The Sun. — London, England, 1858-06-23 00:00:00

.:IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.—(YESTERDAY.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'olock. LEASES AND SALES OF SETTLED ESTATES. Lord CRANWORTH brought in a bill to amend a defect in the bill passed in 1856. The defect complained of was that by the bill married women residing abroad wishing to dispose of property were put to inconvenience in consequence of being obliged to employ an officer of the English Court of Chancery. The bill was read a first time. INDEPENDENCE OF PARLIAMENT BILL. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition in favour of this bill, the object of which was to require peers and members of the Commons House of Parliament, as well as other persons to pay their just debts without being privileged from arrest. The LORD CHANCELLOR said the provisions of the noble and learned lord's bill, which stood for a second reading that evening, very seriously inter fered with the privileges of both houses of Parliament, and such being the case he trusted the noble and learned lord would not, in the absence of the noble earl at the head of the Government, press forward the bill. Lord BROUGHAM said he had no wish to go on with the bill in the absence of the noble earl. The bill was by no means a new one, and he regretted there should be any delay in proceeding with it, yet under the circumstances mentioned by the noble and learned lard on the woolsack, he had no objection to the postpone ment of the discussion. • The second reading of the bill was then postponed. PRIVATE BUSINESS. On the motion of Lord REDESDALE the following bills were read a second time : —Brentford and Rich mond Railway, Cornwall Railway, East Suffolk, Yar month and Haddescoe and Lowestoft and Beccles Railway Amalgamation, Norwich Gas, Eastern Coun ties Railway. - The following bills were read a third time and passed : —Holroyd's Estate, Eastern Steam Navigation Com pany, Globe Insurance Company, Cromford and High Peak Railway, Manchester Poor, W a llas e y In] prov e ment, Ballymena and Balleymoney, Colraine and Port rush Junction, Yar Bridge, Liverpool Improvement , and London and South-Western Railway. THE OATHS BILL. The Earl of MALMESBURY moved that a com mittee, consisting of certain noble lords, be appointed to draw up reasons for their lordships persevering iu their objection to the Commons' amendments to the bill, and that the said reasons be sent to the Commons on Thursday next. The noble lord appealed to his noble and learned friend (Lord Lyndhurst) to postpone proceeding with his bill in the absence of his noble friend. • Lord LYNDHURST said he was extremely sorry for the cause of the postponement. He had no objec tion to postpone his bill, but what was the course to be pursued with respect to Lord Lucan'e bill. The Earl of LUCAN said his bill could be postponed until the same day as the noble and learned lord's. After a few words from Lord Campbell, Lord Brougham, and Earl Grey, the second reading of the bill was postponed till Thur-iday week. PROBATE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Lord ORAN WORTH moved the third reading of this bill. Lord ST. LEONARDS said be had a great objection to the 19th clause, which was to vest the property of intestates . , in case of failure of heir, in the Crown. He moved that the words " judge ordinary" be inserted in stead of the word "crown.' Their lordships then divided— Contents 22 Non-contents - The numbers being equal the LORD CHANCELLOR e- Oared the amendment to ba carried. The bill was then read a third time and passed. DIVORCE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Lord CRAN WORTH moved the third reading of this bill. • Lord REDESDA.LE said that on a former evening, when he had called attention to the extreme rapidity 'with which undefended suits had been hurried through the court, he was assured that nothing could be more certain than that due inquiry had been made into every ease ' whether undefended or not. Si res th en b e h ad heard from persons practising in the court that serious objections were felt as to the manner in which causes were disposed of. On a single day no fewer than one de fended and nine undefended petitions were granted ;and one of those cases only occupied 11 minutes —probably a less time than the union which was dissolved had in the firat instance taken to cement. It was really impossible In that short space to make a proper investigation. (Hear, hear.) He was told that in the cases in question the parties bad long lived apart, or the respondent was charged With bigamy, but that was no answer at all ; because there was no proof that the wife's conduct had not itself led to the separation or the bigamy. In point of fact there were no canes in which collusion was more to be suspected than cases cf this description ; and though it might be impossible for them to receive the same care as used to be bestowed upon them by their lordships, he hoped that at least more care would be Shown in future. (Hear, hear.) Lord CAMPBELL complained of the noble lord's conduct in standing up in his place and impeaching the conduct of the judges of the land. He thought that such a step was a very rash and ill-ad v i se d one. H e h a d him self bad the honour of presiding in the Divorce Court on four or five days, and he would undertake to say that no case that had come before their lordehips had ever been more deliberately considered than those which bad been decided by the court while be was present. Since then Lord Chief Justice Cockburn and Mr. Justice Wight. man had attended, than whom no more learned or cau tious judges had ever sat in Weetminster-hall. Of Lord Chief-Justice Cockburn the highest expectations had been entertained ; but those expectations had been more than fulfilled by the learning, the caution, and the vigilance which he had uniformly displayed since his elevation to the judicial bench. He felt certain that the caees tried before Lord Chief-Justice Ccckburn had been as fully sifted as those which had come before him (Lord Carnpbel ). He believed that in the nine cases re ferred to, there had not been the possibility of collusion, and that there was not the sligheet ground for the sus picion of any improper baste in arriving at a decision. He believed, too, that the court would have a most salu tary effect in preventing bigamy from being so common in future as was now the case, because there was no doubt that the impossibility of obtaining a dissolution of marriage under the old system, had bad a direct ten dency to produce bi amy amongst the lower orders. The Bishop of OXFORD said the noble and learned lord had read his noble friend a very unnecessary lecture, far his noble friend had really done no more than speak Out that which was felt by -a large number of persons both in theirlerdshipe' house and in thecountry. (Cheers ) Many of their, lordships, who had given a somewhat rapid adhesion to the Divorce Bill, were beginning to be of opinion that too great facilities were afforded fur the dis solution of marriaee ; and those who felt the sacredness of the marriage bond, however they might think that for great causes it might be dissolved, were beginning to regard with apprehension the rapidity with which slits could be carried through the court. (Hear.) Toe noble and learned lord said that in nine cases which were doi rolved the other day the parties bad long been living apart, That was precisely the stale of things in which they might expect to meet with collusion—a state of thiegs, namely, in which both the parties were desirous of dis solving the connexion between them, (hear.). His noble friend had not impugned the conduct of the court ; be had only ca ll e d attent i on to a fact which was well calcu• lated to excite alarin amongst the thinking people of this Country. (Hear.) Bail GRANVILLE did not object to any member of their lordships' house epeaking out what he felt; on the contrary, if he thought there was any abuse in the ad ministration of justice it was his duty to bring the sub ject before Parliament. Nevertbless, he considered that a severe refl,ction ought not to be cast uoon.the mem bers of an important court by a noble lord in an official position without giving notice to those upon whose con duct he thought proper to make reinarke. Lord CRAN%VORTH said that the rapidity with which a court disposed of the business before it was an advantage, unless it could be shown that there was an undue baste, or a want of proper precaution. But he should like to know in what, respect the oil system af forded a better guarantee against collusion than the new one ? He protested that there wee no advantage w1;;:t1 ever on the side of the old procedure. No doubt there was an accumulation of ca es just now amo g the pauper classes, but nothing that had occurrid excited the least doubt in his mind ai to the policy of the Divorce Act. Lord ST. LEONARD knew nothing about the court except from what he had read in Oe papers, but he bad read with great attention the report of its proceedings, and he certainly thought there was no fault to be bond with the manner in which the learned judges discharged their functions. Under the old syetem their lordships had no power whatever to detect collusion. ((Jean) The Earl of WICKLOW said injustice had beau done to the noble lord the chairman of committees by the noble lord, who said that he had brought forward tide subject without notice. In point of fact, the noble lord gave no tice when he mentioned the subject the other night, and the noble lord the Chief Justice ought to have been euf ficiently prepared for a repetition of tbose remarke. For his own part he felt much obliged to the noble lord (Lord Redesdale) for bringing the subject forward. Lord CAMPBELL had never heard anything more illogical than the speech of the noble earl. (Cries of 'peke, and order.) Viscount MELVILLE rose to ord er . Th e no bl e an d learned lord had no right to make another speech. Lord CAMPBELL had a right to make an explana tl. If th e no b le lord had been a lit,tle more familiar with the f orms of their lordships' house he would not haveinterposed (Loud erieJ of er.d,Tr.h)ere bad been no notice giver. • Th e M ahol) of OXFORD rose to ord. r. Lord Citeupß ELL—l hare a right to offer an ex planation, The Bishop of OXFORD —What is the