The Sun. — London, England, 1835-06-27 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE 26. Their Lordships did not meet this evening. HOUSE OF COMMONS, JuNE 26. The SPEAKER took the Chair at half-past three o'clock. et 'On the motion of Mr. OSWALD, the Ayr Harbour Im provement Bill was read a third time and passed. The Truro Improvement Bill was read a third time and p..ssed, on the molion of Mr. TOOKE. The Canterbury and Whitstable Railway Bill was read a third time and passed. on the motion of Mr. lIODGES. Mr. H. FL E ETW OOD presented a petition from Preston, s' ;ned by 2,300 men, and 1,000 women, against drunkenness, • A complaining of members of that House introducing in toxicating liquors at their joyous festivals.—( Cheers. ) BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS. Mr. GROTE presented a petition, signed by 1,350 per • ns of Great Yarmouth, praying for the Ballot, in conse clence of the scenes of drunkenness and riot which were seen et the last election, and stating that the corrupt voters who r lye their votes for the sitting Members had been rewarded with two guineas a piece.—(Hear.) Mr. H. B. BARING said, with regard to the charges of t'ae petitioners, he had only to make this answer—" You should Lot make these charges slightly or inconsiderately. If you rake them advisedly, yon ought to bring your proofs, and es t tblish your case as an act of duty to your country and to the I louse of Commons. But if you fail to make use of the L.gal remedy, and reserve to yourselves the opportunity of making these insinuations and ex parte statements, you snake yourselves liable to one of these two conclusions—either that you make these charges without having aay testimony upon which you can rely sufficiently to warrant your taking them before a Committee, or if you brought them before a Committee, you fear that yourselves might be implicated is similar transactions—(Cries of Hear, hear)---so that your object is not so much the purity of election, but to suit your own party purposes." Such would be the answer that he would make to those electors who had forwarded such insinua tions to the House. He believed that he had the greater por tion of the electors in his favour, and a majority of them holding ( pinions coincident with his own. Undoubtedly a great excite r .ent prevailed during the election, and scenes occurred which i i calmer moments all must deplore ; but he was not aware that the excitement was more on one side than on the other, and be must do his opponents the justice to say, that they had behaved to him with exceeding politeness, for which he thanked them. But he rather thought that the object of this petition was not to discontinue, but to prolong the party spirit which prevailed, and he would ask if the result of the election had been different, would such a petition have been presented? With regard to the Ballot, his conscientious opinion was that it would not remedy the evil complained of. Mr. RIGBY WA SON observed that the allegations were of too serious a nature to be disposed of by a mere denial. The petitioners stated that, since the fourteen days expired, and, uithin a short time after the expiration, two guineas bad been paid as bead-money. Surely the Hon. Member might have informed the House whether such a payment had been made or not. Surely the House ought to know whether such an allegation was well or ill founded, and the Honourable Member was perfectly aware that after the 14 days no petition could be presented under the Bribery Act against his election; still the facts were serious, and he (Mr. W.) had heard them three weeks ago. Mr. H. B. BARING stated before that he should only make this answer, but he wss ready to meet any charge that might be brought before a Committee ; but he was not bound to hear opposite statements.—( Hear, hear.) Mr RIGBY WA SON hoped the Hon. Member for the city of London would move for a Select Committee.—( Hear. ) Mr. H. F. BARING said some lion. Members appeared to be very anxious to have Committees, and (with some warmth) as he had had no charge made him in the regular form, he considered himself virtually acquitted. (Cheers from the Opposition.) Sir J. WR OTTE SLEY reminded the Hon. Member, that one reason why the charge had not been made in the regular form was because the given period (fourteen days) allowed by Act of Parliament had expired, and another reason was the enormous expense attending election petitions. ( Hear, hear.) He trusted that the allegations would be con tradicted if not true ; but he was bound to state that he had beard from several quarters on which he could place reliance, that within three weeks after the election, two guineas head money was paid in Great Yarmouth, and from whence that money came he would leave others to conjecture.—( Hear, hear.) There was a Bill before the House now respecting the town and county he represented, and he hoped the House would deal equal justice to all. • Mr. RUTHVEN believed that there was very good reason for people not running the risk of petitioning for Election Committees.—(A laugh.) In this case there was a direct. specific charge made, and he thought that in the present situa tion of parties, it was necessary that there should be some enquiry.—( Hear, hear.) There were many reports from Committees with reference to bribery. Were the people to be deluded by the mere printing of these reports, and were no steps to be taken ? If this borough were sold for two guineas per head, he did not think it was a bit better than Stafford. They ought all to be treated alike.—(Hear, hear.) If the Hon. Member who brought this petition in thought there was reason for moving for a Select Com mittee—he thought that was the fairest way to proceed, and would relieve the people of Yarmouth from such charges if they were not well founded.—( Hear, hear.) Tho Hon. Member opposite (Mr. Baring) was certainly not bound to answer the charges of this petition—it was for him to take what course he thought proper—it must be left to his own impulse. A Select Committee would do something which could not be done here, and he trusted that in this case the lion. Member who bad presented this petition would move for a Select Committee. Mr. JERVIS thought with the Hon. Member for Dublin, that the best plan would be to refer the petition to a Select Committee, not with any view of involving them in difficulties, but because he thought it a matter of extreme importance. Mr. GROTE could assure the House that he would be the last person to bring forward any charges reflecting on the Hon. Gentleman or his friends, if the legal tribunal were easy of approach.—( Hear, hear.) It was not because they were unable to prove the charges, but because they were in want of. the necessary funds. The petition was numerously and respectably signed, and was presented simply with a view to vindicate the purity of election. The only reason why he bad any objection to move that this matter be referred to a Select Commitee was, that he was personally overcharged with committee business ; that it would be impossible for him to attend to it. But if any other Gentleman should think lit to originate the motion, it should receive his most cordial support. Mr. K. TYNTE did not think that it would be sufficient to lay the petition on the table, and he therefore moved that it be printed. Mr. WASON seconded the motion. Mr. H. B. BARING moved that the signatures to the pe tition be printed with it. Sir J. WROTTE SL EY thought that the proper course would be to move that the petition do lie upon the table, and then if any Han. Member moved that it be printed, they would have an opportunity of discussing it. The petition was accordingly laid on the table, and Mr. C. K. TYNTE again moved that it be printed. Sir JOHN WROTTESLEY—It was perfectly competent to the Hon. Member to move the printing of this petition, and the opinion of the House might be taken upon it then. He objected, however, to the signatures being printed with it, as lie did not see why they•should be appended to this petition more than to any other. Mr. BARING—If the petition went forth without the sig natures, there might be an impression that it was the petition of the greatest number of the respectable inhabitants of Yar mouth. Mr. POTTER—Whatever might be the station in life of the petitioners, they had a right to petition that House, and • a right to require that House should institute an inquiry into the alleged bribery. He was astonished to hear the Hon. Member propose to ascertain whether they were respectable or not.