The Sun. — London, England, 1842-05-07 00:00:00

IMPEItIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 6. Their Lordships met at the usual hour. A Message from the House of Commons brought up the Turnpike Roads (Ireland) Bill, the Exchequer Bills (9,500,0001.) Bill, the Punishment of Death Bill, the Victoria Park Bill, the Dublin Police Bill, the Kensington and Knightsbridge Openings Bill, the Equitable Gas Company Bill, the South wark Improvement Bill, the Stanhope and Tyne Railway Bill, the Greenwich Harbour Bill, and several other private Bills. NATIONAL EDUCATION. The Earl of WICKLOW presented a petition from a parish in the county of Wicklow, in favour of the Church Education Society. CATHOLIC GRIEVANCES. Lord , CAMOYS presented petitions complaining of the grievances to which Catholics arc subjected, in prisons, in mili tary service, and in Union-houses, from the following places : Bungay, in Suffolk, Staffordshire, Durham, Warwick, Lan caster, Norfolk, and Chepstow. EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN COLLIERIES. 'The Bishop of NORWICH presented five petitions from several mining districts, complaining of the employment of children, and especially of females, in mines. He stated on the authority of the Report of the Commissioners. that the female children were exposed not only to the most painful toil, but to the most degrading profligacy from infancy to womanhood, and that operatives in other branches of labour will not marry the women brought up in the mines. Lord FITZWILLIANI agreed that it would be impossible to exaggerate the evils of which the petitioners complained. But considering the danger of interfering with any of their fellow subjects, as to the way in which they might choose to employ their labour, if the House should think it necessary to legislate in this case, it was highly important, before they did so, carefully to consider the facts set forth in the Report to which the flight Rev. Prelate had referred. They should also consi der whether there was not equal degradation and depravity in the employment of females in other departments of labour. He thought, however, that there were matters complained of in the petition which it came within the province of legislation to for bid. But he was certain that those practices did not prevail generally in all the mining districts of England. He could even give his own evidence that they did not generaly prevail in the districts from which the petition came. If any one by chance should read the speech of the Right Rev. Prelate, he would suppose that in the generality of collieries the seams were so thin as to make it necessary for them to work in places not more than 18 or 20 inches in height. Now that was by ne means the case in the generality of min es in this country from whence coals were extracted; but if their Lordships wished to protect all children from what might be considered beyond their powers, they should go much farther than legislating upon the subject of collieries. He did hope before their Lord ships proceeded to legislate upon the employment of children in this one branch of industry, that they would take a compre hensive view of the employment in every branch of trade. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said he thought it ra ther strange that the Right Rev. Prelate should have pro ceeded to this subject without giving any notice to the House that he meant to do so. He rose to protest on the part of the eoalowners in the nort of England, more especially those on the Tyne and Wear, against that part of the Right Rev. Pre late's assertion, which stated that females and children were chained to waggons ; he did rise to protest against that on the part of the owners of collieries in the north. The Right Rev. Prelate had presented petitions from the interior of England ; what the state of thin g s might be there he (the Marquis of Londonderry) did notknow ; but there, he was sure, women never had been chained in the north.—(Hear, hear.) The Bishop of NORWICH explained that he had not re ferred at all to the collieries in the north ; he only spoke of those whence his petitions came; and with regard to the chains he must say that he spoke upon the authority of the persons who gave him the petitions. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY expressed his satisfac faction at the explanation of the Right Rev. Prelate. The Marquis of NORMANBY said that it would be full time for their Lordships hereafter to determine whether or no they would undertake to legislate on the subject ; but he thought that some good might be done by an exposure of the abuses. Earl FITZWILLIAM said that as it might happen that the Reverend Prelate's speech would be read out of that House, 'he thought it right to explain with regard to the chains to which the Right Rev. Prelate had referred. Now these females were not chained. If they were so, they could not work. The fact was that the chains were fastened to the wag 'ions, and by means of them the females drew them along; that was the whole and sole use that was made of the chains. - -(hear, hear.) What sense was there in restricting the in quiries to manufactures? Why not extend it to agriculture ? A PXEE—That is ahealthy employment. Lord FITZWILLIANI was not quite sure of that. He believed tat the boy who was employed in a mine with his father, rsceivng wages enough to give him a bellyfull, was in abetter condition for the maintenance of his health than the boy who worked with his father in the fields, having Is. or Ss. a week for the maintenance of a family of seven or eight. The Bishop of NORWICH explained. He said that the girls, when let down into the mine, were chained to the ma chine in which the coals were to be drawn out. The Earl of WICKLOW would be very glad if the in quiry were extende d to agriculture and it would be seen how superior was the condition of children in that department of la bour. He then presented a petition from Sittingbourne, in Kent, to the same effect as the petitions presented by the Bishop of Norwich. Earl FITZWILLIAM wondered what the agricultural la bourers of Kent could know of the state of the miners of the north. He had seen much of both the agricultural and manu facturing people, and he was convinced that there was not the slightest superiority of morals amongst the agricultural, above the manufacturing population. In some respects, especially with regard to their children, the advantage was on the side of the manufacturers, especially the colliers.—(Hear, hear. ) The Marquis of NORMANBY said, if there had been any erroneous opinions on the subject of the children employed in mines and factories, the late Government had taken the best course for removing them, by issuing the Commission. The Bishop of LONDON thought that the people of Sit tingbourne, who were able to read, were as well able to judge of the great evils which attended on the _present factory sys tem; and he was surpri'ed to hear the Noble Lord say that the condition of the children in factories and mines, was not inferior to that of the children employed in agriculture. Feel ing strongly as he did on the subject of the cruelty to children, he could not he led away by the statement of the Noble Earl, and he must believe that the condition of the children in the agricultural districts was, by many degrees, better than that of those in the manufacturing districts, Earl FITZWILLIAM said, that if the moral and spiritual condition of the children in these colliories were worse than that of children employed in agriculture, it was because the former children had not the advantages which the others pos sessed. If they both had the same advantages, he believed their conditions would be equal. He strongly denied that there was anything in agricultural employment which could of itself breathe a spirit of purity through those engaged in it, any more than there was in manufacturing employment. After a few words from the Bishop of LONDON and the Earl of WINCHELSEA, the petition was laid upon the table. QUEEN'S PRISON BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. PARISH PROPERTY BILL. The House then went into Committee, and the Bill for regu lating the sale of parish property passed through. SOAP DUTIES' BILL. The House then resumed, and this Bill was read a third time and passed. LUNACY BILL. Lord COTTENHAM said, that as the Lunacy Bill, the Bankruptcy Bill, and the County Courts Bill, were ap pointed for Committee on Monday, he thought it would be better if their Lordships would postpone the Lunacy Bill for a short time. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, he thought it right to state, that the other night his Noble Friend beside him (Lord Campbell) pressed him to move forward these Bills, more par ticularly the Lunacy Bill, but at the request of the Noble Lord (Cottenham) he had consented to delay them till Monday Lord CAMPBELL said, that the Noble and Learned Lord entirely misapprehended him. It was with regard to the Lunacy and Bankruptcy Bills he was anxious to know what were the Learned Lord's intentions. Lord BROUGHAM said, he had expressed his wish that the Local Courts Bill should be proceeded with in preference to the other two. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that he was most anxious to proceed with that Bill, but he wished the fullest in formation to be before the House. _ _ _ CORN-LAWS. Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a petition from Northum berland against the Corn and Provision-laws. ELECTION COMMITTEES (COMMISSION). Lord BROUGHAM said he wished to call the attention of the House to a subject of great importance. It appeared from the proceedings of the other House, according to the Votes, that the time had at length arrived when it was his bounden duty to bring the great subject before their Lordships, of which he had last year given notice, and to redeem the pledge which he had then given. The proceedings to which he had alluded were marked with the most corrupt, illegal, and unconstitu tional practices. He found that it would be vain in the present state of things to move for a Committee of Inquiry, as he had at, first intended, without first taking means to ensure the fullest protection and indemnity to all who might be required to give evidence. He should therefore, with their Lordships' consent, bring in a Bill for the purpose of giving that protec tion and indemnity to all persons who should be required to give evidence before a Committee of their Lordships, or any . ether tribunal appointed to inquire into proceedings connected pith the character of , or in relation to , the other House of Par . tament. On the second reading of the Bill he should go more filli'intsefte subject. The Noble and Learned Lord then 'brought in the Bill, which, as usual, was read a first time pro Mpg,. ‘s-grtr-ULIFVORD presented several petitions from the Roman leatltitice.uf , Hammersmith, 'famworth, and various other, partis : (4l.,, kur k ri , fantplaining of a number of grievances which pressed2p u .e7,-,?4,.. might be takeh tiiriviixt 'l, upon them, andp raying that means y t ese gr i e v ances. His Lordship said, that it had appeared'in the public for the papers, that 11,000/. annually had been voted f purpose religious instruction to those in the sertice of the , atm and tatty ; and of this 11,0001. it was stated that 7,000/. wasappropriated to the religious instruc tion of Roman Catholics. The universal statement of these petitioners was, that the sum appropriated to Roman Catholic instruction was only 70 LO 0/. CAL RATES. Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a petition, praying that the whole of the local rates might be levied in one rate, instead of in three or four distinct rates, such as Highway, Watching, &c., as at present. EDUCATION OF CATHOLICS. Lord CLIFFORD, of Chudley, presented several petitions complaining of the general want of religious instruction, and advice amongst the Rom an Catholics. On the question that the House do now adjourn, The Marquis of NORM AN B Y said he had waited to the last moment, in hope that the Noble Marquis opposite (London derry) would have taken an opportu nit y to retract the unwar rantable accusations which he had made on a former night against the Magistrates of Sunderland, after he had received a full refutation of those accusations. He (the Marquis of Normanby) would, on Monday, call the attention of the House to the charges made by the Noble Marquis opposite, that cer tain Magistra es of Sunderland had refused licenses on party grounds. The Marqe's of LONDONDERRY was ready to prove the truth of all that he had said, if the House thought proper. But as the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, and a Peer of Parliament, he would not answer the appeal of the Masor and six Whig Magistrates of the borough of Sunderland. if the Noble Mar quis opposite (Normanby) wished to bring the subject before the House again, he (Lord Londonderry) would :eel it his duty to go into the whole details. But he would not, answer the application made to him by the si x Whig Ma. strates, who tool,. advantage, after the Conservative Magistrates had left the bench, to pass resolutions, moved by a Quaker, to contradict what he had said in his glace in the House of Lords. Lord WHARNCLIF FE suggested that the matter should rest where it was, as notice had been given by t h e Noble Mar quis (Normanby) that he would bring the subject before the House bs a question to his Noble Friend (the Marquis of Lon dondery ), on Monday. The Marquis of NORMANBY could not—after what had fallen from the Marquis of Londonderry, he would not allow forty-eight hours to pass ever without letting the House know what were the real facts of the case. The Earl of HADDINGTON and Lord WHARNCLIFFE spoke to order. The Marquis of NORMANBY contenting himself with 11,A110 TIIE SUN LONDON, .SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 7, 1842. to comp!ain; consider, and adjudicate upon that measure.- ( Hear, hear.) If Hon. Members of that House were to be thus catechised respecting their seats, what Honourable Member would be free from being harassed during the whole duration of a Parliament ?—( Hear, hear.) If the Raise should sanction such questions being put to Hon. Mem bers, they would make a stride , a nd a lon g strideetowards the resumption of the worst and most improper jurisdiction, which, after long experience, had been deliberately • and wisely re nounced, and which, if revived, the seats of Honourable Members would again become the sport of party contention, personal envy, and inquisitiveness. In conformity with the prin ciple which had been adopted by that House he (Mr. R.) declined answering the question put him by the Hon. and Learned Member for Bath—(Ministerial cheers)—and he protested against that House drawing any inference whatever from his refusal to answer the question which had been now put to him, and whioh the Honourable and Learned. Member had no right, either personal or Parliamentary, to put to him (Mr. R. ). The Hon. and Learned Member for Bath might draw whatever inference he pleased in silence, and his inference might be about as pertinent as his question. Mr. ROEBUCK—I proceed in the examination I have pro posed, believing, that if I hear aught that would be detrimental to any Member of this House, 1 will do that which is most advantageous to the House itself. I shall now proceed to put a question to the Hon. and Gallant Member for Penryn.—( Hear. ) 1, therefore, ask him if he was a party to, 'or cognizant of, any agreement by which he, in the month of July next , or anywhere about that time, is to accept the Chiltern Hundreds, although he had been declared elected by the Committee ap pointed to try the validity of his election, it being notorious that acts of bribery were proved at that election, and I wish to know if he is cognisant of any such acts?—( Hear, hear. ) Captain PL UM RIDGE—I do not think I have any fault to find with the Hon. Member for the question he proposes.— ( Laughtc: and cheers.) I shall answer the question truly, without fearing that I shall compromise myself; and I say that I was not cognisant of the arrangement until after it was made.—(Loud cheers from the Opposition benches, and laughter from the Ministerial side of the House.) I assure you that the arrangement did not please me then, nor does it now— (Laughter)—but I always thought that when a person put his case into the hands of his lawyer, it was to be entirely left with him to settle it as he thought fit ; and in this case I think the act was premature. I hope I have new answered the question, and I could not do so more fairly.—( Loud cheer s.) Mr. ROEBUCK—I beg leave to return thanks to the Hon. and Gallant Member for the extreme candour and fair ness with which he has answered the question I put to him.-- (Loud cheers.) I could expect nothing from the Hon. and Gallant Member but a fair and honourable answer.—(Cheers.) In the same spirit of inquiry which I have shown, I now beg to ask a question of the Right Honourable Baronet, the Member for Nottingham.—(Laughter.) I wish to ask whether he has been a party to, or cognizant of, or whether, being cognizant of it, he has taken any advantage of an agreement of the following description : that a sum of money has been paid down to avoid the investigation of the Committee respecting the bribery alleged to have taken place at Nottingham—that a fresh sum has been paid down as a pledge, by which it should be permitted to an Hon. Gentle. man to walk over the course, as it is called, whether he has any knowledge of it, or whether any such terms, or any ap proximating to them, have been come to? Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE—I can make the same answer as has already been given, that I do not admit the right of the Hon. and Learned Member to put the question ; therefore I shall not answer it. I shall say no more, Sir, because Ido not consider that more is called for.—(Cheers. ) Mr. ROEBUCK—I agree with the Right Hon. Gentle man that nothing more is called for.—(Order, order.) After I had left this House last night, I understand that a motion — (Loud cries of " Order.") lam speaking of the Hon. Gen tleman the late Member for Nottingham, Sir G. H. De Lar pent, I think.--(Loud cries of " Order.") I was but about to explain to the House why I was going to ask the question. —(Order, order.) At half-past twelve or one o'clock, on the day before, it was signified that that Honourable Gentleman had accepted the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds, and therefore I cannot put the question to him.—(Laughter.) Now, Sir, I am going to ask a question of an Hon. Friend of mine, the Member for Lewes. lam about to ask hint if he is cognizant of, or a party to, any agreement or arrangement, by with which the question of bribery at the election of Lewes is to be drawn from the consideration of the Committee, so as to admit a Member into this House, who was not returned by the re turning officer, but who would come into this House by agree ment between the Hon. Gentleman and that party ? This is the only question I shall put to the Hon. Member. Mr. ELPHINSTONE—In answer to the question, I have to state that a compromise did take place upon that Committee by my Hon. Colleague on the other side. I must further state that neither directly nor indirectly have 1 contemplated accept ing the Chiltern Hundreds.—( Cheers. ) Mr. ROEBUCK—I return my best thanks to the Hon. Gentlemen. I have now to ask the Hon. Member for Har wich, or rather the two Hon. Members, whether they are pasty to, or cognizant of any agreement, by which either of these Hon. Members is to retire from the seat which he now holds. by accepting the Chiltern Hundreds, for the purpose of letting another person into the House, and by those means avoiding the consideration of bribery before the Committee? Major IsERESFO RD—I do in one singular particular fully agree with the Hon. Member, viz. that his present conduct is most extraordinary. Neither my Hon. Colleague nor myself can conceive what right the Honourable and Learned Gentleman has to ask me this question here in my face, relative to any private arrangements of my own; and therefore, I decidedly decline to answer the question, which the Hon. and Learned Gentleman has asked me. How ever, if the Hon. and Learned Gentleman has any prima facia case with regard to the Harwich election petition—if he has any grounds to go upon, let him bring it before a competent tribunal—let him bring it before this House, and then I will be ready to explain to the House, and thereby clear my character from the slurs these sort of questions throw upon it, and I trust I shall prove myself free from all blame. Before that tribunal 1 will willingly state all I know, and I perhaps may then gratify the active curiosity of the Hon. and Learned Gentlemen. 1 will not give an answer to the Learned inquisitor himself, but to the Hou se.— ( Cheers.) the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the Order of the Day for the House resolving itself into a Com mittee on the Property-tax Bill. Mr. ROEBUCK considered that he was entitled on the motion of the Right Hon. Gentleman to put it to the House whether or not he was entitled to bring forward the question of privilege of which he had given notice last night. He thought, after having given a notice of the kind he had done, he was bound to press on the Home the question whether, on the subject of breach of privilege, he had not a right to be heard. He had heard certain statements respecting various Members of that House in connection with election petitions. Those statements having came to his ear, and being anxious at all times to preserve the character of the House, he had thought it his duty to bring the subject under its consi deration ; and, as a mere matter of privilege, he claimed the right of being heard. Having stated that the state ment affected certain Members in the House, he de manded from it the consideration of the question, and from the Chair its decision, whether or not, it he stated in his place, that he had heard imputations against certain Mem bers whom he had questioned, he was not justified in bringing it before the consideration of the House. The SPEAKER said, if the Hon. Member had any accusa tion to make against any Members of the House by which they had incurred a breach of the privileges of the House, he must first move that those Members attend in their places ; and then if he proved that they had been guilty of such conduct as was a breach of privilege, it would be competent for him to move for a Committee to inquire whether certain actions were or were not a gross breach of the privileges of the House. If he did not adopt that course, he was not making such a motion as would entitle him to precedence on the ground of a breach of privilege. Mr. ROEBUCK was ready to state the accusations, and having done so he believed they would be proved to be a gross breach of the privileges of the House, and under these circum stances he thought he should be justified its moving for a Com mittee of Inquiry on the subject. Mr. H. ELP HIN STONE said, that if his Hon. and Learned Friend had any imputation to throw upon him, he hoped he would bring the charge immediately, and give him at once the opportunity of a reply. Mr. ROEBUCK said that he would do what he could to put the House in possession of the facts of the c to state ase, as they had reached him. He was then prepared certain imputations made against certain Members. All those Members, or almost all of them, he believed were then in the House ; and as they were there, he was prepared to make in their presence the statement which he wished to lay before the House. He had said before, that the instances he was about to state were, he believed, a breach of the privileges of the House, as he was sure they were a breach of the common law of these realms. Under these circumstances he believed he would be in order in moving for a Committee of Privileges to inquire into the facts. The SPEAKER said that under the c:rcumstances stated by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, he should consider he would be in order in moving for the proposed inquiry. The House was, however, in this po,ition—a motion had been made that the Order of the Day for the Committee on the Pro perty-tax Bill should be read, and the Hon. and Learned Gentleman could not make his motion unless the previous mo tion were withdrawn. Mr. ROEBUCK said that he had no desire to stop the course of the Goverbment but if the Right llon. Baronet thought it would be advantageous for the business of the House that a question affecting its privileges should be immediately brought under its consideration, he (Mr. R.) was prepared to proceed. Sir ROBERT PEEL said that he was quite ready to bow to the decision of the Chair when given against him ; on the other hand, he thought it most desirable that any Member who brought forward a motion on the ground of a breach of privilege ought to have that precedence to which he was entitled. But, on the other hand, he thought it would establish a very inconvenient precedent, if an,Hon. Gentleman, bringing forward a motion, should bring it forward contrary to the rules of the House. For his part he was ready to abide by the decision of the House. He need not say how anxious he was, upon public grounds, that they should proceed with the mese sures introduced by the Government, but at the same time although his Right Hon. Friend had moved the Order of the Day for the Committee on the 'Property-tax, he (Sir R. Peel) should not insist upon that circumstance if the H.on. and Learned Gentleman was clearly entitled to bring forvraid a question of privilege.