The Sun. — London, England, 1852-05-26 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 25. The LORD CItAIiCRLLoR took his scat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. THE MILITIA. BILL. The Marquis of BR,EADA.LBANE asked the Noble lssrl at the head of the Government whether it was his intention to proceed reith the Militia 13111 in this House without laying before their Lordships the opinions of the professienal earhoritlee on the snbjeet. He con sidered it to be a subject on which the House could not legislate without having before it the opinions of the military and navel authorities. The Earl of DERBY said it was undoubtedly the in tention of her Majesty's Government to proceed with the Bill without taking any farther steps to inquire into the present state of the defences of the country, con sidering that they had already sufficient information on the subject, Lord BEAUMONT presented a petition from nume rous lords of manors against. the Copyheld Enfran chitement Bill,. and praying to be heard by counsel at the bar against ire. .•• • • On the .motion - of. Lord MINTO the Burehe (Scot land) Bill passed through Committee after a short dia - • • ENFRANCHISEMENT OF COPYHOLDS BILL. Lord CRANVCOliitii, in meviog the second reading of this Bill, observed that it would he as useless us ab surd in him to erotic- rho few o'steratiens which he was about to make • by enythipg Llee a discussion at to the origin of eapyhoid tenure. It was a question which had puzzled antiquaries, anti might well be left to their research while their Lordships applied themselves to the practical grievances to be remedied. He should, there fore, very briefly call the attention of the House to the evils of the law relating to copyholdin endeavour to point out what from time to time had been done with the view of pelliatine those evils, and then dpi e t ved atten , the tion to the Bill, whtch had received, very general steeled -ea of the other House of Parliament. The subject of the grievances arising out of copyhold tEmere was not of recent date. h e attention of the Real Property Commissior, which had been heeled under the great seal in the latter part of the reign of George IV., ha d been directed to it, and in a very elaborate report—the third which they had made, dated 1832 _ t e e p bad carefully enumerated the evils existing in this p art of our judicial syst em Th e ge naral outline of these evils mutt be familiar to all their Lordships, but it might not be witheut use that he should shortly recapitulate some of the most promi nent. Conn'holds were but the Isst fragment ex i st i ng o f the laws of tenure that once prevailed universally throughout this country. There were tenures of chi valry under which great lords held great estates, there was the tenure of tree and common soc, commonly celled freehold tenure, and there was the copyhold tenure. One of the very first acts of the Parliament after the restoration of Sing Charles If. was by legis latioa forma?ly to - abolish that which had practically, during the Cemmonwealth e been abolished already, namely. the greed tenures of chivalry, and to reduce everything into what be would call our freehold, leaving our copyhold untouched. It was a very old observation made by a very accurate writer, and repeated in his amusing " Life of Lord, Chancellor Guildford," that it was somewhat unequal. when the great men abolished the tenure that pressed upon themselves, and substituted for it an excise....npoh the liquers which they consumed, that they left the minor. teutire •of 'the poor people un touched, and open to the same abuses that existed pre viously. The consequences of this tenure were, prima rily the payments of fides, relate, reliefs, and so forth, and a number of services and dues that were payable from the tensity from time to time, calculated to inflict upon them a serious .preedeal grievance. Ia the first place, there was that strangest of all anomslies which went by the name of " heriot, " which was a custom pre vailing in very mapy, manors, and in some places not con fined to copyhold tenures,_ that on the death of a person holdiag land of that detceiptiou the lord might seize the best chattel he possessed. In some manors the best live chattel only could heeeizni, andin some it must be the best chattel upon copyhold, but in ethers there was no such restriction,--asst lord might seize anything, and anywhere. - New, of this. were knitted as being the law prevailing in hriaidegeterr, would they believe that such a thing could pessiWy et:lst where law prevailed at all? —(Hear, hear.) , Ho did not mean that this was practi cally a very greet grievance, because human nature was such that the right, was usually d waved. Bat instances had occurred in quite modern, times when that law had been enforced so ass to become a very grievous practical hardship. Ha rememb red that the famous recehorse Smeteneko, worth some 20001. or 3,0001 had been seized upon the death of the then owner, Sir C. Banbury. A somewhat similar etwatiestance, ho believed, bid occurred on the death of Sir G. Heathcote. About 30 years ago, when the late Lord Abinger was on the circuit, it was falsely rumeuted that he had died, and the first intima tion which 41r.s.Scarlett rt twiverlof the melancholy event was from the agent of the lord of the manor, who who went to seize three of Lord Ahinger's horses. The Piet diamond was at one time pledged to a pawnbroker who had a small copyhold tenement is Westmoreland liable to heriot, and upon his death the owner of the copyhold manor either did sewe, or intimated to the par ties that he had a right to seize, and he (Lord Cram worth) believed that he had, that diamond. Another curious illustration of the abaurdity of this law was ex hibited by what haepened to the late Sir R. Peel. The Rght Hon. Ci,astlenian was the - cr)pyhold tenant of a manor to which heriot "attached, and he was in the greet er!, apprehension that the celebrated " Chapeau de Pulite" might be seized- in tatitfection. To avoid this Sir R. Peel became the percheser of the manor. Was not this sufficient to make ace seat Ca at the absurdity of the law? He - confessed, however., that the greatest practical grievances did sot 11 ass from this source, but from some tning of a mech - more ordinary and commonplace cha racter. The ordinary copyhold tenure reepiired that upon every death sun every alienation the tenant should psy to the lord atiati. In some cases it was what was cis: d "arbitrary," which eracticetlY meant either a year-end-a-half or two year:' improved value. In other Cases it 71:13 merely n nominal fine, , 55., or 10s., or soeoething of no real imp:Tat - ace. About two-thirds of the manors in England were under a fine arbitrary. Whae was the cocaereneece of that? Let their lend shipe reason upon it a priori. If he levi out money in improving his land, should he derive the benefit of all he on Itid out? Certainly 'new for at his death his heir would have to pay to the leaf two years' improved vu, lue: Mr. Blemiee, a gentleman eminent in all agdeul tural matters, who hadbeen many years at the head of the Tithe Otommissioa: and who was also a Drainage Commissioner, and was therefore - well competent to speak upon this subject, had been examtued before the Real Property Cemmidion, and he the stated that the Dreinage Commissioners . never had an application to drain copyhold lands; parsecs would not do it. The very name of it was repulsive to them. Every one who wished to drain wished to drain ,mething of which he would. have the eutite and complete control.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Blamire's exparieece was that the profit derived from laying out money upon drainage was from 12 to 20 per cent.; the tenant, then—the country sit large,—was thus deprived of an immense annual ad vantage by the operation of this tenure. And the "i 1 was not limited to the non-drainage of copy hold lands merely, for these lands being so dispersed as they were, forming as they did in so vast a number `f eases parcels of estates at which the other portions we freehold, the practical result was that the tenant ce4 unviag s • such est ates, rather than drain the capyholel R :rhea, t• other "tea front draining all.—(Hetr, hear.) p et t e d g, r e e at impteverneut of lands was largely im general:thaw o dperation of this tenure,—building. By the even at lihertvt cupybold, t the cepyhold tenant was not down buildinis on hit still less, if possible, to pull b il let was as widely land, and the effect of this prohi letchieveus as the regulation with regard to chainee n Y in the habit of not hcel eeyhold land was thus very much e d i t s built upon, to the infinite de trimeat of all Parties ttwecnea, might mention that le As in illeetration, he near the Crystal Pelace, hold, had being mt:i with the land ail about it, live of only 301. per towetn " , :d dear after year produc tive freehold, vise covered remunerative rents. At Iteridd: by at meeedingly it was icinnethaLelycusout fur land was en chase, the landlord cad t h e b t i th 4 b ,, y , aa arrangement en franchised; chase, and was now, like the etteeoue d 3 lso years' pur with h ouses at ceererpondine in e bd, covered among the Ittedieg evils of Cho 8 'These were there were i n numerable ()thews; but, if ; and were none besides the myste r y t ile , if there taitity attending the tra nsfer of !suds, eet:dteuauendoehr these complicated varieties of tenure, the re L wo u , 14 be quire sufficient reason for co rrectin g the eviL _kuear, htar.) 'S3 was not one of those who were Bo sangui ne as to imagine that the transfe r of land might be read: as at - uPie a matter as the transfer of stock, but there ii was no question that dee transfer. inigiat be infinitely simplified, - an d l eo was , ver y SDXIOU3 th2t 11:what:te e ) ; should not delay to take every practicable step in th at direction.