The Sun. — London, England, 1863-06-10 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLLUIENT HOUSE OF LORDS—Last Evening. The .Lc►sn CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack, at five o'clock. _ _ Lord BERNERS presented a petition ?rom Great Yar mouth, against the Prison Ministers' B ; ,11. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Coventry Markets, and Bristol and Porteshead Pier and Railway Bills ware read a second time. THIRD READINGS. The Manchester corporation Water ; London, Tilbury and Southend Railway ; Dublin Corporation Water ; Tramore Embankment; Knighton and Central Wales Railway ; aid Central Wales Extension Railway Bills were read a third time and passed. GREECE. Earl RUSSELL, by command of her Majesty, laid on the table certain papers relating to Greece, to the election of Prince William of Denmark to fill the throne vacant by the flight of King Otho, and also to the cession of the lonian Islands. SECURITY FROM VIOLENCE BILL. The Earl of CARNARVON moved the second reading of this bill, and said objections had been raised to this measure because it enacted, as was said, a particular pun ishment for a particular offence, in other words, because it was looked upon as special legislation, and it was ob jected to by those who were opposed altogether to the infliction GI corporal punishment under any circumstances. He could not but think that the objections ags:mst the measure were perfectly futile, and that the offences with which the bill dealt were of a nature to justify the infliction of very severe punishment. The orime of garotting, which last winter had created s o much terror, had, it was true, subsided in a great degree ; yet it was not impossible that it might revive in the coming dark season, and if it did so it was of the utmost importance tb.at a power should be given to deal with such offewl ers . that was wall calculated to deter others from comadtting similar outrages. He could not agree in the wpinion that corporal punishment was altogether ineffectir. If so, why was it still retained as a punishment 'in both the army and navy ? On the contrary, kci thought nothing so effectually put a stop to repetitions of a particular crime as the infliction of that descri - ption of pnnishinent. The governors of the different gTaols found from experience the best results follow from its infliction, and their lordships might depend that if something was not done as early as possible they would more than likely in the coming winter have a recurrence of those robberies by violence which premedso extensively last year. He hoped their lordships would agree to the second reading of the bill. Loria CRANWORTH said the introduction of the bill created in his mind a feeling of panic as well as sorrow. He objected altogether to special legislation , because it was per particular crimes by special acts fectly impossible to prevent of Parliament. If the bill passed it would become inope rative, because it would never be put in execution except in cases of persons under 16. By the bill the birch rod was to be used in cases cif youths, but with respect to adults the flogging was to be administered by any instrument the court might think fit. Now, what was that instrument to be ? It was quite certain you could not, at the present day, inflict the bastinado ; then, what was the instrument to be need ? There were other enactments in the bill which it was quite impossible to carry into operation, and therefore he moved that it be read a second time that day six months. Lord WODEHOUSE supported the bill. After a few observations from Earl GRANVILLE, who objected to the measure, The bill was read a second time without a division. DUCHY OF CORNWALL MANAGEMENT} BILL. The Duke of NEWCASTLE moved the consideration of the report on the amendments to this bill. A very long debate ensued upon the clauses making pro vision for the grantitig of aid in money or lands to Dissent ing chapels and selools. Lord REDESDALE moved the adjournment of the de bate, in order 'co give time to consider the amendments. The Duke of NEWCASTLE consented, and the further consideration of the report was adjourned to next Friday. VACCINATION (IRELAND) BILL. This bill was passed through committee. BAKEHOUSE REGULATIONS BILL. The report on the amendments to this bill was brought up and agreed to. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening. The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour. (PETITIONS. Mr. Cox, from the 2d Surrey Volunteer Corps, against the 20th clause of the Volunteers Bill. BRITISH GUIANA. Col. ROWLEY asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether it was true that Mr. Beaumont, an English barrister, had been appointed Chief Justice of British Guiana, over the heads of the Crown law officers in the West Indies, many years his senior; and, if so, why P Mr. FORTESCUE replied that no rule of promotion had been violated. The rule acted upon was to appoint the most competent officers. Hence the Secretary of State had selected a gentleman of the highest ability and require ments for the post. HOURS OF WORK OF CHILDREN. Mr. FERRAND gave notice that on Monday he should ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intended to bring in a bill to limit the hours of labour of children in factories and other works. HIGHWAYS. Sir B. LEIGHTON asked the Secretary of State !tn. the Home Del , ,artment whether the power of justices to order a contribution. in aid of turnpike roads, where the funds of the Turnpike Trust were insufficient, continued in districts in which, the new Highway Act 25 and 26 Vic. c. 61, had been adopted, and, if so, on whom the order was to be made, anti how the amount was to be recovered ? Sir G. GREY said the question really resolved lidelf into the legal interpretation to be put upon the act of Parliament, and came more properly within the province of a court of law. He might say, however, that he apprehended the justices had the power to make the order referred to. MEXICO. Mr. R. LONG asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the statement of James L. Hart was cor rect, viz.," The vice consuls of the United States of America and of Prussia have retired from the French camp" (at Puebla), " and have been unsuccessful in their mission in asking that the women and children might be allowed to leave the beleaguered city :" and, whether any representa tive of Great Britain took part in such mission or remon strance. Mr. LAYARD replied that he knew nothing of the facts. No information of the kind had reached the Foreign-of f ice. THE SLAVE TRADE.—SEIZURE OF A FRENCH SHIP. Mr. ADDINGTON asked the Secretary to the Admi ralty, whether any official intelligence had been received of the circumstances under which a French vessel, recently detained by Her Majesty's Ship Zebra, on the west coast of Africa, on suspicion of being engaged in the slave trade, refused to show any papers authorising her to hoist the French flag, and was subsequently liberated by the prize court at Sierra Leone; and whether the decision of the prize court will involve the efficer in command of her Majesty's ship Zebra in any demand for compensation for the capture and detention of the suspected slaver ? Lord C. PAGET replied that in February last her Ma jesty's ship Zebra perceived a suspicious vessel, which on being hailed refused to show her colours. A shot was fired across her bows, when she showed French colours. On being boarded appearances were found denoting that she was engaged in the slave trade. The master declined to show his papers, and she was taken in tow and carried to a spot where a French man-of-war was expected to be found. Such however, was not the case. A reiterated demand was made to the master for his papers, but as he again refused to pro duce them, the vessel was taken to Sierra Leone, and adju dicated upon three days after. The French Consul pro duced the papers and apologised for the obstinacy of the captain. No demand had been made for compensation. ISIALTA AND ALEXANDRIA TELEGRAPH. Sir W. GALLWEY asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he would lay upon the Table of the House a return of all ra°llleB 'voted by Parliament or contributed from the Indian 14. --v aruraent for making, transporting from this m antr7, and laying the cable now working "ween Melti ' and Alexandria, with a detail of all payments made to Messrs. Glass and Elliott relative to this cable previous to its g opened to the public; also a copy of the lease to Messrs. Glass and Elliott, by whom this line was worked, with the groan receipts since such lease was granted. Mr. F. PEEL had no objection to produce all the papers. Sir W. GALLWEY asked if the hon. gentleman would postpone any further vote until the Papers wer e b e f ore the house ? _ _ Mr. F. PEEL replied that the Gov ern ment a contract with the part i es , and that he emadt,"theerrioderer, postpone the vote. CASUAL PAUPERS. Viscount RAYNHAM asked the President of the Poor Law Board w hether parochial authorities had power to refuse at any time the admission into workhouses of per sons who applied for relief as casual poor ? Mr. VILLIERS replied that according to law every person who was really destitute was entitle to rel ief on ap plication at the nearest workhouse, and the d responsibility d of providing the requisite accommodation and