--( Hear, hear.) Mr. BARING said the respectable inhabitants of Yarmouth, because the petition might contain the signatures of persons who were not inhabitants, and of boys and children. Mr. JERVIS and Mr. GROTE thought the petition ought to be printed. Mr. BORT HWIC K opposed it, unless the signatures were attached. Mr. BAINE S thought the main question was whether or not there had been corruption. if two guineas had been there was no doubt that corruption had been exer cise d . According to the statements in the petition, two gui'rets had been paid by a child at the house of an active p• - .cti;an. He should give his support to the petition being r.einted, in order that it might be taken into serious consideration. An HON. MEMBER rose to order. The question was, whe ther the petition should be presented with the names attached to it. Mr. BAINES thought that the Hen. Member had risen rather irregularly to order. An HON. ,MEMBER.-I deny that.—(Cries of " Order.") The SPEAKER said that there could be no doubt that the Ilouse had the power to order the petition to be printed, but care ought to he taken that it was such a petition as called for the adoption of that course. If any Hon. Member would give notice of a motion that it was, his intention to bring the subject of the petition under the consideration of the House on any particular day, the whole circumstances connected with the petition would be known, and the question whether the petition with its signatures should be printed, could be determined upon. Mr. WA SON said that he would bring the subject of the Petition under the consideration of the house on Tuesday next. Mr. TYNTE said, that if the petition bad been against him be should have been the first to move that it should be printed. Colonel PE RCE VA I. thought it was most uncourteottc; of the House to deny any Hon. Member the satisfaction of having these names printed, more especially when a charge was brought against him. The Hon. Member for Leeds had said that there were many disreputable persons in Great Yarmouth. Mr. BAINES explained. What be had said was, that if aay voter had received two guineas for his vote, he was not re spectable, and if any Hon. Member had sanctioned that pay ment, he was not worthy of a seat in that House.—( Hear.) • Colonel PE EWE VAL thought the Hon. Member had pronounced a judgment which was any thing but fair—(No, no)--but he had been, perhaps, mistaken. Another Hon. Merl. ber had said that the Carlton Club had furni,hed funds for carry ing on elections ; but there were probably other Clubs to which the charge might be just as well applied. He (Colonei Per ceval) lipped that the gentry of the country would always ex hibit a spirit in supporting sound constitutional principles in a pecuniary way, whenever any vexatious opposition was got up )y the :Members of Brookes' or any other Club.—(Hcar and lau,ghter.) Mr. TOOKE rose to order. The Hon. Member for Ips wich (Mr. Wason) had given notice of a motion for Tueday next, and he thought there was no question before the House. Mr. HODGES said the same course had been adopted with respect to the petition which he had presented from Chatham. Mr BARING, as the sense of the Mouse was against him, would withdraw his motion. Mr. G ROTE presented a petition from Stamford, praying for the introduction of vote by ballot ; also a petition from John 'Williams, recommending the making of subways in the City of London; and a petition from licensed victuallers of the metropolis, complaining of fifty per cent. imposed upon licences. . - Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from the Pres byterians of Carmoney and Ballylinna, county Antrim, n: d one from Tullvlish, Downshire, praying for the total cxtinc- . . tion of the Tithes. Mr. SINCLAIR said the petitioners might be Presbyte rians, but it was certain they could havo no connection with the Church of Scotland. Mr. S. CRAWFORD said the petitioners were Presbyte rians,aiid belonged to—at least were in connection with—the Synod of Ulster: Mr. Sergeant JACKSON said they might belong to the synod of Ulster, but that they represented the feelings of the synod as a body, he must utterly deny. He knew many be longing to that synod who held opinions of the very opposite nature, who were firm friends of the Church of Ireland. Mr. S. CRAWFORD believed that the petitions he bad presented spoke the sentiments of a great majority of the synod of Ulster. An HON. MEMBER said that lie had on former occasions presented many petitions on the other side of the question. Captain BERKELEY gave notice, that in the Committee upon the Corporation Reform Bill he would move that the city of Gloucester should be moved from the second to the first division of schedule A. Mr. WA SON gave notice that on Monday he would move for a Select Committee to take into consideration the cases of all parties connected with the late election for Ipswich, and that Samuel Bignold, Esq., and E. T. Booth, magistrates of Norwich, be taken into custody of the Sergeant at Arms. STAMP DUTIES. Mr. C. BULLER presented a petition from a town in the county of Norfolk, praying for the repeal of the stamp duties. Mr. BARRY presented a petition from a place in Cork, to the same effect. Mr. BE WE S presented a similar petition from Plymouth. Mr. TOOKE presented a similar petition from Truro, in which the petitioners expressed their belief that the present tax prevented the acquisition to the ignorant, of that sound po litical knowledge which is best calculated to fit them for the discharge of their civil and religious duties. The Hon. Member gave notice that on Thursday the 9th of July, he should propose a resolution in the nature of . a standing order, with a view to the future conduct and con venience of the House, that at the commencement of every session a Select Committee of nine Members be,ap pointed, three of whom should form a quorum, to whom all Divorce, Estate, and Naturalization Bills should be referred. The said Committee to examine witnesses, verify documen tary evidence, and hear counsel as the several cases required. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. Mr. CHICHESTER presented a petition from Honiton in favour of the Corporation Reform Bill. Mr. BO RTHWICK presented a petition from the bo rough of Evesham against the Bill. He observed that this borough could not be charged with any misapplication of funds, because they never had any to misapply.—(Hear, hear, hear.) The petitioners stated that the Corporation Commissioners had made only one complaint against the borough ; and on that they did not come to any cer tain conclusion ; so that it appeared that the administra tion of justice rested in the best hands.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") The importance of the petition arose not only from the local connections of the borough, but from the re spectability of the body from which it came, and they prayed that this House would not abrogate those rights and privileges which had been granted to this borough, nor allow the Bill to come into operation without the concurrence at least of an absolute majority of the inhabitants.—(Hear, hear.) He most cordially supported the prayer of this petition, which was, that no rights should be taken from any portion of his Majesty's subjects, unless they were proved to have forfeited their title by some mal-administration of the power committed to them, or a misapplication of the funds entrusted to their management. He did not wish to throw any doubts upon the motives of the King's Go vernment ; he had no doubt that they were of the purest sort ; but there were provisions in this Bill which would de feat the object they had in view—viz., the promotion of the right administration of local government. Mr. M. PII ILLIPPS wished to know whether the petition came from the Corporation, or from a body of freemen? Mr. BORTHWICK —From the Corporation. He gave notice that he would take an early opportunity of presenting a petition from the inhabitants of Evesham to the same effect. STATE OF THE LAW IN IRELAND. Mr. Sergeant JACK SON presented a petition from several members of the Irish Bar, complaining of the operation of the 3d clause in the Act of the 4th and sth of the present Session--the petitioners stated that this claw would be exceedingly injurious both to debtors and creditors in Ireland. The object of the Bill was to bring English capital into Ire land, and this clause enabled the creditors to proceed in Eng land against lands situated in Ireland as if they were situated in England. The operation of this clause would be attended with great inconvenience in Ireland, by reason of the difference in the laws of both countries. The Courts of this country proceeded in a different way, both as regarded law and practice to what the Courts of Equity in Ireland did. The Courts in this country allowed one of the mort gagors under a mortage to foreclose, whereas in Ireland a part of the estate was directed by the Court to be sold to satisfy the creditors, and the residue remained to the debtor. Another regulation was, that there was a registry of landed estates in Ireland, whereas in England there was a registry only in two counties. The consequence would be that if the proceedings took place in England it would cause great confusion and inconvenience. The Act itself was not objectionable, but the third section was very injurious, and the Honourable Gentleman who introduced the Bill, introduced it without that objectionable clause which had been afterwards inserted by the other house of Parliament, and he confessed that the Act, as it came from that Hon. Member's hands, was altogether unobjectionable and beneficial. He trusted that the House would re-consider and repeal that 'section. Mr. LYNCH said that the Hon. Member was under a great mistake in-supposing that any difference existed between the Courts of Equity in this country and those of Ireland on the subject adverted to in the petition. This Act was not impera tive, it was merely optional. Mr. Sergeant JACKSON would not set up his opinions against those of his Learned Friend on the other side of the House, but he begged to say that the petition had not been presented upon light grounds. The opinions of the Attorney and Solicitor-General for Leland had been taken upon the subject. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL denied that there was any difference between either the Common Law or the Equity Courts in this country and those in Ireland. If, however, there was anything in the law which bore upon the petitioners, he was sure that his Majesty's Government would be the first to remedy it. Mr. HANDLE Y presented a petition from Ashton-under- Lyne, in favor of the Corporation Bill ; a petition from the same place against the Poor Law Amendment Bill ; also a petition praying for Reform in the Church Establishment. The Hon. Member also presented a petition from Rochdale praying that the payment of rates might not be made a sine qua non, as a qualification to vote at elections. PUBLIC WORKS—IRELAND. Mr. LYNCH brought up the report of the Committee on Public Works in Ireland.—Laid on the table. THE CHURCH. _ - mitted a very serious offence by stealing a stamp : but he was the Hon. Member could bring forward a q uestion relatin g to I forgiven on account of his youth — but now , t hat he was at a another individual.—( Hear, hear.) period of life to know the character of Ails offence, and corn • The SPEAKER said that the course pursued by the Hon. mitted a second, his employers thought him a fit object for and Gallant Member was certainly inconvenient, not to say prosecution. irregulai.—( Henr, hear.) Mr. HARVEY asked what had the House to d o w ith tran- Colonel PERCEVAL put it to the Chair and to the sactions between Messrs. Sewell and Blake, and Pilgrim their House whether it was the custom of Parliament to refuse an clerk ? The House had already decided that Dasent, a bar- individual an opportunity of explaining circumstances which, rister, one of the gentlemen of the long robe, should be dis- if unexplained, might throw some imputation upon his cha charged, and now a motion was made to discharge Pilgrim. ratter.—( Cheers.) Was any Hon. Member prepared with any reason why Pil- Lord J. RUSSELL should be the last person to refuse to grim should not be discharged ? On the contrary, he thought allow any, Hon. Member an opportunity of making such an there was every reason why he should. He was but a humble explanation ; but he would ask whether the present occasion, clerk in an attorney's office, who had acted he (Mr. Harvey) just previous to bringing two individuals to the bar, was the verily believed, under the direct ions of others. With respect fitting tin one ?—( Hear, hear.) to Messrs. Sewell, Blake , and Keith, he never heard of men Colonel PERCEVAL felt it his duty to give an immediate in their profession more highly spoken of than they had explanation where his character was concerned. This was the always been, since he had first heard their names—but, in first time he had ever known the courtesy of the House to re speaking of Pilgrim, it should be recollected that this fuse to bear a man who stood up in his own defence.—( Hear.) very high character which his employers bore, must be strongly Lord J. RUSSELL thought the Hon. Member could not in his favour. Suppose Pilgrim were to apply for employment have heard his (Lord J. Russell's) observations. He had in the office of any solicitor, could he produce a higher testi- stated that he would be sorry to deny any one a hearing under monial of his ability and integrity than that he had been thirty such circumstances ; but he asked .whether, on reflection, the years in the office of Messrs. Sewell, Blake, and Keith ? Hon. and Gallant Gentleman did not think he might take a Pilgrim went to Ipswich in consequence of that affectionate better opportunity than the present occasion ?—( Hear.) note of Mr. Kelly to Messrs. Sewell and Blake, requesting Colonel PERCEVAL said that if it were the wish of the that they might send over from Norwich his "friend pit: House that he should not continue lie would not.—(Cries of grim, who could walk, talk, or do anything else." There "Go on.") was no ground for the House refusing to discharge this The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER called the wan, after they had agreed to discharge Mr. Dasent, a attention of the House to the circumstances that the Speaker gentleman learned in the law, who had gone through all was about to pronounce their opinion respecting the conduct of the severe studies and examinations required to fit him for two individuals who had infringed the privileges of the House. being called to the Bar, and who was compelled to cat and He asked the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman whether it was not drink his commons, and pay for so doing, four terms in every expedient that they should approach those functions without year for five successive years.—( Laughter.) It appeared by the interposition of any subject which might excite acrimonious the statement of an Hon. Member ( Mr. Wodehouse) that he feelings.—( Hear, hear.) had visited Pilgrim at Newgate. He (Mr. Harvey) had also ' Colonel PERCEVAL said that, to prevent the possibility, visited him, in consequence of a note he received from him, as surmised by the Right Hon. Member, of any statement of having known nothing whatever of him before. In the note his causing the House to treat with greater severity the two in- Pilgrim expressed is wish to see him, and the result of the in- dividuals in question, he would at once consent to reserve his terview was, .that, without knowing or meanie. - to say any- statement to the next opportunity. thing on the merits of the case, he felt satisfied that there John Pilgrim and John Bury Dasent were then brought was nothing Pilgrim panted for more than an early oppor- to the bar, and the Speaker addressed them to the following tunity of meeting the charge against him for embezzlement, effect : and to take his trial in the county where he was known. " John Bury Dasent and John Pilgrim. This House has found Indeed, he expressed an intense anxiety to meet the charge. that you have been guilty of the crime of violating one of its most —( Hear.) To show that Pilgrim's character stood high at important and most valuable Privileges, by absconding, for the pur liorWich after this accusation had been made against him he P ose of avoiding the duty of giving that testimony which you were need only mention that Mr. Foster, a solicitor of the firm of bound unquestionably to give, for the purpose of the due adminis- Foster and Unthank of that town Gentlemen not inferior in tration oflt ustice. "must be unnecessary to any class of persons in this country res p ec tability even to Messrs. Sewell, Blake, and Keith — had t o enlarge upon the importance of at all times yielding a prompt an d offered to become security for him to any amount. willing obedience to those Privileges which this House holds for Lord STORMONT, in explanation, wished to state that he thebenefit of the people, and as their Representatives. It must be had said nothing unfavourable of Pilgrim's character. He least of all necessary to enlarge upon the nature of that offence to a always understood that lie was a reputable man.