explanation ? Til H e ear.) noble and lear ne d lord it answering the noble earl. ( Lord CAMPBELL, Loweve!, continued his remarks for a few moments longer, but it was amid loud cries of " Order." Lord REDESDALE also wished t 0 explain Many things had been attributed to him whi c h he had. never said. He had cast no imputation upon me m b ers of the court. He had only called attention to a system, a n d he must repeat that the rapidity with which cases h a d been disposed of was incompatible with due precautions against these practices against which their lordships used so carefully to guard. Earl GRANVILLE rose to order. The noble lord was hardly giving an explanation. Lord BROUGLIA.III thought that greater licence had been allowed o the Chairman of Committees than to the Lord Chief Justice. The bill was then read a third time and passed. The Peace Preservation (Ireland) Act Continuance Bill was read a third time and passed. DELAYS IN CHANCERY. The LORD CHANCELLOR said that some time ago a noble lord (Lord Lifford) called his attention to cer tain complaints which had been made with regard to the state of the Court of Chancery, and he mentioned a par ticular case in which he understood the noble lord him self was in .some degree interested. He (the Lord Chancellor) had misapprehended the direction of the noble lord's complaint, which he had understood re ferred to the delay that had taken place in the chief clerk's office. Ile;had made inquiry into the subject, and he had had the valuable assistance of a noble and learned friend of much greater experience than himself, and who would be able to give their lordshipa much more accu rate information. He (the Lord Chancellor) had required a report to be made to him ; and from that report it would appear that there were some grounds for the noble lord's complaint, although the blame did not at tach to the chief clerk's office. It appeared that a mat ter had been referred to a Master in Chancery in March, 1850 and the Master's report was not made until Dec., 1855. For that long and unjustifiable delay not the slightest explanation was afforded. It had, how ever, taken place under the old system ; and since the matter had come into the chief clerk's office no delay was attributable fee him. The order for an inquiry was made in June, 1856 ; and the order was rather of a complicated description. It was for the purpose of ascertaining what portions of a certain fend paid into court bad been received on account of the settled and unsettled estate ; what annuities were in existence, and what arrears still remained to be paid. When the chief clerk appointed a day for the parties to meet, it fre quently happened that they were not ready, and the matter had to be adjourned. There were only two days on which the postponement had been occasioned by the chief clerk himself. There was an annuitant who was dead, but the noble lord, and those whose interest the noble lord represented, had no possibility of proving that fact. There was no knowledge of it, except that which existed in the breast of the parties who opposed him ; but the noble lord informed him that the solicitor on the other side was perfectly aware of the death of the man. He submitted to the noble lord that there was an easy remedy by calling the solicitor before the chief clerk, but the noble lord told him that the chief clerk had no power whatever to summon parties before him. He could not have believed that such a state of things o mid have existed. However, he believed that the case to which the noble lord had referred was now almost ripe foe the certificate of the chief clk rk. There had been considerable delay in the case, but that delay was not at tributable so much to the chief clerk as to the old system. With regard to the delay in the office of the chief clerk, the noble lord bad made a thorough investi gation. His noble and learned friend had submitted some changes which might be introduced, and if they were adopted, he believed his noble and learned friend would be of opinion that the business • f the chief clerks might be conducted in a satisfactory manner. Lord ST. LEONARDS, who spoke in a low and in distinct tone, so as to be frequently inaudible, said the statement of the noble lord was one that called for ex planation. Their lordships were aware that by the act of 1852 great alterations in the procedure of the Court of Chancery were made. The masters were abolished : they were judges of a minor character. By the altera• dons it was provided that there should be no person act ing in the character of a judge but the judge himsel', and that he should have a chief clerk, to whom matters of detail should be referred. The object was to avoid the necessity of referring matters in the cause, and having long reports from the masters, and to keep the chief clerk in the chamber of the judge in constant communication with him, to enable the clerk to receive the instructions of the judge, and thus come to a conclusion with a sav• ing of expense, of time, and of labour. The chief clerks had thrown upon them onerous duties ; they had inqui ries to prosecute as to who were heirs at law or next of kin, to decide on questions under the Winding -up Act, and a variety cf other business to transact. The noble lord asked if the chief clerks prosecuted each matter de die in, diem. He could net answer that question, but the instructions he laid down when L otd Chancellor were that, as far as possible, each case should be proceeded with de die diem before they commenced with another Lord CAMPBELL observed that they did not give the whole day to a case, but - , oily one hour. Lord ST. LEONARDS said at some offices be knew they proceeded the whole day, but thsre were other offices where they did rot act upon that system, but hav• ing appointed certain matters for the day, when the hour or two hours allotted to a particular case had expired they went on with another case. That was one of those things that required to be corrected ; and the noble and learned lord on the woolsack, with the judges, could easily collect that and lay down one uniform rule for all the offices. He believe I that the new system worked admirably. When it was first adopted lie went to each judge and communicated with him, and then he went to the chief clerks' chambers, and caw the chief clerks, who showed him their systems, and he never was so struck with the competency of men. Tee plan was this, for every day there was a paper drawn up of all the business to be done during that day. They first took all the business that was unoppoed, and then an it 11 sir 12 o'clock they finished the cases that re mained for deci-ion. After that the heavy cases came on, and they proceeded with them as far as they could. They worked till 4 5, or 6 o'clock; and did as much as it was possible for men to accomplish. But it was fre quently imp ,ssible to rraceed with a case until it was finished. For instance, a heavy case was fixed for a Tuesday, and perhsps one hundred persons, many cf them from the country, would have to prove their debts in the case; but a case which had been expected to be concluded on the Monday was not concluded, and if they put off the case which had been fixed far the Tuesday the parties would be greatly inconvenienced. With regard to receivers, when the court appointe 1 a receiver it ought to see teat he did his duty. Some of the chief clerks thought they ought not to take an active part with regard to receivers. He thought differently ; and ho would have a rule promulgated that the chief clerks should at the end of every term make cut a list of all receivers who had not passed their ac counts. This list he would have hung up in the Lord Chancellot'e court, and if within fourteen days after wards the receiver did not pass his accounts, the solicitor to the suitors' fund should be instructed to proceed against the receiver, and to apply to the court to appoint mother. He had said that in appointing the chief clerks one great object bad been that they should be in constant communication with the judge. The chief clerk ought to be in the chambers of the judge, and to have constant access to him. Bel; from the confined space on which the courts were built, the requisite accommoda tion csuld not be given, and in consequence each judge had a set of chambers at some die mica from the court. He saw no way of obv:ating this difficulty but by taking down the range of buildings at the east end of Stone buildings, and building new courts there, with the re quisite chambers attached, He might observe that one of the great evils in the administration of properiy was the Lug continuance of a manager or receiver, who generally considered himself master of the property, and no hing was more difficult than to get rid of him ; and with regard to the veiling of property, he thought the court ought not to fix a high price, and he did not know whether it woul not be b ee t to announce to the world that the sale would be without reserve. He thought it was due to• the character of the court to necks these statements, from which it would be seen that there had been every desire to remedy the evil; tha existed Lard CRANWORTa said he had heard the state ment of his noble and learned friend (Lori St. Leonards) with the most unmixed satisfaction. His noble and learned friend had the happiness of being instrumental, in a great degree, in reforming the Court of Chancery. It was his (Lord Cran worth's) fate to receive the great seals just as those reforms came into operation. It little booted the put lie to know that the holder of the great seal did not into c)r.tact with the officers or the court, but he felt it was one of the duties imposed upon him to see that th 3 new system should operwe fAlrly and in the mode c , ntemplattd by the act cf parliament ; and in order to acelenplish that obj et he adopted the . . course every term cf baying an interview with the judges, who used to come to him in the evening, when they discussed the alterations made and bow fsr they worked well. It was the feeling of the judges that the proceeding in every contested matter which had been begun should continue till it was ended, but though that was utqaetionably the correct theory, it was im possible to carry it out in practice. They might re quire the debts against an estate to be proved, and there might he creditors