provisions rested with the parish authorities. The complaint of the noble lord had been received at the Poor Law Board, and directions given to make inquiry into the circumstances set forth. SEA FISHERIES (IRELAND). In reply to Sir E. GROGAN, Mr. M. GIBSON replied that the Government considered it very desirable that the recently appointed royal commis sion should extend its inquiries to the fisheries on the coast of Ireland. (Hear, hear.) THE PURCHASE OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. Lord ELCHO desired to learn of the Chief Commis sioners of Public Works whether a complete survey had been made by a competent surveyor of the Exhibition ; and, if so, whether he would lay it on the table of the house ? Mr. COWPER replied that it had been ca-efr..ns, and minutely surveyed by Mr. Hunt, the surveyor ,f the board of works. His estimate was Loved would be immediately for last night, and n the hands of hon. rut mbers. Lord ELC v .ii.b did net wish to be troub ,son e, but he did not Cade to an estimate ; had there been any report by a Competent surveyor ? Mr. COWPER could not say whether there was any such document in existence. He knew that the surveyor had forwarded an opinion on the subject, but he could not say whether it was in writing. He should, however, be able to answer the question to-morrow. THE EXTRA MORNING SITTING. In reply to Colonel FRENca, Sir R. PEEL intimated that the Government proposed a morning sitting on Friday in order to take the Irish Fisheries Bill. ENGLISH CHURCH SERVICES (WALES) BILL. Mr. WALPOLE postponed this bill till Friday week. UNIFORMITY ACT. Mr. BUXTON then rose to move the following resolu tion :—" That, in the opinion of this house, the subscrip tion required from the clergy to the Thirty-nine Articles ought to be relaxed." The hon. gentleman trusted that it would not be thought that he brought forward the motion in a spirit hostile to the Church of England. The only test to which he desired it should be put was this—would it injure the Church of England, or would it benefit the Church ? If its tendency would be to injure the Church, let the house reject it by all means; but if, on the contrary, it were calculated to benefit it, then he trusted that no prejudice would stand in the way of the adoption of the motion. (Hear, hear.) He represented no section or parity in the Church, and his sole object was to relieve its clergymen in general from what many of them considered a grievr;us burthen, and to open a way for many of its lay men_ who were now excluded from the ministry. (Hear.) It was not solely a clerical question, it was much more the question of the laity, and as such he desired chiefly to treat it. He had nothing to do with the revision of the Liturgy, or the Articles themselves ; what he aimed at was that the clergy should be relieved from that portion of the subscrip • tions that they were called upon to take which disquieted many of them. Those lists or subscriptions were extremely numerous. There were seven oaths upon the subject of supremacy, six declarations of assent to the Prayer Book, and nine declarations of assent to the Thirty-nine Articles, the upshot of all being this : In the first place the clergy man was required to declare that he would conform to the Liturgy of the Church of Edgland as by law established. That was a fair and reasonable subscription. In a second subscription he declared that he willingly and ex animo ac knowledged all and every the Thirty-nine Articles to be agreeable to the Word of God, and gave his unfeigned assent to the same. And by the third he declared his unfeigned assent and consent to all and everything contained in the Prayer Book. There was an essential distinction between the two latter subscriptions and the first subscription. The first was a promise of performance; the two others were de clarations of belief, and it was those which he wished to have done away with. Those subscriptions were required of men when they were young, and they all knew how apt young men were to take up all kinds of crude theories, but which died away under the advancing growth of common sense. Bat in mature life they called upon these men to make the subscriptions, and in the most unqualified form. He ad mitted the Prayer Book to be the most sublime of human productions; but, taken as a whole, there must be many things contained in it which it was hardly just to call upon men to declare their entire and unqualified belief in. With regard to the Thirty-nine Articles, though they did not present so many technical points of objection as the Prayer Book, still they had given rise to many great and fierce controversies. (Hear, hear,) He would put it to those who here and elsewhere were remarkable for their just and generous characters, whether it was just to ask young men to declare their entire belief in everything that the Prayer Book contained. He denied their right to do it ; for it was trespassing upon the freedom of men in a way that was un justifiable. It was only the fundamental doctrines of the Church of England upon which they should require unifor mity of belief. He was aware that it was the opinion of many eminent men that the best thing to do was to leave the Church of England as she stood, and not to try to mend matters wherever they found fault. The hon. member then reviewed the history of the successive changes in the forms of subscription at the Hampton Court Conferences in the reign of James 1., and again under Charles 11., when an other turn of the screw took place, and it was laid down that all the articles were to be taken in their true and literal sense. The whole object of the High Church party is those early days was to get rid of the Puritans; and finding the subscriptions were not stringent enough for the purpose, they set to work to devise the minute words to which he had referred, requiring the clergy to give their entire adherence to everything in the Prayer Book. The Act of Conformity was another of the many atrocious acts of the time which had been brought forward for a similar purpose. He could quote several passages from the writings of Dissenters dur ing the last few years, to show it was impossible that 20,000 clergymen could give their entire assent to everything in the Prayer Book, which contained so many different com positions. For his own part he thought that young men should not be called upon and almost forced to act in a way contrary to what perfect truthfulness would require of them. He thought it would be well for the clergy, and well for the religious and intellectual life of the people of this country, that the clergy should have scope and latitude to think out their own thoughts. That liberty was denied them at present. Men of original mind were apt to have their thoughts and ideas cramped when they had to steer within barriers like these subscriptions. And these hin drances met them at every step in their career. The curet e wanted to become a rector ; the rector an archdeacon ; the archdeacon a bishop; and the bishop looked forward to pre siding over the see Of Canterbury or York ; but those sub scriptions were always before them. It could not but be painful to men accustomed to think for themselves to be re quired to repeat like parrots the phrases set down for them. The result was to make men excessively timid, so that, in stead of leading the religious thoughts of the people, they became afraid of taking a single step. There were a great many men of original mind in the Church of England, but their number was becoming less and less every year. At Oxford the candidates for orders had decreased from 242 to 120, and at Cambridge from 270 to 178. He had with him a letter which he received from a graduate at Oxford—a man of ability, who would have been an ornament to the Church—in which he complained that he had been forced by those subscriptions to adopt a profession infinitely less congenial to him than holy orders. He had no doubt that many hon. members opposite would in the course of the evening say that this was a stale and shallow cry of the " Church in danger." He believed the Church of England was every day becoming more beneficent and more beloved ; but yet, withal he admitted there might be danger before her. If she chose not to be a National Church, but a nar row and sectarian one ; and if she stubbornly resisted all reform, and stood in the way of human advancement, human speculation, and the discoveries of science, not with strong and gentle reasoning, but with paroxysms of fear and rage —(hear, hear)—and if she discloses the most pitiful sight of all--the wish to persecute without the power—then sbe might find herself forsaken and spurned by the English people. But if, on the contrary, men found in the Church of England a welcome and a home, if she opened wide her gates and let people enter freely, then they might hope that their children's children would cling to that Church as their fathers had done when they sealed their faith in her with their blood in the great days of old. (Cheers.) Mr. G. DUFF seconded the motion. They ought to approach questions of this kind as politicians, for he appre hended that religious questions would form their principal business for some years to came. They were no longer an assembly of the Church of England, nor of Protestant s , nor . _ _ _ even of Christians, save so far as