—( Hear.) gentleman whose professional habits and education must have made Mr. WODEHOUSE, also in explanation, denied that he him more peculiarly acquainted with the nature of those obligations had said any thing to the discredit of Pilgrim. which are imposed upon all classes to contribute to the furtherance Mr. HAWES was desirous of showing that there was no of public justice. substantial ground for the charge against Pil g rim, of his hay- " You have, however, both of you , made tha t a tonement which is stolen a stamp from his employers in his youth. He could is • in yourpower, by an expression of your sorrow and your contrai shew this, he thought, pretty clearly, by the evidence of Mr. lion e for the off it e t t i t e e n e s of n w to hi i e ts h iyaovietuhraaNblbeeeennsgleillenTh. itis Ihlonsedehalst Keith. [Here the Hon. Member read extracts from Mr. with you 3 o 'n u u N r vt e h all the i mildness consistent with their sense orjustice , Keith's evidence before the Committee, by which it appeared and I y have now to acquaint you that you are discharged, upon the that Pilgrim was a candidate for the situation of Coroner some payment of your Fees." years ago, and that on that occasion he received the highest Mr. Pilgrim and Mr. Dasent having retired, character from, and was supported zea l o usl y b y , his em p lo y ers, Lord J. RUSSELL moved that the Speaker's address be notwithstanding this accusation of having stolen a stamp hung entered on the journals of the House. over him.] Colonel PERCEVAL should now 'show to the House that After a few words from Mr. BARCLAY, in explanation, he was not deserving -of that severe censure which the Ho n. the question that John Pilgrim be cal l e d to the bar and dis- and Learned Member for Dublin had pronounced upon him , charged, was put, and unanimously agreed to. nor of the imputation that he had been guilty of a suppressio Lord HENNIKER, after a few observations moved that veri. He admitted that his astonishment was indescribabl e Sparrow be brought to the bar and discharged. when the Hon. and Learned Gentleman charged him with Mr. GISBORNE said that it was his intention to oppose having withheld a fact, and that he stated it, was the first the discharge of Sparrow, as he wished to have the opinion of time that he had ever heard of the fact in question viz., the House as to' whether or no he was a proper subject for that bills of indictment had been sent up against Mr.'Hud prosecution by the Attorney-General for bribery. At present son to t h e G ran d Jury of Dublin, who, it was said, were he was only in custody for contempt, and it was desirable that actuated by the same extreme motives as he (Colonel Per the opinion of the House should be expressed on the other ceval) was ; that witnesses were examined ; and that, in coo charge, which he had no doubt of satisfying the House could sequence of their notorious character, the wretches that wag be brought home to Sparrow, as it had been to Dasent the Hon. and Learned Member's expression—were disbe and Pilgrim. lieved.—( Hear.) As the Hon. and Learned Gentlemati Mr. FRESHFIELD contended that the Hon. Member spoke with all that positiveness and solemnity upon which was not justified by the order of the H ouse in going. into a he was i n t h e h a bit o f drawing somewhat largely, the Ho use statement, with a view to have a greater punishment inflicted m ight judge of his (Colonel's Perceval's) surprise when be on Sparrow for one offence, because it was doubtful if he could found that he was now prepared to show that, in every re be made amenable for the other. spect, the statement denied by the Hon. and Learned Gee - Mr. GISBORNE felt quite convinced that he was per- tleman was correct.—( Hear, hear.) In the first place, then , fectly in order. The Hon. Member here went into a detail of no bills of indictment were sent up against Mr. Hudson te the evidence as far as it bore upon Sparrow's case, to show , the Grand Jury of Dublin ; no prosecution whatever arose that bribery had been substantiated a g ainst that p erson. Con- out of the resolutions of that House ; andno witness n'asi i sidering, therefore, that Sparro w had been an a g ent for the examined.—(Hear, hear.) After the Hon. and Learnen sitting Members, and that bribe r y had been established, he Member made his denial, some Hon. Members thought pre" should on those grounds oppose h is dischar g e. p er to indul g e in contemptuous sneers, implying a doubt of bs Sir G. CLERK contended that the House having dis- ( Colonel Percevarsystatement • and to prevent a r ecurrenc e charged Dasent and Pilgrim , w h o were reall y char g ed with of these doubts he had obtained two certificates, one from the bribery, there could be no reason for not discharging Sparrow. Clerk of the Peace to the city of Dublin Sessions, and the Mr. CHAPMAN was perfectly sa ti s fi e d t h a t M r . Sparrow other from Mr. P. Bourne, Deputy Clerk of the Crown t o could have given full evidence of the bribery at the Ipswich the county of Dublin Sessions, stating that in 1831 no bills election had he been willing to tell the t ru th, an d th e whole for bribery, or any other offence, were sent up against a per: truth, but instead of which he had given to the Committee son of the name of Hudson.—( Hear, hear.) The Gallo; the most evasive answers. Member, having read these certificates, proceeded to o bserve Mr. WARBURTON contended that Mr. Sparrow was by that Mr. O'Connell had spoken very highly of Mr. Hudson far more guilty than the two persons whose cases had just been f or hi s re f u sal to act as his Counsel in reference to the lal decided. as he.had not given before t h e C ommittee the evi. Dublin election. Now, haw stood the- fact? Why, he ba dence that he might have given, and which he ought to have received a letter from Mr. Edward Dwyer, an agent at the given. The House could not forget that Mr. Sparrow was Dublin election, distinctly declaring that Mr. Hudson did act the town-clerk of Ipswich, and the agent of one of the parties as Mr. O'Connell's Counsel at the election, that he stared implicated, and in every respect his offence was aggravated. before the Sheriffs, and that he attended in the same c Mr. LAW LAW thought that the House was bound to give as ter before the Commission sitting at Dublin. By a strange much attention to the petition of Mr. Sparrow as it had given coincidence the writer add, Mr. Hudson commenced his at to that o ndance as , Counsel to M d r. e O'Connell the day after the Hoe. Mr. P. Mr. Pilgrim. te. STEWART said that Mr. Sparrow had evidently and Learned Member ceased to attend before the Commission. had an intimate knowledge of the intention of Cook and Pil- This letter had been sent to him by Mt. Dwyer, in consequence grim to abscond, in order to defeat the ends of justice, and to of his reading the declaration of Mr. O'Connell in the public p resist the authority of that House. He suggested to the House pers. With Mr. Dwyer he (Col. Percival) had no acquaintanc r e , that a decidedly better petition ought to be laid before it ere and he certainly was greatly obliged to him for his volunta y, Mr. Sparrow could be dealt with aS the House had dealt with communication. It certainly bore him out in what he br a the other two persons. stated, and was calculated to make Hon. Members pause i Mr. PLUMPTRE and Mr. JERVIS spoke a few words, and future before they resolved to place implicit reliance on the The House then divided. The numbers were— statements of the Hon. and Learned Member. In coublusion! For the motion that Sparrow be brought to the bar 127 he threw himself upon the consideration of the House, al Against it u Member had adhered to the truth.—( Cheers.) Mr. O'CONNELL never accused the Hon. and Galltinte M-rnbr -,f a wilful snppression of the truth.—( . 9h, 0h.) .4 liby Majority On our re-admission to the Gallery, we found the House in discussion, on the question that J. Bond be called to ,ember of - complained of Mr. Hudson being exceedingly ill treated Hon. Members, and he then a dverted to the indietnieo,ls which were sent before a favo urable Grand Jury. e added, that witnesses were examined, that the bills were ~ign ored, and that in these bills Mr. Hudson was include"' He also stated that Mr. Hudson had refused to attend fond before the Commission at Dublin. Such was the fact, a,,'„:l (Mr. O'Connell) spent some time in endeavouring to Pr e s TA on him to change his determination , bu t without success. ',7 the Hon. and Gallant Member dec lared that Mr. Hudson f attend for him. The fact was , that the da y after he (i"l.. O'Connell) left Dublin, a Mr. Hutton attended as his C ouuse and had attended ever since. — ( Chee rin g . ) Now, with re d gard to Mr. Hudson, who , be it r emembered, had been e; scribed by the Hon. and Gallant Gentl eman as the advise of the Castle, though in reality he was only the junior ir, sistant of the Att o rney-General, he should state facts eel° convincing. If the Hon.. and Gallant Gentleman had gil) him notice of his intended statement, he (Mr. O'Conn e ` should have come down provided with more documents•ci ‘ f Cheers. ) But still the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman 10„11:, fiti.d that he could get no credit for his second exhibition. to l4 " e Attt;7ey-General for Ireland was ordered by that House t i proseete, and accordingly a prosecution was commeaehe, against' Fight or ten persons, not indeed in 1831, to w hich t.'" certificate only applied, but in 1832.—( Cheers.) Bills of t b dictment ag ainst six of the witnesses wh o had swor n to i; bribery were sent up , witnesses were examined, and the bi' against Mr. Hui2son and others would also have been sent uP Oh, those bills against the first six had not bee : ignored by the Grazed Jury. Who was the foreman of t h i a G r and Jury ? Sir Roi.qrt S haw, the father of the Hon• ann Learned Recorder.