The Press. — London, England, 1854-03-25 00:00:00

'Sir F. KELLY, thus challenged, reopened the legal Arguments regarding the interpretation of the In demnity Act, and contended that its tenor was so ittnbignous as to warrant the witnesses in relying ,upon the most perfect impunity, and to render it , tusjust for the house to visit them by a retrospective act with pains and penaltim The house divided on the question whether leave should be given to bring in the first bill, relative to Canterbury. There appeared — Ayes 189 Noes llB-71 The other bills of the series were then successively moved and leave given to bring them in. COLONIAL CLERGY. The second reading of the Colonial Clergy Disa bilities Bill was moved on Monday evening, and opposed by Mr. HADVIELD, who moved the usual negative as an amendment. The opposition was seconded by Mr. A. PELLATT. Sir 3. PAKINOTON commented upon the provisions of the bill, expressing some preference for the mea sure on the same subject unsuccessfully introduced last session, but refused to throw it out neverthe less. Mr. WARNER supported the bill, and Mr. R. PHIL LIMORE defended it. Mr. Hume, Mr. Wigram, and Sir G. Grey having successively expressed a wish for more detailed in formation touching the powers and purposes of the measure, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL explained the nature and origin of the peculiar disabilities under which the colonial clergy now laboured, and which the bill was intended to remove. The clergy in the colonies were now fettered by the action of statutes some of which were passed as long ago as the reign of Henry and were altogether inappropriate to the present state of things. These acts interfered both with the spiritual functions and the temporalities of the Church and its minioters in the colonies ; and the bill was designed to remedy the evil thus occasioned by totally aluogating the statutes in question on some points, and on others enabling the local Legis lature to interfere. Mr. T. CHAMBERS urged another question. If the hill passed, would the Church in the colonies be free or established ? If the former, he contended that the measure was supererogatory ; if the latter, it would be unjust. Mr. Mowentv supported the bill. Mr. KINNAnte declared that his objections to the measure had not been removed by the explanation of the Solicitor General. Mr. NAPIER was still unable to comprehend the full scope of the bill, or to admit its necessity. Mr. WAr.poi.e contended that the objec t of the bill was just and expedient, admitting at the same time that the mode in which that object was to be carried out might require further consideration. Mr. Mum opposed the bill, looking on it as a contrivance to strengthen and perpetuate the con nection between the Church in the colonies and the English establishment. Lord J. RUSSELL pointed out the expediency of placing the English Protestant Church in the colo nies on the same footing and endowing it with the same rights as the Roman Catholics, the Scotch Presbyterians, or the Nonconformist bodies gene rally. This was attempted by the present measure, and he therefore supported the second reading of the bill. On a division there appeared— For the second reading Against 62-131 The bill was then read a second time. LAW OF SIMON V. The second reading of the Simony Law Amend ment. Bill was moved on Wednesday by Dr. Pniut- MORE. It was, he explained, practically the same as the measure introduced last year, absolutely prohibit ing the sale of Church livings or the next presents tion thereto after the decease of the present holder. He described the abuses which existed under the law as it now stood, and declared that his bill had received the approbation of nearly all the judges. Mr. Or. Burr contended that both advowsons and rights of presentation were, strictly speaking, rroper ties which the law recognised as being saleable or transferable, requiring only certain qualifications on the part of the buyers. He moved as an amendment that the bill be read a second time that day six months. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Spoor;En. Sir W. HEATHCOTE drew a distinction between ad- TOWSOW4 and next presentations. The former was property in every sense ; the latter might be given Into the hands of laymen in the character of spiritnal trusts, but ought never to be made articles of sale and barter. He supported the bill. Sir G. GEE? believed that the bishops held powers amply sufficient to restrain any improper or scanda lous traffic in ecclesiastical preferments. Advowsons were, he thought, legitimate subjects for transfer by sale or otherwise. THE Pl3l Lord 021-opaarcH considered that the present sys.. tern permitted transactions highly discreditable to the establishment. A seat on the Bench was quite as fit an article for sale as a preferment in the Church. He exhorted the house to adopt the measu re. Mr. NAPIER admitted that abuses prevailed at pre. sent, but believed that the heads of the Church bad power to abolish them. The bill, he thought, would