civilisation had infused its spirit into Jew and Gentile alike. The recent judgment of Dr. Lushington, although it gave greater latitude within the Church, still it put a stricter form of interpretati on u p on . . _ the articles and formularies than before satisfied the Con science of persons. The result of this was to give rise to many painful struggles during the last few months. The proposal of his hon. friend was a very moderate one, and did not interfere with prosecution. The bishop would have the power to prosecute the clergyman, and the clergymen would be able to prosecute each other. But if the resolu tion was agreed to, one element of malignity would be taken away from the clergy, for although one man might call his neighbour a heretic, he could not call him a " perjurer." (Hear, hear,) The hon. member concluded by alluding to the want of conciliation on the part of the bishops, and ex pressing a hope that a future minister would appoint better bishops than those of the Tiverton type. (A laugh.) Mr. M. MILNES rose to move an amendment, the effect of which was to limit Mr. Buxton's resolution to the subject of subscription to the Prayer Book. The hon, member said he entertained so much reverence for the subject, and admiration for the moderate tone and man ner in which his hon. friend's motion had been brought forward, that he should be sorry to take any course which looked like opposition to it, unless he felt con vinced that the subject was one involving so many great and important considerations that it could not be too closely g o i n s e cuTd. Indeed, he should be unwilling to say but that be e d gr y ee s d ome such motion as that of his hon. friend would given. rise to te . fieTreehe contests long ago, still they bore upon reli gious opinions. These Ar o ti f cl and the object of his hon. " \ might be admitted to administer ) them without being requiredete w tor er tdh e e t s h e e friend'sgreat desire to include many different orders and motion d.ov t w i o :3 o tl f l t a h t e p r e e r s s o o l n u s . laws, o f and t the eact h Church, The eb l a a l re their adherence to nn et wli the tten writ l t a c w n 1 everything contained in them , t tion in its integrity would be to establi sh ofth o p e u h bl u i r C:43in rr i m c h n o re was arti c far l —the law of public opinion —to the overr u ling tile le b r e a li n e t ve th d an th t a h t e th la e w la e w f more law. intolerant had been gradually interpreted in a more and sense; and the freedom of the Church would not e in any degree be increased by diminishing the authority o f a : 1 1 ; e articles. It was of enormous importance that the freedom of thought of the Church of England should not be subjected to any sacerdotal inquisition ; and it was admitted that the articles were now open to a very liberal interpretation. The object of his amendment was to confine the action of the resolution to the Book of Common Prayer; and in that way he believed it would in no degret d'ertgate from the power I 7.14 influenee of the Church of England. Sir G. GEEY was anxious to state early th: ' c l g , Go _ Vernment considered it inexpedient to adopt either the reso lution or the amendment : At the same time, they were un willing to meet either by a direct negative, acknowledging that he found great difficulty in ascertaining what was the precise object of the resolution. The hon. member for Maidstone said that all subscriptions and declarations should be abolished, but the hon. member did not draw sufficient distinction between subscription to articles and the declara tion of conformity now required by law. He believed it was difficult to state what those subscriptions amounted to, and he admitted the law was in an unsatisfactory state—for it required subscriptions varying in terms and character, and unnecessarily imposing obligations upon clergymen. It would be much better if a more simple and uniform declaration were adopted. (Hear, hear.) He understood his hon. friend to say that, though he would abolish subscription, he would still leave the clergy liable to penalties for teaching doctrines contrary to the Church. Now, if that were so, he did not see what relief was afforded to the clergy. With regard to the subscription to the articles, if the Church was to have a clear standard of doc trine it was not unreasonable to require from a person seek ing ordination a declaration that he agreed in and should teach that doctrine. As to the Book of Common Prayer, the law required a declaration from the clergyman that it contained nothing contrary to the Word of God, and might be lawfully used in divine service and the administration of the sacraments ; but then the Act of Elizabeth said nothing about the Book of Common Prayer, and therein a difference was established between the Book of Common Prayer and Articles. He agreed with the hon. member for Pontefract that the declaration which a clergyman was compelled to make on presentation to a benefice was an unnecessary burthen upon the conscience; and that it would be most desirable if such declaration were confined within the limits of the 36th Canon. In conclusion, the right hon. gentle man stated that the adoption of either the resolution or the amendment would only lead to uncertainty. Under the circumstances, he would ask his hon. friend the member for Pontefract (Mr. M. Milnes) to withdraw his amendment, and in that case he would move the previous question. Mr. M. MILNES then announced his willingness to withdraw the amendment, Mr. HADFIELD, however, objected, and so the amend ment of the hon. member for Pontefract was negatived without a division. Sir G. GREY then moved the previous question as an amendment on the motion. Mr. NEWDEGATE expressed his regret that the Go vernment had not taken a more decided :course. If the proposal of the hon. member for Maidstone were adoptea the result must be that the members of the Church of Eng land would be subjected to the utmost latitude of teaching at the hands of their clergy. Let the house take warning from the condition of religion in the United States of Ame rica, and see that vagueness of opinion conduced in the end to religious violence and intolerance. Mr. WALPOLE considered the house was placed in a position of some embarrassment by the course taken by the Government. He should have preferred to see the resolu tion negatived. He agreed that the qu-st ion concerned the laity more than the clergy. Was the house or the country prepared to go in that direction ? He thought not. Then they heard of another book called " Essays and Reviews." What were the alterations proposed by some of the writers of that book ? They contended that all tests were obsolete, and should be repealed, and that Scripture should be the sole basis of the religion of the Established Church. Those were propositions which could not be countenanced for a moment by sincere supporters of the Church. The laity must have some guarantee that, first, they should have no doctrines taught but those of the Church to which they be longed ; secondly, that there should be some regard to cle rical order and efficiency in the appointment of ministers of the Church; and thirdly, that the clergy who had to offi ciate in the Church should preserve its doctrine pure and free from corruption. There had been another book recently published which advocated the abolition of all subscription, but leaving the Articles and Liturgy the same. What would be the consequence of that ? Were clergymen to hold one set of opinions and preach another ? Were they to continue receiving their incomes from a Church whose principles they did not sincerely believe ? With regard to the subscription, he did not believe that was the cause of the decrease of candidates for the Church. The truth was, the emolument was so small that men of energy and intellect went in search of other pursuits of a more pro fitable character. With regard to the Comprehension Bill of the time of William 111., he was surprised to hear it spoken of in the way it had been, when all the best histo rians, including Lord Macaulay, agreed that the rejection of that bill had been the means of securing the civil and re ligious liberties of the kingdom. The Act of Uniformity, at the time it was passed, had proved a great boon to the community, for from the time of Henry 1 , 111., through the reigns of Elizabeth and Edward VI. to James 1,, the whole country had been in such a state of confusion upon the sub ject of forms of public worship, that as one writer observed, "they knew not what they had to worship or to depend upon." He was not, however, going to defend all that was done, nor the penalties that were imposed upon Noncon formists. What he did defend was a system which pre vented dissension and confusion, and gave to the people a religion as pdre, tolerant, and comprehensive as eternal truth itself. (Hear.) He thought the Government should state whether they proposed to make any alterations, and what they were to be; otherwise he should feel bound to re sist the motion. The hon. gentleman, speaking of the Church, said, " Truth and peace her courts attend." If truth and peace did attend the courts of the Church of Eng land, his advice was—Do not imperil the one nor disturb the other. (Hear.) In the soundness of her doctrines and in the purity of her worship she was of all Churches the most