—(Loud cheers.) Would any m an te, o him that Mr. Blackburne, the Atto rne y - General, did not _ his duty to the utmost? he did not, he would deserve WI, be impeached, and the Noble Lord who was then Secretary 0, Ireland (Lord Stanley) would he dragged in for his re o sha re el, the censure. But he took upon h imself to be the a ejdvocate r_ the Noble Lord.—( Cheers and laug hter. ) The strongest cas_ were selected by the Attorney-Gene: al, but they failed, a , Mr. Hudson was generally congratulate.d, a s his case was ell sidered to be included in the first bills. That was on the 9'o of January, and on the 2 d of February a dinner was gi/e. to Mr. Hudson by an Harmonic Society, of which he Ol e member, and then Mr. Hudson's health was p ro p osed by t,!, ' Attorney- General—( Cheers)—the Lord May or of Puba,,," being present, and sitting on the right han d of the Chrirol7,l —( Cheers.) This Mr, Hudson, the criminal, was thus toas t o f and feasted by the Attorney- General f or Ireland, 4 course, must be supposed to know his d e g ree of culpabili,tio' He (Mr. O'Connell) dil not charge the Hon. Member WitPof suppression of truth, but he asked him was he ignorant 0? these facts=was he ignorant that any bills were sent elo c o d If so, why did he not state the fact tha t ni g ht? The Bon. I ce, Learned Member then read a letter from Mr. Sergeant Ni r°l3 ,bo to the effect that the law officers of the Crown made cit strictest inquiry into all the alleged offences in res p ect to Whle, the House of Commons ordered a p rosecution ; that they sot lected the strongest cases ; and tha t, as all the bills secs up were ignored, it would have been absurd to send up oti),,eho which could only be supported by the same evidence. t o Hon. and Learned Member then aske d whether he was wrollg, stating that Mr. Hudson was free fro m every charge, and wheog ther he had not, considering the su ddenness with which he a at the time called upon to recollect the circumstances, st'ltbe, the leading features ?—( Cheers.) He trusted that, notvatto standing the Hon. and Gallant Member's repetition of.d attack upon Mr. Hudson, his vindication was as complete'- as satisfacs on the first occasicn—( Cheers). Mr. SHAW rose, and endeavoured to address the B 0 o 1 but was obliged to resume his scat, amid the loudest c r 'y o rd " Spoke," " Question," " Order," and calls for Morpeth." After a few words from Mr. BARRON and Mr. WARD, 0 , The SPEAKER, derstood to say, that as the Gallant Officer (Colonel Pere e ' e gi said that he had something to state which referred to hi tlis- of the House, in its courtesy, allowed him an opportunitY,of making that statement. The House bad also granted a sir ° its opportunity to the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublo9oo order that he might defend himself. The two stateu i t e oli having been made, he thought it highly inconvenient to a'riet the discussion to continue any longer.—( Hear, and loud e of " Mr. Shaw," and " Lord Morpeth.") 1/ 8 Mr. S HAW, amid the greatest confusion, said that t Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin.had now charge d with having suppressed a fact the other night with resPee,:o the case of Mr. Hudson. He (Mr. Shaw) stated the the bar. Sir S. B. VERE, as we understood, had moved, as an amendment, that the petitioner be brought up on Monday. Mr. W ASON thought the parties here should not be brought up till they altered their petition. Mr. WARBURTON said that Bond was one of those who gave no evidence before the Committee, neither did his peti tion state that he was ready to communicate what information he possessed. Sir G. CLERK said this person stated that he left his house to evade giving evidence, but soon returned home again, and was proceeding to London for the purpose of coming be fore the Committee to tender his evidence. He met the Hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Wason) in the coach, who told him that - it was now too late, and that his evidence would not be required. Besides this circumstance it was something in his favour that there was no charge of bribery against him. There was nothing in the evidence to affect him. It would be hard, therefore, to keep him in prison till Monday. Mr. WA SON regretted'the allusion made by the Hon. Member who spoke last to the circumstance of what passed between him and Bond, because it obliged him to mention what he should not otherwise. He met Bond and another witness in the coach, who told him that be would put the peti tioners to all the expense he could, and that he was going to London at their expense. He (Mr. Wason) observed that this was unfair, that he had no occasion to attend, as the Com mittee had already reported against him. After a few words from Sir B. Vere, Mr. Stewart, Sir G. Clerk, Mr. Hume, and Mr. Jervis, Mr. O'CONNELL suggested that it was better to wait until Monday. Sir G. CLERK said the Noble Lord (J. Russell) thought the parties sufficiently punished. Was the Noble Lord of opinion that there was anything in the case of Bond which re quired a different treatment from the others? Lord J. RUSSELL said the principal circumstances in his case was that Bond refused to be examined, nor did be state in his petition that he was willing to give any informa tion that might be required. If, however, the House divided, he should vote for his being now called to the bar. Sir B. VERE, as we, understood, prefessed his readiness to withdraw the motion till Monday. Lord HOWICK said the desire of the House must be to save time. For that purpose it would be better to move now that Bond be called to the bar on Monday. He had no strong opinion against his being discharged even now. Mr. AGLIONBY saw nothing that could be gained by keeping this man two days longer in prison. Mr. T. ATTWOOD thought the House ought to deter mine on the case now. Sir J. WR 0 TTE SLEY hoped the motion would be settled now without any stipulation. Mr. STEWART—If the parties altered the petition. and professed their readiness to attend and give full information of allthey knew when called upon, would not oppose their dis charge any further. After a few words from Mr. WILK S, which were inaudible, the motion was withdrawn, with an understanding thatit would be submitted on Monday, with an altered petition. Mr. Sergeant JACKSON said the case of Mr. O'Malley, from whom he presented a petition that day se'nnight, dif fered from the others. He had now a petition to present from that Gentleman. Mr. HUME reminded the Hon. Member that the time for presenting petitions that night had passed. Mr. Sergeant JACKSON said he should, therefore, move that the petition he presented that day se'nnight from Mr. O'Malley be printed, and taken into consideration on Monday I next. The question being put, Colonel PERCEVAL begged to take this opportunity of drawing the attention of the House to a circumstance that oc curred some days back, and which must be in the recollection of the House, upon the occasion of a discussion which arose re lative to the conduct . of the petitioners whose case was be fore them that night, he took the opportunity of then observ ing that the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin wculd have more properly directed his condemnation against a man now holding a high and responsible situation. In bringing this matter now before the House, it was not his object to di rect any attack against the individual himself, but to draw the recollection of the House to what fell at the time from the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, the Member for Dublin. Mr. AGLIONBY rose to order. The question before the House was that two individuals should be brought to the bar, and he was at a loss to understand on what possible foundation THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1535. Mr. L ABO CHE RE presented a petition from Taunton, in favour of the Appropriation Clause of Lord John Russell.— ( Hear.) Mr. R. PALMER presented a petition from Berkshire, against the Irish Church Ap- t ,ropriation Clause. IPSWICA ELECTION. Mr. P. 111. STEIVY...A.RT begged to call the attention of the House to a r...etition from John B. Dasent, one of the pri soners at Pr' . .,ent confined in Newgate, by the decision of the Ipswich _Election Committee. He would therefore move, now chat the petitioner had expressed his contrition f(s. - .. the offence which he had committed, and still more his willingness to come down and give full and free evidence on every matter with which he was acquainted, that the pe titioner be now called to the bar, in pursuance of his (Mr. Stewart's) motion. His earnest wish was, that every circum stance connected with this case should be brought to light, and that every individual who had it in his power to give evi dence, and bring to light any thing connected with so impor tant a matter, should be brought within the power of the House. The principle upon which he made the motion was this, and it was in conformity with every precedent on the subject, that having vindicated the character and dignity of that House, and having inflicted a punishment which certainly equalled any for which they had a precedent, they should now begin to relieve Newgate of its burthens— ( Cries of " Hear," and laughter)—and that they should not unnecessarily detain those individuals further from their duties to their families, many of which were numerous and suffering. He would only further state, Mr. Dasent had come forward and given evidence before the Committee. He now said that he was willing, and would come forward at any time, and make a full and free confession of all the circumstances connected with the case. He moved that J. B. Dasent be called to the bar. The question was put, and the ayes were very numerous. Mr. G ISBO RNE rose not to oppose the motion, but he felt that it was necessary shortly to state to the House the manner in which the evidence given by and against Mr. Dasent agreed with the statements in the petition. The Hon. Gentleman then contrasted the statements alluded to above. He would ask why Mr. Dasent had not given all the evidence he could, before the Committee ?