—( Hear, hear.) If the Hon. and Learned Gentleman were to bring forward the motion on Monday; he (Sir R. Peel) should gain nothing, but at the same time he should say he thought that in the case of a motion of so unusual a character (he would not say more) it would be for the public advantage that there should be same delay before its discus sion. lie was not aware what might be the facts which the Honourable and Learned Gentleman might reveal, but he could not think it would be desirable that the House should at once entertain the question. The matter was one a t) t f w i n h d i i e ff h e r i e t ri c m e g to h t t h h e e Government r a w s a r r d e , g a r h d e e t d h t h e e e t c ! u m h e i not help thinking that it would be more satis ifeacdtiovriiyivat l o s the thatH o t u h s e e , H a e r. e d e u m r a o h r l e e c a o n n d s s L t e e n a t r n ed with G justice a t n o should give his notice for Monday next, and allow the House the interval for considering the matter. But if the Hon. and Learned Gentleman insisted on the right, which the Speaker declared he possessed, of bringing forward this question, he, for one, should not insist on the ance accidental circumstance of the Right Hon. Gent!eman, the Chllor f the Exchequer, having moved the Order of the Day as an impediment. Mr. ROEBUCK said, he was quite in the hands of the House as to whether he should go on now, or defer it till Mon edt tenday.—(Loud cries of " G o on , g o on.") The Hon. Captain FITZROY as ked the Hon. and L earned Member for Bath whether h e i nc l u d e d him in the list ? Mr. ROEBUCK replied i n th e a ffi r mative. Right oo o t 0f a townsre D B Capt. FITZROY said, in a matt e r of such importance he trusted thewouldthat dhis days a allows before colleague, them the t Hon.me . who was had and B gone ßzspHn. REout unwell, Learned Member had given notice of his intention.—(Go on.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER; in accord ance with the general feeling of the House, withdrew his motion for reading the Order of the Day for going into Committee on the Property-tax. BBEACH OF PRIVILEGE. was about to state. The Hon. Member—he ias oblige, to name him because he wanted to distinguish them—the Noble Member for Reading was to accept the Chiltern Hundreds.— (Laughter.) The Noble Member for Reading, under a penalty by which either he or his friends were bound, was to vacate his seat by a certain day. He contended that that was a breach of the privileges of the House. Of what was the Noble Member accused? Of bribery, of intimidation, of corruption ; and before the question could be tried, the Committee he be lieved only sitting one day, the whole thing was hushed up. He ( Mr. Roebuck) charged the Noble Member with having agreed to withdraw because he was accused of having corrupted his fellow-countrymen, and did not desire to meet their charge.-- ( Hear, hear.) Now to proceed to the town of Nottingham; it was extremely important to know what were the accusations of that petition. The accusations which were included in the allegations of that petition were these, that the Right Hon. Sir John Cam Hobhouse, anal Sir G. H. De Larpent had been returned for the town of Nottingham ; but that as far as the petitioners could learn, the whole of the constituency had been corrupted; that a' large number of them had been cooped, the meaning of which was that they had been shut up in their houses, and that it was through the strategetic operations of the Right Hon. Gentleman that they had been returned. It appeared thatthere was enough said to frighten the sitting Members.--( Hear. ) But now he would ask the. House, what was to become of all the privileges of Parliament, of all the honourable feelings which guided the conduct of men in that House, if after an election petition had been presented, it were hushed up in an hour, lest the grossest corruption should be exposed to the public gaze 2. Nothing was further from him than to attribute any thing dishonourable to the Hon. and Gallant Member opposite, or to his Hon. and Learned Friend on the other side of the House.—( Hear, hear. ) Bdt they were now pursuing a course which, if allowed to pro ceed further, would break up the constitution of the country ; aud, therefore, he hoped the Honourable Gentlemen on both sides would excuse him when, having found both of them in the slough, he brought forward their names. His lion. and Learned Friend allowed there was a compromise, but he.did not state what that compromise was.—( Hear, hear.) A compromise was entered into for the purpose of preventing the charge of bribery being brought be fore the Committee. Here was the case admitted, and, therefore, he could not be accused of rashly rushing in to ac cuse any persons. lie produced the facts as he found them laid down. Hon. Gentlemen forced money into their hands, whieh they employed for the purposes of bribing electors ; and, in consequence of that bribery, they were returned to Parliament. Petitions were presented against the returns; and the parties ha d in their h ands su c h p roofs as enabled them to say, If not give up y o ur seats at once, you If you , see the consequences. And being prudent men, connected with one another, they made the arrangements ; and now he saw the Hon. and Gallant Member in his place.—( Cheers and laughter.) He was not accusing them, but the system.— ( Cheers.) The lion. and Gallant Member was there in con sequence of that system. It was the system he wanted to ex-. pose. There he is , and here is m y Hon. and Learned Friend, is his coll eagu e?—(Loud cheers and answers, Where ?—( Cheers.) He Echo answers, Gallant Member for Penryn. He nl b a u l t g hetaemr where,. e) o o oh h l ned w l i h Eo e nc r , had acknowledged a compromise, but one to which he was not not a party, and at which he was extremely angry. (Captain Plumridge was understood to express dissent.) He begged pardon ; the Hon. and Gallant Member said he was displeased. But what came out before the Peuryn Committee The Committee was appointed, and a witnesa brought forward, who swore to direct acts of bribery ; the thing became unpleasant ; an arrangement was made the night before the petition was withdrawn ; and upon its withdrawal the Committee declared, " We beg to say that we did not believe one word of what the witness swore. —(Laughter.) They withdrew the petition— the world knew nothing more. They did so, and the Hon. Member retired in July.—(Laughter.) The Hon. and Gal. lant Member was afraid of his friends—he was afraid of his lawyers—he was afraid of that. They who knew the case to the bottom, who brought the legal acumen, who had seen men tried at the bar—they. said " the case is up ; we won't try this ; you must retire in July."—( Loud laughter. ) Was he not to retire in July? There was no answer to that—there was no answer to his ( Mr. Roebuck's) application as to whether he was to retire in July. Why, if that witness did not tell the truth, why was he to retire? For .what reason? He was in good health—( Loud laughter)—quite equal to his Parliamen tary duties. Theta why did lt ihe retire ? GE—s a bed bar,- re_ .ngh, to .ing he had fought for seats in that House of Parliament he had never, either directly or indirectly, obtained for himself a vote by any corupt or impure means--( Hear, hear) —and for that reason he would second the proposition of the Honourable and Learned Member. Ile had always most sedulously set his face against any such practices, and he had to tell his constituents over and over again that he would not accept a seat obtained by unfair practices. If the Committee now moved for were granted, he should prove the truth of his statement. If any persons, in public or private, either in that House or elsewhere, should state that he obtained hia seat by mal-practices, he should answer them in the lan guage of the Hon and Learned Member (to whom he meant no disrespect whatever), " That such a statement was a foul lie and calumny." He might be allowed, as the list of the number of the objections made by both parties had been read by the Hon. Gentleman, to state one fact in elucidation ot that point. He must state first that he deprecated the course pursued by the Hon. and Learned Member so far, because he thought it would revive, in the respective boroughs, the heat of party strife. With respect to the bets alluded to by the Hon. Gentleman, he must state that they were merely technical bets—bets of one shilling, of a bottle of wine, or of a pound—made for the pur pose of raising a legal question.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. and Learned Gentleman must know that there were hundreds of the objections made on both sides, which were not tit to be prosecuted. With respect to the number accused of being bribed, he could only state that they were men of ths highest possible standing in the town, and who would scorn to be concerned in the transactions included in the list. He was informed that their names had been in serted from the unworthy motive of insulting them. Ap lo gising to the House for trespassing on their attention, he would conclude by reiterating the declaration which he had made, that never had he been, and never would he be, knowingly guilty of bribery at elections.— (Cheers.) Mr. ELPHIN s;TONE, who was inaudible in the gallery, from the rush of Members to the bar, said that in Lewes it was intended that a scrutiny should take place, and six hundred persons were included in the list of objections. But considering the state of the Election Committees, and their incompetence to decide questions of law, it was not thought advisable to come before Election Committees for these grounds. Hs had said that neither directly nor indirectly was he cogni zant of the facts alledged, but he had no doubt that gross bribery had taken plane.—( Hear, hear.) Captain PLUMRIDGE, who spoke amid great confusion and in a low tone of voice said—Sir, I beg to state most solemnly and most emphatically before this House, before the world, and before God, that I never gave one penny to any one before, after, or at the election, and that I am as pure and incorr u p tible as the Hon. and Learned Member for Bath hirnself.—(llear.) It was my pledge to all my friends before the election, that I would not spend one farthing, and I have adhered to that pledge most rigidly, and up to this moment I have not made a promise to pay, paid, nor will I pay, one SOUS for the expense of that election; and I—no matter what perjury may say to the contrary—l can pledge myself as an honest man, as an officer, as a gentleman, and as a Member of this House, that I have not paid, promised to pay, nor will I pay one sous, for my seat ; and, moreover,that I had no paid rent.