—meed hear.) _the special customs whi ch exieted in so great a number of copyhold estates were in themselves a moat serious impßdiment to this very desirable object,—(Hear, bear.) Nobody k new but tha t at the very moment, after infinite trouble an d ex p ense, he was on eke point o: completing the purchase of au estate supposed to be ordinary copyhold, some special castom might start tip, wholly attecing the wise so far as he was concerned. For example, he knew of one case in which a gentleman, having all bat completed the purchase of an estate, which he had been assured, and which tell the previous evidence went to s h ow , was under ordinary copyhold tenure, eras Wormed at the last moment that the tenure was borough Eaglish—that was to say, went to the younger end unt t o t h e e ld er e on — and, in consequence, all the trouble and all rte' expects° that had been so fatdiccurreei were thrown away. An other vexation of the system , was the requirement imposed upon the tenant of keeping the boundaries distinct between his intermixed copyhold and free hold lands—a requirement very difficult to be observed, hue which still letsan opening fee considerabl e vexat i on . One evil which had formerly existed with reference to copyhold lands, the difference acquired' to be observed in testamentary dispositions a; between then and fr eea holds, had been 'obviated by the Wills Awn ' "' In 1838 the subje c t • et copyhold tenured was referred to a Select et the Mute Con " Couennt ' - Sir Robert etrus, presided over by and in pursuance of the report of that f C az otn ili m ties itte i e o of 1841 was passed, which provided and ler the vGinntr :untary enfranchisement of copyholds, services. The re h a i c i o=reetation of hertote and other which ths latter aearticldrp been only two cases in 400 in which the former, at ceternutation, and only all rather desirous .of w rt a t tin d taken piece, tenants being would do in the way of ea tt w to u itee whet Parliament And, in feat, there had been no .snubs; entranchisement. which some portion of the time of ja -Equent session in been occupied with the diseuesitee itrliament had not for that purpose, all of thtm by ludteiddeurihe Introduced rowliettsent, with the eeteeptdon o f ‘ e"'" Munthera of that brought for- THE SUN, ward by Lord Cottenham, as Chancellor, which pro ceeded no further than to Committee. Last year two measures were introduced into the other House on the subject, and it was the amalgamation of these two mea sures which formed the basis of the Bill now before their Lordships. This measure was not so complee. as he could have wished it, but he was anxious to make as onward a step as possible. The object of the Bill was to enable lords to compel tenants to enfranchise, and tenants to compel lords, with certain modifications; and he considered that the manner in which this enabling was effected would not operate with hardship upon either lord or tenant. The LORD CHANCELLOR said it was scarcely pos sible to overrate the inconveniences resulting from the copyhold system, and it was certainly expedient to re medy these evils so far as this could be done without trenching too much on the rights of property. His Noble and Learned Friend was quite justified in the ob jections he had advance d a g ainst heriots. He himself was so impressed with them that hold estate, in order to prevent u ( t p h o e n L pl o i r r d e h C a la s i a n n g c e a l 1 o c r o ) py his best horse or other favourable chattel from being, after his death, ta ken from his re p resen tative by the lord, ho had taken the estate in the name of a trustee. —(Great laughter.) As to the impediment thrown by the copyhold system in the way of building, it wa s, no doubt, in very many cases a great evil, but therm were- instances, such as the precise case given in illustration by his Noble and Learned Friend, where it operated advantageously for the public in preventing the eggregationad hoeles in otherwise overbuilt locali ties. He agreed that it was most desirable to assist in carrying into execution any measure that would lead to enfranchisement with all due speed, and without bearing hardly upon the rights of the parties interested; but, as to the general inconvenience of this tenure, he denied generally speaking, that there was that complication in copyhold titles that rendered it necessary upon that ground to pass this Bill. He asserted that copyhold titles were more simple than freehold titles and less open to objection; and, as regarded smaller tenements, that title was preferred, and well it might be; for it had the benefit of a general register, free from those incon veniences that would attach to a register of lands of other tenure, inasmuch as it was local, accessible, and simple, and never could be overloaded with a great quantity of matter. It was, moreover, the simplest of ell tenures, and for small fees a tenant might transfer his copyhold tenement. His Noble Friend said there must be two deeds, but that was not necessary— one only was required. There were two documents, no doubt; but that was no objection, for the party did not pay more than he would have to pay if the pro perty were freehold. As regarded heriots and arbi trary fines, he thought they could not too much facilitate the abolition of the one, and the reduction to a fair standard of the other; and any measure that would carry into effect more beneficially the law as it a pre sent stood would meet with his strongest support. He would rather that any burdens which attached to any property should attach in the tenant's lifetime, so that it might descend to his children tree from them. But, as regarded the mode pointed out by this Bill for enfran chisement. he did not hesitate to say that in many cases the expense altogether would be more than the value of the property enfranchised. The Bill, moreover, placed the landlord and tenant in a state of opposition. The lord might compel the tenant to accept entranchiseinent; the tenant might compel the lord to grant it; and the consequence would be, that each would be watching air the proper moment to take advantage of the other. • At the present time enfranchisement was going on more rapidly than many of their Lordships would suppose. In had times enfran chisenaeut almost ceased; in good times it went on rapidly. From a measure of this sort, however, the evils he had just mentioned were irreparable, but they would not attach to a general enactment which would compel enfranchisement ; and certainly, if he had to choose between the two, he should choose the measure that was altogether compulsory. Again, at present the Lord had the right of property in mines under a copy hold, but he could not dig the land to get at those mines. Now, this Bill provided that the Lord should retain all the mines to which ho was entitled; but it did not do what ought to be done, namely, while it transferred the lands freehold to the copyholder, provide for the lord being able to break the soil and to get at the mines. He did not, however, oppose the Bill, but he rose to state what difficulties occurred to him upon the subject. It ought not to pass without full consideration—(hear, hear)--anti he should propose that it should be referred to a Select Committee, as he was confident that it ought to be considered clause by clause with great deliberation, in order that they might know on what they were legis lating. This he would venture to say, that having read this Bill, he should be wholly incapable of saying at that moment that the Bill as at present framed could safely pass. The great object was to do justice to all parties. He did not make this suggestion with any view to this Bill not being passed this session. But, even if that were the result, if the time occupied in its being deli berately considered should prevent it, he should think that that was in no respect to be compared with hasty legislation breaking in noon the rights of property. Lord CAMPBELL had anticipated that before this session closed this Bill would have become the law of the land; but the speech of his Noble and Learned Friend on the woolsack was fatal to the measure. It was echoed by the Lord Privy Seal, and he was afraid it was inwardly approved of b y the rest of her Majesty's Ministers. A Noble Lord had withdrawn a motion of which he had given notice that this Bill should be re ferred to a Select Committee, and he (Lord Campbell) therefore was not only grieved, bet surprised, at the course taken by his Noble and L"arned Friend, espe cially as in the other House of Parliament this Bill had had the support of the Government; and the organ of the Government had undertaken that the support of the Government should be given to the measure as it now stood. It the Bill would produce evil to copy holders, then the proper course for his Noble and Learned Friend to have taken was to 1110V3 that it he read a second time that day three months; and ho thought his Noble end Learned Friend would have done better if he had taken that course than by not objecting to the second reading, but recommending that trio Bill should be referred to a Select Committee. He had thought that this Bill would have been one of themea eures of reform that were to have re flected credit on the present Government. He had most sinc erely hoped it would have been one of the topics o n which the y might have gone to the country to show how beneficent their administration was by its legal influence. Their Lord ships must recollect that in each manor there was a par ticular code of laws, by which the copyholaers of such manor were governed es to their tenancies. In some the custom was that the eldest son should succeed to the father; in others the custom was that of gavelkind, in which all the sons succeeded equally; and in some the custom cf borough English prevailed, by which the youngest son succeeded, to the exclusion of th e eldest. The Noble and Learned Lord on the woolsack hroi pointed out the very great advantage to the copy holder from his being regts7ered and from the registra tion being simple; but he (Lord Campbell) trusted that before another year passed the Government woula esta blish another claim to the gratitude of the country for legal reform, by establishing a general registration of deeds. According to the principles of the Noble and Learned rl,etat euL db,eorffe m doorro it n was theany