—( Hear, hear, hear.) Instead of his coming before the Committee being a palliation of his crime it was an aggravation of it, for he was called upon not to give evidence for the petitioners, but merely for the purpose of saving the seats of the sitting Members. He felt himself perfectly justified in saying that Mr. Kelly had put his friend and pupil into the box, not for the purpose of giving evidence in order to elucidate the truth, but to admit that he had bribed voters, and also to say that it was without the authority of the prisoners, Dundas and Kelly. It was not to remove the stain which had been cast upon his own character, but to affirm that he was guilty before the Committee, in order to save the scats of the sitting Members. The reason why he did not oppose the discharge of Mr, Dasent, was, that in the report he held in his hand he found plenty of evidence to justify the House in instructing his Majesty's At torney- General to proceed against him for bribery, and he would make that motion as soon as the one before the House was disposed of. He would not oppose the motion for his diischarge —the punishment had been enough for absconding. He would make that motion if the House would permit him, as soon as this trotion was disposed of, if he had that permission, he would not say another word upon the present motion ; if not, then he would lay before the House the evidence given before the Committee against Mr. Dasent. The lion. Gentleman then read the evidence upon Mr. Dasent's case. The evidence appeared to establish a clear case, and on that it was his intention to move, that John Dacent be prosecuted for bribery. He stated this, because he thought Hon. Members would wish to know what they intended to do before they voted upon this question. Lord JOHN RUSSELL agreed that, as far the offence of absconding was concerned, the petitioner had sufficiently suffered—( hear, hear)—to enable the House now to call him to the bar for the purpose of discharging him. With regard to the other question, he thought it would be far better for the House to confine itself to the exercise of its power in the committal of the par ties to Newgate at present, and to take time to consider what should be done in reference to the other point. He thought the punishment was so far adequate, and that the House would be justified in ordering the discharge of the prisoner. Upon the other question he hoped the House would take ample time to deliberate.—( Hear.) Mr. D. \V. HARVEY did not concur in the course of the present proceedings. It might have been announced that, at half-past five o'clock, there would be performed the farce of " A Contempt of this House made Easy."--( Laughter.) If they were sitting there in a judicial capacity, deliberating what was to be done with a man whom they had made their prisoner, they ought surely to understand well the case before they came to a conclusion ; but the truth was that there was not one in ten of those now called upon to decide who knew any thing at all of the matter —( Hear, hear.) There had been two charges incidentally brought . out during this dicussion : one was, that the petitioner who now asked for the clemency of the House, being a necessary witness before a tribunal of which this House was the ex clusive party, had absconded, to avoid its process, and that having undergone a very few days' punishment, he Was now to be reprimanded by the Speaker, with all the courtesy of language for which he was proverbial ; and secondly, upon another charge, he was to be prosecuted by the Attorney-General, but he would say nothing of that, because it would be dealt with in another way ; and he was going to say by a higher tribunal than this, but certainly one equally important. If the powers of this House were defective, it became the more necessary to guard them by the severity of that punishment which they were able to inflict. Who was the cul prit ? Was he of unlettered mind, uninformed of the obligations he owes to his country's institutions ? Was he some thoughtless individual entrapped by various means into an unsuspected criminality, and made the unintentional agent of an improper person ? Was he like one of those unfortunate men whose case was before the House last night ?—( Hear, hear, hear)-- men who were undergoing seven years transportation, torn from all the comforts that belong even to the cheerless station of our distressed peasantry—( Hear)—and every sympathy which tied them to their country, cut asunder because they erred through ignorance ?—( Hear.) On the contrary, who was this individual ?—( Hear.) He was at that moment a Bar rister—a man who was presumed to have gone through an intelligent and enlightened course of education to fit him for the practice of the law.—( Hear, hear, hear.) He was one of the pupils of that Mr. Kelly, who from a shopkeeper and tea-dealer, was now sitting amongst the silken Judges of an irresponsible cluster.—(Great con fusion and cheering.) He appeAred to be a pupil of that Mr. Kelly, who by some accident was transferred from the situation he alluded to, to that high station which was denied to' the props of the land—he was sitting upon the character of those persons who applied to be admitted to the Inns of Court. In ordinary cases of an individual avoiding the process of a common tribunal, what was the nature of the punishment which was applied to him? There was an individual belonging to an enlightened profession, the intro duction to which was not only the highest class of education, but also pre-eminent moral fitness—they found him studiously avoiding the power of the highest tribunal. Ignorance was no plea for a man of this description. What would be the judgment pronounced by Mr. Dasent himself? He had placed himself (as he thought) in the high car reer of promotion, which had hitherto been the grand conduit to all judicial dignities—( Hear, hear)—whence there was one step to the Bench itself. What would be his judgment—what would be Mr. Kelly's judgment—if lie saw an uncultivated, unlettered man brought to the bar in the ordinary course of justice, being arraigned of avoiding a subpoena of the Court? But here was a double offence—there was not only the evasion of the ordinary process, but there was concealment from the effects of his own crimi nality. lie scarcely could conceive a charge of a na ture more complicated or criminal than this.—( Hear.) Now what was the punishment that this Gentleman had to endure—three weeks' imprisonment, with all the luxuries that could be afforded in the receptacle for those who had misconducted themselves.—( Hear, and cheering) Apart from being a free agent without the walls of Newgate, he apprehended there were few cases in which luxuries could be so fully enjoyed as in Newgate, provided an individual had only the means to obtain them, which be had no doubt these parties had. An HoN. MEMBER observed that they slept two in a bed.— (A laugh.) Mr. D. W. HARVEY said no doubt that was so ; but con sidering the good-will subsisting between the parties, he thought 'that would not make much difference. He was as well situated as the man who was in the enjoyment of 2,0001. He had one of the best rooms in the house of the Governor, and every luxury that he could wish. In his opinion Mr. Dacent had not undergone the punishment that was often inflicted on inno cence. Who was there who had not seen accounts of mi serable beings brought up before the Lord Mayor on some such charge as that of having stolen a loaf of bread from a baker's shop, probably for the purpose of appeasing hunger ? On a statement being made by the officer, that the prosecutor was out of town,' and would return in a fortnight, or that all the evidence was not cortiplete, with what indifference—with what an absence of feeling on the subject, in this House, or through the various ranks of opulence and distinction, was that unfortu nate person " remanded till this day week ;" then brought up again, and " remanded till this day fortnight ?"