tolerant in her principles, the most charitable in her construction, and the most comprehensive in her philan- throphy. (Hear.) Mr. MORRISON hoped the object of the hon. member for Maidstone (Mr. Buxton) would be attained, so that the differences now prevailing might be put an end to. Sir S. NORTHCOTE thought an unfortunate amount of haze had been titrown over the question, arising chiefly from the difficulty of knowing what was to be the policp of the Government. He hoped the motion would be negatived without a division. _ _ _ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that notwithstanding the remark of the hon. gentleman who spoke last, the course adopted by the Government had met with very general approval, and he did not mean to say that the Prayer-book and the Articles were perfect, but their contradictions were to be taken in the same spirit as the dif ferences in Holy Writ, and he was inclined to believe that the task of revision was likely to be taken with the slightest advantage, or chance of success. The people ought to know what the teaehittgs of their pastors were to be, and if it ever came to the point that we were to discuss whet her the minds of individual clergymen should be set free from all fetters and restraints, and be the free arbitrator of what he should teach the people, it would be far batter, before entering on the subject, that we should break down the venerable fabric of the Church altogether. The principle of subscriptions had grown up from time to time from the bona fide necessities of the Church since the Reformation, and their existence without change for 200 years was a proof of the extreme gravity of the question, and if they were to be dealt with it should be in such a definite form that any one could under. stand them. The effect of the amendment was, he thought, to draw an invidious distinction between the Prayer-book and the Articles. They were told subscription had failed to attain its end—that of unity of feeling ; but that was to be said in some sense of all human laws. But the question was, had the system worked well for its purpose, and given that degree of unity of action which qualified the Church for its work , and he was not prepared to say there was any rea son why we should declare this the sore spot in her history. By this system, the Church was generally loved by the country, and she had passed successfully through great vicissitudes that had strained and tried the efficiency of other human laws , but that was no reason why the system should not be amended, though it might be that they were slow to vote its condemnation, on the ground that it had failed to accomplish its aim. He demurred to the proposi tion that it was better to substitute a judicial penal system for the present subscriptions, as not likely to maintain in any adequate manner that unity of belief, however liberal, within the Church which it was desirable to attain. That principle was in existence before the Act of Uniformity, and before they returned to that system they must look to the powers by which it was maintained, and ask themselves whether they were prepared to see them revived. And though tie faggot was not the fashion in those days, certain sharp instruments were which were ap plicable to certain parts of the body, and they could not bring those periods in support of the judicial system, unless they considered how far they would assimilate those means of prevention to the purposes of the present day. Nothing, he thought, would more tend to narrow the Church than the frequent provoking of courts of justice to lay down in terpretations of faith; and his opinion was, that such a course, if adopted, would materially weaken and injure the Church. The Prayer Bo )k and Articles, taken together and fairly interpreted, formed one harmonious and consis tent whole. He could not disguise the fact that young men of ability did not now come forward and join the Church, and it was the more striking, because about the period when he was an under-graduate of Oxford, or shortly after, an opposite state of things prevailed in so marked a degree that it might alone have been said at that time that the flower of the youth of England were rushing forward and offering themselves for the Church. A serious change, however, had taken place in that respect, and it had been attributed to the attractions of the civil service over the poor remune ration given by the Church. He thought, however, the reason lay deeper, and they must look to the religious and moral causes, and not to the system of subscriptions, or it would have been felt in other periods, especially forty, thirty, or twenty years ago, when the Church passed through convulsions so sharp and searching that they might almost be described in the language of Scripture, " which divide s one from another, soul and spirit." The Churh .0-and. especially the University of Oxford—was in the agotly 1 religious controversy. They saw the rise of eminent t that it was necessary men, who, after reaching mature life, almost suddenly acted wron g i n ann°wic ed to their followers that they had found they had should become ram- Ybersoorf at:eainrtagowilotu. adh • to the Church of England, and seatielveahturionch,thAnat.dththbye THE SON, LONDON, WEDNESDAY _EVENING, JUNE 10, 1863. result had been an almost total destruction of the confidence fora time of the young in those whom they ought to be able to rely upon and follow with confidence on account of their age, ability, and learning. By the authorised construction that had been attached to the articles, subscription had be- • come more stringent ; but if, as Dr. Stanley urged, a more liberal or enlightened method of interpretation was granted, such as was in use in the time of Archbishop Howley, the grievance of subscription would be very light. He thought the Government had done right in not meeting the question with a direct negative, and he agreed in feeling that any measure of the kind ought not to take its origin in Parlia- ment, but first pass in review elsewhere, not that he doubted the power of Parliament to deal with it as with every other subject. Mr. HADFIELD said that the effect of subscriptions had been to exclude the most pious part of the clergy from the Church, and it was time all those difficulties and distinc- tions that were so ruinous to the Church should be swept away. The Church was not equal to her duties, or in ac- corda nce with the spirit of the age in which they lived ; and she was like the old patriarch, whose hand was against everybody, and everybody's hand was against him. He claimed more attention from that house for the large mass of Nonconformists. There was not that intercourse there should be between the clergy and the people, and he was o , ,nvinced that the reforms in the Church should go much further before religious peace could be established in the country. Mr. - B. JOHNSTONE pointed out that there wore two ways in which an institution might be defended—by in variable and steadfast resistance to every demand, or wise and timely concession. The first was the policy of Rome at the Council of Trent, and the result was the establishment of Reformed Churches all ever Europe. The lesson should not be overlooked by the Church of England. (Hear, hear.) There could be no question that there was a falling off in the number of candidates who now presented themselves for holy orders. In 1841 the number was 6C6, in 1861 it was cnly 489, and he could state posi- tively that he had known many young men at the univer sities who had been unwilling to enter into the ministry on account of the rigidity of the subscriptions which were re quired of them. (Hear, hear) In the university sermons, it was true, it was endeavoured to soften that rigidity, but young men felt that such a course was paltering with their conscience, and declined tc accept an interpretation contrary to the language iteelf. (Hear, hear.) He admitted that a national establishment should have tests, but they should be such that grave men might conscientiously take. (Hear, hear.) Was it difficult or impossible to frame such tests ? Or was it difficult to have a form of subscription which ac tually implied what it was meant to imply by it ? He did not believe in any such difficulty or impossibility, but he did believe that, if they maintained the present rigid tests, they would soon not be able to get any young men at all to enter the ministry of the Church. (Oh, oh, from the Op position, and hear, hear.) The tests had been imposed by Parliament, and it was proper that the same assembly should relax them ; but if they were to relegate the matter to any other tribunal, itlwould be relegating it to the Greek kalends. (Cheers.) Mr. LEFROY said, as he was the only representative of the Irish Church present, he could not give a silent vote on this question. He had heard with pleasure the speeches of the Secretary for the Home Department and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, both of whom enforced in strong language the necessity of maintaining the bulwarks of the Church, and on that ground he gave his hearty support to the pre vious question. Mr. HENLEY said that two extraordinary statements had been made by the hon. ruember for Plymouth and the hon. member for Canterbury. One of those gentlemen took upon himself to say that he believed the parties who subscribed these tests did so with mental reservation. He did not know how any hon. member could take upon himself to say that of others. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member for Canterbury made a similar statement of young men in the universities, and said it was preached to them that they were not to take these tests in the plain sense of the words. He happened to live near the university, although unfortunately he was not a young man, and he thought if such things had been done they would have come to his knowledge. A great deal had been said of fewer young men taking holy orders, but one important element in the discussion of the point had been left out of consideration. Ten years ago the House of Commons stripped the Church of its great nurs ing mother, the fellowships of the Universities, They were very good fellowships, and that might be a good reason why so many young men did not present themselves for orders now as before the provision which bad been left by pious men of former ages had been taken away by the impiety of Parliament. (Hear, and laughter.) The hon. member for Canterbury said that they only asked for very little, but no one in the course of the debate put his finger upon any point in the Formularies and Articles and said, " That is what we don't want to subscribe to." What was it they wanted ? The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the latter part of his speech referred to some nice point about a man conforming to a thing and not believing it. (A laugh.) If a man conformed to the use of a thing and did not believe it what sort of morality was that? They should remember that they had an Established Church, and that it enjoyed large revenues ; but if there were larger revenues probably there would be more persons offering themselves for ordina tion. He could have wished the Government bad met the resolution with a distinct negative, for he feared that, after th speech of the Home Secretary, the public would say there should be some alteration. All he would say was, whatever might be the intellect of candidates for orders, if they had no honesty he would rather they had remained away. Better to have honest people, although they might not have an abundance of intellect. (Cheers.) Mr. H. SEYMOUR supported the resolution, and pointed to the Episcopal Church in the United States as a proof of what might be done by a general form of agree ment in the doctrines and liturgy in keeping a church to gether without tests. Lord R. CECIL said he had listened attentively to the debate, and he could hardly make out the reason why young men in the universities did not go into the Church in such large numbers as formerly, Probably the best reason was the taking away tae fellowships. He understood that no change in the formularies was asked for by these young men. He did not believe that the hon. member for Canter bury (Mr. B. Johnstone) had rightly described the state of mind of the young men of Oxford. He had no doubt that a great intellectual movement was going en, and that there was great unwillingness to enter into the Church, but the cause of that lay much deeper than a mere unwillingness to subscribe to the Articles of the Church. The truth was, it was not mere subscription that was objected to, but it was the Articles themselves, (Hear, hear.) There was no doubt, owing to the subsidence of those great controversies which had occupied the world during the last 30 years, much more of unbelief in these days than at any period during the memory of the oldest member of that house ; and it was not an unbelief as to small points, but an unbelief which went to the very foundation of religion, and with which no compromise could be held. (Hear, hear.) But at the same time he did not believe that under the present system the clergy were compelled to tamper with their consciences. For 200 years, and during six generations those tests had been cheerfully subscribed to by the clergy ; and they might depend upon it that the experience of 200 years was of more value than the experience of the hon. member for Canterbury. (Laughter, and cries of " Hear, hear.") Mr. DISRAELI said that he could not at all agree that moving " the previous question" was the proper mode of meeting the motion of the hen. member for Maidstone. The hon. member counselled the adoption of the motion in deference to the power of public opinion, while the hon. member for Pomfret (Mr. M. Milnes) argued from a totally opposite point of view, that public opinion was not to be trusted as a guide in the matter. The House, however, after hearing the statement of the Minister, agreed neither to support the motion nor the amendment ; it consented to a course which, without explanation, would give an implied assent both to the motion and to the amendment. Sub scriptions to the Articles and the Prayer Book were ob jected to, because it was opposed to that comprehensive character which the Church should assume and maintain. No one was more in favour than himself of the comprehen sive character of the Church of England, but he would add the condition that the comprehensiveness of the Church of England should be based upon Church prin ciples. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member for Maidstone and others had referred to the Act of Charles 11. as inju riously affecting the comprehensive character of the Church, and ancient legislation was denounced as the cause of their present situation. Well, he doubted very much the justice of that criticism. He doubted whether it was possible, in this, or perhaps in any other country, to prevent what is dissent. He looked upon dissent as a weakness incident to humanity. (Laughter, and hear, hear.) Even in the case of Roman Catholicism, he might show, if necessary, as much dissent, as much heresy, as much schism as in the 1 Church of England, although in the Church of Rome dissent had been occasionally more forcibly suppressed. (Hear, hear.) What, then, were they to expect in a coun try the infallibility of whose religion was founded upon free schcuec a inquiry, and where, although religion was supported by the civil power, it was by a civil power founded upon the prin ciples of civil liberty ? (Hear.) No modern English states man had contemplated that though the Church of England I should be founded upon a Catholic creed it should, at the same time, comprehend a Catholic union. A standard of religious truth should be established in the country that should influ ence th e con duct of men by the highest con ceivable sanction, and that had been accomplished by the Church of England d u ring the last two centuries. But if the experiment of a co mprehensive Church had not been very successful on th e Continent, what Was their chance of u might enegh a England? Nobody yecoomnpldredhoeunbsitytehnaetssthe would attembpet toenforceers sin most disastrou s . I n f a ct, the reli g i on o f th e N a tional Church t becomeo comprehend . comprehensive, (A l a u laugh.) h .) that With at last respectnobody would be to the Act of Uniformity, that had been so much malignod, it was futile to consider it in the abstract. It must be looked at in connection with the history of the period, and then some just ideas might be formed of its usefulness. The truth was that there was no one of the important mea sures introduced by their great ancestors that might not be impugned or perhaps improved. He had no doubt, that if he were to give notice that on Friday next he would bring forward the case of the Bill of Rights, with a view to its amendment, be would make out a s trong case agaivst it, and get some supporters in and out of the House. (A laugh.) But of course no sane man would think of doing any such thing. With respect to the decrease of candidates for the Church, he could not believe it was owing to the sordid motives by which it had been attempted to be explained. He had been young himself once and had committed many follies—(a laugh)—but he could assure the house that the question of the more or fewer " nuggets" he might make was not then the influential motive in his career. The House of Commons, however, was not an _ecclesiastical synod, and he did not wish to se& the time of the Long Par liament come back, when hon. members brought their Bibles in their waistcoat-pockets, and enforced their parti cular dogmas with a quotation. At the same time, due homage must be paid to the memory of the great statesmen and churchmen of the age of the Stuarts, whose energy and perseverance had procured the passing of measures which had produced to the country two centuries of tranquillity. (Hear.) Upon the question of subscription, he was gene rally opposed to the arguments of the hon. member for - - Maidstone. How could they have a Church without a creed? How could Wore be a known and acknowledged weed without some symbols of communion? (Hear,) In fact there must be subscription, or there was an end of the Church. The revision should not originate in either House of Parliament, but with the Queen as the head of the Church, who should initiate a Royal commission, and then first submit its report to C.nvocation, whose basis should be extended by the introduction of the Irish Church and lay members, if necessary. Convocation, in its present form, had, since its revival, done many things deserving of commendation, and had