idleggenerations to woolsack, neras uti this tenure was to be would be abolished centuries merely by volun tar y en f ranchi sem pop e n n .s4s ts eo . rth i m i a t i i a s ny Noble and Learned Friend complained that the Bill did not go far enough, and that he should prefer to it in shape giving a compulsory power at once to se e e nfrarc a h• il copyholds. He (Lord Campbell) should be also glad .. Ist, e a to gave such a measure. it it were possible, but he fo hard ships and inconveniences arising therefrom, foresaw made him recoil from it. With respect to the present Bill,h ever, though it might produce in a few instances a little o w hardship, it would on the other hand afford very great relief, and in his belief it would prove most beneficial both to the lord and to the tenant. The Bill had only a compulsory operation in the two cases of descent and alienation, and in consequence of that provision it was his opinion that the measure would not only effect no evil, bat produce much benefit. If afterwards it should be found that there existed remnants of copyhold which it would be disadvantageous to maintain, a general sweeping measure of a compulsory nature might then be introduced to deal with them. At present he was not prepared for a measure so stringent, and he should give to the second reading of the Bill now before the House his most cordial support. The Duke of CLEVELAND confessed that his opinion had always been that some such measure as the present was absolutely necessary. The old feudal system connected with the copyhold tenure ought for various reasons to be got rid of, as it tended to a great number of endless disputes, heartburnings, and bickerings. The different customs in different manors constituted a great evil, and, with respect to minerals, in two counties in which he had copyhold property—Durham and Stafford—the customs differed materially. Another serious evil arising out of the copy hold t enure was t h a t i t prevente d t h e ma ki ng o f improve izents. He beli e v e d th a t w i t h ou t some compulsory power it would be impossible to ehe enfranchisement carry out a measure for nchisement of copyholds. ia-rd BEAUMONT said ho could not oppose the pro aositiou for • b een _ e sending the Bill to a Committee up stairs, sio r 0 7...h he th e ought it was in a state requiring the revi aerhizitlt°Wl et Committee, but he trusted that the Go ' the 3inearo 1)114 only nominate such a Committee with such a form intention of endeavouring to put the Bill in sent session. might enable it to be passed in the pre- The Duke of Bu many grievanee3 in the admitted that there were ing , over the present i t 3 ll l o copyhold tenure, but in look visions the mailer 11 he thought that under its pro hardehip than the lord, holder was more likely to suffer the,Bill was to refer it to The only way of dealing with for one would not e ' it Select Committee, though he the purpose ,of defeating to such a reference merely fo r t h oug ht that Bills tendi ng et make of great alterations i n brought forward by Gov Mine" . by the Exeeutive After,a few words from L ord L o rd CR ANWOR „„,, TII m `- , 8 7 is, F e d annr h that sending the Bill to a Select c ommit , t ens." meant that it s hould not be ti.; 'es practically would be thought the resulteaseion. If he otherwise, he ehould ei at the Bill goidg before a Commi ttee, as his rej oice with was that the m easure should be come law in ardent perfect state Possible.—(l.lcar, hear.) the most The Bill was then read a srcond time, The LORD CIIANCELLOR moved that the Bill be sent to a Select Committee —the Committe e to be named on Thursday next. .As his Noble and Learned Friend had expressed some alarm lest the effect of sending the measure to a Select Committee would be to prevent its passing during the present session, he hoped he would give him credit for stating that he bad • no such object —(Hear, hear)—and on the part of her Majesty's, Government he might state that they had ad Emil ob ject, but that they would go into the Committee with the determination to give the measure their best attention, and to render their honest assistance in carrying it into effect.—(Hear, hear.) Lord CAMPBELL was, generally speaking, favour able to Bills of this nature being sent to a Select Com mittee; but, under all the circumstances of the case, to send the present measure to a Committee would, he feared, prove a delusion. The state of the session, and various other considerations, induced him to believe that the effect would be to give the measure its quietus. The Bill was then ordered to be referred to a Select Committee. SCHOOL SITES ACTS FXTENSION BILL. On the motion of the Bishop of OXFORD, this Bill was read a second time pro forma, on the under standing that the principle should be discussed at a fu ture stage. The Property of Lunatics Bill, the Stamp Duties (Ireland) Bill, the Apprehension of Deserters from Foreign Ships Bill, and the Turnpike Roads (Ireland) Bill, were respectively read a second time. The Masters in Chancery Abolition Bill, the Im provement of the Jurisdiction in Equity Bill, and the Property-tax Continuance Bill went through Committee. Their Lordships adjourned at Half-past Eight o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 25. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) MA 1".100T.LI COLLECTE ADJOURNED DE BATE. On the order of the day for the resumption of the ad journed debate, Mr. Sergeant MURPHY rose for the purpose of op posing the motion of the Hon. Member for North War wickshire, but it must not be supposed that he was opposed to inquiry, for ho was of opinion that the result of the most stringent inquiry would redound to the credit of the Maynooth College.—(Hear.) The conclusion of such inquiry, he believed, would satisfy every impartial person that Maynooth College was an institution which had answered the purpose for which it was intended, and in which the soundest moral doctrines and the strictest loyalty were taught.—(Bear, hear.) Why, then, be might be asked, do you oppose the motion?— (Hear, hear.) He would tell them. The inquiry was proposed in a mean spirit of retaliation upon the Roman Catholic body, and it was not brought forward in good faith.—(Hear, hear.) At first the motion was absolutely against the grant to Maynooth, and so the notice of motion remained on the votes down to the end of February, when an additional notice of mo tion for an inquiry was placed upon the paper, and the previous notice was still allowed to remain standing.— (Hear, hear.) But shortly after this period her Ma jesty's present advisers came into office, and as, no doubt, the original motion was discovered to be a difficulty in their way, the notice of motion for the absolute discon tinuance of the grant to Maynooth was expunged from the yotes.—(Hear, hear.) So far, then, for the first. Now for the second. What necessity was there for it? He insisted that there was none, because some few years ago a commission was ap pointed by the Crown to examine into the doctrines taught in Maynooth, and that investigation ended, as all others would de, in establishing not only the soundness, but the validity and scrupulous morality of the princi ples taught and inculcated in the minds of the students at Maynooth.—(Hear, hear) All the charges which had previously been made against the collage were thoroughly refuted, and the insinuation that uttramon• tane views were entertained by its professors was denied in the report prepared by the Commissioners.—(Hear, hear.) Where, then, would be the benefit of instituting a second inquiry? If the mo tion was intended to put the House in possession of more information upon the subject he could assure the House that no more information could be obtained than the pors contained, re f d all, therefore, that they should do, if that was the object of the motion, was' to order the re pi.—(H, biengrueiprryinv,t,ead.—ane(cllesesaarr,yh,etahre.)inßquati,ryadcmouildttinuge that without any motion of the sort, for the Lord- Lieutenant not only possessed the power of appointing an annual visitation, but also, if he so thought fir, to re new the Commission, which could sift the subject far more efficiently than a Committee of this House.—(Hear, hear.) The visitation had taken place every year since the existence of the grant, and if any of these abuses did exist in the college which had been charged against it, they would long ago have been brought to light.—(Hear, hear.) He complained of the spirit and manner in which this motion was made. A Commission was sitting and e xamining into the abuses of the English Universities, but in th appointment of that Commission there had been no desire to prejudge the question, as was manifested in this instance.—(Hear.) How could the Hon. Member for North Warwickshire, as a strong and conscientious Protestant, conduct an impartial inquiry into the doctrines and religious principles taught in Maynooth? But setting that objection aside, could this inquiry be proposed in good faith, when it was clear that they had almost attained the end of a moribund Parliament?—(Hear, hear.) Appoint the Committee, and what could it do? Why, nothing, but simply meet once and adjourn, and then the dissolution would suddenly bring their labours to a close.—(Hear.) Permit him, however, to ask the question, what grounds had been urged in flavour of the inquiry? None at all; Every argument which had been brought forward was not in favour of inquiry, but against the grant, because the Roman Catholic, religion was the ruling principle of the college.—(Hear, hear.) It should be remembered that the object of the Legislature in assisting the college was to promote the domestic religion of the people of Ire land, and he was prepared to prove that the college authorities had in uo way departed from the original purposes of the institution.