—(Cheers.) Mr. WYNN said the question before the House was a most important one, deeply concerning the honour wf its Members. It was a question, therefore, which he thought: required due con sideration from them. It was a novel proceeding to bring tor ward accusations of this description, and it required deliberation as to how they were to proceed. He had already moved the suspension of the debate on the general grounds, that it was better in all cases of that sort to have time for consideration. He, therefore, again moved the adjournment of the debate till Monday next. Mr. WARD said he saw no reason why the Hen. and Learned Member for Bath should not acquiesce in the pro position of the Right Hon. Gentleman. It was desirable to the country and to the House that they should arrive at a fair couclusion. Be felt that there could be no objection on the part of his Hon. and Learned Friend to acquiesce in the propo sition, and he (Mr. Ward) should, therefore, abstain from making a single obsetvation on the subject then, and he would merely second the motion. Mr. ROEBUCK said he had no objection to the ad journment. On the question being put, Mr. C. WOOD wished to say that he believed the witness not only perjured himself before the Committee, but he believed had perjured himself before the House of Lords no Mr. ROEBUCK then rose, and said, seeing both the Hon. Members for Reading in their places, I rise for the purpose of putting the question of which I have given notice ; but before I do so, Sir, perhaps the House will allow me to say that in taking this extraordinary course—extraordinary I know it to he—l am, I think, justified in so doing, by some very extraordinary circumstances. It has been stated very generally, that with respect to the election for the town of Heading, that on the merits of the petition being tried by the Committee appointed for that purpose, there was a compromise agreed to, and it is stated that to that com promise both the Hon. Members now sitting were parties. Thinking that they would be most anxious to be relieved from the imputation connected with such a transaction, and desirous of maintaining the purity of this House, I thought it my duty, as it had come to my knowledge, to put distinctly to each Member the question which I have put upon the notice paper of the House. I have heard, and have reason to believe, that the Election Committee appointed to try the questiun of the Reading Election had their business entirely put an end to by a compromise made on the part of one or both of the lion. Members, now the sitting Members for Reading, and that a bond has been entered into by some parties, with their knowledge, if not in their name, that one or ether of them, though declared by the Committee to be the sitting Member for Reading, should resign his seat by the accept ance of the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds, thereby defeating entirely the determination of the Com mittee, and, as it certainly appears to me, thereby violating the privileges of this House. Therefore, Sir, with perfect re spect for both these Hon. Members, I now proceed to put the question to Lord Chelsea, whether he is cognisant of, or party to, any arrangement by which it has been agreed that one or other of those Hon. Members is to accept the Stewardship of the nso,,tl we ci C tth h cs i t l oa t m e n r dm n i tgtHetehu has , nat db i n eteon o t dr r d ye e c ti r ha ree t d o l n e dulyrviat atoef electedtht e h e pbeyt s i e tti a ho t, the preLseonrdtedatioEttiss CHELSEA House said, against his return on a n ? Learned Gentleman y has done me the honour to p u t m Hon. and name first on the list of those included in the notice which he has given for this evening, am perfectly prepared to state to him how far I feel it con with the duty which I owe to myself to gratify his sea rching spirit of investigation, holding as I do a very strong opinion that lion. Members may justly consider that matters of this kind are strictly private, and ought not to be in truded upon the House. 1 think myselt bound to decline most perenri torily and most unequivocally to give any answer whatever to the question which the Honourable and Learned Member has put to me. —( Cheers from the Ministerial benches.) At the same time I trust the Hon. and Learned Member will allow me to regret that lie should have su far departed from the deep and sound discretion which characterises his proceed.. jogs in this House a 3 to indulge in a practice which, were the circumstances reversed, if I were the catechiser and he the catechumen, he would see great reason to withstand and condemn. Mr.IIIOEBITCK—I feel perfectly satisfied with that answer. I proceed in the same respectful manner to put the same ques tion to the Hon. Gentleman, the colleague of the Noble Lord. Mr. C. RUSSELL denied that the Hon. Member for Bath had any right to ask him what his intentions and purposes here his retaining his seat in Parliament. Heheld a right as perfect as that by which the Hon. and thatre respecting ec s t e i a n t g b y Learned Gentleman held his—by the returns of a very large majority of a very numerous constituency. That right had been affirmed by the decision of the only tribunal which by law was competent to consider it.—(Hear.) If any doubt existed as to the mode in which the petition against his return was withdrawn, it was for the Committee which formed that tribunal, and not for the Hun. and Learned Member for Bath, —( Great laugh- Capt. PLUMRID',- ter, which continued some time. ) Mr. ROEBUCK. asked the House, and the people of Eng land, if this was proper language? This was the best argu ment that could be used. Did they come there to represent their fellow-countrymen to watch over their interests, to take care of all that was clear to them and to the House ? and yet the Hon. and Gallant Member said this was a bad bargain. He (Mr. Roebuck) entreated lion. Gentlemen not to permit such language. He wanted to brand with shame those who used then. legislative capacity in this way, and to teach them that they were unworthy °fa seat in that House. Such conduct ought not to be permitted in that assembly. He now turned to H a rwich.—(Laughter.) The Members were charged with g, and corruption. There were three petiti ons. presented n by Mr. Bagahawe, supporting one of the Sir Deni s l e Marchaut. Before anything hap penedlight broke in upon the sitting Members for bribery,otliaiey,/ candidates,wasic a i , t , r.euddi n andat e the e three petitions were withdrawn. The accu sation said that one of those Hon. Gentlemen was to retire to let in this same Sir Denis le Marchant. The accusation was and the N embers retired. The Hon. and Gallant Gen f, and corruption. The petitioners had re tired, him that he might draw what conclusion he pleased—he drew this conclusion, that either he or his colleague I l r e i m be a r n y, , h t a r d ea t t o n l i d would retire.—(Hear, hear.) Ile asserted now that one of them was to retire. s t h li ( e ) did they say they h ad lihy was he to retire, or why had joy gone forth to the friends of Sir Denis le Marchant? Why be cause a compromise had taken place between those parties. — (Hear, hear.) • A Curious thing had occurred in Harwich—the sitting Alembers alone had presented their objection lists; the found in that list of got the seat of Harwich? Why, other parties had been more careful.—( Hear, hear.) Now he for . offering. Now he wanted to know how many voters were ob jected to on the other side. He did not hesitate to say a great Im,eanoykmedo,rhee, would lidf objections b 3 for receiving bribes and 18 thereive ,hviemrethae great t m m it a t n e y e more. 'the present case was a curious one with respect to w H e 'o le u a s r e ly w t o h n a l t dg numbers; there we re c h arge d, by the objection of the peti tioners 80 as being b r i bed, 40 for having made bets on the chance of the electi on, an d 96 as corrupted. Those were the obj !ctions of th e pet iti on ers, making altogether 216 ; while, on the part of the sitting Member there were charged with bribery, with attempts at bribery, with having bribed, and with betting, no less a number than 506. Now, how many voted ?—for Mr. Summers Harford, 311 ; for Mr. H. Elphinstune, 109; Mr. Fitzroy, 407; and Lord Cantilupe, 308. There were, therefore, 722 objections to an election, when the highest number for the candidates did not exceed 411. He had been told that at the last two elections for Not tingham 4,000 persons had received bribes. Give him a Com mittee, and he would prove it to their satisfaction. Let them now go to Penryn ; the Committee was appointed and sat one day; witnesses were heard, and what was the statement of all the members of the Committee whom he knew— of all the lawyers with whom he came in contact? Why, that if they had gone one step further, if it had only lasted five minutes longer, it would have been totally impossible to have withdrawn the petition ? And why ? Because the thing had been so plain, that Honourable Gentlemen upon their oaths would have bsen afraid to hare committed themselves to the statement. He contended that these things demanded inquiry —he asked no more. He wanted an inquiry such as would free Hon. Members from the accusations made against them, or that, iustifving those accusations, would lay the ground for further legislative measures; and what was the legislative in terference which he asked? Why, such as should enable the 1 House to consider election petitions as something more than a less than ten years ago. He (Mr. C. Wood) utterly dis believed all the witness had said. Mr. WYNN said he thought it was absolutely necessary that ino.e power shonld be given to the Committees of that House. A week or a fortnight was not sufficient punishment for such a crime, nor was it likely to deter others from com mitting it. He hoped the House would recollect what the general character of the evidence was, and would inflict greater punishment than it had hitherto done. Mr. ROEBUCK wished to know from the Hon. Member for Halifax, why, if the Committee was convinced that the witnesses had committed perjury they had not reported it to the House. Mr. AGLIONBY said that the Hon. Member for Bath had anticipated him in the question he had put. It had given him great delight to hear some of the answers of Members on that side of the House, and the manly declaration of the Gallant Member opposite; but he had heard with regret other lion. Members, who had not pursued the same course. The Hon ; Member not having reported the conduct of the witnesseso was his duty to bring forward som e q uestion before the House on the subject, in order to see whether some legal measures should not be adopted. Mr. C. WOOD did not say that the Committee were unanimously of opinion that the witnesses were guilty of per jury, but the Committee could not believe a word they said. Mr. W AKLEY was anxious to impress upon the attention of the House, that if they were to have an inquiry it should be ample, and that they should net have a few victims only. He asked the Speaker to read the motion before the House. The SIEAKER said the question before the House was a motion for a " Select Committee to inquire whether certain practices connected with the tiial of petitions presented to this House against the return of certain of its Members be not a gross breach of its privileges." Mr. WAKLEY said he understood that a great number of petitions had been presented against the return of Members to this House, but that some of those petitions had never been I prosecuted to an inquiry. Practices equally evil and corrupt as those stzted by the Hon. Gentleman had taken place in re ference to the withdrawal of these petitions. Would not this be regarded as a partial inquiry, if they merely inquired into the four or five cases that had been gone into? He hoped the lion. Gentleman would amend his motion, so as to take in all the other cases. Mr. HUME differed from his Hon. Friend. If they wished for any good result from the inquiry, they must pat some limits to it. The debate was then adjourned till Monday next. PROPERTY TAX. The Order of the Day for going into a Committee of the whole House on the Property-tax was then read, and the Speaker left the Chair. Clauses 83 to 93 were agreed to. On clause 91 being put, words were proposed to be inserted, exempting literary institutions, and churches and chapels, from the operations of the Act. In reply to a question from Mr. S. O'BRIEN, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, there were difficulties in limiting the exemption to literary institu tions, which required careful con.ideration ; he would give the subject his serious attention. Mr. HUME said, that in many parts of the county there wereßible class-meetings and schools held in chapels—he wished to know whether a circumstance of that kind would deprive than of the benefit of the exemption. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that if the chapels were used for the purpose of Divine worship, that con- Mr. ROEBUCK then said, the RightlionOurable Bsronet at the head of her Majesty's Government had termed the course he had pursued on the present occasion, a very extra ordinary one; be quite agreed with the Right Hon. Gentleman that it was an extraordinary course, but he thought before he sat down he should have convinced the House that the cir curnidances under which he acted were also extraordi. nary, and, that extraordinary evils required extraordinary fight between. A and 13. At present, the return to a seat in 1 stituted the exemption. In his opinion, a school or a Bible building licensed according to law as a chapel or house • remediei. 'He had deviated from th e or di nar y cou rse o f mak- th a t House was considered a mere matter of Mr. A. or class, might bo fairly considered to b e connected with divine d i vi ne worship, and used fur no other p ur p oses. ing motions before the House , but i t was in conse• Mr. B. If Mr. A. gains, his party gains; if Mr. B. wins, worship. Mr. FOX MAULE said that the Right Hon. Gentlerrian ,11 quence of there being grave suspicion attaching to w hy, his party wins. But the public burdens of this gr eat Mr. HUM E sa i d the churches and cha p els of Scotland were, had done j ustice to all denominations.—(Cheers.) But be ,e'S the two Members sitting for the town of Nottingham. e m pire was totally unconsidered in the question, and as the House must be aware , use d for meetin g s of various wi s h ed to know w he t her the words in the clause wo u ld ex- aa He should be able to show the Ho use that there the y bought and sold the const i t uenc i es o f this coun• kinds. but he presumed that they were not, on that account, to empt Dissenters' chapels in Scotland from the tax. ea . ia was grave reason for suspicion against the two Mem- try as if they were a flock of sheep. — ( Hear, hear.) be de p rived of the exem p tion. He thought that the words had The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that ...e hers for Nottingham.—( Cries of u• One ! One !") Yes ! Look at the case of Nottingham. The Hon. Baronet had better be left out, and the Commissioners left to decide what the words were taken from the Assessed Taxes Act, and if be One had resigned. He should be able to show bou g ht the whole constituency— (Cheers) —and Mr. Walter was, and what was not, a place of divine worship. found, on inquiry, that those chapels were not exempted, the s 4 the House that there was grave reason f or sus p icion a g ainst has bought it through him. The Hon. Baronet had had a bad Mr. P. SCROPE asked what remedy would a man have words should be altered.—( Hear, hear.) ' ~ i es , es the two Members for Harwich, or at least against one bargain, and had sold it for less than he had bought it who was supposed to be worth 150/. a yaar in trade, but in Mr. FOX MAULE said, that what the Right Hon. Gen- Gen of them ; he should also show that there were grave before, but still he had sold it. It was this he wanted to reality was not worth so much ? Would he have to pay the tleman stated was perfectly satisfactory, and he begged to re-, sa suspicions resting on certain transactions connected inquire into. He did not confine his accusation to one side of tax, or would he be exempt? And if he were to be exempt turn him thanks. . . with the representation of Penryn and Falmouth ; that there the House or to the other—he had made it no party question ; from the tax, what would be the mode of relieving such a per- Several suppleMentary clauses were then agreed to. ,„ was the same grave suspicion resting o n the two members for but he stood up for the purity of the House, and. God willing , son;? W o uld he have to p a y the tax in the first instance, and , EXEMPTION OF SOLICI FORS FROM THII-1 . f r Reading, and also on the two Members for Lewes. Now what he would make it pure.—(" Oh, oh," and cheers.) He could would an allowance be made to him afterwards ? INCOME-TAX. reasons were there for entertaining these s uspicibns ? not make it pure if they allowed such things to go by without The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that Mr. H. R. YORKE moved "'that it be an instruction to This was a matter in which of all others it behoved the inquiry. Be now addressed himself to both sides of the House was no other mode of giving exemption than that pointed out the Committee on the Property•tax Bill, that they have power House to be watchful. It was no less an accusation slanting, —t o t h e protection o f t h e pu bli c wealth—the protection o f t h e b y t h e H on . G e ntleman. The party sh ou ld pay the tax in the to introduce a clause to exempt attorneys and solicitors from that certain Members; of that House had obtained their Commonwealth—and he asked to be allowed to lay these first instance, and then get - ecertificate for the amount from the annual payment of certificate duties during the time they seats through intimidation and bribery. He charged things before them. They knew them to be well founded ; the Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes. If such a course shall be subject to a tax upon income." th e ni g ht H on . Member for Nottingham w ith bribery. He there was not one of them but would say, however ill-advised were not adopted the Hon. Gentleman must see that facility The clause was then brought u p, an d, on i ts b e i ng propose d charged the Gentleman who had recently resigned his he had been, he had told the truth. What ! would the Hon. would be given for much fraud. to be read a first time, seat for Nottingham with bribery. He charged the Member for Lewes say that he sat there for nothing? It was After a few words from Mr. HUME, Colonel SIB'I' HO iiP said he would support the dame, Honourable Member for Harwich with bribery. He charged impossible. Give him a Committee, and he would prove The clause was then agreed t o . because th e solicitors were called on to pay a duty for thei r one of the Members for Penryn and helm iuth wife what he said. Clause 95 was then proposed, and the blanks having been certificates, and he hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would bribery. He charged the Hon. Members for Reading Mr. FITZROY—I will vote for you. filled up, the clause was agreed to. take their case into hiseeensideration. with bribery. He charged the Member for Lewes with bribery. Mr. ROEBUCK was glad to hear it; it was just what he Clause 96 was then proposed, with the Schedule D and the The clause was then read a first time. How, it might be asked, had these facts been with - exp e c ted. Bat when all these thin g s had gone abroad, and the rules thereunto annexed. On the first rule for the computes On the question being put, that the clause be read a second drawn from the cognizance of the tribunals by law public mind was impressed with these details of corruption and tion of the duty on trade being proposed, time, • establishes!? This it was that had led to the extraordinary baseness, would they shrink from inquiry? Was there any Mr. HUME objected to .the duty being computed on an The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it procee di ng w hi c h he had adopted. The law was framed in man in that House so bold—any man so careless of his own average of three years. His Hon. Friend the Member for would not be proper to exempt attorneys an d so li c i tors from such a manner that those who were coenisant of their own guilt, reputation, as to deny him (Mr. Roebuck) the means of in- Greenock proposed to calculate the duty on the profits of the the operation of the tax, on account of the duty on certificates were ena bl e d to withdraw the consideration of the subject from query? He hoped his motion would be seconded by the Right past year. He (Mr. Hume) thought it ought to be calculated which were necessary for the conducting of th e ir pro f ess i ons ; the tribunal by law appointed. B u t s h ou ld i t t h ere f ore be H on . G en tl eman th e M em b e r for Nottingham.—( A laugh.) on the current one. If he believed our distresses to be tern- If they were to allow all persons who paid duties an exemption • t h at P ar li a ment, which possessed large powers, which insti- He (Mr. Roebuck) would net appeal to others to do so—he porary, he should not care so much about the average of three from the Property-tax, he feared it wo uld f a ll ver y s h ort o f th e t u ted i n quiries of a much more stringent nature, should there- asked him ( Sir J. Hobhouse) to second his motion.—(Cheers years being taken, but he thought the distress would go on a mount th a t was ex p ec t e d f rom it. fore suffer these things to be withdrawn from its cognizance? and laughter.) ne told the Right Hon. Baronet that his increasing, and that therefore it would be most unfair to calcu- Mr. Alderman HUeIPHERY said, that if the present Au Act of Parliament had been passed, appointing a tribunal (Sir J. Hobhouse's) character was concerned. That the ac- late the duty on an average of three years. clause passed, he should propose that merchants be exempted for the trial of election petitions —any one presenting an election cusations brought against him would not be got rid of by his The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that on on account of the ditty they paid en receipts and bids of Ax , - ••: petition had by that Act the power of withdrawing it, and this mere refusal to answer a question. He (Mr. Roebuck), there- that point a great variety of opinion existed. Those who con- c h ange . . was the manner of proceeding which had taken place. He would fore, called upon the H o u s e t o g rant him a Committee to in sidered the three last years as bad years, and who were of Mr. WAKLEY said, if the Chancellor of the Exchequer' suppose a case. Suppose a general election about to take vestigate those accusa ti on s w hi c h h e h a d ma d e i n hi s p l ace i n o pi n i on th a t things would mend, approved of the average of adopted this proposition with regard to attorneys, he must place, and that the two seats for Nottingham were about to Parliament, i n hi s own name , and h e as k e d t h e House of Com- t h ree years . It was gene rally f o und in matters of this kind that adopt a similar proposition with regard to other persons. salmi be contested; a sort of a Parliamentary Napoleon determines mons to gra nt hi m a Committee to i nqu i re i n t o t h e trut h o f to t a k e th e estimate for ass longer period would give the fairer lady situated. The licensed victualler?, for instance,. like -- to conquer that town ;he jumps upon it, as Napoleon would have those accusations.—( Loud cheers.) result. the attorneys, were obliged to take out a licence to carry on said, with both his feet—he rushes down intothe town, he bribes Mr. FITZROY rose , amidst loud cries of " Hobhouue." Mr. HUME only appealed to the Government to do what their business, and he thought the claims of licensed victual every man he meets, he frightens his opponent out of the town, " Hobhouse." He had not the slightest objection to second was just. He would only ask whether the profits of the year lers to exemption were much stranger than those of ; the and he is returned. The party who has lost, petitio ns ; the Coal- the motion.