acted, contrary to predic tion, in an eminently practical manner. He condemned the course the Government had taken in meeting the motion with the previous question. It was the boast of this country that she had reconciled order with liberty, but in her religious affairs she had the greater boast that she had combined 'orthodoxy with toleration. But what security had they for retaining it if they adopted the course that had been so invidiously recommended by so many means, and by so many channels ? He preferred to stand on an- cient ground—on that Church which lives in the historic conscience of the country, and which had come down to us with her title deeds which all could understand, because our ancestors had contributed to their creation. He had heard no satisfactory cause given for the proposed change. Mr. BUXTON having replied, said he should not divide the house on his motion. Sir G. BOWYER had never in that house taken part in a discussion on the discipline and doctrine of the Church of England, and, while defending his own Church, he had never said a word offensive to any other person's church or religious belief. On the present occasion he merely in tended to refer to some observations of the right hon. gentle man the member for Buckinghamshire. That right hon. gentleman had said that a church must have a creed and must have formularies, and from that he deduced that a church must have an act of uniformity. But he must say that if he were now in the Anglican Church, as he once had been, he would not attach any value to the Act of Unifor mity. His Church had not an act of uniformity, and he hoped it never would have one. What did our Lord intend the Church to teach, when He told His apostles to go and teach all nations, and that he would be with them to the end of the world ? Did He intend it to teach an act of uniformity ? Did He intend it to teach the Thirty-nine Artie, es, which were not a dogma ? Did He tell it to teach for political purposes or to teach as many errors as possible ? No, with diversity there must be error. The duty of the Church was to teach the truth. What did the Catholic Church do ? She proclaimed a certain doctrine, and she said to her followers, "If you do not believe this—you are wrong." He knew why hon. gentlemen laughed; but he was stating a fact. The debate had afforded him considera ble amusement. He had heard a great deal about the com prehensive character of the Established Church, and about what was politically wise ; but he had not heard one word about truth. The right hon. baronet the member for Buckinghamshire had said that there were differences and schisms in the Roman Catholic Church. He told the right hon. gentleman that there were neither in that Church. There were differences of opinion in the Roman Catholic Church with regard to discipline and politics, but not with regard to doctrine. There were differences among Catholics as to the temporal power of the Pope, the celibacy of the clergy, and other questions, but they did not differ upon any question of dogma. As to the monastic orders, there were differences between the Dominicans and Franciscans on certain scholastic points of theology and science, but they were perfectly agreed on all questions appertaining to the Roman Catholic religion. That religion had always been one and undivided, and those who differed from it had always been ejected from it immediately. This was the only honest course—to say, "I preach the truth," and eject those who did not believe with you. But if men put on a false appearance of unity which did not exist, shelter ing themselves under ambiguous words and uncertain for. mularies, that was not honest. (Hear, hear.) The " previous question"—in other words, that it was inexpedient to consider at that particular time the motion of the hon. member (Mr. Buxton)—was then put and agreed to without a division. THE BOARD OF ADMIRALTY. Mr. DALGLISH, in moving that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the constitution of the Board of Admiralty, and the different departments under its con trol, reminded the house that the defect in its manage ment was no new subject, and that it had as yet made little progress towards improvement. The report of the committee which sat in 1861 showed that no progress had been made in improving the system of the Admi ralty. He might go further, and say that in the year 1863 nothing had been done in the way of improvement. The hon, member referred to the blue book of the com mittee, and to various documents, to prove the necessity of altering the constitution of the Admiralty. But it was not the Admiralty alone that required alteration, but the entire system of their dockyards and shipbuilding establishments. Mr. JACKSON seconded the motion. Mr. SCOURFIELD opposed it. Mr. BENTINCK thought the hon. gentleman who moved for the committee was over sanguine with regard to the benefit to be anticipated from its labours. Sir F. O'BRIEN supported the motion. _ _ _ Lord C. PAGET said there was no disposition whatever on the part of the Government to evade full inquiry, but he thought the proposed committee would be too official in its character to effect much good. If there was a case against the Admiralty let them leave it out, and he would be pre pared to meet it. The First Lord, of the Admiralty was wholly and entirely responsible to the Government of the day, and there was a complete and effectual check on the improper use of the patronage. The want of responsibility in the dockyard at the time of the Royal commission with reference to the ship-building department had since been altered, and it has now been placed on the Surveyor of the Navy, who had to account to the Admiralty. There was now an effectual check on the expenditure of the dockyards. It was neecessary to have naval men for controllers and in spectors of the navy, as none but naval men could under stand the duties to be performed. The noble lord also referred to many other of the recommendations of the Royal commissioners, most of which had been adopted or were under consideration, and he assured the house that the Ad miralty were using their best exertions for the benefit and efficiency of the navy, and to make such alterations and improvements as would tend to the economy of that branch of the service. The Admiralty did not intend to give up the building of iron ships in private yards. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr. CONINdHAM w;shed to know when the nolile lord the Secretary to the Admiralty would make his state ment on the subject of Greenwich Hospital. Lord C. PAGET replied that he had never expressed an intention of making any such statemont. The debate was then adjourned without a division. MISAPPROPRIATION BY SERVANTS. Mr. STANILAND obtained leave to introduce a bill to amend the law in certain cases of misaapropriation by ser.. vants of the property of their masters. LISBURN ELECTION. On the motion of Mr. COLLINS, the minutes of the evidence taken before the Lisburn Election Committee were ordered to be laid before the house. SHEEP AND CATTLE (SCOTLAND) BILL, This bill passed through committee. SUPPLY. Mr. STANSFELD having brought up the report on supply, Sir J. ELPHINSTONE again objected to any further expenditure on Alderney, and moved the adjournment of the debate. The motion was agreed to. VOLUNTEERS BILL. The consideration of this bill, as amended, was fixed for Thursday. AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE TREATY BILL.—IN LAND REVENUE BILL. These bills were then read a third time and passed. LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLEMENTAL BILL. This bill was passed through committee. 'OFFICERS OF ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE BILL. This bill was read a second time. DOCKYARDS PROTECTION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This was passed through committee, The bills for which leave was obtained were then brought in and read a first time. The house'adjourned at ten minutes to two o'clock. A letter from Broussa (Asiatic Turkey) states that the number of people who have arrived there for bathing is greater than for many years past. Among the latest arrivals are Omer Pasha, Nafiz Pasha, ex-Minister of Public Worship, and Riza Pasha. The harem of Faud Pasha is also passing the season at Broussa, [ADVERTISEMENT.] -- Holloway's Pills. Disorders of the Head.--During winter head complaints are apt to afflict the old, unhealthy, and debilitated. Giddiness, dimness of sight, or a fixed pain in the head, demand in stant attention, or serious consequences will soon follow. For this class of diseases Holloway's pills are unrivalled, both for warding off the premonitory symptoms and like wise relieving the graver diseases, apoplexy or paralysis, which often come on after repeated warnings have been neglected, or when the early symptoms have not been re moved. POLICE INTELLIGENCE—June 9. MARYLEBONE.