—(Hear, hear.) He con tended that Maynooth had nothing to do with the ultra montane teaching now prevalent in Ireland. Did they suppose that if Sir Robert Peel, when he proposed to increase the grant to Maynooth had found that the teeching practised at the college, was such as it was detcrihed to be, he would not have asked a commission of impiry, end been guided by the result? Sir Robert Peel was slow in approaching reform, but when he did &led any reform, it was always of the most searching and comprehensive character; yet, with all his caution,he had never seen anything to condemn or complain of in the system of education pursued at Maynooth. The cur riculum at Maynooth extended over eight years, and that period elapsed from the time the young man entered until he went forth to the world an ordained priest. Now the permanent grant was made in 1343, but it did not come into operation until 1846, so that six years had elapsed since the benefits of the grant had been enjoyed at Maynooth. Therefore, ho would undertake to say that not a single Roman Catholic priest, educated at Maynooth since the grunt was made, had participated in any public demonstration in Ireland. Was it a logh cal conclusion, then, to say that such was the system of education pursued ut Maynooth, and such the evil effects arising from it, that an inquiry was absolutely necessary? Ho thought he was bound to make the inquiry whether, if it was proved before the Committee that the system of education had never been altered and was free from the objections that had been urged, those who supported the Hon. Member for Warwickshire would be prepared to uphold the grant? When insurrection was rite in Ireland who was it that stood between the people and blbodshed but the Roman Catholic priests? He met with a positive denial the assertion that the education nt Maynooth encouraged immorality, and shook the allegiance of those under its influence. One of the most illogical reasons for doing away with the grant, was advanced by the Home Secretary, who said the College of Maynooth was once poor, but was now comparatively rich, But after improving the condition of the professors, and making them almost affluent, were they to reduce them to a state of poverty again? The Home Secretary had also stated that the college was intended for domestic purposes, and that the funds voted by Parliament, in stead of being employed for the education of priests at home, were used for the education of foreign priests ; but it that Right Hon. Gentlemen had instituted the most meagre inquiry he would have ascertained there was no foundation whatever for thanassertion, which was so often repeated by the great champions of Protes• autism. When famine visited Ireland then there was a fusion between the Roman Catholics and Pro testants, who forgot all their religious differences in their anxiety to minister to the wants of the people, and now the Hon. Member for Warwickshire sought to separate and destroy that happy union by a motion of this nature. It was said there was a conspiracy at Maynooth, but he treated the present movement as part of a conspiracy in high places in this country against Catholicity—as a conspiracy on the part of the University of Oxford for the purpose of retaliation against that earnest inquiry which bad been evinced by Protestants to arrive at the religious truth. The Protestant feeling abroad in the country would not al low a Government, however well disposed, to do justice to Ireland. Roman Catholic Members in that House had, therefore, only one resource, and that was self-de pende aloof nce.ll They yrosmhoaulli partydattach themselves to no party, and keep conflicts, the fitting moment arrived, f or m themselves and then , elve into weahmen pact, array and teach the Government and the House that the undeniable rights and privileges of the Roman Catholics were net to be tampered with with impunity. Mr. NAPIER said that the present motion having been brought forward by an independent Member of the House, it was for the Government to consider what course they would take on the subject. Before the pre sent Government had taken office, the proposal was in the shape of an absolute repeal of the grant. To that, of course the Government could not, consistent with a due discharge of their duty, as sent, nor could he himself, whatever his individual con viction on the subject might he, give his con sent to such a course; but after the accession of the Government to office, the Hon. Mover of this motion, knowing that the Government would not consent to a repeal of the grant, had altered his motion to a request for a Committee of ,Inquiry. To that motion he considered the Government were bound to consent. Such "an inquiry—to see whether the grant were carried cut to the full benefit of those for whom the grant was first established —could not but be of ute. In the first place it was necessary to. see what were the intentions and the purpose of that legislation by which this grant was established. After tracing at some length the progress of legislation with regard to the Roman Catholic religion the Learned Gentleman proceeded to show that Maynooth was not established as a, religious endowment, but as an educational institution, to provide an education for those who, but for the ex pense, and their not being able to be under the Roman Catholic discipline, might at that time have repaired to Trinity College, Dublin. That was the object with which Maynooth was founded, and it was not intended then as a state establishment, but merely receiving state aid. As they received a state grant, he con tended it was the duty of Parliament to ascertain It; w a n dw et ab l i e cu r na t d h ae o lrre g ta r hd a o n ya t ea wa s applied to the ro p er purposes. ? l i a r c d u a m d sttaaonk place. ces that tee Originally n ni ry which May nooth was not regarded as a seminary for priests but for persons of the Roman Catholic religion, and it was LONDON, WEDNESDAY under that denomination that it had come under the inquiry of the Commissioners in 1824; and as it was still, he thought, an educational establish ment, it was still liable to an inquiry. Now that the annual grant no longer existed that power of inquiry could no longer be exercised, and there was therefore nesd of a special inquiry. The power of visi tation was of no use to obtain the truth on the subject of education at Maynooth, and nothing but a Committee could satisfactorily investigate these important matters. If the Roman Catholics of Ireland had followed the advice of their beat friends—if the Roman Catholic priesthood had refrained from mingling in politics and public affairs, the cry for the inquiry would never have been heard, and no dissatisfaction have been raised at the nature of the doctrines taught there. It was the sense of the want of success of the policy of 1845 that had been the cause of the feelings against Meynooth. No man would be more rejoiced than himself if the inquiry showed that the object of the trusts had been carried out faithfully and sin cerely ; but ho contended that against the tesching of ultramontane doctrines it behoved every man, be his creed what it might, to lift up his voice, being, as they were, doctrines which trampled upon the laws of the country, and sought to dispense with the sovereignty cf the Queen. The patrons of Maynooth College how ever, were the bishops of the Roman Cathode Church in Ireland, and these bishops had openly professed their ad herence to ultramontane doctrines.—(Cries of" No, no.") He repeated that the conduct of the heads of Maynooth since 1815 demanded that this inquiry should be had. Those heads had declared themselves in eavour of ultra montane principles, and in contiouheg: the grant they were under the existing system paying money to a foreign agent. The grant was originally conceded upon domestic grounds, but as the matter now stood there was no domestic clergy, because the Pope of Rome exercised authority over the bishops, while the bishops con trolled the clergy. In point of fact, therefore, the age nts of the Pope enjoyed the administration of the ‘ rn Maynooth funds, and looki ng a t th e con d uc t of the h e ads of the college s i nce th e year 1845, h e cou ld arr ive at no other con c l us i on t h an t h at t h e t i me h a d ar rived when an inq u i r y oug ht t o ta k e pl ace i n to the proposed hoofwthw that inquiry to take place? Some e as college.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") ve l laiehs , Parliamentary that it sho u ld b o b y comm i ss i on, an d not by Committee; but he did not agree with them. The inquiry ought to be a dispassionate and candid one, and he thought a Parliamentary Com mittee was a fit and proper tribunal to engage in the investigation.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") The posi tion of the State Church was a very different ques tion to the present. At a future day that question might be fairly discussed, but in the meantime let them have a Committee to examine into the operation of the grant made to the opposite Church.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. GLADSTONE said the latter remark of the last speaker referred to him, but he begged to state that he had no desire to see the State Church of Ireland in any w ay disturbed. Mr. FORTESCUE said the speech of the Learned Attorney-General was an echo of the No-Popery cry which had been raised out of doors, and he looked upon it as the curse of the country. There appeared to be no end to it in Protestant England and Protestant Scotland, and it was daily be coming apparent that the Catholic Emancipation Act was not carried with the hearty concurrence of the people of Great Britain. He for one deplored this much, because it satisfied him that the future was still pregnant with danger for Ireland.—(Hear, bear.) This Protestant country could not long go on treating Roman Catholic Ireland in this manner, or else the Roman Catholic people of Ireland would begin to think that they would be better off without their connexion with Eogiand.— (Hear.) Compared with the revenues enjoyed by the State Church, this grant was ridiculously insignificant, and to make it a pretext for reviving the No-Popery cry in Parliament was impolitic as well as unjust.