in India or Auitialia. Then a case, which it had been calculated would be finished on a Saturday, was not finished, and another case had been previon-ly fixed for the following Monday. Before he left the great seal, he felt that the real improvement to be made was not legislatorial but mechanical. It would be anplacedlane d i n advantagean airy b comfortableeyond all pricennritf, withthe judgejudge p c e o t b y e O f chambers, where the attendants might wait, and where the chief clerks and the junior clerks could con duct their business in immediate contiguity to the court of the judge. (Hear ) Lord CAMPBELL express e d his great satisf ac ti on a t the explanation which had been; given by the noble and learned lord who had taken so much trouble to in. veetigate the matter. Lord LIFFORD said he had received numerous letters from suitors, who felt the greatest satisfaction at the promptness ga w t i: d. h which the question had b een taken up and The subject then droppe 1. CHURCH RATES, THE JEWS, &c. The Earl f CARLISLE, in presenting a petition fr om e the Society of Friends against church rates, said he did not feel calk(' upon to declare the manner rvia.e in which h e should vote before hearing whether her (4- vernment had any suggestion to make on the subject. His objet in giving notice of his intention to present the petition was mer e ly a m a rk of respect for the cha racter of the petition and the respectable body from whom it proceeded. The petitioners were the members of a body lepresenting the S iciety of Friends in Great Britain, and he believed the petition conveyed the una nicnoul opinion of the members of the society generally. They stated that they had for more than two centuries stelittstly maintained those great principles which they believed to be fcunded on the Gospel—that man is re sponsible to Gad alone in matters of rel',lion, and that legislative interference with the rights of conscience is not only implitie, but contrary to the spirit of true re ligion. They went on to say that, influenced by these cnnsiderations they had felt themselves called upon to reface payment of church rates, because they were en forced fur the upholding of buildings and ceremonies in connexion with a mode of worship which they did not consider to te e3nformaqe to the spirit of the Christian religion.. They expressed their gratification that a bill for the abolition of church rates had passed the House of Commons, and entreated their lordships to give their ready and cordial sanction to the measure. The noble earl added that it was only fair to say that the principles of the petitioners were equally opposed to the payment of tithes and any mode of supporting an established church. _ _ _ The question having been put that the petition do lie on the table, The Earl of CARLISLE said he understood from the clerk that the petition was informal, inasmuch as it did not contain the word "humble." He was convinced that the petitioners did not intend any disrespect to their lordships; but, as the petition was informal, he would withdraw it. The noble earl presented similar petitions from congregations in Leeds, Otley, Halifax, Todmor den, Thirsk, and several other places. Also three peti tions from the synods of Dublin and Coleraine, praying that no change may bs made in the national system of education in Ireland, and for an extension of the system of middle education in that country. The Bishop of OXFORD presented a " humble" peti tion--(a laugh)—frorr. Exeter against the abolition of church-rates, and similar petitions from Aylesbury, Oxford, and many other places. Also petitions against the Jews being allowed to legislate in a Christian nation; and petitions praying their lordships not to pass any law for special cervices which would allow one clergy man to officiate in a parish without the leave of the clergyman of that parish. The Bishop of LONDON presented petitions from Barking and West Ham against the unconditional aboli tion of church-rates. The Earl of CLA.NCARTY said the noble earl who had presented petitions on the subject cf national educa tion in Ireland, and who had left the house, had some what misrepresented the nature of those petitions. Only one of the petitions related to national education. The others were in favour of the formation of upper schools. A strong feeling prevailed in Ireland that great injustice was done, not only to the Protestant population but to the whole of the country, by the practical exclusion of the poor population from access to the Scriptures in the national schools. When the noble earl stated that these petitions were in favour of national education, no doubt the mistake arose from his not having properly ex amined them, but they ought to be entered on the minutes in acc3rdancs with their prayer. Lord TALBOT de MALAHIDE understood his noble friend the Earl of Carlisle to have stated that one of the petitions was in favour of the present system of nati )r.al education, and the other in favour of the educa tion of the middle classes. Their lordships t hen adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY. Tho SPEAKEti took the chair at twelve o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Lards' amendments to the following bills were considered and agreed to :—Luton Gag, Salisbury and Yeovil Railway, Blyth Harbour and Dock, Chiswick Improvement. The following bills were read a third time and passed : —Stockton and Darlington Railway (Durham Lines), Stockton and Darlington, Wear Valley, &c., Railway Companies Am.lgamation. The following bills were read a second time :—Sun derland Dock, Westminster Palace Hotel Company (Limit-d.) FOUR COURTS (DUBLIN) BILL. Lord NAAS moved that, in the case of the Four Courts (Dublin) Extension Bill, the examiner of peti tions for private bills have leave to sit and proceed on Thursday next.— Agreed to. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Sir W. ,HAYTER, a new writ was issued for Cornwall in the room of Michael Williams, Esq., deceased. MEDICAL PRACTIONERS' BILL. On the motion of Mr. WALPOLE, this bill was com mitted pro forma, for the purpose of introducing certain amendments, and the bill was ordered to be recommitted on Thursday week at twelve o'clock. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL. The house then want into committee on this bill. Clauses 1 to 8 inclusive were agreed to. On clause 9, which gives the power to determine whether the act should be adopted or not in town coun cils and improvement commissions, Sir M. FARQUAHAR sail ho thought that this power ought to be in the hands of the ratepayers; and not in town councils. If such a provision as the one laid down in the clause was agreed to, the bill, in his opinion, would be a dead letter. He moved au amend ment to effect his suggestion. Mr. BAINES supported the clause. Ho thought the town councillore, who were the ratepayers selection, were the proper parties to determine whether or not they would adopt the provisions of the Mr. ADDERLEY said the clause provided that two-thirds of the town council must consent to the adop tion cf the act before it could be put in operation, and then there was an ample power of appeal given to the ratepayers against the decision oft he town council. After a short discussion, the amendment was nega tived without a division, and the clause was agreed to. On clause 10, which proposed that the petitions of the ratepayers and others against the decision of the town council in favour of the act be addressed to one of her Majesty's Secretaries of State, Mr. CO WPER proposed that the petition of those opposed to the adoption of this act should be sent to the committee of Privy Council, or in other words, to the President of the Board of Health. In effect, such pe titions would go to the Home Offile, which was already overburdened With bu,ineee. Mr. ADDERLEY said he felt disposed to adopt the amendment of the right hon. gentleman merely for the purpose cf expediting the passing of the bill, the male ol;pmt of which was to get rid of the existing Board of Health, and to leave local authorities to their own actien, under the direction of the Secretary of State. But with this desire he felt he must adhere to the clause, being desirous of keeping separate and distinct the medical and sanitary action from mere matters of police. The latter, he contended, ought to be under the direction of the Home-office, but the former under the guidance of the Privy Council. Mr. PALK thought the best way to expedite the bill was to refer it to a select committee. (Oh, oh.) Mr. WESTdEAD said his constituents had a great objection to approach the Privy Council, but such was not the case with respect to the Secretary of State for the Home D-partment. The amendment was negatived. Sir G. PECHELL objected to the pluraliy of voting as laid down in this clause, and such being his opinion, he should move an amendment to abolish such a pro ceeding, unless the hon. gentleman altered the bill to meet his views. Mr. ADDERLY said the gallant admiral objected to give the owner an 1 bona fide occupier a vote, but be differed in opinion with him, and ho felt it his duty to stand arm to the provisions of the clause. The clause was agreed to, as were the other clauses up to 28, with a few verbal amendments, On C 19.1198 29, Sir A. ELTON moved the insertion of words direct ing that in this act nothing should be held to affect the rights of landowners to make p*ate roads on their own property. The amendment was negatived, and the clause agreed to. Clause 30 was under discussion at four o'clock, at which hour the sitting was suspended. The House resumed at six o'clock MAIL COMMUNICATION WITH AUSTRALIA. Mr. H. BERKELEY asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any representations bad been recently received from the Legislatures of New South Wales or Victoria with reference to the irregularities in the performance of the steam postal service between this country and Australia, and whether the Legislature of Victoria had not, by a formal resolution, recommended that the existing contract should be annulled. Sir E. B. LYI'TON replied that the Australian colo nies had made repeated complaints of the irregularities in the performance of the service between this country and Australia. In December, 1857, Sir W. Denison sent f, rward a representation from the Legislature of