—( Cheers.) He was thankful to the Hous e for w ere better than the y were last year? He did not think they attorneys. . V: 4, mittee is to be struck, say on Monday—fear seizes the Members, having suffered this question to have precedence—for not having were, and therefore it was hard, to tax the present year, which Mr. H UME advised his Hots. Friend to withdraw hisMoitioTht and they enter into a compromise with theparty opposed to them. deferred the discussion until Monday ; and he appealed to the was ba ~ with the amount °Kit year. He thought the tax upon those certificates ought to belitidieftee, They pay down money for the purpose of exculpating them- House if the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had not failed to. Mr. W. ELLIS said that. as far as he could understand, off, but that the present was not the proper time for briibgit4f selves, and of escaping from the scrutiny of a Committee. 'f hey attach any suspicion to him (Mr. Fitzroy). He had asked the the universal sentiment was that the country was in a state of it forward. It' this exemption were allowed other exemptions further pledge themselves, to allow the other candidates, to walk Hon. and Learned Gentleman, across the floor, if he included gloomy depression, which, ho we v e r, might be removed as soon would be claimed, and it would be impossible to. know where over the course. He (Mr. R.) hearing of those. things, him (Mr. Fit zro y) i n hi s li s t, an d t h e Hon. an d L ea rn e d as the Government m e asures were passed. With regard to to at o p. If his Friend brought forward his motion mai proper put a question to the Right Hon. Gentleman who must be cog- Gentleman had said that h e did. N ow h e (Mr. Fitzroy) h a d l ast year, t h e greatest l osses were sustained . an d h e b e l iev ed occas i on, h e (M r . H ume ) wou ld suppor t hi m . nisant of the circumstances. And now he asked the House p aid the g reatest attention to the speech of the Hon. and there were few commercial houses that paid their expenses. Mr. H. R. YORKE would say, that if . there what 'would have been the conduct of each Member of that Learned Gentleman, and the Hon. and Learned Gentleman The years 1839 and 1840 were tolerably good, but the last were ether parties equally entitled to exemption; House if he had not been cognizant of the fact? Sappose had failed to attach any accusation to him.—(Cheers.) H e year was very b a d. A mi d if t h ere were an y signs of returning they ought to be exempted. He had no connexion suc h a ques ti on as h e h a d as k e d to - n i g ht had been put to him, asked, how had the Hon. and Learned Gentleman attached to prosperity, he would not.nbieet to the Government measures ; whatever with attorneys, an d h a d b roug h t forwar d what would have been his answer? Should he have him that he had committed any breach of privilege. He had but there were no appearances of a revival of commerce. his motion, only because he believed it was founded in justice - sheltered himself under the plea—" that th e Hon. and Learned obtained, by petition, the seat which he believed be justly Sir ROBERT PEEL said there had been a general corn - and fairness ; and therefore, althou g h h e was at all times Member for Bath had no right to put suc h a q uestion?" No. and ; fairly his own, and it had been conceded to him by the plaint respecting the depression of trade for the last three years a nxious not to g ive the House an y trouble, he felt b oun d to p ress He should have been glad of such a questi on ; he would have Member against whom he had petitioned. Had he beets guilty and more. It was impossible to say that one of those three hi s mot ion to a division. said in the face of that House, and of the country, of which he of any breach of privilege, by taking possession of that seat years had been prosperouS. He thought that any tradesman Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the Commite . was a re presentative, th a t the whole statement was a which had been conceded to him ? Was he to act as a public would give the preference to the average of three years being tee divided,'when there appeared , foul lie and calumny. Had not one of those Honourable prosecutor ? Because he had accused the Honourable taker, instead of one year. Hon. Gentlemen must recollect For the clause .... ........ ... 18 Members already what he (Mr. Roebuck) anticipated Gentleman, who had been returned, of bribery, was he that in that Bill there was an option given to compound for the Against it at five o'clock yesterday—accepted the Ste w a r ds hi p of (Mr. Fitzro y ) to sub j ect himself to the expense of an tax. Sueposing the next year should be a bad one, or good in Majority against the clause ... .—1 65 .. the Chiltern Hundreds for the purpose of keeping that very investigation, which might last, perhaps, three weeks? the preceding one, in that case the party would be charged Colonel bIBTHORP moved the insertion of, a " Clause to contract which he (Mr. Roebuck) had then given notice of If he were to be the public prosecutor. he hoped the House upon the average of the last three years, and so, if the two secure payment of the tax from foreigners temporarily residing • bringing under the consideration of the House ? He (Mr. would attach a large salary to the office. On account of the years were bad. Now he (Sir R. Peel) should be very sorry in this country, and deriving _income or profits from any erne . Roebuck) was met by a statement upon this su b j ect omiasion to fill up certain heads of objection, he felt aware that to express any very sanguine expectation of the reco ver y of ployment or business therein." He thought that foreign dancers to which he must advert. It was said, suppose that, it would have been useless to attempt to secure the return of trade. He was bound 10, say that the spring had disappointed and singers, who derived from this country very considerable. under the circumstances mentioned, the Honourable his late Noble Colleague; and as the Hon. Gentleman against his expectations, for he was in hopes there would have been a sums, ought not to be exempt from the tax. Some of them Member. found it e x pensive to protect his seat, whom he (Mr. Fitzroy) had petitioned had retired, what was restoration of trade; bust Hon. Gentlemen must admit that the received many thousands in the course .of a few months, and what was he to do? He (Mr. R.) allowed that, but his there to prevent his taking possession of the seat? Was there spring had not advanced far. The House ought to adopt mese 3et they were not liable to any tax.—The clause was brought up. charge whnt further; hi s c h arge w e n t to say that he any breach of the privileges of the House in so doing? The stares likely to restore the trade of the country, and Mr. HENLEY moved the insertion of a clause," To enable' heard, and had reason to b e li eve , that some money had beets Hon. and Learned Gentleman seemed to think that it would be he thought the measures proposed would have that ef- the Commissioners, or other Government officers, to relieve . either promised or paid d own , for the purpose of escaping the a desirable system to force every one presenting a petition feet. —Hear, hear.) He did not think it was an in- occupiers of land, in certain cases, from the whole, or any part scrutiny of an Election Committee.—( Hear, hear.) Now, that against the return of a .Nletnber, containing accusations of bri- justice to calculate the average of the last three years, nor of the duty charged upon them under Schedule B, as to theta was not s i mp ly act i ng as if h e was un able to go berg and corruption, to proceed at a great expense to investigate did he think that any one could complain in parties being al- may seem just."—The clause was ord e red to be b rou ght up; through the contest. It was saying that he was guilty of that every circumstance connected with those accusations, without lowed to compound for the tax. He thought a great number On the Order of the Day for the second reading of this. classes!. w hi c h the petition l a id to his c harge_ that he was prepared to having the power of withdrawing them. Whether such a course would be found to object to a shorter period f or th e average being r ea d, Mr. WAKLEY said he The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he give something to escape from an inquiry. Now he (Mr. R•) was desirable or not, it was not for him (Mr. Fitzroy) to say. than three years. net been thep introduced,eti ti on er so h e to rn d a u in t a i ß n e u d t thought that it was a matter of ex. thought sufficient indulgences to meet the exigetwies..of the treme difficulty to tell what was the best course to pursue where case had been shown to that particular class to which the clausit e w i a rc s u p l r a e t p ed u t e h d ro to ug sa li l everyand did portion say, that a t t n h e e had town heardire which h ithosech he e hadthings asH He s s u h e o h u a l d law b e inclined had not to os compel o e m t been. He was prepared to say, that if they gave him that he was free f rom an y i mpu t a ti on of h av i ng c ommitted a so many i n t eres t s were concerne d. Some men were of one referred. He thought it much better that the clause should neci'S power to bring the question before them, and to breach o f th e pr i v il eges o f t h at H ouse . H e h a d t a k e n a seat con- opinion arid some of others, and he really did not know that be inserted. examine the agents engaged in those transactions, ceded to him with no unworthy bargain on his part. He took the he had himseif come to any conclusion as to whether it wore After a few words from Mr. DARBY, ' - '• • he would get-out all about them. Was the House prepared to sees because the Hon. Gentlemen who had occupied it had better to take the last year, or the average of three years. The Mr. HENLEY said, he thought he was bound to hay, say that that gross bribery—that bribery of a whole town for failed to defend it. He was one of those who wished the House, as Right Hon. Berenet had, with a good deal of candour, admitted brought this under the attention of the House, but it was no t electioneering purposes—was rot a gross breach of its well as his own public and private character, to stand pure be- that he had been disappointed with regard to a revival of trade. his intention to press it to a division. He begged to willies's's* privileges? If they were prepared to say so, he fore the world ; and he believed that there was ne political He believed that the badness of trade was owing to the tee- his motion. had no answer to make; but, if not, there Ihe was guilt on the part of any man but must also attach to his psi- certainty of measures in that House—( Hear)—and he did Mr. F. MAULE said he thought that the Hon. Gentleman i n hit pl ac e, to say t h at h e believed the accusation, and vate character. He believed that all political delinquency mutt think that the House ought to go to work on Monday. had done quite right in withd r awing hi s mot i on , that, believing it, he was able to prove it. Now he would attach to the private character. From any course of that kin d and go through wi th this q uestion and the tariff immediately, Mr. B. WOOD wished to know whether the Right Roof go to Reading. He had heard, and he had r e ason t o b e li eve , h o wever, h e h a d a b s t a i ne d, an d he rose publicly there in the —( Hear, hear.) It was quite impossible that trade could re- Baronet proposed to introduce his clause, of which he ''sire that a bond had be en e nt ere d into for the purpose which he presence of the representatives of England, and in the presence v ive, till these Bills were decided one way or the other; and WoOd) had given notice, into the Bill. • • , - ' —ss obliged' if One far more high, to state that, during the contests which h e believed that if the Right Hon. Baronet would appeal to Su* R. PEEL said that he should comm it thi s Billead --•.. . .. . . _ the House, the Members would concur with him , that ever. other matter of business should be set aside, till these important questions were settled.—( Hear, hear.) Lord S. WORTLEY said, he rejoiced io hear that opinion expressed by the Hon. Member for Finsbury. He was sure that there was nothing so anxiously looked to, as the adoption or rejection of these measures.