— (Hear, hear.) With regard to this particular motion, he contended that there was no necessity for any inquiry, and he should unhesitatingly give his decided opposition as a Protestant Irishman to the proposal of the Hon. Member for North Warwickshire. Mr. DRUMMOND could not separate the question of inquiry from the persons who wore to conduct it.— (Hear, hear.) Now in deciding the two questions it should not be forgotten that Ireland was a Roman Catholic country, while the State Church was originally planted by the force of the bayonet.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member for North Warwickshire charted Maynooth with encouraging irreligion and im morality, but he contended that a Protestant was totally incompetent to decide whether the doctrines taught at Maynooth were proper or not.— (Hear, hear.) They ought not to propose inquiries of this nature, but to rejoice that there was such a church amongst us like the Roman Catholic Church, which stood up for the divine institution of hie rarchy, and the governmental system or principle.— (Hear, hear.) It was not for him to decide what wore the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, but the Roman Catholics would agree with him that the order et the Jesuits had been denounced as incompatible with the safety of society.—(Hear, hear.) The Pope suppressed the order on that account, and yet at this moment the order was predominant in the Roman Catholic Chtfrch.— (Hear, hear.) The recent aggression of Cardinal Wiseman and his followers was dictated by the Jesuits, and it should not be forgotten that the firm conviction of this body was that they ought to have the government of the whole world in their own hands.—(Hear, hear.) In point of fact they declared themselves openly opposed to the liberty encouraged and protected under the name of Protcatantism, and this it was that had irritated the people of England and Scotland against the Roman Catholic Church.--(hear.) They were jea lous of their civil and religious liberties, and although their anger might be misdirected, yet at bottom it was sincere and just.—((lear.) The Jesuits had com menced a crusade against Great Britain, and the people were to be taught that they Owed ailegiance to the Pope before their Sovereign, but ho had too much faith in the honesty and cotrage of the people to suppose that this doctrine would ever mske progress within these realms.—(Hear , hear .) Mr. FRESHFIELD then moved the adjournment of the debate.' Mr. ANSTEY resisted the motion, and declared that i t was another marceuvre to get rid of the debate alto no.) Why gether.---(N() , it was proposed to adjourn t h e d e bete sine die — (No, no.) Y; s, but it was.—(No.) The SPEAKER said the }louse mast first decide that the debate should be adjourned before they could fix the time.—J-1"r, hear.) Mr. SPOONER, in spite of the insinuations thrown out by the Bon. and Learn e d G ent l eman an d his fol lowers, had no hesitation in saying that ho was quite ready to nam e the time if th e forms of the House would allow him to de so. ' - (Hear, h ear .) H e wou ld adjourn Iho deb,.te unti l six o'clod t if those Hon. Gentleman who had niotions on !he, Peeer would give way.—(Hear.) H e had b ee n chargea with a want of honesty in making this motion an d alte ririg it to accommodate the views of the Government; but he denied this in tote —(Hear, hear.) He had never altered his specific motion, nor had he ever been insincere either in proposing it, or in his desire to bring it to a division.—(Hear, hear.) He h ope d the House would now allow the debate to b adjourned until after th e other orders of the day, and he had no objection to make a. motion to that effect. The SPEAKER repeated that the House must first decide that the debate should be adjourned before it could fix the time.—(fleet, hear.) Mr. D'EYNCOURT urged the House to fix the ad journment for a future day. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, considering the preaent state of public business, he thought, it the discussion was to be adjourned, that it would b© expedient to continue it to day, but on the whole he considered it would be better to divide at once.—(Cheers.) Mr. REYNOLDS said he had no objection to adjourn the debate, nor to the motion itself, but they (the Irish Members) were not prepared to divide, as there were several of them who wished to address the House on the question, He hoped, if the House ulti mately decided that au inquiry should be instituted , i t w ould spare Roman e , atholics the infliction of having the Hon. Member for North Warwickshire chairman of the Committee. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE sa id, as a preliminary question, they ought to decide whether the House should sit to-morrow. If it did sit he saw no objection why the debate should not be adjourned until to -morrow. Th e re was no feeli ng in the country in favour of this question being renewed in the House, and ho could not hi m self see that any good could result from these de bates. If an inquiry into Ma 3'•nooth were instituted it was impossible to b ring it to a conclusion during the present session. elition of t He h a d a mo tion on the paper for the abolition the Post-horse duty, bat be had no obj e cti on to give h way to e na bl e the debate to be adjourned until this evening. Lord Rhin , - --eeRT GROSVENOR said he was per fectly willing to withdraw his motion for the abolition of the attorneys' certificate duty, provided the Govern ment would glee him as good a position for some other day this week. Tn© gall ery was then cleared, but no division took place, it having been atereed that the debate should be adjourned until after the'other orders of the day. Mr. AN STEY moved, as an amendment e that the de bate be c ontinued at six o'clock. The SPEAKER said that motion was irregular. The House could not entertain a mot ion which was inconsis tent with its own order. Mr. ANSTEY said he would make another motion, viz., that the debate f hould be adjourned until to-morrow. Mr. REYNOLDS, in reply to certain observations made by Thu O'Gorman M a hon concerning himself, said he sepposed that Gallant Member wanted him to take a re turn ticket to Weybridge—(Laughter)—but ho assured him that he was not to be bullied.—(Laughter.) Mr. D 'EYNCOURT said if it *was the general wish of the Reese, he would withdraw his motion to enable the debat e to come on again to-night. Mr. KEOGH thought, if the Government were sincere, Cloy ought to fix a day for the debate, and nut call on Members to abandon their motions. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was gnat, impossible for the Government to •fix any of the few days left them for deeates which were not con nected with the immediate and pressing necessities of public busine ss . He had already th row n out asugges tion, and he must leave Hon. M em b er s to settle the mutter among themselves. After a few words from Mr. e - uras and Sir A. e Ca men rul e . The House divided, when there appeared-- For adj ourn i ng the debate till to-morrow Against it ••• • ••• •••• Majority THE DERBY DAY. Lord PALMERSTON, in pursuance of his notice, rose to move that the House at its rising do adjourn till Thursday. Thera was no hope of any public business being got tbrough tomorrow, - auleiu there way 14 call of 5S ... 278 ... - 220 EVENING, MAY I the House, and the only other alternative was to propose the present motion. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD was under the ne cessity of; ; opposing the motion ; but he was obliged to do so, as one of the orders of the day for to-morrow re lated to a question in which he himself was concerned. Mr. ANSTEY moved that the debate be adjourned, in order that the country might see whether the House preferred the amusement of the race-course to the busi ness of the country. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment ••• 43 Against it ... ... 212 Majority ••• ••• •••-169 For the original motion ... 190 Against it ... ... 47 Majority ...-143 The motion was accordingly agreed to. Mr. FITZROY then moved that the House do adjourn at once until Thursday. It was evident to him that no public business could be got through to-night.—(Hear.) After a few words from, Mr. Anstey, Mr. Newdegate, and Mr. D'Eyncourt, the House divided, when there appeared— For the motion Againstit 128 , :"7"- Majority against it 39 The House then adjourned at Six o'clock until Eight o'clock. The SPEAKER. took the Chair again at Eight o'clock. Lord D.'S rtjA.Rr gave notice that on Thursday he would put a question to the Government relative to the case of Edward . Murray, a British subject, and a pri soner under sentence of death at Rome. An HON. MisinEa here moved that the House be counted,And 38 Members only being . found present, the House was adjourned till Thursday next. PAILIAMENTAKY (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons. TUESDAY, MAY 25. DERBY DAY. Motion made and Question proposed, "That this House will, at the rising•of the House this day, adjourn till Thurs day next :" Debate arising; Motion made, and Question pnt, " That the Debate be now adjourned." The House uivided MINORITY-AYES, 43. MAJORITY-NOES, 212. Main Question put. The House divided:— MAJORITY—AYES, 190. Adderley, C. B. Farnham, E. Mullings, J. R. Arbathnott, Hon. H. Farrer,Vames Mundy, William Arkwright, G. Fellowes, Edward Naas, Lord Bagot, Hon. W. Filmer, Sir E. Napier, Joseph Bailey, Crawshay Fitzroy, Hon. H. Newdegate, N. &tithe, IL J. Forbes, William Noel, G. J. Baird James Fordyce, A. D. Nugent, Sir Percy Baldock, E. H. Forester,'Colonel Ossulston, Lord Bankes, G. Fox, S. W. L. Packe, C. W. Barrington, Lord Freestun, Colonel Pakington, Sir J. Benbow, John • Frestilleld, J. W. Palmerston, Viscount Bennet, Philip Fuller, A. E. Patten, J. W. Beresford, William Gallwey, Sir W. P. Pennant, Colonel Blair, Stephen Galway, Viscount Portal, Melville Booth, Sir R. Gaskell, J. M. Powlett. Lord W. Bowles, Admiral Gilpin, Colonel Prime, Richard Bremridge, Richard .Gladstone, W. E. Pusey, Philip Bridges, Sir B. • Glyn, G. C. Renton, J. C. Brisco, M. Gooch, Sir E. S. Bepton, G. W. Brockman, E. D. Gore, W. 0. Richards, Richard Brooke, Sir A. Goulburn, 11. Rushout, Captain Bruce, Lord E. Grosvenor, Lord R. Balwey, Colonel Bruce, C. L. Gwyn. Howel Sandars, George Buck, Lewis W. Hale, R. B. Scott, Francis Buller, Sii J. Y. • Halford, Sir H. Seaham, Viscount Burghley, Lord Hallewell. E. G. Seymour, H. D. Burrell, Sir C. Halsey, T. P. Sidney, Alderman Butler. S. P. Hamilton, G. A. Spooner, Richard Butt, Isaac Hamilton, Lord C. Stafford, Augustus Campbell, W. F. Ilardinge, C. S. Stanford, J. F. Carew, W. H. Pole Hayes, Sir E. Stanley, Edward Cavendish, W. G. Heathcote, Sir G. Stanley, W. 0. Chaplin, W. J. • Henley, J. W. Stewart, Admiral Christopher, R. Herbert, H. A. Stuart, Lord D. Christy, Samuel • Herbert, Sidney Stuart, 11. Clay, James Herries, J. C. Stunt, Henry G. Clive, R. 11. Hodges, T. L. Tennent, R. J. Clive, H. B. Hodgson, W.:N. Thompson, Colonel Cobbold, J. C. Hope, Sir J. Trollope, Sir J. Cocks, T. B. Hope, 11.