—ATTEMFTED MURVER OF A WIFE. —Patrick Noonan, an Irish labourer, aged 36, scalding at 6, Southampton-terrace, Gospel Oak-fields, Hampstead, was charged before Mr. Mansfield with the following at tempt to murder his wife, Elizabeth Noonan, and also with assaulting John Way, police constable 410 5, 'William Larter, 325 S, and William Woodbridge, 306 S, whilst in the execution of their duty to apprehend him. Anne Morris stated—l live in the same house as the pri soner and his wife. About half-past four on the previous afternoon I heard them go upstairs to their own room, where they talked very loud as if quarrelling, and shortly after wards I heard a very heavy fall upon the floor. Almost immediately after the fall the prisoner's girl ran downstairs screaming murder, and saying that her father was chopping her mother's head open. I ran upstairs into the room, and saw the wife in a sitting position on the floor. Her head was cut and smashed about,and she was smothered in blood, which was pouring from her wounds. Her arms, which were very much cut, were encircling a child, which was also covered with blood. Prisoner was sitting on a chair opposite her, and by his side was a chopper in some blood. Prisoner was quite sober. I left the room to call assistance, when prisoner followed me down, and I said, "What have you been doing ?" He replied, " What am Ito do when she comes in drunk ?" After saying this he ran off, H e had no stoner gone than his wife came downstairs, the blood coming from her wounds, down her clothes, and on to the stairs. Two doctors were called in, who advised her instant removal to the hospital. Mr. Mansfield—Was the woman drunk ? Witness—l cannot say, for I did not see her till after this shocking affair. Mr. Mansfield—Was she sensible ? Witness—Yes, sir. Mr. Mansfield—ls the wife given to drink ? Witness—Well, sir, she has a drop now and then. Prisoner—She (witness) knows very well that my wife has bean drunk every day for a fortnight, and she is great with other men. Mr, Mansfield—lt is bad for a woman to give way to drink, but still the law does not justify you in chopping your wife's head off. Medical certificates were put in showing that it was im possible for the wife to be brought to the court, as the re moval might cause death. The chopper, like a butcher's, was produced, and on it were both blood and hair. The bonnet which the poor woman had on at the time was produced, saturated in blood, and cut through and through by the chopper. Prisoner, who behaved in a most sullen manner through. out, was remanded, and the charge of assaulting the police was deferred to the next occasion. The attempt at murder took place at half-past four, and prisoner was not taken till eleven o'clock, by Way, 410 S, in tha Maldon-road, Kentish-town, when a desperate en counter ensued. LAMBETH,—CAUTION TO DOO-STEALERS.—CharIes Jones, a middle-aged man, of sinister appearance, and a notorious dog stealer, was brought up on remand, and finally examined before Mr. Elliott, on a charge of stealing a liver-coloured retriever dog, valued at ten guineas, the property of Captain Frederick Henry Rich, of the Royal Artillery. From the evidence it appeared that, on the 21st of last April, the prisoner had been observed by several re , spectable inhabitants in the vicinity of the residence of Captain Rich, the prosecutor, in New Park-road, Brixton, followed by the missing dog, the animal having on, at the time, a deep brass collar, with the name and profession of its master conspicuously engraven on it. Bills were printed and circulated, offering a reward for the dog, but nothing was heard or seen of the animal or the prisoner until Mon. day week, when he was apprehended in the same neigh.. bourhood, while endeavouring to steal a gentleman'B coach-dog ; and en his way to the station• house he en deavoured to get rid of some liver he had in his pocket, and which he used for enticing dogs away. Mr. Elliott observed that there couli not be the slightest doubt he stole the dog of Captain Rich, and that he was a practised deg-stealer, and sentenced him to six months' hard labour at Wandsworth House of Correction. THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE FROM NEW WEST MINSTER-BRIDGE.--William Bailey, a young man of gentlemanly appearance, and whose friends were said to be of high respectability, was charged with attempting to commit suicide by jumping from the parapet of the West minster-bridge into the river Thames. From the testimony of the mate of one of the penny steamboats, it appeared that on Sunday at noon, while the the Palace clock was striking 12, the prisoner was seen to jump from the top of the second arch on the Surrey side of Westminster-bridge into the water. The tide was flowing rapidly at the time, and the prisoner not knowing how to swim must have been drowned if assistance had not been promptly rendered him. The prisoner had also run a second risk, for had he fallen but two feet nearer the shore, he must from the state of the tide have come in contact with a pro jecting part of the foundation of the bridge, and been smashed to pieces. He was remanded for the attendance of his friends. SOUTHWARK.—THE ROBBERY OF A THOUSAND POUNDS WORTH OF JEWELLERY.—LORiSa Gifford, alias Orme, alias James, was brought before Mr. Combo for final examination, charged with being concerned with a man not in custody in stealing a leather bag containing watches and jewellery worth £l,OOO, the property of Solomon Reuben, from the North Kent Railway Terminus, London-bridge. Mr. Please prosecuted, and the prisoner was undefended. It appeared, from the evidence given on a former occa sion, that the prosecutor was a traveller, and on the 4th of May last he left his house at Islington with considerable property, for the purpose of going on a journey in Kent and Sussex. On his arrival at the North Kent Railway Ter minus he put town a leather bag containing gold and silver watches, gold chains, earringi, &c., worth about £l,OOO, while he entered the booking-office to get his ticket. On his return from the latter place, after a minute's absence, he missed the bag, and although every inquiry was made about it nothing has since been heard of it. On the 7th May the prisoner and a man, whom she stated to be her husband, were apprehended by Hills, City police-constable 150, in Aldersgate-street, for having in their possession four sets of earrings which they had attempted to dispose ef. They were twice examined before Aldermen Humphery, and dis charged, the property being detained by the constable. Two days after that the City police received information of Mr. Rueben's lose, and having communicated with him be iden tified those earrings as a portion of his lost jewellery. Fur ther inquiries were then made, and on Monday morning the 25th ult,, the City officer discovered three boxes at a house in Lambeth .squaro, Lower-marsh, and shortly after that the prisoner was apprehended by Hardringham, 163 L, as she was about to enter that house. She Wb.S questioned about thoee boxes, and eventually said they belonged to her and her husband, Joseph Gifford, who had lodged in that house. The boxes were opened at the station-house, and in one of them two gold chains and two sets of ear-rings were found, which the prosecutor identified. It was also discovered the prisoner and the man Joseph Gifford had lodged together as man and wife with Mrs. Hutchins, of Ponsonby-place, Vauxhall.bridge-ro ad, from the 27th of April to the 23d of May, and that they had given the landlady there another set of similar earrings. No knowledge as to the whereabouts of Gifford, her husband, could be ascertained, although the police made diligent inquiries all over the country for him. The defence set up was that the prisoner was the lawful wife of Joseph Gifford, the man who was in custody with her in the City, and a certificate of their marriage was pro duced. After the removal of the boxes to Lambeth-square, he absconded, and the prisoner could not be held respon sible for his acts. On the part of the police it was urged that the prisoner had a previous husband still living at Bristol, and that she had left him some time ago to live with Gifford, who had twice served four years' penal servitude, and was one of the cleverest thieves in the kingdom. They (the police) be lieved the prisoner helped him in the pre,ent robbery, and they considered that she was amenable to the law. Mr. Combo said his opinion was that the prisoner was not, under the evidence adduced before him, therefore he should order her to be dischlzged. Hills, 160 City police, asked what he was to do with the property found in the box ? Mr. Combe asked the prisoner if she claimed the jewellery. She replied that she did not. It was placed there by her husband. . _ Mr. Reuben having sworn to that property, his worship directed it to be handed to him. Mr. Piesse, the prosecutor's solicitor, informed his wor ship that two savings bank books were found in the boxes, one showing that £3O had been deposited in the name of Joseph Gifford, and the other £lO in the name of Louisa Gifford, on the 7th of May, three days after the present robbery. He asked that those books might be given up to his client, Mr. Combe told him he could make no order on the sub ject. The police, no doubt, would use their own discretion with regard to those books as well as the rest of the pro perty in their possession. The prisoner was then ordered to be discharged, but she was immediately taken into custody again by the City officer and conveyed to Guildhall to answer other charges of a similar nature. THE ALLEGED MURDER IN KENSINGTON. — DISMISSING A JURY.