James Dowie, in eon- Mr. HUME, from, Montrose. and from Brechin ; for the tinuation of parliamentary paper, No. 170, of session 1852. repeal of. Mr. G. DUNCAN, from the magistrates and Agreed to. town council of the royal burgh of Dundee, in favour of. I CLERGY RESERVES (CANADA) BILL. Pieoreee BILL.—By Mr. C. TURNER, from the On the order of the day for the third reading of this bill, Marine Chamber of Commerce at Liverpool; Mr. VANCE, Mr. WALPOLE said, entertaining the strong opi n i on from the B ' ' II and Irish Steam Packet Company of Dub- i be did on this bill, he wished to state to the house the lin, in favour of certain elms". Lord CHELSEA (in the' more prominent reasons which induced him to resist the absence of Mr. Deedes), frum the Castle and Deputy War- I further progress of this hill. He was the more anxious to den and other commissioners of the Cinque Ports, praying I do so, partly in consequence of the discussion which took that the bill be referred to a select committee. 1 place in the committee, and the strange admissions which SELLING INTOXICATING LIGroN.4 ON SCNDATII.—By were made in committee on the part of the government art prohibiting. , • Mr. COBDEN, from Selby, for an ! and partly, he must say, in consequence of the somewhat PILOTING FROM LONDON TO ONAVIISEND.—By Mr. ! singular—certainly surprising—answer which he had heard from the noble lord in answer to a question put by his right ROLT, from the wateimcn of the river Themes, to be ; allowed to pilot vessels betteeen London and Gravesend. I bon. friend the member for Droitwich. It was clear to Pelmets& Partas.---By Mr. M. SMITH, from his mind, trom the discussion which took place in com the members of the Gravesend and Milton Mechanics' In- mittee, that at the time when this bill was first introduced, atitution, preying to be furnished wish. the principle on which it was recommended to the house ItEPUESINTATION OP THE LONDON UNIVNESITT.—By was not strictly the principle on which ie was maintained, Mr. BASS, from inhabitants of the borough of Burton-on- nay more, he thought it would appear that the cause, that Trent, in favour of. the effect, that the mein object of the measure was not Ncwatitrus.—By Mr. M. SMITH, from the inhabitants exactly what it was represented to be, but that it would of Tunbridge, Tunbridge Wells, and neighbourl'ood, pray- I have an operation different from that. It was for these ing that all convent' and conveutual establishoentt for reasons that he was the more particularly anxious to address women ho placed under the inspection a: magistrates. the house on the present occasion, and he wished the louse Railway Companies (Amalgamation, House of Lords—and bat told th, in that. one of the great usages id that house was to check hasty and unfair legisla tion on the part of the House of O,IIIOIOOC lie (the Duke of Newcastle) admitted that that was owe great attribute of the House of Lords—but if there was one thing more than another on which they were bound not to legislate against the spirit if the times as expressed in parliament and out of parliament it was in regard to this qutstion of corrupt prac tices in the representatiou of the people. (IL ar, hear.) Fur years past there had been a gentian.: feeling in the country, that this was one of the ♦ices of the representative system—and that one that was more likely to awry' it than a ny other, and it ton it lord:hips were to show any dnpnsi• •i.ts by adopting the course now reenmmentled, or by any more direct mode to uphold or to screen those practices, they would lose, and justly lose, much of that respect with which he now rejoiced tusay their lordships house was held by the country. (Cheers.) bird ST. LEONAHDS had not said that the bribery could not have been entenaiee !steatite confined to the sitting members, but that the committee had cut reported it to have been "extensive." . LYNDIII.7IiST also .aid a few words in a:plana tion. _ . Lord WHARNCLIFFE considered that they were no•., in a C.IIC of this kind, to be guided by niece technicalities, but were bound to look at the report in its general terms, and with reference to the cireumstan.i s under which it emanated ; and in them there were ample grounds for con cu►ring in the address. (Hear, hear.) Lord ItHUESUALE thought if the ease had been allowed to rest on what the noble duke had stated, much of the difficulty would have been rernovel—viz., that the chairman of the committee had himself stated that the words required by the act had been omitted (ram the report erroueou•ly and by mistake, and that the committee, being of opinion that bribery had extensively prevailed, were de sir ma that the comnti=siuu should issue. This explanation removed much ,if the danger of establishing an erroneous precedent. (Hear, hear.) Lord LILAUMONT remarked that the whole question was in a nut-stun. The only point was—had the committee of the House of Commons reported fa;rly that corruption exteneively existed ? He maintained that they had, and the circumstances alluded to in the present debateconlirmed that siew. Lord LYNI)IIURST had felt it his duty to call attention to the point he had raised, but after the expression of iminien which had been given, he would not press his amendment. The motion was then weed to. The Earl of ABERDEEN gave notice for the appoint ment of a conference to-morrow (this day), to communicate their lordships decision to the House