*.T. Tyler, Sir G. Cogan, W. 11. Hope, A. Tyrell, Sir J. Coles, H. B. Hudson, G. Vane, Lord 11. Collins, Thomas Hume, Joseph Verner, Sir W. Collins, William Inglis, Sir; B. Villiers, Viscount Copeland, Alderman Jolliffe, Sir W. G. Vivian, J. H., Corry, H. Jones, Captain Vyse, R. H. Cotton, W. H. Kerrison, Sir E. Walpole, Spencer Crowder, It. B. Kinnaird, A. F. Walsh, Sir J. Cubitt, Alderman Knox, W. S. Watkins, Colonel Darner, Colonel Langton, W. H. Welby, G. E. Davies, D. A. Legh, G. C. Whiteside, James Deedes, W. j Lewisham, Viscount Whitmore, T. C. Disraeli, B. Lockhart, A. E. Wigram, Loftus Dodd, George Lockhart, W. Willcox, B. M•Ghick Drummond, Henry Long, W. Williams, T. P. Drummond, Home Mahon. Viscount Williams, William Duckworth, Sir J. Martin, John Worcester, Marquis Duncombe; A. Maunsell, T. P. Wrightson, W.B. Du Pre, C. G. Meux, Sir Henry Wynn, H. W. East, Sir J. B. Miles, William Wyvill, Marmaduke Edwards, Henry Milton, Visconut Egerton, Sir P. Mitchell, T. A. TELLES& Ellice, E., Jun. Molesworth, Sir W. Mackenzie, W. F. Emlyn, Viscount Moody, 0. A. Bateson, Thomas Euston, Earl Morgan, 0. MINORITY-NOES, 47. Adair, R. Shaf to Greene, John Pilkington, James Alcock, Thomas Hardcastle, J. A. Reynolds, John Armstrong, Sir A. Heard, J. I. Robartes, T. J. A. Bell, Jacob . Heywortb, L. Scobell, Captain Bouverie, E. P. Hindley, C. Scully, Francis Brotherton, J. Holland, Robert Scully, Vincent Brown, H. Keating, Robert Smythe, George Crawford, W. S. Keogh, William Smollett, A. D'Eyncourt, C. T. Kershaw, James Sullivan, Michael Douglas, Sir C. Lulea, William Tollemache, F. J. Duff, James Meagher, Thomas Walmsley, Sir J. Duke, Sir J. Mahon, O'Gorman Williams, John Duncan, Viscount Mowatt, Francis Wood, Sir W. P. Duncan, George Murphy, F. S. , Duncombe, T. Honeys, Sir 1). TELLERS. Ellis, John O'Flaherty, Anthony Anstey, T. C. Ewart, William Pechell, Sir G. Scholeffeld, W. THE " COUNT OUT" OF LAST NIGHT. The following Members were present when the House of Commons was counted out last night: Lord Robert Grosvenor Mr. D'Eyncourt Mr. Sharman Crawford Mr. Hindley Mr. Smith Child Mr. Lacy Mr. Howell Gwyn Mr. G. A. Hamilton Mr. Hayter Colonel Gilpin Lord Duncan Mr. G. Greenall Lord Dudley Stuart Colonel Thompson Mr. T. Hobhouse Mr. Thornely Mr. Anstey Mr. Meagher Mr Scholetield Mr. V. Scully Mr. Spooner Mr. O'Flaherty Sir Joshua Walmsley Sir B. Bridges Sir W. Page Wood Mr. Packe Mr. S. Carter Mr. J. Greene Mr. . T. Duncombe Mr. H. Brown Captain Schobell Mr. Grogan The O'Gorman Mahon Mr. Tancred Mr. W. Williams Captain Fordyce Mr. John Williams Mr. J. Ellis. THE CANTERBURY ELECTION. —COLO NEL ROM-ILLY AND MR. SMYTHE. We bave been requested to publish the following letter:— TO THE ELECTORS OF CANTERBURY. Gentlemen,—lnasmuch as Colonel Romilly has thought proper to issue an address, am re a " e which ta atly I compelled shall stain from o haracterising," I to follow him through the mazes of a difference which I had hoped was at once and for ever at an end. I had hoped so the more, because I had been led to believe that our dispute terminated in the common for mality which Co lo n el Romill y and myself went through on Friday last, for which I sincerely feel that an apology is dee to you , ge ntlemen, in th e p resent temper of Bri tish opinion. But at least it was not my fault if British ground on that occasion was profaned, and nothing but the i ns uperable scruples of my gallant colleague " for private and family reasons of his o wn " aga i nst an issue abroad, prevented me from showing that deference to the general mode of thinking in this country which I feel that you have a right to exact. At any rate, I am confident that you will approve of the f ee li n g in which I met my adversary's second half-way, when , with honourable promptitude, he expressed his an xiety to me on Friday morning that thenceforward, throughout the contested election, all bad blood and all ill-feeling might cease to exist. Colonel Romilly, however, has since thought it expe dient to re-open the whole question. First of all by his insisting upon the publication of " the minutes of a dif. ference," to which Captain Vivian, on my part, was strongly opposed, and to which he only, after long delays and grave objections, finally consented; and, se condly, by the address now lying before me, which is very imperfectly correct. My gallant colleague states " that he had no commu nication with me previous to the election of 1850." I never said that he had; but I asserted, what he does not contradict, that I wrote to the chairman of the meeting which introduced him, for the first time, to the electors of Canterbury, calling upon all my friends to support him. Colonel Romilly goes en to say, that " his being then elected " was not, in his belief, owing to my sup port. I believe th a t it wa s so owing; and a reconcile ment between thes e t wo con t rary b e li e f s is obviou .ll s , y impossible. I am glad, h owever , that Colonel Roan y does not deny, if he somewhat ungraciously acknow ledges,t my ass i s t ance , i n hi s p h rase , " The fact of support lam ready to admit." My gallant support c oll ea g ue oa goes on to state,—" On the subject of the nowapproach ingMr. pch ing election I never had any formal interv i e w with Smyth e ." H ere , aga i n , I n ever contended occasions, he that he had. "It is true that, having met me ° (Mr. Smythe) has originated c onversationsattssentence sse v eral consists with me en the subject." Now, the point of h in the word which I hav e ventured to italicise. against It is precisely my charge Colonel Romilly that he did allow me to origin ate c onversations thersaetsieo:t At any rate on the coming election. My spoken words were it was under the hallucination that our coalition, as I had heard nothing to the contrary, still subsisted, t h at, directly after the certai nt y immediate . of an dissolution, spoke to my coll e ag ue in,t,he sense of making imme diate and joint preparations. Colonel Romilly remarks, very truly, that " Mr. Smythe appeared to be annoyed, and expressed himself warmly on the occasion;" but the gallant officer is under a co mplete misapprehension when be continues—"but be afLerwards distinctly admitted to me that I had acted towards him fairly and openly in the matter." The matter to which I alluded iu these expressions had n 9 reference whatever to Colonel Roinilly's general conduct towards myself ; they were simply used in courteous ac kovsledgment of a letter which Culonel Romiliy had sent to me, intimating his intention to hold a meeting of his friends in Canterbury; and had I known that at that meeting Sir William Somerville's name was to be pro posed, I certainly should not have complimented Colonel Romilly either upon his openness or his frankness. There is but one more point in my colleague's address on which I desire to animadvert. Not, perhaps, with out an object, he seeks to impress upon your noi , nd . t%. s t lam animated by some spirit of " vengeance. tb% al l word he has carefully isolated from the context of speech of the 17th. But there is no one among you who doss not per- 26, 1852. feetly understand what I alluded to in "leaving my vengeance within your hands." I was speaking in re lation to that declaration still in course of signature by a number of Liberal supporters of Lord Albert Conyng ham and myself, at the last election, which stops short of no length —not even that of giving votes to Mr. Johnstone and Mr. Gippa, in order to provent the re turn of Colonel Romillv to Parliament. It is with sincere regret that I should again have been compelled to trouble you upon these painful topics, and again ever so relactanily have the appearance of re newing a controversy, which I could wish, i❑ some way or another, for ever settled, that I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your very faithful servant, - GEORGE SYDNEY SMYTHE. 