—(Hear, hear. ) Sir R. PEEL said, if the House would apply itself, for about a fortnight to these matters, they would get through them. He had a delicacy in pressing these questions on the House; but he was sure, if the House would, for a fortnight or three weeks, take these questions from day to day, there would be a great savinw of public time in the end.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. MUNTZ said, that though he differed from the Right Hon. Baronet as to the result of these measures, he thought the sooner they were got through the better.—(Hear, hear. ) At present, it was quite impossible for mercantile men to know what to buy, or what to sell. He would, therefore, with a great deal of pleasure give his vote for the Hon. Member for Finsbury After a few words from Mr. M. ATTWOOD, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained that he had given the , power of compounding. for a period of three years. which he - gave-As a reaaJn against taking the average for less:than thrmys;als".;" Mr. 1 - 11.5M8 proposed that 'the blank' be 'filled up one year," as tV e duration of 'the term on which the -Income-tax is to be calculated. Mr. BAILEY thought the three years' calculation would operate unjustly. Mr. BARING said that - by clause 128, parties had the power of recovering, if they had-paidtnore than the average of their income for three years; . . Sir R. PEEL thought it .woultl not ba fair or just to take a less average than three year* Mr. ATTWOOD advOtated the substitution of one year in stead of three. Atter a few observations, from Mr. FIELDRN and Mr. Mtlasiz, the Committeidivided; When there appeared— For the clanse For the amendment . 27 Majority f the elause — 49 Rule 2 was agreed to. After a short conversation, rule 3 was then passed. Mr. B. WOOD suggested that the deduction of bad debts should be left to the discretion of the Commissioners. Mr. GILL thought some explanation was necessary on the subject, as to whether a bad debt entered in a merchant's book as such would be allowed by the Commissioners. Sir ROBERT PEEL said that tinder the old law the Com missioners were empowered to levy the tax on the whole amount of a bad debt, but that the party upon whom the tax was levied upon application obtained a remission, and he only paid on the amount he recovered on the debt. After a few words from Mr. TueasEa and Mr. B. Woon, the rule was agreed to. Rule 4 of this clause was also ordered to stand part of the Bill. Rules 1,2, and 3 of the second case in this clause were agreed to. Rules 1,2, 3,4, and 5, applying to both the cases of this clause, were agreed to. Boles 1,2, and 3 of the third case were agreed to. Rule 1 of the fourth case was agreed to. Rule I of the filth case was agreed to. The 6th and last case in this clause was agreed to. Clause 97 was agreed to. On clause 98 being proposed, Mr. FRENCH moved that after the word "periods," the words " except only such annuities, and yearly interest of money, as shall be payable in Great Britain to, or on behalf of, any person bona fide resident in Ireland," should be inserted. After a short conversation, the clause, as it originally stood, was agreed to. Clause 99 was agreed to. - Clauses from 100 to 117 inclusive, were agreed to without discussion. On the reading of clause 118, to the effect that Commissioners might put questions in writing touching any assessment or schedules, and receiving answers, Mr. GILL opposed the clause; as it was most unjust and in quisitorial, empowering the Commissioners to bring before them the clerks, agents, and servants of any person with whose return they were dissatisfied. It was true that those persons were not compelled to answer or to take an oath. But it lust be evident to any in- ^qu - sted with Ix hat Monday, and that he should proceed with the tariff on Tile" , day. He was sorry to inform the Hon. Gentleman that, after much consideration, he had come to the coneltision' that it would be very dangerous to insert his clause,. inatanuch::as. 4 might lead to great evasions of the tax. Mr. T. DUN COMBE said he had to move the purpose of placing the borough electors on the same gro,l as the county electors. Sir R. PEEL expressed a wish that the Bon. 1401trabor should give notice of his clause, and move it on the 13044 up of the Report. He had no wish to place the borough e ee" tors in a worse condition than those of the counties. Bat 111/ this act was a temporary one, he would avoid as much AI possible any enactment that should interfere with.the asse_e? taxes. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said he would propose the 'clause' o bringing up the Report. After a short conversation between Colonel Sibthorpa Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir Robert Peel, the Hou o resumed, and the Report was ordered to be brought UP ° ll • ~-, Monday. The remaining clauses and the preamble were then. afiroe j , . 0 , to, the Reimrt was ordered to be brought up, and orde! s be received on Monday. POOR-LAWS. ' Sir J. GRAHAM said, he should state on Monday th °l l: :•on which - he should bring on the Poor-law.C on tinesocl4ic The other Orders of the Day were then dispos e d ; of, an" ". House, at Une o'clock, adjourned till Monday. ELECTION COMIVIITTEES. SOUTHAMPTON. At the meeting of the Committee yesterday, Mr. Mat lll ' on the part of the sitting Member, said, that after the resolir tion to which the Committee came yesterday, it would be oe less for hnn to take up their time further. The CHAIRMAN then read a series of resolutions, tof t,nbe effect that the election was null and void ; that the s itting :Vie .-- hers, Lord Bruce and Mr. Martyn, were guilty of bribery by their agents ; that Charles Callan and other voters had I C " -cepted bribes ; that the evidence showed that an extensive system of treating and bribery had been carried on 11 means of local associations ; that large sums had bee n paid to Committee-men and colour•men, who were voters; that this expenditure, amounting to upwards of 5,0001., a su m far exceeding the ordinary legal charges, called for the attely Lion of the House ; and that the Committee feel they ha: t : been prevented from ascertaining the exact merle in which tu t ; whole of this money was expended, by the loss or destre cti° of the vouchers and other documents with those paymen t " especially in the ease of William lions Mabson, who, after has; hie been served with the Speaker's warrant, disposed of tho in his possession. NEW CASTLE- U N DER • LYNE. The Committee met yesterday at eleven o'clock, boa re ; sumed the examination of witnesses. W. Gallimur, who I', shown yesterday to have been an active member of Mr. H3r". 9 0, Committee at the Cock, was examined at length, and some severity, but nothing material was el:cited. Mrs. Galionur was next called, and, in the course of a " 4 1 rigid examination, admitted that her husband had received. d for Ins services from Mr. Conyers, a friend of the sial„" Member. isl Other witnesses were examined, but nothing mi ter transpired, and of course no decision was came to. . must to any ,an acquain... iusiness AA. the working of such a clause would he. The MIA N C ELL 0 R of the E XCHEQUER was understood to say that the clause was not compulsory, and the Commissioners would not resort to the powers which it entrusted to them except in extreme cases. Mr. HUME said the clause was such as could scarcely be tolerated in Spain in the worst times of the Inqui sition, But he would recommmend the Hon. Gentleman not to attempt to amend it, as it was not worth amending. After a few words from Mr. HOWARD, the clause was agreed to. Clauses from 119 to 127 were agreed to. Clause 123 was passed with amendments. Clause 129 was agreed to without discussion, as were all the clauses from 130 to 157. On clause 158, which gives the exemption to all perssns of incomes unaer 1505- a-year being put, Mr. E. BULLER thought, as the clause stood, there were no words which would enable these parties to claim the ex emption. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that . the Hon. Gentleman's objection would be met by filliog up the blank with the words " one hundred and fifty." The clause, so amended was agreed to. Clauses from 159 to 165 were agreed to, with a few verbal amendments. Clause 166, giving power to the Commissioners to grant re lief from double assessments, were agreed to, after a short conversation. Clauses 167, 165, and 169 were agreed to, without any amendment. Clauses 170, 171, and 172 were agreed to, with a few ver bal amendments. Clauses 173, 174, 175, and 176 were agreed to, without any amendment. The remaining clauses were then agreed to up to 188, which provided that the Act should remain in force up to 1845. On this clause being proposed, Mr. HUME moved that " 1843" be substituted ior " 1845 " Strangers were of dered to wi'hdraw, and the House divided, when the numbers were— For the amendment Against it 174 Majority On our return to the gallery, we found Mr. P. HOWARD stating that he had voted against the amendment because bethought the measure too expensive to be made to continue but for one year. But he thought that two years was quite a sufficiently long period for the continuance of the measure. lie therefore moved that in the words " one thousand eight hundred and forty-five," the word " four" be substituted for " five." The Hon. Member subsequently withdrew his amendment, and the clause was agreed to. Clause 189, the last in the Bill, which directs that the Act may be amended or repealed in this session was then put and agreed to. Mr. F. MAULE said, he wished to ask the Bight Hon. Gentleman opposite a question in reference to the second rule in Schedule C. He ought to apologize for asking the ques tion, as the Right Hon. Gentleman had made a statement on the subject. However, he (Mr. F. Maule) was not in the House at the time. He wished to know what course the Right Hon. Gentleman meant to adopt with respect to the motion of which he (Mr. Maule) had given notice —of including other places of worship, besides those of the Established Church, in the exemption from the operation of this Bill! The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he pro posedto insert after the word ," chapel" the wards " or other LYME REGIS. 10 At the opening of this Committee, which commence d - t inquiry yest4dai'morning, • t . Mr. AUSTIN objected, in limine, that the petition into; e l dismissed on account of certain interlineations which apPW t he on it, unless it could be proved that these were made before petition was signed. The Committee, after a long deliberation with closed do 0 decided that the petition could not be entertained unless it i `„,, Lroved that the interlineations were inserted before the s i V• ures, or else the petitioners consented to have the pet i P o- oo read without those interlineations, and proceed only 012 other points in the petition. 11r. COCKBUFtN accepting, as was understood, the latterlifie of the alternative, stated the case for the petitioners, su" r a Committee was occupied the remainder of the sitting in 110 t, i0 0 objections to votes on the ground of removal, but no d ens was given. HAMBURGH MAIL. iDe d GERA, APED. 26. —His Royal ilighncas the Crown ilf btet of Hanover is betrothed to the Princess Mary, eldest (Lauf e bii ot . the Duke of Saxe Altenburg. The Duke announce, 030 news to the Members of the Assembly of the Estates, wh ° ,,,,'o yesterday to keep the 25th anniversary of his Higbo— marriage. DUTCH FUNO3.—AMSTCIIDASS, MAT 3. Money. Bills• Aci,u,.• 1 - ,,,ht, i,:li per Cent. 11tto, ditto S per cent. x , ,,i t ~ inlic, 4N, per c-nt 93% 1s Ditto, ditto, 3 per cent 774 :55 Commercial Company, per cent 154% Ditto (1N,35 and 1537) 5 per cent. mm •v v Loan 1 , 37, 5 per cant. 99 99) , ' ii.;xcliiiiii { e on Lomlosi, One month l2 1O Two months llamburgh, One month 35 314: ; Two months 35 V% ~ Dutch Paws, May 4. ., .._k,i.A.ts. - Uiv Uti—Bationats, Mom S. . Actual Debt, 2!.i per Cent. tiothichild', Loan ' 5 per Cant Loan ot•lttirty Millions, 4 per Cent. 313% --- 3 per Cent. • —Thirty.seven-------- - ---(1A0) lOl% Loins at City, 1t"3.2, 4 per Cent 44 inelttyot Comm, ree, 4 4 per Cent FO Bank of Belgium, 5 per Cant ............. t4ztional Society -. Exchange on Loaders (short) „...., ......... ..