—( A laugh.) There were no sympathies for him.—( Hear, hear ) And if, eventually, on his being brought up, it turned out that there was no prosecution, or that there existed no founda tion for the charge, then, indeed, there was some appear ance of commiseration ; and it was discoverable up in a corner, in a sort of parenthesis, which told them that the Lord Mayor had presented the miserable being with a crown out of his own pocket.—(Great laughter.) What, however, was the course in a case like the present ? Here was an individual who had been convicted of a grave offence; he had been under restraint for three weeks, and sympathy was all alive in his behalf ; they were told that he was a young gentleman of great promise, belonging to a profession of high character, that he was most respectably connected, and that some regard should be had for the feelings of himself and . friends.—(Hear, hear.) It might be said also—let them see what awaited him—he was about to be handed over to the tender mercies of his Majesty's Attorney-General I To this he would say, could it be imagined that if this person were now called to the bar and discharged, they would ever hear of him in this House again ? If, however, a motion were here after made, to the effect that his Majesty's Attorney-Gene ral be instructed to prosecute Mr. Dasent in a court of justice, he could fancy the cries of " Oh, oh !" with which Hon. Members would mark their sense of such a pro position.—( Laughter.) They would exclaim, " What 1 bring up his name again I Was he not confined in Newgate for a fortnight or three weeks? Was he not taken away from his family and friends, and confined ,in the house of the Governor ?—( A laugh.) Was he not in solitary confine ment ?" Then the Noble Lord opposite, who, with his va rious important occupations, was too much engaged to be very alive to matters of this sort, the Noble Lord would, perhaps, rise Isom his seat, and make it a request to the Hon. Member who had given notice of the motion, that he would put it off till after the third reading of the Municipal Corpora tions Bill.—(Much laughter.) Then, on some after occasion, probably, another Hon. Member would beg to remind the Hon. Gentleman that the Irish Church measure stood for this evening, and he would much consult the public interest if he would give way in favour of so important a subject.—( Laugh ter.) So, b e tween the Municipal -Corporations and Irish Church Reform, Mr. Dasent, the offender, would make his escape.—( A laugh.) But then at the end of the session, per haps, some Hon. Member would rise to say that he did so to give notice, on popular grounds, in order that his constituents might understand that he was alive to these matters, that next session he should consider it-his paramount duty to bring the subject forward.—( Shouts of laughter.) Well, next session it was brought forward, and what was the general sentiment? why, that it was not at all decent to renew the matter. It would be said, here was a young man of brilliant character, of high attainm ents, of amiable - feelings, and with most re spectable connections—if there should be any Hon. Member who knew Mr. Dasent, and could speak to his respecta bility, that would be enough, that would be conclusive — but at all events it would be asked whether, in the case of such an individual, it was fair, sifter the lapse of a period of four months, for his name to be again brought before the public, and submitted to the vulgar gaze ? It would be urged that he ought not again to be subject to vulgar imputa tions being cast upon him, that to pursue such a course would be inconsiderate and unkind, and the House would be implored not to visit its judgment upon the young gentleman with vindictive feelings. If he were now brought before them, it would be but consistent with such conduct, if the Speaker were to address him in these words : " John Bury Dasent, I congratulate you on the insufficiency of the power of this House to punish you to the extent that your serious offence requires—( A laugh) ; but you must understand that this House is full of indignation when it contemplates the acts of which you have been guilty. It is hoped, however, that the imprison ment you have already suffered will prove a check to you, and that you will not again be so indiscreet as to go to such a place as Ipswich, unless you are better versed in the means of escaping detection."--4 Continued laughter.)— He would say seriously, that if they w ere t o conscientiousl y of m et t h hei duties as judges, let them g o throug h the p rocess something were to hav their bu siness enl' . inquirya d n ullne s dullness an ; db the e if, t tedium u the m of o other their T r i a d ; e b they u_ let it b jection tandof this be description, one o th the s he spectators, t h a a t d o r s n , 000nbl only ,airly understood in what character it was that they were called there. Having left the House at one o'clock this v i c iy 7d for by his fa s r e c a c t s endingin ntor n n g the an d evidencegtit up at in six, this he case had from s occupied i o'clock r slr• At terelva o'clock he took h is seat as Chairman o I • binisteillf the Committee on Public Charities, and since the Come mittee he had been giving his attendance in the House. He was not supposing that his industry was more signal than that of all who were about him, but he did say that he had no time to look into the evidence to enlighten him as to any judgment that he could reflect on with satisfaction. With regard to Mr. Dasent, he had never seen or heard of him till he saw the report of the Committee ; it was not his wish that any man should be incarcerated for an hour ; but looking at this as a judicial subject—feeling himself called on as one of 600 individuals whose duty it was to pronounce an opinion, contemplating this House as the highest court 'of jurisdiction in the country, and in that capacity called under solemn circumstances for their adjudication, he must say that he thought more time ought to be allowed for investigation before they adjudicated on any one of the cases of the peti tioners. If they were this evening to discharge Mr. Dasent for having evaded service of the process of the House , a nd if then the Hon. Member for Derbyshire were to move that his Majesty's Attorney-General should be ordered to prosecute him for bribery, many lion. Members would say that the latter was another question altogether—that whether they should indict for bribery, and expose to all the penalties attaching to that offence, this young and hopeful man, was a matter for grave consideration. Would it be wise first to let the bird out of the cage, with the intention of then determining whether they should let fly at him ? If the House were prepared to adopt the reso lution of the Hon. Member for Derbyshire, and to effect that his Majesty's Attorney. General was to prosecute Mr. Dasent for bribery, then he should say, let that individual by all means be instantly let out of custody ; but if, in the first place, they determined that he should he reprimanded and discharged, then he would venture to say that they never would come to the resolution, that this person was to be prosecuted for bri bery. It would be said that there were two charges against him ; one vas that he had evaded the process of the highest court of judicature in the kingdom, and the other was that he had committed an offence which exposed him to statutable penalties. With reference to the punishment Mr. Dasent had suffered, he wculd ask, was not every witness bound to attend a court of justice under the severest penalties? It was nothing to say that they had unseated the late Members for Ipswich, because the whole weight of the case might have fallen upon this state of things. If the question was to be disposed of in a spirit of whining sympathy, then it was only for them to say to Mr. Dasent that they had not the power to detain him longer—that they regretted the interrup tion that had occurred to his domestic comfort, and the other inconveniences he had sustained—that he would depart from the bar, carrying with him the admiration of the House—that they trusted that during his incarceration the keeper of New gate had shown him every delicate attention—(Laughter)— and that if he ever should find his way into that House again, they would afford him an excellent reception, since he had shown by his ingenuity that his qualifications were considerable. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman concluded by saying, that though not acting on his oath in that House, he felt imposed 'upon him the higher obligation of being called on honourably to discharge his duty, and he was actuated by that feeling when he called on the House to adopt a different course 'from the one which had been proposed.