68, Harley-street, May 25. LAW INTELLIGENCE. _HOUSE OF LORDS, May 25. BENNET'S DIVORCE. Their Lordships sat this afternoon, for the purpose tf hearing evidence in support of tho second reading of this Bill. Mr. MERENTETHER stated th e c i rcumstances of the case. The parties were married i n t h e year 1833 and lived together until 1844, havi ng i ssue two ewe, : now aged eighteen and fifteen. In the month of August, Mr. Bennet being absent on a shooting excur sion in the north, Mrs. Bennet su dd enly disop pesred, taking with her the youngest son, leaving behind her no trace of where she h a d b etaken herself to. After repeated inquiries Mr. Bennet, having followed her through France and Italy, discovered Mrs. Bennet residing at Valencia in Spain under the name of Fremantle. In an interview which he had with her there he endeavoured to persuade her to return to Eng land, bat in vain, and after repeated efforts, all he could do was to prevail on her to surrender to him his youngest son, whom she had with her, and to execute a deed of separation. All that time Mr. John Henry Touchet, with whom Mr. Bennet suspected his wife to have eloped, was also residing at Valencia, but Mr. Bennet was unable then to obtain any evidence of an improper intercourse between the parties. From that time Mrs. Bennet continued to reside abroad, and on the 21st of August, 1851, the petitioner being at the Reigate Station, saw Mr. Touchet standing on the platform there, and having some reason to believe that his wife was expected to arrive in England from Boulogne, he set a watch on the parties. Mrs. Bennet, in fact, did shortly arrive at Reigate station, where she was received by Mr. Touchet. The two then proceeded to Horsham, and engaged apartments at the King's Head Inn, not as man and wife; and that night after all the house had retired to redt, Mr. Touchet was seen to leave his own room and go into that of Mrs. Ben net, where he remained till the next morning. Mr. Bennet brought an action against Mr. Touchet for trim. con., and recovered 5001. damages; he also obtained a divorce in the Consistorial Court; and finally made the present application to dissolve the marriage. Several witnesses were called in proof of this state ment, and at half-past four the further consideration of the Bill was adjourned until Friday. BAIL COURT, May 25. (Satins at Nisi Prius, bofore Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN, ANDREWS P. BATLEY. Mr. Edwin Jsmes, QC. and Mr. Udall, were counse for the plaintiff; and Mr. Sergeant Wilkins for the de. fendant. This was an action to recover damages for an assault. The plaintiff was a milliner, in Mortimer-street Caven dish-square, and the defendant was the son of a gentle man living on Maida hill. It appeared that in September last the plaintiff went to a Bloomer ball in the costume, accompanied by a MLa Forsyth; they there met the de fendant for the first ti me; h e pa i d attention to Miss For syth, and after the night of the ball the defendant con tinued thoie attentions, and was about to be married to the lady. The plaintiff went to the defendant's father, and urged upon him that it was not a desirable match. The next day the defendant called upon the plaintiff, and after some violent conversation the plaintiff called the defendant a liar, and then the defendant committed the assault upon her. The following was the plaintiff's evidence Mrs. Andrews—l am a milliner. In September last I went to the. Bloomer ball at the Hanover square Rooms, accompanied by Miss Forsyth. I saw the de fendant at the ball. He got a cab and took a seat in it. I requested him to leave the cub, which he did, and I took Miss Forsyth home. I afterwards called upo❑ the defendant's father, as I had heard the defendant was about to be married to Miss Forsyth, to explain to the father that I did not think it an eligible match. The mat day the defendant and Mrs. Disney, who are related to Miss Forsyth, called on me, and behaved very violently. They left the house. The defendant returned, and alter some conver sation he sprang upon me, and struck me many blows about the head, neck, bosom, and shoulders. Ile said, " D—n you, I will suffocate you." Both my arms were very much bruised, and remained discoloured for a fort night after. Two of my apprentices and a customer were present. Cross -examined—I have been married. My husband has been dead eight or nine years. lam 28 or 29, but I really don't know my age. It is near 30. 1 went in the costume of the Bloomers. There is an announcement in my window that dressmaking is taught in six lessons, and furnished lodgings to let. I had sent to Captain Disney for money owing roe for Miss Forsyth. I went to the defendant's house and asked for his mother. I recollect Calling the defendant a liar. I did not tear his coat. I was perfectly calm. I might have been excited. I don't recollect saying that Mrs. Disney was a low•bred Irishwoman. The defendant told me Mrs. Disney would proceed against me for defamation. I said nothing► re proaching Miss Forsyth's character. I did not summon the defendant before the magistrate, but he was sum moned. Re-examined—l had been making costumes for this ball, and had a ticket given me by the managers. Mrs. Disney requested me to take Miss Forsyth to the ball. The Disneys lived at 316, Regent -street. By the regulation of the ball all ladies were to be dressed as Bloomers. Anne Glasspool, an apprentice of the plaintiff, give evidence as to the assault upon the plaintiff. He struck the witness on the bosom and on the mouth and loosened her teeth. Sarah Pilton, a cuitomer of the plaintiff', also proved the at,sault. There was such a piece of work that she thought Mrs. Andrews was being murdered. Mr. Sergeant WiLkiNs made a most amusing speech for the d,-tendant; he dented the wsauit, but thought it not improbable that being provoked in the highest degree by the plaintiff, he had shaken her. The smallest coin would amply satis'y the case. Mr. Justice WIGEITMAN having summed up, the jury retired. The jury came in and caked the smallest sum tha would carry costs. The JUDGE said that they had better give a verdict without thinking of costs. The jury gave a ♦erdict for 5/. The JUDGE refused to give a certificate to the plaintiff for her costs; be did not see why the case should not have been tried in the County Court. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. William Smith, C 156, was brought before Mr. Bing ham, charged with having received money at various times from foreign prostitutes who frequent Regent street and that neighbourhood. Mr. Ballantine was for the defendant. Louisa Aubert (through an interpreter) said she gained a living by prostitution. She was accustomed to walk out at night in Regent -street and Waterloo-place. She knew the defendant as being one of the constables on that beat. The first time the constable spoke to her she gave him a shilling, She bad given him a shilling three or four times after that. She was apprehended with a number of other prostitutes some time back by the de fendant and other constables. The defendant told her she need not be alarmed. She was bailed out. The prisoner made no proposal to her then, but told her not to walk so often in tho part of Regent-street she had been accustomed to frequent. After she had been be fore the magistrate and fined, she offered the prisoner some money. The prisoner told her to put up her money, acd to meet him at a public-house in the neighbourhood. Complainant want to the 'public house and gave the prisoner two half-crowns and some drink. ----- Caroline Devine had never given money to the priso ner, though she bed to other policemen. Rachel Deschamps had given the prisoner a shilling:: Another witness said she bad given money to police constables, but not more to the prisoner than to the others. ' laspeotor When said the constable had been eight years in the force, and bore a good character. Mr. Ballantine addressed the Court, and contended there was no corroboration of the statem ents of the wit nesses,as that the charge had failed. Mr:Bnicuem deferred his decision until next Thurs day. WESTMINSTEP Williamohard Blach " more, two power ful Charle s Dobson and being e n o p n a ce n rn th ed with a number of o th ers i ne young men, were agdeespweriathte polzes. The facts of the case are th police disco vere d a ese :— On Friday night the Bt. Ermin's-bill, West minster, crowd of persons assembled at place be where a fight was taking between two requested me n.themThet officers parted did combatants ) and so, but th e o th er b ecame so violenot go ohaawt away. O n e found necessary to t a k e hi m i nto custo d y, an d t h ey were a b ou t proceeding with oceeding him to the station when a desperate attack was made u p on th em by a l a rge mob, consisting of thieves, prostitutes, and other loose characters with which the neighbourhood abounds. Stones, brickbats, and other missiles were hurled at the constables. two of whom were wounded on the forehead, and others se verely injured. James Meadows, 98 B, was knocked down by one fellow, and then attacked without mercy by halt-a-dozen more while upon the ground, and kicked with gteat brutality. Police-constable Shipp, 135 B, was also knocked down, kicked over the eyes, and in va rious parts of his body, and Mayer, 214, received like ill-treatment. Considerable confusion prevailed in the neighbourhood, owing to the riot and desperate conduct of the parties by whom the pol,ce were casailed. The man who had been taken in Clod first instance was Y.- cued and escaped, and, after ging one of ~ .s -the ring leaders in the station. who required no less than seven constables to conveyed him there, the wounded con stables were sent to the divisional surgeon. Evidence was gi ven to prove that the de fendants a MOBt.active part in the att ac k u t oo k had inflicted some of the injuries theypon the polic e , an d The accused made no defen ce, and wore commi.ted for 1 CLERKEN WELL. Mr. James Husband, solicitor, of Gold Hawk-t errace , New-road, natameramith, was placed in the felons' dock, before AIL `Xxionurr, (Urged by MG Liu& ! Gilchrist. who described hirnsolf as clerk, of 'navies' Inn, wilh having obtained 5001. and upwards, under false pre , tencQs. Mr. Lewis, of Ely-rents, Holborn. attended for the prosecution, Mr. Valiance for the defence, and the case excited consieerable interest. It appeared from the statement of the prosecutes that he had employed the accused in conveyancing when be occupied chambers No. 4, Verulam-buildings, Gray's Inn, and had other dealings with him. Abeut twelve ttion.bs ago the prisoner called upon him and represented that he had a suit in Chancery, and that there were 9001. due to his credit as taxed costs unencumbered, and if be (prosecutor) would advance him 500/. as purchase-money it would enable him to obtain the 9001. on which he would return the 5001. He had not since been paid the 500/., and found that the pri,einer had not paid the money into c urt, that he had no power over 9001. in the Court of Chancery, and, having kept out of the way until be was t race d he (witness gave him into the custody of T. Bristow, T 90, on the charge of obtaining the 5001. by false pretene s. Gtorgo B mtbow, clerk to Mr. Hall, solicitor, stated that there were two suits in the Chancery Court, "Beer and Badly," and "Richards and Bully." In the forizer Cult in 1848 a bid of costs was tax.