of Commons The 3lctropolitsu Improvement (repayment out of Con solidated Fund) Bill, passed through committee. OATHS CHANCERYBILL. _ _ ' - _ ...... The Cemmonv' amendments to this bill were agreed to, with the exception of some verbal alterations in claulee 2 and 8, which were dissented from. The house then adjourned at 7 o clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY, Aram 11. The house met at 12 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. AMALGAMATION BILLS. Oa the motion of Mr. 80THEItON, it was agreed that the period limited by the house for the second reading of all railway or canal bills, containing any powers of amalgama tion, lease, working arrangement, or other combination of interest between different companies, be extended to Mon day, the 18th day of April. THE RAILWAY BILL RESOLUTIONS. Mr. CARDWELL, by leave, postponed the resolutions which stood on the pap rin his name until this day. The cause of the postponement was the sea ption of various sugaestions from parliamentary agents, and to consider these another meeting of the committee tram which the resolutions proceeded would have to be called. THIRD Reatitxcs.—Eastern Counties Railway (North Weolaich, &c.) ; Evesham Bridge ; Bills. CONSIDEKATION OF BILL 011DRIIED TO LIZ UPON THE Tanta.—ltuncorn and Weston Canal Bill. Stetesu Reanisos.—Bedale and Leyburn Railway; Bideford Extension Railway ; Birkenhead Dick Com pmy ; Birmingham and Oxford Junction, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Dudley, and Great Western Rill ways ; Boston and Midland Counties Railway and Docks ; Cornwall Railway ; Darlington and Barnard Castle Rail way ; Dean Forest, Monmouth, Usk, and Pontypool Rail. way ; East Grinstead Railway ; East Lancashire Railway (No. 1) (Clifton to Salford) ; East Lancashire Railway (No. 2) (Sauthport, &c.); Furness Railway; Great West ern, Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and Shrewsbury and Chester ; Hereford, Raw, and Gloucester Railway ; Holt and Wilderness Railway; Leamington, Vie arwickomd Stratford-upon-Avon R ; Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax Junction Railway ; Leeds Northern Railway Limerick, Emil', and }Cilia:oe Junction Railway ; Lime rick, Ennis, and Killaloe Junction Railway (power, W sell, &c.) ; Llynvi Valley Railway ; London and Nag* Western and Buckinghamshire Railways; London and North Western and London and Blackwall ; Landon and North Western and Midland Railway Companies Amalga mation ; 81.nchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Rail way (Barnsley) ; Montgomeryshire Railway ; Newry and Enniskillen Railway ; North and South Western (Hamp stead and City Junction) Railway ; Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway (Wolverhampton Station, Sea.) Peebles Railway ; Portadown and Dungannon Rail way ; R Mere, and Panonstown Junction Railway ; Saint Ives and West Cornwall Junction Railway; Severn and Wye Railway and Canal ; Shrewsbury, Ironbridgc, and Bridgnorth Railway ; South Wales Mineral Railway ; South Wale( Railway (Monmouth) ; South Wales Rail way (Pembroke, &c.) ; South Wales Railway (power to parch-ise, &e.); STISOSVI Valley Railway; Wimbledon and Croydon Railway ; Worcester and Hereford Railway ; York, Newcastle, and Berwick, York and North Midland oil Leeds Northern - REDEMPTION ACTS. The report of the resolutions passed In committee was brought up, and the first live were agreed to. Ou the sixth resolution, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved to strike out the date "3rd of June," and to insert that of Ist of July. He proposed this .alteration because it had been represented to him that the South Sea Company required, by the terms of their charter, s notice of six months. The resolution, as amended, was then agreed to; as were the others up to 15. On resolution Li, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER proposed an amendment, the object of which fro. , to enable trustees to act in respect of South Sea stock in the same way as with Air ad to other stock. The amendment was agreed to, and the resolution passed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then moved an address to her Majesty, praying that she would give her royal assent for the redempti , n of the annuities granted by the act of the 12th of GLo. I. ; also that the Speaker take the necessary steps with regard to the other notices. Agreed to. COPYHOLDS BILL On the motion of the AT IVILNEI-GENERAL, this bill was read a second time. SHERIFF AND COMMISSARY (BERWICKSHIRE) RILL. This bill passed through committee. PLACES OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP REGISTRA- TION BILL. This hill was read a second time. The Law of Evidence (Scotland) was read a third time. THE STRANGERS' GALLERY. On the motion of Mr. blusxz, the toliowirit members were selccti.El as a committee to consider it stnuiters em be allowed to remain iu the house during divisions, excepting on speci,il occasions, sod to devise fOme means for deter ru.ning t , :c timt: when the doors than be closed attcr a division Sir John Goulburn Jocelyn. Robert GI Mr. Lebo The ho, M.... M. A- l'3, da — i of 11 rp=~ t.-~~ IT is Comm° cussion them. ingly g the con ber of over an own ii demon Parliai control COMM° In t SELL, " GOVf of the law of opinio being the ac there this cc staten Diu - i of at withi re.rai the I not Etta the r the that tion. Whi( ])nt 'tat( posii IS4 Mon Stan Sun