—Yesterday afternoon, at two o'clock, Mr. J. Bird, the coroner, and the jury who had been empannelled to inquire into the cause of the death of a newly-born infant, alleged to have been murdered by its mother, assembled for the fourth time in the board-room of Kensington Workhouse. It will be remembered that on the last occasion the jury were unable to agree to a ver dict, after having been locked up for several hours. Four of them were for a verdict of wilful murder, and nine for an open verdict of found dead. Yesterday the jury informed the coroner that they had not agreed to their verdict, and there appearing no probability of their doing so, the coro ner dismissed them, leaving the case in the hands of the police. The mother, a young woman named Jenner, is still confined in the workhouse, she being t oo il l to be re moved. Extraordinary Pit Accident near Dudley. At about five o'clock on Monday afternoon an alarming accident occurred at one of Messrs. Coch rane's pits at Shut-end, near Dudley, by which several men viere said to be killed. It ai.peared that about the time; mentioned six of the miners engaged at the pit were being drawn up the shaft in a" cage" used for the purpose. Above this cage three pieces of wrought iron are placed for the pro; tection of the men, and this is called the " bonnet; The men had proceeded but a few yards up the shaft when they became conscious of a heavy mass bearing down upon them. A fearla crash followed, as a skip from the bank struck the bonnet, and, singular to relate, killed none of the inmates, The only man really injured seriously was T. Mantle, az middle-aged man, living at Woodside, who was, on being brought up, conveyed at once to his home, and medical assistance sent for. The cause of the accident was one of the horses taking fright, and rushing away in the direction down the pit shaft with the skip after him. The skip, it appears, be came disengaged from the horse and fell down the shaft. Its weight, with the iron hoops and tackle attached, is estimated at half a ton. The persons on the bank expected to find every man in the ascending cage a mangled corpse, and their astonish ment can easily be imagined when they discovered that the lives of their comrades were so miracu lously preserved. Mr. Horton, surgeon, of Dudley, proceeded as early as possible to the scene of the accident, and afterwards visited Mantle. It was found upon examination. that he had sustained a severe fracture of the skull and concussion about the chest and back, but he is not at present in any absolute danger. The other men were all more or less bruised, but they were all able to walk to their respective homes. The escape of the men shows the absolute necessity of using the bonnet during the ascentior,descent of the workmen in all collieries. DOCTORS AND LAWYERS. Sir Alexander Cockburn, Lord Chief Justice of England, presided on Saturday afternoon at the distribution of prizes to the successful students con nected with St. Mary's Hospital Medical School. In the course of an interesting address, his lordship urged strongly the necessity of a careful study of medical jurisprudence. He said :—lt sometimes happens that scientific- witnesses differed from one another, and that in consequence the value of their evidence was considerably diminished. He had seen one set of scientific witnesses called, and give their opinion on. one side, while another set of witnesses had testified just to the reverse. From this descrip- tion of scientific evidence medical evidence was not exempt. Now, on this point he would say that there was a natural tendency for men to become biassed. in favour of the side for which their evidence was sought. They were inclined to look with more or less favour on the side that paid them the compli ment of asking their assistance. He did not mean to say that they intended in any way to depart from the truth; but, unconsciously, they looked at all the circumstances on the one side, while they did. not give the same attention to circumstances ou the other. He, therefore, hoped that whenever they had to appear in courts of law they would. take care to allow no sort of bias to enter their minds. Scientific men frequently showed a ten dency to speak of their science in hard technical. terms, which was natural, but evidence given in - pedantic language was often nearly unintelligible to laymen, and consequently its value was lessened , He recollected a medical man of vast attainments drew up a report which was read in Court. He (the Chief• Justice) was counsel on the other aide, and the report being couched in bombastic and pe dantic language he turned it into ridicule and got the verdict. On grounds which he explained he believed the verdict was right. Some time after he fell ill, and he sent for the doctor whose report he had ridiculed. The doctor said to him, " Well, I thought you were a clever fellow, but I have altered my opinion." " How so ?" he (the speaker) asked. " Because," replied the doctor, " you are foolish enough, after speaking of my report in the way you did, to put yourself under my care." (Laughter.) The doctor treated him with the greatest care and skill, and he soon recovered, COUNTRY MARKETS. V LEEDS—TUESDAY. Millers showed little desire to operate, but fine descrip• tions of red and white wheat maintained late rates. Bar ley nominal. Beans made less money. In other artides no change. MARKET HARBOROUGH—TUESDAY• White wheat, 48s to 51s ; red, 43s to 47s per 36 stone• Malting barley at 35s to 37s per qr. ; grinding, 30s to 32e per 30 st. Oats, old, 26s to 295; new, 22s to 24s per 21 st. ; beans, 32s to 36s per qr. LIVERPOOL-TUESDAY. At our market to-day there was a moderate attendance of millers and dealers, but wheat experienced a limited de mand at a decline of Id pet eental on the prices of Friday last. Flour met a dull sale, at easier prices. Indian corn again 6d per qr cheaper. SHEFFIELD—TUESDAY. There bas been a fair business doing in wheat, at fully last week's prices. Other articles as before. Red wheat, per load of 3 imperial bushels...lss Od to 16s Od White If , ...20s Od to 21s Od New red , ...17s Od to 18 s O d New white :, 9 f ...18s Od to 19s Od Beans lf 71 ...15s Od to 19s Od Peas, per qr Grinding barley, per qr 2Bs Od to 30s Od Malting ditto, ~ 34s Od to 3 850 d , Oats 1 , 2ls Od to 27$ Od Flour, is 7d to 2s 2d per stone. NEWCASTLE—TUESDAY. The trade in wheat was quiet, and prices were at about last week's rates. Flour only in retail request, and barely late quotations. Other articles unchanged. Old white wheat..s7s to 61s Old red wheat, ..53s to 56e New do. I 48s to 538 New do. ..42s to 49e Malting barley....37s to 42a Oats 22s to 32k I Grinding d0.....29s to 32s Beans 37s to 46s Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Aur.ralia and Mauritius, via Southampton ..June 1 8 ' via Marseilles June 12 drazil and Cape Verds, by British packet July 5 .,, Cape of Good Hope, As cens i on , an d S t. H e l ena J une 29 China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton June 10 ' via Marseilles June 1 2 ' Falkland Islands .. June --, Gibraltar, via Southampton June 8. 10. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon ' , via Southampton June 18. via Marseilles June 12 India (Bombay), via Southampton June 1 0 . via Marseilles June 29 J une 10 , Portugal.... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton J une 10 , via Marseilles .. June 1 2, Newfoundland .. June 10 , Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... June 10. by 'U.S. packet.... by Canadian packet. Juno 12 W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe June 10 Bahamas, via New York July 2. Mexico .. All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, I June 13 California, and British Columbia. Births. BAKER.—On the 4th inst., at Wood Lawn, Leese, nesi Maidstone, the wife of Lieut,-Col. F. M. Baker, late o H.M.'s Indian Army, of a daughter. COLES.—On the sth inst., at Norland-square, Notting-big the wife of George Charles Coles, Esq., of a daughter. GRIFFITH.—On the sth inst., the wife of Captain T. $ Griffith, H.M.'s Madras Army, and of rantgwyn, Car' diganahire, of a daughter. RYND,—On the 19th ult., at Quebec, Canada, the wife 0 Major M'Kay Rynd, 52d Regiment, of a daughter. Marriages. FARQUHA.RSON—DAVIDSON.—On the 25th April, at Seal kote, Charles Elliot Farquharson, Esq., 21 s t HussarE youngest sou of Captain Farquharson, R.N., to Elizabc tl Reid, youngest daughter of the late Robert Davidson Esq., of Calcutta. STONE—NELSON.—On the 4th inst., at All Saints', Fu l ham, William Stone, Esq., of Liverpool, to Catheriu Fleetwood, eldest daughter of Park Nelson, BET , c Parson's-green, Fulham.: Deaths. DEVEY.—On the th inst., William Devey, Esq., 3, UPI ° Hamilton-terrace, aged 81. MACREIGRT.—On the 14th ult, at Quebec, C an ada, cap + Frederick Archibald Macreight, 17th Regiment, aged OGLE.---On the 6th inst. at Sea Beach House, Eastbourn( Harriet Anne, widow ' of the late Lieut. Henry 00 R.N., aged 83. WESTBROOK.—On the 7th inst., Andrew Westbrook, Freeman's -court, Cheapside, aged 50. WRITEREAD.—On the 6th inst , Edward Whitehead, EN Grasscroft, Saddlew,rth, Yorkshire, aged 72. Wo Brook, Rnsw Liverpool, Elizabeth sw at or H th o , ll Wordsworth, aged 89. n th the 6th th inst., o d r y e l 1 3 c t e n o k i Capp London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREW Y. in the County of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TUE SuN Office, No. 11 Strand, in the Precinct of the 3avo Mld€l.leaex.—WednesdaY, oft 10 Ha