-el for 8441. The prisoner was concerned in the case. If there wai a stop-order ho did not think the prisoner knew any' thing of it. Mr. TYRWHITT, after a patient hearing of the case, said there was no evidence to warrant the prisoners remand or detention. There ought to be evidence as to there being a stop-order on the 9001. There was ne pretence for the charge of obtaining money under false pretences. - Mr. Lewis suggested that the prisoner might be ordered to put in Iva own rccognizlnces to appear oa a future day, to give an opportunity to produce evidence as to the stop order. Mr. TYRWITITT acceded, and the prisoner was bound over in tike sum of 5001. to swear again at this court to answer the charge on Wednesday, the 2d of June next. Thomas Smith, a young man of repulsive countenanc e, but decently dressed was charged by Agnes Gillett, pretty-lookin g woman, 21 years of age, residing w ith her parents, in Mi tchell -street, St. Luke's, with bav'l3° violated her. It apps fired from the evidence of the prosecutrix, that , i" on Sunday night l ast s h e was taking a walk, when tie prisoner accosted h er , and she walked with him. Q„:7, met him again by app o i ntment on Monday night, she accompanied him to a concert at the Ironmong ers Arms, City road, where she took part of a glass 0 1.„ 6/ o le with him. He then led her to a concert the S s ` w a h -11 and Compasses, Penton -street, Pentonville, where ": • took a portion of another glass of ale, and shortly si te ": wards she felt a stupor, and left the place, when the P r " . soner followed her. They walked together until Old arrived in a &Id. Ho aid. he would m arr y her, an d - would set up Vie bans. He pressed her t o go home with him. She tried to get away from him, when he pushed her down, and endeavoured to accomplish his purpche• p She oli c e resisted d h a i n m d , at took c t a h l e l e p d r s u o t n f e e; ; 11 ' t o e e l owd .e n the and ny m t o h t e h P p ; ri h son e t r u— lr d d m id e yesterday morning, at D o o u t t o te t. li do y o o r u s. that my lather Joseph Smith, 336 S, said that to , r and saw the p r near one o'cicck, he heard the cries of " Murder," in a woman's voice, in Copenhagen-fields. He proce e d e d the spot with another c o n s table, and prosecutrix struggling on the ground. The latheer „ got up in an exhau s ted st a t e , an d clung to his brot constable. She said, "Oh God! lam saved. Prote ct. me." They took the pri so n e r into custody, when nn begged to be let go, and on their way to the citation' house he offered them half a sovereign to let him go:, to .! Mr. Tvnwn= inquired what the prisoner dlabis prevent her screaming? Prosecutrik—He forced finger into my mouth. they ' q The prisoner begged for mercy, saying that were both drunk at the time. The officers denied this; they were both sober' The prisoner was fully committed to Neyrgete f o r trial. THE COUNTRY MARKETS. ; IPSWICH, MAY 25. The firmness evinced in Liverool and other markets, tees ,., ' fully participated in our market today, which, coup ed wit", h , f very short supply of wheat, gave the turn in favour of ` 0 • sellers ; and it appears hardly possible to prevent an ad van i taking place. j DB D ai i t t r t t l oe o ,y, grinding r h i ni maltingtde i . ng : : : PER QUARTER. Wheat, red ......... 41s to 43s Peas 32s to i 00$ to 45s to 47s 0at5....., 0 00 os s t t o o 0 00 1 : 003 GO 11 R l y a e lt. ...... .... . r . z ..: 00 s Q17Atif: ! .:. Beans ........ .... 32s to 00s. Flour, per sack AVERAGES FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 22, 18.52. Wheat .... 7B) quarters, at 40$ 8d Barley Beans 25 ~ 31s 6d . Peas ... l2 ~ 31$ Od Oats ... ......... --.-- ~ 00s Od HULL, il ULL, MAY 25. Messrs. Taylor and Bright's Circular states :—There i r o .: been more tone in the grain trade generally throughoat_ t past week, and holders of fresh wheat, as well as some all' inff .7; have had some advantage. Arrivals continue tri11010093: and consequenly the transactions in foreign grain are h oe limited. The weather has been variable, but on the w AA cold for the month. For this day's market our farmers bribe a fair supply of fresh whew - , which met free sale at fo d fo r currency of last Taesday, with a st rong di spos itien ton e „,i v e some advance. F o reig n wheat neglec ed. A fair coag n a l eed demand for each de,,cription of spring corn. The s electi° ° market very q u i e t ; ca k es d u ll and lower, with law: eeun iry of good foreign, of which it may not be im magic ,or . cal i n dealers to take advantage. Rape cakes a P nd bon es Inal • our quo' at ions. The following are the present prices of grain;! a . 8. a. 1 S ' A 3 2 . Wheat, English, red 37 to 40 Pe as , w hit e and yeL 3 , - , "... g 8 Do. white Dantzic and Ko- 40 Linseed, Black Sea. 44 4.5 nigsber 42 g —44 Do. grey .......... ... 2 6 "....... 4 6 46 Do. Petersbnrgh •-• , 4 1, -- 42 : Pomeranian and Do. Riga & Archngl. 00 -- 40 , Hamburgh . 3B —4O Do. Konigsberg •••• 3° to n• n. ' Danish, Holstein, & Per Friesland . 36 —3B Lins. c., Hull 71 15s Od to g l i °s o , , Russian and Odessa 34 —3B Do. fine for. —7l 56 Od ~ 0 , , Oats, English Do. Danish.... ...... Os °' Do. Friesland lB 2(),Rape cakes...92s 6d to 0 , sos , Do. Russ. & Odessa 15 —17 Tares, English ......37s ...... ' 34 , • 18 Rapeseed Barley, malting 2B —301 Do. foreign 32s , ~,e , . Do. grindin, 26 27 I Guano 07" 643 , 6 Beans Do., foreign .........26 28, Rye M eal ........... .. ..... 71 CORK, MAY 24. Barrels. currenel s to ne 0 White wheat 008 Od to 00s Od ) 00s Od--2 0 6 Red wheat lB.B Cd to 18s 6d 2 0 do : tj o 0 0 8 8 00 0 00 dddd d tttt t 0000 0 :00 0 0 t 0 ) 8:88 Od o dt o l t id Od) 0 Ditto 0 Ditto 1 000 4 0 Ditto PBD l3 ei a r igtrtes l o e . y . . . 001 °1 0 0 : 0 2 : : O d-0 do 001 00a Od to 008 Od Od od to to 010328 Od Of Od 7700 Ditto DO ai Ditto s t o Od to 00s Od} ' 118 6 kl-0 do Quantity°7B;do a d t t t h o e o H Os igh O es d t priees:_ 6 .s.a, 0 barrel, white wheat pt, red; 00s Od per eWt 0 pigs. Quantity of Grain and Number of Pigs sold last week c..• Wheat, 17. Barley, 180. Oats, 636. Pigs, 0. b o barley; 0 bee; u.-- , :. cuRAINCT. CANT. 65.. 74s First quality . ... ......... .. 63, , First quality 72s Second quality Second quality 63s Third quality s4° 44 , ' Sixth coß q ic u . a ßl i ep t Ft y , uipor - nur : ?2_ .. f 4 : 9 : C F : ir : a . t s . t . t le . Third quality ..... .....--• . 53. Fourth quality Fourth quality ........... PRICES OF BUTTER. 43s Fifth quality Fifth quality 32s Sixth quality sold for week ending May 15 ... 235 Sheep, 334. Cows, 44.1 ~i. ; 12s 6d to 13s Od ; extra I:4 " ^ 1 ' seconds, lisOd to 12s Od; households lOs to 11s ; thirds, 7s to" per cwt. Oatmeal 1 le to 1 ls 6d; Indian meal 73 6d to 7s 9d; who* , meal, 8s 6d to 9. Oki per cwt, Indian corn 715 s to 7110 s td pe, toe. • Bran 87s 6d to 90s per ton. Hay—Farmers 215 Od to 28s; ar ersge ie 00s • dealers 26s to 36, Od; average 00s per ton. Stsaw—Fert - 2 10. ' Od to 17s Od; average 008 ; dealers 26s Od to 00 , n " - A i average 00s Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf 6d to ~- -, ,e household loaf bid to Od per 41b. Fresh butter, _ __, 8 "....." 10d per lb. Eggs -3s 4d to 3s 6d per hundred. 'l 7,„r, a ,' Newport 158 Od ; Lydney lbs • Landore 00a 1 " 1- 0 - r t. ' 12s 6d per ton. Tallow 35 a ' Od to 39s Per i Whisky, 25 0 . p., 5 s 9d per imperial gallon. alel to —Beef 40 to 7d ; m u tt on 5d to 60; veal - pi —Elopo. 7d ; pork 4d to Od ; bacon 6d to 7d ; sausages 5d per lb. to , 818 s to 9/ Os per cwt. Bangor slates 2/ 17s 6d to 3101 per tom Bark, red 71 to 81 lOs per ton. Fleece wool 14s to 15r per s.— red Hemp 291 to 34/ per ton. Fish—Scotch herrings 19s to 0 0 °,; r ne t ditto, 24s to 00. per barrel ; Newfoundland, 10/ Os to 11 : 31 10 ton. Timber —Memel, 70s per ton ; red pine, 315 s ;.,T d0 ,..) ditto, 21 15. per ton; deals, 151 to 181 per 100. _ 1 , 1 ; sk ips Market 16s to 241; salted 18s to 241 per cart ; c a lf inks, 3d to Od pe r lb. P o tatoes, w hit e 8d t o 9d ; P . . 10d to 12c1. Guano—Peruvian, 101 10. to 111; Ichaboel ,z) 9101 per ton. Tar—Archangel, 19i per barrel. , g [ADVERTISEMENT :j—Holloway 9 1/ ' s Pills , --r i o r Cure for Headache, Bile, Loss of Appetit e , an d L o wness a, Spirits.—These invaluable pills can be taken without daabor, from wet or cold, requiring no restraint from business or , pleasure. They act mildly on the bowels, without Pa lli , griping, strengthen the stomach, and promote a health,' ere tion of the liver, whereby they purify the blood, cleanserey skin, brace the nerves, and invigorate 71 the whole system. 1 ,• prove an admirable remedy also for those who suffer from a d i., l bilitated constitution, as they create an appetite corre ct to , : gestion, remove bile , giddiness, nervousness, or sick heads ch "t. and palpitation of the heart.—Sold by all Druggists, an d Professor Holloway's Establish ment , 244, Strand, London; BIRTHS. OF A SOIL On the 21st inst., the wife of Dr. S. Thompson, of 0 111 . 1 : ch. ' row, Hampstead. o f On the 23d ins'., at T o t tern h oe, Bedfordshire, the W ife, the Rev. Thomas H. Daper. OF A DAUM - MEX. 9Pi er.• At Madeira, on th e 19th ult., the Hon. Mrs. Charles N On the 22d inst., at the Principal's residence, Bra Col!ege, Ox , ord, Mrs. Harrington. eoG rg e : On the 23d i nst., at Chessington-hall, Surrey, Mrs. Chancellor. MARRIED. Oa the 22d inst., at St. Giles's, Camberwell. Charles 13:, Thurston, Esq., B A., of Soul-ham Won-street Bloomsbury', square, eld er son o f the late S. Thurston. Esq., to Georg second daught er o f th e l a t e G It o bi nm , E sq ., of 1) LED On the 23d inst.. at Brixton-place, Brixton. Suiren 77 . drew F. Thomas, Esq., formerly of 'Mark lane, City, ag ed 9 On the 21st inst., at Bath, the Rev. Edward Gosliaso rector of Hawatead, Suffolk, aged 88. On the 22d inst., at Chepstow-villas West, Octavius, third son of G. Scholey, Esq., of Westbourne-terrace, aged 2 6 . 10 • At Brighton, on the 22d inst., Anna Maria, wife of Che r Coles, Esq„ aged 70. On the 23d inst., Mr. T. M. Sanderson, of St. Milcir°d ° cottage, Kilburn, aged 67. cl London: Printed and Published by MURDO „. No. 112, Strand, Printer, at T 1, 4, Sun O ffi ce, pi Strand, in the Precinct of the Swot , ' ill the colw— tlidcUeatx, Wedge4daz Ma3'26 1852 •ItOd