New South Wales, and subsequently a resolution of the Chamber of Co nmerce on the same subject. No repre sentatien had been received from the Legislature of Victoria, nor any recommendation that the existing contract shall be annulled. So great agrievanee, how ever, ha I not escaped the attention of the Colonial office. Tuey had been in constant cemmunica.ion with the Treasury, and he hal the satisfaction of stating the existing contract would be immediately dissolved. He was informed by the Treasury that tenders for the now service would be invited without delay. The terms would be modified io such a manner as experience had shown t ) be necessary, and every hope was entertained that the service would now be placed in all respects on a satisfactory footing. To obviate any incouve nieces that might arise from the sudden termination of the . present contract, the Treasury would take imme diate steps to enter into a temporary arrangement with the Royal Mail Steam Shipping Company for the per formance of the service during the interval which must elapse before the new contract commenced. Oa the 10th of June he wrote to the Governor of the Australian colo nies informing him that the existing contract had been dissolved, and that a temporary arrangement would be entered into at once. SITE FOR A BARRACKS AT KENSINGTON GORE. Mr, H. BARING asked the Chancellor of the Ex chequer whether the Government proposed to take any steps for obtaining such portion of the Kensington- Gore estate as wou ld suffice for the erection of barracks for the Guarde, in lieu of the present quarters in Port man-street ? fie had given notice of the question be fore the dinuaz•ion on the subj>ct last evening, and now put it on account of the greAt anxiety which prevailed on the tnattLr. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assured the hon. gentleman her Majesty's Government had made due inquiry into the suject, but it was not in the power of the royal commission to enter into any arrange. meet of I be kind without a violation of contract. The la i a r u o d p r b i t d o rs, been who Pu stillreb d shet un lend from immediately a b t n e but from They made it a condition of the sale that no building of an eflensive character, or which could deteriorate the valuo of the surrounding property, should be erected on it. Very stringent engagements and conditions were required from the commissioners, but as some difficulty was found in put.ing them into a legal shape the land holders agreed, in consequence of the high character and social position of the commission, to take the per sonal engagement of the commissioners that no buildings should be erected except for the purposes of science and art. The commissionere, therefore, were not in a posi tion to li ten to any overtures of the kind suggested. It would be a breach of faith to devote the land to any other purposes than those originally intended. CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS ACT. Mr. REBOW asked the Secretary of State for the ' Home Department when he proposed to bring in the bill for continuing the Corrupt Practices at El ec ti ons A c t ? Mr. WAL — POLE said it was difficult in the present state of public business, to say when he could bring in the bill. His intention was to do so on Monday, if pos sible, and he trusted to get an early day after to proceed with it. REWARDS TO MEMBERS. Lord HOTHAM rose to propose the following reso lution That it is contrary to the usage, and deroga tory to the dignity of this house, that any of its mem bers should bring forward, promote, or advocate, in this house, any proceeding or measure in which be may have acted or been concerned, for, or in consideration of, any pecuniary fee or reward." In doing so the noble lord said he was not actuated by any private feeling but solely from a sense of public duty. (Hear.) There were precedents for the course he was pursuing, and therefore in asking the house to record their opinion on the resolution, he was establishing no new principle. The house from the earliest period has shown a determination to sustain its own purity, and at different periods they had passed resolutions restraining members from the commission of acts calculated to undermine the indepen dence and to lower their Efficiency in the eyes of the country. His motion emanated from the report of a committee which sat in April last, and investigated the charges contained in a petition presented by Mr. Coffey, but it was not his intention to cast any reflection on the members of the profession of the law. The first resolu tion directly inteiferif g with the free action of the mem • bers of the legal profession belonging to that house, pro vided that members of that house being lawyers should not take part as counsel on bills before the House of Lords prior to their coming to the House of Commons. Subsequently to that various members were expelled for accepting money bribes in consequence of the performance of certain duties ; and in 1667 Mr. Ashburnham was expelled the house for taking a bribe of 5001. from the French merchants. In 1694 the Speaker of the house was expelled for taking a bribe of 1,000 guineas relative to the London Corpora , tion Orphan Bill, and Mr. Hungerford, for receiving the very moderate sum in those days of 20, guineas as chairman of the committee on the same bill, and in 1695 a resolution was passed, making it a high crime and misdemeanour, and tending to the subversion of the British constitution, in any one to presume to offer sums of money to members to stimulate honourable members in the discharge of their duty in any particular direc• tion. (Hear, hear.) From that time things appeared to have gone on without interruption till 1830, when, in consequence of an honourable member entering into partnership with a gentleman who carried on the busi ness of a parliamentary agent, a resolution was unani mously passed condemning the practice, and the part nership was dissolved the next day. H's reason for taking that prominent position was in consequence of there having grown up of late years a practice of send ing appeals from India to this country. That practice had, year after year, become a matter of more frequent occurrence ; and, in consequence, a practice had grown up with it which be thought it behoved the House of Commons to guard against. (Hear, hear.) The public mind was impressed with the belief, in consequence, that a system was being adopted that was not calculated to sustain the purity of the house ; and they had it on less authority than the hon. member fur Guildford, late chairman of the Court cf Directors of the East India Company, in his evidence bef :re the committee on Mr. Coffey's petition, that it had been publicly stated in India that the services of the members in that house were obtainable by means of money, and he (Lord Ho them) asked the house if it was a system that ought to be permitted ? The truth of the statement referred to had been corroborated by the report of the committee, respecting which he would then say nothing, because he was bound to believe they had done their duty fairly and honestly, and given a right decision on the evi dence adduced before them. The resolution to which he had referred did not apply to the cases is question. The former referred to the payment of money for Parlia mentary servicee, but the cases in question were of a dif ferent character. As he understood, a legal member of the house was retained, with a very heavy fee, to con duct the care in a court into which it was never intended by those who paid the fee to take it, and afterwards be was asked to undertake to bring the case forward in Parl'ament. The money, no doubt, was paid legally, and there could be no doubt'a legal gentleman, a member of that house, had a perfect right to bring the case before the house, but in doing so could it bo considered as any thing else than an evasion of the law of Parliament laid down to protect its own purity ? He considered it was the duty ; f the house to declare their opinion on the subject, and say such a practice should no longer exist. (Hear.) He denied that the resolution he proposed would interfere with the free action of the members of that house. Already the number of the legal professional members of that house were relieved from the share of the committee work of that house to go on circuit, and it was unreasonable for the members of the legal profes sion to expect that the character of that house for purity should be sacrificed by their conduct. It war said there was no occasion far this resolution because publicity was a check on them, but the legal profession was different from all others, in that they received their fees before they did their work, and having received their fees legally with a brief in a case purporting to be brought before the courts in Westminster-hall, it cool!, not be said they had taken briber, when they advocated certain claims afterwards in that house. Since he had put his notice on the riper, he had received expressions of ap probation of his conduct from a large number cf gentle men connected with the Irish and English bar, who wished to see the practice put down. It was because be cordially concurred in the opinions which had been expressed by the public journal; that he had thought it his duty to propose the resolution to the house. Whatever might be the rocrite of the resolution which he was about to submit, at all events it would not be open to the charge cf ambiguity. There could be no doubt whatever as to its meaning. (Hear) He appealed to hon. members, as men of integrity, honour, conscience, honesty and common sense, what opinion would the public entertain of the House of Commons if, while professing so much abhorrence of improper conduct in others?, they were squeamish respecting charges which affected their own purity and integrity ? He ventured to hope that the house would rise above all minor consideration, and de clare baldly and ire the face of day and of the world, that while they were resolved to punish corruption without, it would not tolerate even sn much as a ,suspicion of c ir ruption within its walls. (Hear, hear.) He thereforeeeked the house to declare that it was derogatory to the dignity , of the house that any of its members should bring for ward any motion, or advocate any proceeding or measure in which