„ ._ brussels Papers, May 3. 1 titi Fiti A N elf:, DS.—VieNNA, Aran 25. , tre..cr Cents. Metalliques woutti- per Cents. three pwr Cents. ~ ink shores ...... .. , HAMBU UGH BORSENHALLE, APatt3). Bills. W0e,,,,, 109% Austrian 5 per Cents. Bank Shares Anglo.ltussian Loan 1 71 E 5% 111 " 1)74 Russian 5 per Cent., Ist series, Certificate i 0 -"',/ Inscription, Ist series . Russian a per Cent. Hope and Co., 3d and 4th Series Ditto in Certificates . (1840) ~., 7, New 4 per s ent. ....... ... . . . 1.1.% 51 . - st • Dutch - Actual Dilt, 1% per Cent ......... 5O; --- Ditto 5 per Cent. -•.-- •16,1 Polish Booth New Tickets Anglo-Danish Loan, 3 per Cent. Spanish, New b per Cents. 1 5 %. ''''' On Wednesday the Lord Mayor gave a sPl er t i o d d i entertainment to the Judges. Among those present we r f e al ,ifist Denman, Lord Abintier, Justices Coleridge, Pattisolis Mack, Cresswell, and Barons Gurney and Alderson. , DESTRUCTI VE FIRE AT HODGES'S DISTILL S/I Yesterday morning about half past seven, an slat-0141%00 broke out on the extensive distillery of Messrs. Hodenliel, Son, Church-street, Lambeth. The engine on the P,rf, io ol4' was got into play, and in a very short time the engine 3 Here ing to the West of England arid the Waterloo-road station (the also on the spot, and fortunately by the great exer tion 9 o rb' firemen, in about an hour and a half, the fire was tar r IV duel as to prevent all (Wint ' er of its further extension. Defy fire was occasioned by the bursting of the man-hole o f ble l j large still filled with spirits, th e violence of the explo' i f r a , off the top, and as tire spi r it s ev aporated, they caught m' e e clo tie the flames communicated to the building. The dartag ir itiir amounts to several h un d re d p o unds. The stock Of 0 0 0 0 ' the still was completely destroyed. Messrs. Hodes ara in saying that those gentlemen denied in the strangest terms the accusations made against them, would postpone any further remark until Monday, beyond expresssing again his surprise that when any Noble Member of that House had reeeived evi dence proving that he had made ungrounded accusations, that Noble Lord did not take the earliest possible opportunity of re tracting them. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that if his Noble Friend (the Marquis of Londonderry) had done what the Noble Mar quis opposite considered it ungenerous not to have done, he would have taken a very disorderly course. It would have been all very well, if the Noble Marquis opposite had given his Noble Friend the opportunity, by asking whether he had received any communication, such or such ; but it would have been alto gether disorderly for his Noble Friend to have stood up in the first place, and told the House what letters had been written as to what he had said in his place as a Peer of that House. — (Hear, hear.) He thought the matter had better be left as it was until Monday. The Marquis of NORMANBY said that he never called upon the Noble Marquis to deny the allegations which he had made ; but the fact was, that those gentlemen placed a docu ment in his hand relative to these allegation 3, and he merely wished to give the Noble Marquis an opportunity to explain. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY rose amid cries of " Order." He said that he was quite willing to enter into an explanation now, if that were the pleasure of the House ; or if the House preferred it he Would adjourn it till Monday ; but he w as quite ready to answer the allegations of those gentlemen. Earl FITZWILLIAM said he would really suggest that some effective means should be taken to preserve order in the House.—( Hear. ) Lord REDESDALE said that he was not a very old Mem. her of that House, but he really thought that they were a great deal more disorderly now than they were when he entered it.— ( Laughter.) He certainly thought it proper that whenever Peers were called to order they should submit to it, instead of persevering in disorder as they did now.—( Hear.) TURNPIKE TRUSTS BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. Several other Bills were then advanced a stage, and their Lordships Adjourned at a Quarter-past Seven o'Clock till Monday. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May G. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock. SOUTHAMPTON ELECTION. Mr. REDINGTON brought up the Report from the CoMmittee appointed to try the merits of the petition against the return for the borough of Southampton. 'I he resolution the Committee had agreed to was, that Viscount Bruce (now Lord Elgin) and C. C. Martyn, Esq., were not duly elected, and that the election for the borough of Southampton was void. That the said Viscount Bruce, and C. C. Martyn, had by their agents been guilty of bribery, but that there was no proof that the said Viscount Bruce, and C. C. Martyn, Esq., were cognisant of such bribery. The Committee also reported that very extensive treating prevailed during the election, and that the amount of money expended in the contest, 5,0001., having far exceeded the ordinary and legal charges of an election, it was a matter which deserved the serious consideration of the House. SECOND READINGS. The Boston Harbour Bill (No. 2), and the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Railway Bill (No. 2), were read a second time. Colonel SIBTHORP presented a petition against the Bos ton Harbour Bill (No. 3.) NORTH OF ENGLAND RAILWAY. The Great North of England Railway Bill was read a third time and passed. CATHOLIC GRIEVANCES. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL presented a petition from the Ca tholics of Warwickshire, complaining of the grievances to which Catholics are subjected, particularly in military service, or in prisons. THE DUBLIN FREEMEN. Mr. GREGORY presented a petition from the Conserva ives of Dublin, praying that some measure might be adopted .o facilitate the admission of freemen, and to insure the attend ance of the Lord Mayor when required. Mr. O'CONNELL said, as the petition referred personally to himself, be might be allowed the liberty of saying a few words respecting it. Since he had been Lord Mayor, he had admitted 1,400 freemen ; but it was not stated that he had admitted one, except on the proper and legal oath—the late Lord Mayor admitted 600 in one evening. The petitioners did not allege that he had not applied the same rule to all parties, or that he had admitted a single person, or rejected a single per son improperly. He, therefore, considered the petition a kind of public declaration in his behalf. Mr. GREGORY explained that the petition did not com plain of the number admitted on either side, or of the right to admit them ; it merely prayed for some measure to facilitate their admission, and ensure the attendance of the Lord Mayor. Mr. O'CONNELL said he had omitted one day from illness, but had any of these parties expressed their desire for his at tendance he would have left London for that purpose. Mr. HARDY presented a petition from 4,500 inhabitants of Bradford, complaining of the excessive labour to which the operatives were subjected, with inadequate wages, at some parts of the year, and of total want of employment at others ; and praying that the House would agree to a Bill for regulating the hours of labour. CORN-LAWS. Mr. VILLIERS presented several petitions from operatives in Staffordshire and Cheshire, praying for the removal of all restrictions upon the importation of food. Mr. FIT ZSTEPHEN FRENCH presented several peti tions from millers in the county of Tipperary, and other parts of Ireland, against the importation of foreign flour. SOUTHAMPTON ELECTION. Mr. 11. BARING moved that a new writ be issued for the borough of Southampton, the late election from that bo rough having been declared void by a Committee of the House. Mr. WARD said that after the Report which the House had just heard at the bar—( Hear, hear)—which made grave alle gations not merely against the former Members, but against a large portion of the constituency, insomuch that an extensive system of treating and bribery was said to be locally organised ; he thought that no step ought to be taken until the House had the evidence before it.—(Hear, hear.) The Chairman had moved that the evidence be re ' ported, and until it was reported they ought not to proceed further in respect to this election, especially when it was recol lected that the Committee had three several times to apply to the House during the inquiry. If there were any doubt as to the propriety of waiting for the evidence, he would move that the Report lie read by the Clerk at the table, and he would subsequently move that the motion fora new writ be adjourned. After a few words from Mr. Baring and Mr. H. Hinds, who seconded Mr. Ward's motion, the Report was read by the Clerk. Mr. STANLEY said that the Hun. Gentleman who made the motion, having alluded to what passed at the Committee, he begged to say that he made a motion before the Corn mitteee that the writ be suspended till the evidence was laid before the House, but he was not supported. Mr. C. W. WYNN was rising to address the House, when Mr. BERNAL moved that the Hon. Baronet be allowed to address the House from his seat.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. C. W. W YNN said, that as long as he was able to ad dress the House on his legs, he thought it was better that he should conform to the usual course. With regard to the motion before the House, he thought it better that it should be adjourned.—( Hear.) He hoped the Hon. Member would have no objection to adjourn the debate on the issuing of a new writ till Monday next. Mr. WARD said that he had no objection. He should therefore move that it be adjourned till Monday next. Mr. BARING said the most convenient course for him to adopt would be to withdraw his motion altogether. Mr. H. lIIN DE only wished the House shouldnot act in igno rance of the circumstances. The evidence before the Committee showed that a large sum of money was spent by localassociations before the testing of the writ; and the difficulty was, that if the issuing of the writ were suspended, an opportunity would be afforded of practising that very system of treating which it was their object to put an end to. The motion was then withdrawn. NEW WINDSOR ELECTION PETITION. The SPEAKER informed the House that he had received notice, on the part of the petitioners against the return for the borough of New Windsor, that it was not their intention to prosecute the petition. Lord F. EGERTON presented a petition (we did not hear from what place) praying for an alteration in the Turnpike Act. Mr. GORDON presented a petition praying for an altera tion in the Poor-laws. Mr. TURNER presented a petition from Cornwall (as we understood) complaining of the proposed alteration in the duties on foreign copper ore. Mr. AGLIONBY presented a petition from Cockermouth, against the practice of administering oaths. Mr. V. SMITH brought up the Report of the National Breakwater Committee. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented petitions from Bromley and Sheffield in favour of a repeal of the Poor-law Amendment Bill. Lord WORSLEY presented a petition from a place in Gloucestershire against the Income-tax. Mr. O'CONNELL gave notice that he should taketn early opportunity of calling the attention of the House to the state of the administration of justice in Ireland. ELECTION PETITIONS. Wonde Will be pre & HORSE OF ". auxiliary aid, After which, before witnessi Mr. R rnermiS and mi Spatted Cour, talented' Vault kingdom, witt GOLDEN SL To cencludt THE BOLD TH] A I' THE, .._.rmi.......0 Tli ROYAL GI Ti,ermome FitoH 411,Adve OP in ~~~. ~ ~- • SAI .und ban IsteAd of Sir J( answer.- confirm( ELPInN compror ',Major 'Om, at the que .Member from th signed Mr. I tion lie elaiinin • and ma lle gro teard, rea.son! Notting cation intitnid briber ) wise, and he • gross lon, Worst Supr two s ea of a Pa he jumi he rust. he NO The pa atruelc, ter into pay do and of 1 tiler i)1 over th Mr. would allow, have, :bacin:111:::11' and b Cal Navin; the dt adjou] is 1) 1t.1 4 . 1 ,truiylt f~~ , ~ admit