—( Cheers.) Mr. STEWART explained. Judging by the powerful and somewhat fanciful speech of the Hon. Member for South , wark he had evidently laboured under a mistake as to the grounds on which he (Mr. Stewart) proposed the motion. It was not on the ground of clemency, but on that of jus tice. He ( Mr. Stewart) had said that he would not go into the evidence upon the subject, and he anticipated there might come another allegation, at present unproved, on which, in addition to the crime proved of contempt for non-attendance on the warrant of the Speaker, the House might have to adju dicate. His motion was simply that Mr. Dasent be called to the bar. Mr. CHAPMAN wished the case sifted to the bottom. After a few words from Mr. Warburton, Mr. Campbell, and Mr. Hardy, amid loud cries of " Question," Mr. R. WASON was understood to say, that taking into consideration the willingness with which the parties in custody had offered to give their further evidence on the subject of the proceedings at the election, he thought that they might very fairly be liberated. (The Hon. Gentleman was here interrupted by loud cries of " Divide," and strangers were or dered to withdraw.) The House then divided, when there appeared— For the motion l9O Against it Majority against the motion —49 When we returned to the gallery a brief conversation be tween Mr. Hawes, the Speaker, and Mr. D. W. Harvey, was going on, but none of it reached us. Mr. HAWES then rose to call the attention of the House to the petitioner Pilgrim. Pilgrim was a mere servant or clerk-to one of the parties ;he was no principal in the trans action. What he had done he did under the direction and control of others, who were his employers. That Pilgrim had been guilty there was no manner of doubt, but it was for the House to say how far guilty with his own privity, and how far he acted under the orders of his employers. With respect to the allegation against him of felony, he (Mr. Hawes) had nothing whatever to say to it. He had only to put it to the House whether, on the case of contempt, there was sufficient reason for his discharge. He (Mr. Hawes) thought there was, and that, in the capacity of clerk or agent, he had a title to their clemency. The Hon. Member then read a passage from the petition of Pilgrim in extenuation. It stated that, in ab senting himself from the service of the Speaker's warrant, as well as in all the prior and subsequent transactions, he was induced to act at the instigation of Messrs. Sewell and Blake, his masters, Mr. Keith, Fitzroy Kelly, Esq., and his friend Mr. Clipperton, and that he relied for immunity on their high legal knowledge and extensive experience, being himself un acquainted professionally with the law. He (Mr. Hawes) conceived that, as the petitioner had shown himself to be merely the clerk or agent of one of the parties to the transac tion, and as he had disavowed solemnly any idea of invasion of the privileges of the House, it would be beneath their dig nity to visit him with any more punishment, or proceed fur ther against him. He concluded by moving that John Pilgrim be called to the bar of the House, to be reprimanded by the Speaker, and then discharged out of custody. Mr. HUME supported the motion of the Hon. Member for Lambeth, because he'was satisfied that every thing which had been done by Pilgrim was done by the bidding of his masters. Though he certainly was an agent in the guilt of bribery, he was, as certainly, not so guilty as those by whose will he was swayed, and under whose orders he acted. Mr. WODE HOUSE did not rise to oppose the motion, but to set the House right respecting Messrs. Sewell and Blake. These gentlemen distinctly denied all that which the petition of Pilgrim affirmed of them, with the exception of the circum stance of directing him to proceed to Ipswich. That they ad mitted ; but all the rest they solemnly and distinctly denied. With respect to the charge of felony made by them against Pilgrim, which had been so much commented on within and without the House, as affecting the character of these gentle men, he (Mr. Wodehouse) had a word or two say. He had been very recently at Norwich,and had ascertained from his own knowledge that the prosecution was a bona fide one. He had seen the opinion of Mr. Sydney Taylor on it ; and he had heard from Mr. Money, the cashier of Messrs. Sewell and Blake, the important fact, that the twenty pounds alleged by the petitioner Pilgrim to have been given him by those gentlemen, was given him by him (Mr. Money) without their consent, and without their having the slightest knowledge of the transac tion.---(Cries of " Oh, oh.") He was ready, on their part, to state that they were fully prepared to meet any charge which could be preferred against them at that or any other tribunal. Mr. GISBORNE was satisfied that no individual could read the evidence taken before the Committee without coming at once to the conclusion that Pilgrim had gone to Norwich at Messrs,. Sewell and Blake's directions, for the purposes on which he had been convicted ; and that these Gentlemen, knowing these purposes, had sent him there to accomplish them. Mr. R. WASON said, Pilgrim had received 201. on going to the Continent. There was nothing to rebut that fact. He (Mr. Wason) would beg to ask the Hon. Member whether that was included in the charge of embezzlement against Pilgrim ? Mr. WODE HOUSE replied in the negative. • Mr. WA SON continued—The charge of embezzlement reduced itself then to 61. two years ago, and 3/. about a year and.a-half ago. Yet, with these charges standing against him, 201. was paid him by the parties, and nothing was said about them. Lord STOR MONT said, there had been much importance attached to the fact of Pilgrim's having received 201., and Hon. Members had asserted, on the authority of that indi vidual, that Messrs. Sewell and Blake were parties to his guilt, and cognizant of his flight ; but these Gentlemen posi tively denied all knowledge of the transaction; and it was for the House to determine between the credit due to the affirma tion of Pilgrim as opposed to that denial. There could be little doubt as to which was most valuable. Messrs. Sewell and Blake were gentlemen of the highest respectability.— (lryonlliocnal. Memberc h cheers.) ) s t He an d n ( p L i o n r d his Stormont)plaoplace and shoulds aytheylike we r t o o n s o e t e . an _ -:( Hear, and laughter.) The Hon. Member (Mr. Wason, we believe) cheered him; did he mean to do so? They were gentlemen of extensive business, well known in Norfolk, Suf folk, and all the adjoining counties, and a shadow had never been attempted to be cast on their character before. Mr. HAWES read another passage from the petition of Pilgrim. It was to the effect that he had gone to Ipswich by the direction of Mr. Blake, that he had been induced to leave Norwich by Mr. Keith, and that he had been sup plied with 20/. for that purpose by Messrs. Sewell, Blake, and Keith. Mr. P. STEWART said, that it was not quite in order to introduce Messrs. Sewell and Blake into the case before the House. They were highly respectable no doubt. though he protested against anything contained in the petition of these respectable Gentlemen being taken to invalidate the state ments in Pilgrim's petition. Mr. C. BARCLAY said that in his business it was no un common thing . for a clerk who had been long in his employ ment to obtain from the cashier, without his ( Mr. Bar clay's) cognizance, as much as 301. or 40/. at a time, and to pay it by instalments. This he felt bound to state, in corroboration of the assertion of Messrs. Sewell and Blake, that they knew nothing of the 201. stated to have been paid to Pilgrim. Mr. BL AC KSTONE said that Mr. Keith had denied that he knew anything about Pilgrim, having absconded, for when Pilgrim came to consult him on the subject, he referred him to his own legal adviser, Mr. Jay, the solicitor, of Nor wich. In fact, Mr. Keith did not know where Pilgrim had even gone to, for he stated in his evidence that he went to Clipperton to inquire where Pilgrim was, and that for some time Clipperton refused to tell him. He could not sit and hear such insinuations thrown out against that highly-respec table firm, Messrs. Sewell, Blake, and Keith, without vindi cating their characters from such aspersions. Pilgrim was the son of an old servant cif the firm, and in his youth he corn- c oncerning Hon. and (Mr. She , dictment h over added other parti Hudson. son, had b the House time was ii be, therefo Hudson, ai been rope House, atW no bills of though bill (Question. ticman opr .Mr. Hudg (Loud cric Sir J. already gm tleman ; ai the Hon. a would claii that was al cries of " Mr. SF " Order," heard. The SP inaudible. Colonel but the cal the Hon. The ord of the Hai of Lord April won " That a ment in Irc kre applied t people, witl resumption required by bhshed Ch " That ii tithes in Il which does resolutions. Lord M discussion side of the not be a pp now invite sure it wil forward a tlement of lation of f usual and House is n