prove a failure with regard to its avowed purpose of improving the conditions under which benefices were transferred. The moral influence of the bishop was quite sufficient without the bill. If that influence were left unexercised the bill would be ineffectual, as means would be found to evade it at every point. The ATTORNEY-OENERAL confessed that the law of simony was at present in an anomalous condition, but opposed the bill because he did not feel convinced that it would make any change for the better. The bill was also opposed by Mr. Liddell, Mr. Hildyard, and Mr. Aglionby. Dr. PirthuatortE having replied, the house divided, and the second reading was negatived by 138 votes to 52-86. The bill is consequently lost. SEAMEN FOR THE FLEET. Replying to Loid Ellenborough, the Earl of ABERDEEN on Tuesday in the Peers stated that cer tain seamen in the fleet who had been engaged for the period of one year would receive the same rate of pay as those who had engaged to serve for five years. The Earl of EILENBOROUGH objected to the plan, and complained of the rate of pay to the coast-guard men serving on board the fleet being higher than that of regular seamen and of some of the petty officers. The noble earl impressed upon the Govern ment the advantage of employing only properly trained seamen. The Earl of ABERDEEN said it was premature, at present, to pronounce any opinion upon the success of the experiment. It had, however, been found that though men were engaged to serve only for a year they generally wished to continue in the service. The exper►ment was worth trying, and he hoped it would succeed. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH lisped so too, but thought it extremely doubtful. FRAUD IN THE HAY CONTRACT. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH referred to statements in the newspapers imputing gross fraud to a con tractor for supplying hay to the artillery horses about to proceed to the seat of war. It was stated that when the hay came to be examined it was found to be very good outside, but that the inside consisted only of shavings and rubbish ; so that if the trans ports had put to sea with it the horses must have pe rished during the voyage. He wished to know whe• ther these statements were substantially correct; and if so whether measures had been taken for the punishment of the contractor ? The Duke of NEWCASTLE was ashamed to admit that this statement was substantially correct. He was not at present prepared to say whether the criminal law would reach the miscreant, but the case had been referred to the law officers of the Crown for their opinion. The case was one of the gravest de scription, for if the discovery had not been made in time the whole of the horses must have perished at sea, and thus the efficiency of the artillery have been seriously impaired. The Earl of Ellenborough, the Earl of Derby, and Lord Brougham expressed great indignation at this atrocity, and hoped that, if the law was not found sufficient to punish the offender criminally, it would forthwith be amended to meet such cases in future. The Earl of MALIILSBURY urged the noble duke to mention the name of the contractor. The Duke of NEWCASTLE stated the name to be Sturges. The offence of a contractor—or rather supplier, as there seems to have been no contract—of hay for the cavalry transports to the East has been mentioned in both houses on several days during the week. It seems that, upon examination, many trusses of what was sent in as hay were stuffed with rubbish in the inside, rushes, shavings, and, in one instance, a dead lamb, being found packed round with genuine hay. Much credit was taken by the Ministerial speakers for the vigilance with which the fraud had been detected before the articles were actually shipped, and not a little indignation expressed at an attempt that might have resulted in the loss of a large num ber of cavalry horses despatched to aid a most im portant expedition. On Thursday evening the Ministers stated that the offending firm was that of Messrs. Sturgeon, of Grays, in Essex, and that the Solicitor to the Admi ralty had commenced proceedings in order to bring the offenders to justice. GAMING-HOUSES. The promised bill for the suppression of gaming houses was introduced on Thursday by the ATTOR NEY-GENERAL. He described the contrivances by which the keepers of such establishments were enabled to defy the law, as it stood at present, by • ' I•SATURDAY, fortifying the entrance to their houses Po that, before the officers of justice could make their way in, all implements and traces of gambling had disappeared, and the parties found in the place were brought up before the magistrates afterwards, sheltered under false names, and with no charge that could be main • tamed against them. To remedy this evil, he pro posed to arm the magistrates with increased powers. His bill, accordingly, provided—first, to make it a substantive offence to adopt any fortifications or other unusual means for excluding the officers ; secondly, to threw upon