he might have acted, or been concerned for, or in consideration of any pecuniary fee or reward. (Hear.) Mr. DIVETT seconded the motion. Mr. BOWYER, olj,nted to the resolution, on the ground that it conveyed a vague censure upon all the legal members of the house. (No, no) He called upon the noble lord who brought forward the motion to state definitively and precisely who wore the persons to whom the resolution was intended to apply. If it had no par ticular reference, then it was a mere abstract resolution of the worst kind, inasmuch as it conveyed a general censure upon the members of the legal profession. He was himself a member of the bar, but although not in actual practice, he felt it his duty to repel the accusation which was then brought against a most honourable body of men. The noble lord must, however, go a great deal further than his resolution went. Thera were rail way &rectors in this house who received salaries as director=, and they were permitted to advcca'e the in terests cf •hte particular lines with which they were con nectet. The chairman of the East India Company and the governor of the Bank of England ought also to be excluded from taking port in any discussion upon questions in which they were interested. Even the At torney.Celeneral and Solicitor-General would have their mouths closed upon the same principle in all cases in which they might have received a brief in any case affect• tag the interests of the Crown. (A laegh.) It was, he contended, niest unjust to affix a stigma upon the legal profession, leaving other members perfectly free. The noble lord ought, in justice to the house, to name the barristere who had, as ho stated, mieconducted them selves. (Hear) Mr. WHITESIDE said that the argument of the hon, member that the chairman of the East India Com pasty ought to be prevented from speaking on subjects connected with that company, did not in the least apply to the resolution before the house. The house knew per fectly well the position which was occupied by the chair man of the E ist India Company, and his arguments upon any question were taken accordingly, but that such conduct was very different from that of persons who indirecly received fees for advocating measure's in the House of Commons. (Hear) The motion of his noble friend appeared to him just and honourable, and so far from considering it an impeachment upon the pro fession to which he had the honourto belong, he thanked the noble lord for having brought it forward, and would give it his hearty cic - Tort. (Rear.) • Mr. BOUVERtE objected to the resolution, on the ground that, if entered upon the records of Parliament, it would convey the erroneous notion that general cor ruption was prevalent in the House of Commons. The hon. member proceeded to read some extracts from con temporary works of the time of Charles, showing the great extent of corruption which then prevailed, and contended that the great security for the continuance of the integrity of hon. members was to be found in the ceaseless vigilance of the press. Dissenting, therefore, from the resolution on the grounds which ho bad stated, he moved the previous question. (Hear.) Sir J. PAKINGTON suggested that it was most de sirable that if the resolution were agreed to, the words of the resolution shouki be so wideas to cover all honour able members and all cases. He thought that the words "in which he might havo acted or been concerned" should be omitted, and the omission of those words would remove anything like a stigma upon a particular class or profession. The standing orders of the house were, he believed, very strong against "offering" any bribe to the members of the house, but ho did not think there was any order against hon. members " receiving'' a bribe. (Hoar, hear.) Mr. LABOUCHE RE hoped that the house would not accede to the suggestion of the right hon. baronet, the effect of which would be to reduce the resolution to the merest truism, which it would be inconsistent with the dignity of the house to affirm. (Hear.) The House of Commons, at the present moment, stood higher than it over did, but it was impossible not to understand that a very strong feeling existed out of the house on the sub ject, and it wan therefore, the duty of the house to give expression to its opinion that such acts as those which t w h e e r c e poi hara n e t t e e d r o o f u t t h b e y u t o h u e ie r c es f o c l u a t m io ni n () a n y e derogatory There ewa was also an increased nee: silty for agreeing to some resolution of the kind, arising out of the contemplated transference of the government of India to theiCrown, one effect of which would be to make the House of Commons much more than it had yet been the arena for diecusAng pecuniary matters and interests connected with India. We might expect t o ha ve wea l thy raj +l3s and zernindars coming over to England and endeavouring to interest Lon. members l in the promotion of their claims, and endeavouring to obtain redress for alleged grievances. (Hear, hear.) Be lieving that the necessity for thi s resolution did exist, he should give it his cordial support. (Hear, hear.) • The SOLICITOR-GENERAL concurred in the pro priety of a great deal that had been said by the right hon. gentleman who had just addressed the house, and had no hesitation in saying, on the part of the bar, that for any hon. member to advocate in the house the same cause which he had been retained to advocate at the bar, was not in accordance with those notions of honour which generally actuated the members of the legal profession. (Hear) While he entertained this opi nion, he regretted that some cases had not been brought forward to show the necessity of a resolution as that be fore the house. When it was said there were suspicions abroad on the subject of the conduct of the bar, and that, therefore, it was necessary to pass such a resolu tion, he felt it his duty, on the part of the bar, to state that there was no ground for such suspicion, so far as the members of that profession were concerned. In his humble judgment, the resolution as expressed in one sense, conveyed much more than its authors meant to convey, while in another sense they actually shrink from conveying their full meaning. He should vote, there fore, for the amendment of the hon. member opposite. Mr. Sergeant DEASY, as a member of the Irish bar, entirely concurred in every sentiment that had fallen from the hon. and learned gentleman the Attorney-Ge neral for Ireland, and in regarding such conduct as this resolution was directed against, as involving not only a violation of the duties of a member of Parliament, but likewise a violation of the duties of a member of the bar, and as entirely opposed to the feelings of the profession. He believed that members of that house who happened also to be members of the legal profession, had very fre quently abstained from taking fees in matters to be sub mitted to Parliament. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that if his noble friend who brought forward the motion, or any other hon. member, really believed that there was any one member of the bar of England, Scotland, cr Ireland, who happened to have a seat in that house that had afforded the slightest gronnd3 fur a motion of this kind, it was due to the bar and to that house that the name of that hon. member should be declared. Now, as far as re garded the resolution itself, with the exception of the words [..zented out by his right hon. friend the First Lord of the Admiralty, it was entirely unobjectionable, but at the same tirtne it was entirely uncalled for an I unneces sary. ;To the resolution, taken abstractedly, no one could object, but it was actually implied in an order of the house so far back as the year 1695. But let them take it in connection with the position of the law officers of the Oro en in that house. Why, it might so happen, that immediately after the Attorney-General was con suited upon some important question it would be brought forward in that house. Such was the case with regard to the matter of the Cagliari, which was submitted to Par liament only three days after the law officers of the Crown had been consulted with reference to it. Well, what a position would not the law officers of the Crown be placed is under,such circumstances if a resolution like that were accepted. Well, suppose again the case of one cf those Indian princes to whom allusion had been made. A. case is submitted to council for consideration , and the council come s t o th e conc l us i on that there is no legal remedy whatever for the grievance in question ; still Parliament alone can redress the wrong which has been done. Well, then, under these circumstances was a mem ber of Parliament to be precluded from delivering his opinions as to the law of such case in his place in that house. But the moment that a member of the profession perceived a case was likely to be brought before Parlia ment, if he should happen to be a member of that house, it was undoubtedly his bounden duty to intimate to the solicitor in the case that he could no longer be profes sionally interested in it, He bad most fully considered the resolution, and considering it in reference to the in numerable cases in which the bar might be consulted, be did not hesitate to affirm that its adoption must have the effect of driving many distinguished members of the pro fession from that house. Once more, with regard to the case of the Indian Princes—he believed that none would - be found advocating their cause unless such persons could declare they were actuated by note but the purest mo tives. But what he wished above all the house to bear in mind, was the practical meaning of a resolution of that kied upon the members of the bar who happened to be members of that house, especially those who might happen to have duties to perform with reference to the C, own and the subject in connection with matters that might happen to be submitted to Parliament. (Hear.) Mr. MALINS must protest against the aspersions which had been cast upon his profession throughout the discussion of that evening. He was utterly lost in arnsz :meat to discover to what conduct the resolution before the house could possibly refer. He had the most profound respect for the noble lord who had moved it, but he regretted that he had no t more spec ifi cally urged the grounds upon which his conclusions rested. If any particular member or members of that house had been guilty of the malpractices imputed by the resolution, let their names be published to Parliament, but do not let the House of Commons by a general resolution cast a slur upon a high and dignified profession. Mr. BENTINCK expressed his cordial concurrence in eveiy line of the resolution, as well as in every senti ment uttered by the noble lord who had introduced it. Mr. GILPIN - opposed the resolution. Mr. P. O'BRIEN regarded such a motion as an invi dious attempt to "asperse the character ( f the honour able profession to which he hal the honour to belong. Lord .7. RUSSELL thought the noble lord had done great service to the house in bringing forward this mo tion--(hear, heat)—but that great diflieu'ty s'ood in the way of so framing a resolution which should neither on the one hand fail short of the object in view, or, on the other, overstep it. (Hear, hear.) It would be found a matter of great difficulty to meet every case that might arise, and it ought to be remembered that the house had emphatically recorded its opinion against any mem ber of Parliament receiving pecuniary reward for his Parliamentary services. The rule for the guidance of barristers, laid down by the Attorney. General was, in his opinion, quite satisfactory. The discussion would tend to clear up matters, but for his own-p he would rather trust to the high sense of duty animating the members of the bar, then to any resolution which might be passed. He should vote for the previous question, but the noble lord deserved thanks for having brought forward the motion. (Hear, hear.) Mr. BOVILL, on the part of the legal profession, thanked the noble lord for having afforded an opportu nity for a vindication of the members of the legal pro fes,ion. Mr. ROEBUCK said, that as the house was about to iegislate for India, it v,sie cf importance to ley down a rule which was to guide members of the bar, who were at the same time members of parliament. He would tell the house exactly what had occurred to himself. He was a director of a bank, and one day, when at the bank, was told that an agent of the Queen of Oude wished to see him. He supposed that the Queen of Gado might possibly wish to open an account with the bank—(laughter) —and consented to see the agent. This individual affected to regret that the Quen of Oude should appear before him (the honourable and learned member) "in such a manner," upon which he (Mr. Roel:ucle) said, " What . the devil do you mean ?" (Laueliter.) " The Queen of Onde is poor," said the agent. "I understand you now," replied toe honour able and Darned member. "Oh," the other rejoined, "we know one who received a fee of 5001. for advocat ing the claims of the Queen of Oude." So the matter ended, and the individual was bowed out of the bank. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) The rule for the guidance of a barrister was clear. When a legal man came into parliament it was clear that he should give up every thing in the shape of a fee. (Hear, hear.) He thanked the noble lord for having brought forward the motion, and if he went to a division, he should go into the same lobby with him. (Hear, hear.) The house had dis tinctly expressed its opinion that no man, as a lawyer, ought to advocate any case in the house as a barrister. (Hear.) After that expression of opinion no man would dare to do so. (Hear.) Mr. MELLOR said that the legal profession were already precluded from doing that which the resolution aimed at. He hoped the noble lord would not press the motion to a division, although he should feel reluctant to vote against it. Lord HOTIIAM replied, and the house divided, when there appeared— Fcr the previous question BO , Against it 151 Majority --71 The SPEAKER put the resolution. The numbers were— For the resolution ..- Against it Majority (Cheers and laughter.) ASSESSORS AND COLLECTORS OF TAXES. Mr. LINDSAY had given notice to move "that in the opinion of this house the assessors and collectors of taxes, both assessed and incom e , s h ou l d b e appointed by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue." The suls . Vnt was one of considerable importance, and his constituents, as well as others, had suffered severely from the prevailing sys tem. He wished somewhat to modify his motion—to the effect that the present mode of collecting the assessed and income taxes in England was attended with great disad vantage and loss, and that some other means of collect ing those taxes should be resorted to. He found that 71 parishes had been called on for second payments in c )n -sequence of the defalcations of collectors. In one case the amount was as large as 2,5001., and his own constituents had had to repay 1,7651. Two collectors for Tynemouth were appointed in 1854 and 185 5—Thomas Briggs and Joseph Phillipson. The warrant appointing them autho rised them to give the usual quittances, and to issue dis traints where necessary. Biggs became insolvent ; his colleague Phillipson could not be made responsible ; and the property in the hands of the official assignee could not be seized for the purpose. The result was a loss of 1,7651 which was made up by a re -assessment as usual. The in habitants resisted and took legal advice ; but there were conflicting opinions, and the Board of Inland Revenue insisted on the re -assessment of the parish, and called on the Comra'sAoners to distrain. Two other parties were named as c Olectore, Jackson and another, but they de clined to aot, and were fined 501. for neglect of duty. At last a party bad to be sent down from London espe cially to collect this tax, and the peopl2 of Tyne mouth were obliged to pay it. Seventy-one other pro ishes were in the same case. Tee law, as it stood, was extremely difficult to understand ; there were a number cf acts bearing on the subject, The 43rd Geo. 111. gave directions for the appointment of assessors and collectors, and by 5 and 6 Vict, polishes were liable to be re -assessed for defalcations. A subsequent act, 17 and 18 Vict., empowered the Beard of Inland Revenue t to requi re secur i ty from the collectors. This was not imperative, b ut ought to be made so. He would also have the c Mee ore appointel by the Government, who weu!d Veen be responsible for their eleficienci was naturally a diffi cu lty i n obtaining P. There collectors for sa.all parishes, where the poundage was small. In those 210 27 --183 cases be would not place the appointment in the hands of the Treasury, but would divide the country into dis tricts, under commissioners, who should receive instruc tions from the Board o f Inland Revenue to require secu rity from the collectors. By these means real responsi bility in the collectors would be secured. He had stated the case briefly, but he hoped he bad said enough to show the house the necessity for inquiry and some change—(hear, hear) —and with these observations he begged to move "that in the opinion of this house the assessors and collectors of taxes, both assessed and in. come, should be appointed by the Commissioners of In land Revenue." Mr. WILLIAMS seconded the motion. In two parishes of the borough which he represented very seri ous losses had been sustained through the defalcations of collectors. He thought the responsibility of collect ing ought to be thrown on the Crown. Sir J. TROLLOPE thought there would be great difficulty in carrying out the views of the hon. member for Tynemouth. In a large number of districts the re muneration was so small that no man would for it sub ject himself to the inconvenience of giving security to the Government. He had been a local commissioner for many years, and never knew a case of defalcation in any officer appointed by him. He would suggest to the hon, member that the best course would be to propose the repeal of the statute of George Hl.—(hear, hear) — which enacted that in case of any defalcation the amount should be re-assessed on the parish ; that was a hardship. With taxes, as with anything el , e, if a person paid his money to the duly qualified officer the receipt ought to be a discharge under all circumstances. (Hear.) If the hon. gentleman pressed the subject to a division he must oppose it, although he admitted the law required amendment. Mr. RIDLEY contended the matter complained of was a great grievance. There could not be a greater hardship than that a man having once paid a tax to the proper officEr should be compelled to pay it over again. He understood the matter had lately been under the consideration ef the Board of Island Revenue, and he trusted the Government would bs able to provide a remedy. If something was not done the effect on the revenue might be very serious. Mr. INGHAM considered the suggestion of the hon. baronet (Sir J. Trollope) a very good one, and if adopted, it would go far to remedy the grievance complained of ; but if the Inland Revenue Commissioners were respon sible for the collection of the revenue, they ought to have the appointment cf their own officers. If that were done a much smaller number of collectors would do the work. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the hon. member for Tynemouth was fully justified in bring ing the matter before the house. No doubt what was complained of was a grievance. Ho knew nothing more severe than to have to pay taxes under any circum stances; but to have to pay them twice, and that because a person of whom you never heard had run away with - the money, was a combination of grievances. He still wished, however, the hon. gentl eman wou ld not press his m o ti on . The question was really under the consideration of the Government at the present time. He did not use this as a mere phrase to meet a motion from the opposite side. He could refer to the report of the Inland Revenue Commissioners just laid on the table. The Commissioners say, "The mode of assessing and collecting the taxes by officers appointed by the parish must before lung demand your lordships' consideration ; the subject is in a most unsatis factory state." The honourable baronet (Sir J. Trol lope) had made a suggestion well worthy of atten tion; but the matter was ono which could not be imme diately settled. It required grave consideration and con trivance before a satisfactory state of affairs could be arrived at. It was not an easy matter to raise a large revenue at a slight cost, and, moreover, there was a local jealousy (sot to be discouraged) which must be taken into account, and it was not advisable to increase the patronage "and power of the Crown beyond what the neces-ity of the case required. The hon. gentleman bad done his duty in bringing the subject before the house, and he trusted he would be content with the expression of opinion on the sul jsct. (Hear.) Mr. LINDSAY, atter the clear and express statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer ' would ask leave to withdraw hi s mo ti on —(h ear, bear)--but he hoped no time would be lost in dealing with the subj ect. The motion was then withdrawn. LUNATICS UNDER THE COURT OF CHANCERY, Mr. TITE, in moving for a select committee on this subject, said the matter was so foreign to his usual pur suits, that be would not have moved for it, but a case of great hardship having recently been laid before him, he felt compelled by a sense of duty to bring the matter be fore the house. He regretted to hear that his motion was to be opposed—he would have thought that the feelings of every member would lead him to support it. It ap peared from recent returns that there were now 29,000 lunatics in England, the increase last year having been 1,000. There wore 15,054 in the county asylums, and 7,000 pauper lunatics in the workhouses. The number of county asylums was 38, and it was gratifying to learn that last year the cares in them were 14 per cent. There were 551 lunatics under the control of the Court of Chancery, possessing property to the amount of 240,000/. a-year. The amount allowed for their support was 160,0001., or an average of about 3001. a-year each, It might be supposed that having such large funds for their support, those luna tics would be in a much better state than any other, but in point of fact it was amongst this class that the greater number of complaints of hardship were found to exist. Tee proportion of cures did not exceed 2 per cent. The act ef 1853, though drawn with much It gal acumen, did not work. In the first pleas, only two medical visitors were appointed to look after these 530 persons, and they were only paid 5001. a year each, an amount of remuneration for which it was impossible ti expect gentlemen of their eminence to devote the whole of their time. The result was, that although the patients were required to be visited once a year, the visitation was not efficient, and without constant supervision the lunatic was sure to be neglecied. Lunacy was tiresome and harassing ; and without constent vigilance humanity itself would cease to be humane with regard to this unfortunate class. In a recent return to the House of Lords he saw a case mentioned in which no less than 1,100/. a year was allowed for the maintenance of the lunatic—a sum that must make the fortune of the asylum id which he hap pened to be placed. In another case, a chrgyman, sub ject to pal tial hi:Declinations, and fit to move in society, was placed, with an allowance of 4001. a year, in the care of an .ex-sergeant of police, whose other income only amounted to 30:. He did not mean to nay that the lunatics in these cases were unkindly treated, but he maintained that they were not treated quite fairly. With regard to ether patients, the reports of the commis sioners were regelatly laid on the table ; so that if there was any csmplaint it could easily be investigated ; but the reports relating to the class to which be was calling the attention of the house were kept secret. He would not detain the house while be voted to them the cases ef hardship which had come within his knowledge, but hoped the government would take into consideration the great importance of the subjece and grant him the com mittee for which he moved. (Hear, hear.) The SOLICITOR -GENERAL had no objection to have the subject investigated ; but he thought if an inquiry were undertaken at all, it should be a thorough one, and one of a character which at that period of the session it would be impossible to carry out. If the subject were renewed next year and a committee were appointed, every assistance would be afforded by the government, and, he might add, by the Lord Chancellor. The hon. gentleman bad re• ferred to the small per centage of cures amongst patients of this class ; but in point of fact commissions of lunacy were never taken out except in the last resort. Re ferring to the list for a single year (1852) he found that the shortest period during which the lunatic was found to have been suffering from mental infirmity previous to the proceedings being taken was two years. In one oc casion it was 50 years ; and some of the lunatics were returned as having been idiots from their infancy, so that in point of fact these persons might be considered as having been all but incurable before any steps were taken. The hon. gentleman stated thas the act would not work. No doubt it was susceptible of improvement, bnt it had worked admirably. One great object of the measure was to reduce the cost of proceedings in lunacy. Formerly in the most ordinary cases the expenses up to the appointment of the committee amounted to 200/ now they were between 50/. and 701., besides which all the subsequert business was transacted befsre a Master in chambers and was attended with scarcely any addi tional cost at all, With regard to the visitors, he had first to observe, that half the patients were in private asylums, and bad the advantage of the habitual visits of the commiseioners, presided over by Lord Shaftes bury. With regard to the rest, it would no doubt be very desirable that they should be more frequently seen by the two medical gentlemen appointed for that pur pose ; but it was unnecessary to say that if they insisted on their visits being made oftener they must increase tht salaries. At the same Vine it must be borne in mind that the pa les? ere under telregular medical supervi sion which was provided by the scheme in each case ; and the visitors, when they did see them, were in- structed to ascertain that the scheme was carried out in its minute , t details. The bon. gentleman had referred to a case where he sail 1,1001. was paid for the lunatic's maintenance; but his "maintenance" included not only what was paid for his board, but an allowance on account of his family. Mr. TITE said that in the report to the House of Lords (which was dated the 21st of February) the sums were placed under separate beads, and the 1,1001. was returned as "maintenance of the lunatic." The SOLICI f OR-GENERAL said from his know ledge of the manner in which transactions of this kind were conducted, he had no doubt the thing occurred in the way be had stated. The hon. member said the re parts of the commissioners were kept secret, it could not be supposed that it would be agreeable to the friends of these unbrtunate persors to have them laid 'on the table of that house. (Hear, hear.) He (the inciter- General) thought the c untry was greatly indeb'ed to the Lord Chancellor, and more especially to the Lords Justices, in whose (leper ment the matter lay, for the attention which was beaow( d on these subject-. He knew that in many cases the Lords Justices had made a personal examination of lunatics, and, generally speak ing, they bad manifested the most lively interest in the treatment and welfare of those who were under their special care. (Hi ar.) He was desirous that whenever a complaint was made it should be fully investiga'eo, in order that the house might see Low the act of 1853, re lating to this sulject, worked. He did not objet to inquiry, but it was impossible that it could be properly conducted in the present section, and if the hon. gentle man would withdraw his motion then, and renew it next session, he would have the support of the Government in his attempt to obtain a full and complete inquiry. Mr. H. DRUMMOND thought it would have been best. r, if, instead of proposing an inquiry into "the laws ielatin; to lunatics," the hon. member had proposed an kc i niry into the care and treatment of lunatics. Every ODe ytho had studied the matter knew perfectly well that the treatment of 'undies under the authority of the Court of Chancery was much worse than the treatment of other lunatics. It was impossible for the Lords Justices to bestow sufficient attention on the matter to discover all that was going on. One thing which ex cited his suspicion in a lunatic asylum was the circum stance that whenever a patient attempted to speak to him a keeper immediately came up and said, " Take care of him, sir, he is a very dangerous man." Mr. TITE said, in accordance with the suggestion of the Solicitor-General, he wou ld w i t h draw his motion an d renew it next session. The motion was then withdrawn. BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY. Lord J. RUSSELL moved for leave to bring in bill to amend and consolidate the laws relating to bank rupts and insolvents." The noble lord said he made this motion at the instance of a body of gentlemen who met some time ago at Birmingham to consider the subject, and who had asked him to lay the bill before the house in order that it might engage the attention of the law officers of the Crown. It appeared that at present the expenses of bankruptcy proceedings were so great that about 30 per cent. of the realised assets were absorbed in them. Three or four remedies were suggested in this bill. One was to put an end entirely to the distinction between bankruptcy and insolvency by providing that the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Courts should be united, and that all persons who became insolvents should be deemed to be bankrupts. In the next place, it was pro posed that the creditors should have power at their first meeting to appoint a creditors' assignee, instead of an official assignee; it being the opinion of the promoters of the bill, that although in many cases the official assig nee was a man of knowledge and ability, and managed the affairs entrusted to him skilfully, in other casein through indolence or carelessness on the part of that officer, a great deal of the property of the creditors was wasted. It was further proposed that the process should be very much simplified, and made cheaper than it was then, and in pursuance of this last object it was proposed that in certain cases the creditors should have power to resort to the county courts. There were various other provisions, including one for placing retired allowances on the consolidated fund. The main feature of the bill was the consolidation of the Bankruptcy Court and the Insolvency Court. All he proposed to do now was to introduce the bill ; he did not expect to proceed any fur ther with it in the present session, but he hoped it would receive the fullest attention from the Government before any alteration was proposed on their behalf. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the attention of the Government had long been directed to this impor- - tent subject, and, as the noble lord was probably aware, a bill was about to be introduced by them in the other house of parliament, which it was hoped would remedy most of the exi,ting defects. He was surprised that no attempt was made in the bill of the noble lord to amend the state of the law with regard to insolvent joint stock companies. At present it was impossible to do justice to the creditors and the shareholders without instituting proceedings both in the Court of Bankruptcy and in the Court of Chancery ; and the consequence was a conflict of jurisdiction, of remedies, and of officers, involving immense expense to the parties interested. Re should refrain from expressing any opinion with regard to the provisions of the bill until he bad had an opportunity of examining them ; but as regarded the proposed abolition of the distinction between bankruptcy and insolvency, he might observe that the bill must go a great deal fur ther than that if the noble lord sought to make every class of British subjects liable to be made bankrupts. Mr. HEADLAM agreed with the Attorney-General as to the necessity of legislation with regard to insolvent j oinestock companies, but thought it undesirable to mix up that question with the subject of the bill. Leave was then given to bring in the bill. CORONERS INQUESTS. Mr. COBBETT moved for a select committee to co'. Sider the state of the law and practice as regards the taking of inquisitions in cases of death, the appeintment, duties, and remuneration of the officers employed there in, and whether it is expedient that any and what alter ation should be made in such matters. He said the coin mittea that he asked for was one to revive a committee appointed appointed in 1851 on the motion of the hoe. membsr for Lewes. The committee sat for a con- • siderable time, took some evidence, and reported hastily just before the dissolution, recommending ' that the evidence should be printed. The evideece s ' however, never had been printed. A great feud non existed between the coroner and the justices in . no less than fifteen counties, and the question was fb question of fees. The 25th of George 11., chap. 29, gave the fee of one pound and an allow ance for mileage on all inquests which have been duly held, and which should be paid out of the county , rate. This gave the justices a supervision. The let Viet., chap. 68, enacted that the expenses attending the holding of inquests should no longer be paid out of the poor rate. That act of course threw a greater burden on the county rate with regard to inquests, and front that time to this there had been a growing disposition on the part of the justices to cut down the expenses of inquests. With regard to the expenses under the let Victoria, the magistrates bad no discretion, but with - regard to the fee of 1/ and the mileage, they had, there having been di scovere d l ate l y an old decision of the • Court of King's Bench, by which on the word "duly" it had been held that the justices had jurisdiction. The rule of law was that there should be an inquest in all cases of sudden death, or death from violence, but the rule of the magi s t ra t es was t h at the inquest should not be bead except there was some suspicion of criminality. The justices of Yorkshire had given directions to the constables to inform the coroner of casts in which they • thought there was suspicion, so that the constables were made the judges of the necessity, instead of the coroner.- A commission having issued, be believed that the right hoc. gentleman thought that a committee would be useless—(hear, hear)—but if a hope was not held out that the commission would go fully into the whole matter, he must press upon the house the necessity of appointing a ceiumittee. The CLLANCELLOI2, of the EXCHEQITER said, considering the number of hours the house had sat, the lateness of the hour, and the fact that there must be a debate upon this matter, he would move that the debsta be adjourned. There was a sort of understanding that matters of this sort should not be taken after midnight. The debate was accordingly adjourned until Wedging.. day. SALE OF GRAIN. Mr. M`CANN obtained leave to bring in a bill for the sale of wain, meal, flour, butter, and potatoes, and other agricultural produce, by the pound avoirdupois, _ the score of twenty pounds, the hundredweight of one hundred pcunds, and the ton of two thousand pounds. The toll was read a first time. COUNTY PROPERTY CONVEYANCE. Mr. PALK obtained leave to bring in a bill to pro. vide for the conveyance of county, city, and borough property to the clerk of the peace or town clerk of the county, city, or borough. EXPJRING LAWS. Mr. HAMILTON moved for a sabot committee to inquire what temporary laws of a public and general nature were in force nu the let day of January last, and what laws of the like nature expired between the time to which the last report on the subject was made up and the said let day of January, and also which of the said • laws in force on the said let day of January last_ are limited to expire at particular periods, or in consequence of any contingent public event, and to report the game, with their observations thereupon, to the hous e Hamilton, Mr. Fi !zroy, Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. - Solicitor-General, Mr. Adderley, Mr. Cowper, Sir Was. Jolliffe, General Peel, Mr. William Williams, Lord Naas, Lord John Manners, and Mr. Hardy : pawee to send for persons, papers, and records ; five to be the • quorum. The committee was appointed. The County Management Bill was read a third time and passed.. The Railways Act (Ireland) Continuance Bill was read a second time. THE NISI PRIUS COURT (IRELAND) BILL. This biil, as amended, was considered. JOINT STOCK BANKING COMPANIES BILL. On the motion for the third reading of this bill, Mr. COWAN moved that it be read a third time that day six mouthF. The house divided— For the third reading 6O Against 13-17 The bill then passed, and Tile house then adjourned at a quarter before one. Sir James Matheson has paired for the remainder of he session with Lord Alexander Gordon Lennox. DEATHS FRO/St SIINSTROICE.—On Wednesday last two men near Rumford, in Essex, and a man near Mayfield, Sussex, met their deaths from sunstroke. Farm stock i❑ Essex suffered severely from the same cause, not °DIY bullocks, cows, and pigs, but ducks and geese, dropping down dead through the heat of the weather. BIRTHS. BowDEN--On the 20th inst., at Preston, the wife of Major Bowden, 22d Regt., of a son. HARDINGE—On the 20th inst., at 20, Hanover-squaret Viscountess Hardinge, of a son. KNATCIIBULL—On the 19th inst., the wife of Major Reg' nald Knatehbull, of a son. MAYOR- On the 21st inst., at 45, Park-street, Grosvenor . square, Mrs. P. J. Mayor, Esq., of a daughter. MARRIAGES.. CORNWALL—WILSON—On the 19th inst., at Dublin, b 1 special license, Major G. Cornwall, 93d Highlander s, to Augusta Annie, second daughter of the late Brigadier Wilson, 64th Regt. STEEL—WOOD—On the 27th ult , at St. Martin's-in•the • Fields, Charles Steel, Esq., Captain 17th Lancers, o ' 6 eldest son of Major-General Sir Scudamore Winde Steele K.C.8., to Anna Caroline, third daughter of the Rev Sir John Page Wood, Bart., of Rivenhall, Essex. DEATHS, FRANCIS— On the 21st inst., at Cornwall-place, Hollows! , Mr. Edward Francis, aged 82. DARE —On the 21st inst., Miss Hester Dare, of Watling' street, aged 82. D ' EISENDECKER--On the 16th inst., at Pau, Pyrenees , Valeria, Baroness d'Eisendecker, daughter of the 1 i to Thomas Forster, of the Grove, Buckinghamshire, and of Elite, Jamaica. PHIPPS —On the 14th inst., at the Curragh Camp, dare, William He.iry Phipps, Esq., Assist. -Surgeon 2d Battalion Coldstream Guards, aged 27. PARKER—On the 14th inst., Peter Parker, Esq., late of Andover, aged V. r ,ONDON : Printed and Published by /SURD° YOUNG of Ice. 112, Strand, Printer, at Th e Sun offi ce , No 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy. In the count: of Uic.l4.l!own, Wednesday, Juno 23, 1858. O c t) BAIT' Rich Arse COUnnencii 'London, SDNDAY,E: tom Brisl 144 7 .34 B 147* . RAGES to t 97 TU 4 ‘ 411 1 WEI Z/AY, - an( (sernsey) Through Wes tern R 20th Ma at O T the Posse! anticipate 61b bag of ".-liVarehot SCIIN SEL ..very R o t Cork with 1 fectioners, Liverpool; b _C BS >s rvereigns ocPression retired, or L entirely *Me_ nt ai nond-etree been, In an 1444 4 Lonc ono/ on ad N.B. Pol *Mired wi .being dedul , N ,J _r Solicit Capital oi Revenue Nutided am 4 All Profit kture me•Pretlts The Bon ' 4O per. cent 4. Bank I 11 , 0 Y • (Mita! fiir !Miry Bain Bohn Garre ?,Ali Ward Ma waltam Da - I, xander Charles Fai +Ova/v:1Mo Hobert Amy James Stem 1411 10elot He %howl FIRE an, )oration on In the Li. In Profits, o The Rey! Dv cent. cremiums Persons • The futu Any sum This Cori - Libel A ra The , Office , nearly IN CAS! for Paymen hea made, bovldad th • from tt • INTEI soot 'ailed 1837.- - has been "an Policies of a tolling wit • Littual.prer t UN death I grace. TIII X2llloweree VIV b, 1 , , ED Wm. ke: *Samuel John Ell F.R.S. Profwo ~dl:~~ Messrs. I The nomi 4194 186 C Policy taken set in, 1831 1841 4 4n 1845 1848 1851 Thelon bational The So Two-th 111 e year Its sub: Its inv, to one hu Its anr - The nu About raSince i Of three 1 For pro tan, 142 142, St AZ* A patent 0 Phat TRIE: "devoid of Bold in t Velpean, T R] contehth too long strength now In t - erhateve hIi(lE effentui tradicat forms ( Urine', Copalvt ruin of is the e] tome. 1 Cutane( tons ai . the vir throat4h Ilever.f the Eni tion of tt e wot any pal extra. r. 12a. rsrtlet tridge) , ford•sti Wards, Drice 1 opinion tions fc pedime dreedfi benefit , Perms Mmes. U the na irt THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY E:V ENING, PONE 23, 1858. Es PiEssi :'~