the keepers of all fortified places the onus of disproving, the charge that they were kept for gambling purposes ; thirdly, to make a distinction between dupes and sharpers, by enabling the magistrate, with the aid of the suggestions of the officers, to select from those brought before him such as should be prosecuted and such as should be made witnesses ; and, fourthly, to make it an offence for any one captured in such a place to give a false name. With the assistance of this bill, he believed that gaming-houses would be as effectually sup pressed as betting-houses had been. THE TRUCK SYSTEM. Sir H. HALFORD on Wednesday brought forward for second reading the Payment of Wages (Hosiery) Bill. The measure was designed to protect the frame work-knitters of the midland counties from the exac tions they now suffered at the hands of the masters, who forced them to pay a heavy rent for the frames or machines used in their work. The case was re moved from the operation of the Truck Act by a technical flaw, and it was necessary, he contended, to supply the deficiency by direct legislation. It was intended not absolutely to prohibit frame rents, but to prevent their being made exorbitant and stopped out of the wages of the operatives. Sir W. CLAY opposed the bill, and moved that it be read a second time that day three months. All the relations between masters and workmen rested, he thought, on principles with which the Legislature should not attempt to interfere. Mr. WILKINSON seconded the amendment, and Sir J. WALMSLEY supported the bill. The discussion was pursued by Sir G. Strickland, Mr. Packe, and Mr. T. buncombe. Mr. FITZROY, on the part of the Government, was willing to have the bill referred to the select com mittee already appointed to inquire into a kindred subject—namely, the truck system. Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Bouverie, and Mr. Cob bett having spoken, a division was called, and the bill passed a second reading by a majority of 120 to 73-47. It was then orated to be referred to a select committee. SLIGO BOROUGH. The committee on the above election presented their report on Wednesday. It contained the following resolutions "That John tiatileir, Esq., was duly returned a member for the bosom-4i of Sligo. "That A'exander Slater was by by Her Simpson with, ll the Wa (a 251. to refrain from giving his vote at the tart election which sum he afterwards gave up. "That ,lames Kerr was bribed through his wife by Henry Simpson with 251. to vote fur Mr. Stulleir or not to vow at all, at the last election, which sum he afterwards returned. "That Samuel Gilmore was bribed with 301. by Henry Owen O'Connor. since deceased, to refrain from giving his vote to Mr. Somers at the last election. " That it was not proved that the aforesaid acts of bribery were committed with the knowleuge or consent of the said John Sail leir or his agents." TREATMENT OF COLOURED SUBJECTS OF GREAT BRITAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. Mr. IKINNAIRD having inquired what state the correspondence between the British and United States Governments with refer ence to coloured seamen (being British subjects), on the vessels to which they belong arriving at a port in any of the southern states, being Imprisoned ou account of their colour, ROW RLOOd? Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied that, according to the opinion of Lord Clarendon, it would be better not to produce the corre spondence, relying on the Legislatures of the several states to make such alterations in their laws as would prevent a recur rence of these causes of complaint. (Hear, hear.) In Carolina the goveruor had proposed an alteration which had not been carried into effect, but it wee understood that it would be again proposed this year ; and believing that there would be a great improvement in the legislation both of Carolina and of Georgia npon this subject, Lord Clarendon, snotp was of opintoo that the correspondence had better be produced. MINISTERS' MONEY. The second reading of the Ministers' Money (Ireland) Bill was opposed on Monday by Mr. MIAI.r., who denounced the tax is a church rate slightly disguised, and imbued with aggravated in justice. Mr. II ( - ME supported this view of the case, but on a division the bill was read a second time by a majority of 203 to 97-106. PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Mr. EWART on Monday obtained leave to introduce a bill fot amending and extending the act by which town councils were enabled to establish libraries and museums freely open to the public. LORD HARRIS, the newly-appointed governor of the presidency of Madras, according to custom with departing functionaries of that grade, was entertained by the Directors of the East India Company, on Saturday last, with a very sumptuous banquet at the London Tavern, previous to his departure for India. The banquet-hall presented a most brilliant scene when the company had fully assembled. Mr. Russell Ellice, chairman of the East India Company, pre• sided on the occasion. id u.v.