The Sun. — London, England, 1854-02-14 00:00:00

Caine to be substituted for the ancient definition of scot • and lot, was always insisted on before the voter was allowed to poll. We introduced that check and several others into the Reform Bill, with tpe view of ascertain ing the solvency and sufficiency of voters. Considering, however, that a voter must be a person living either in a house of 101. value, or in one rated at 61. a-year, and must be in employment for a considerable time before he can vote, it appears to us to be no longer necessary to keep in force the previous payment of rates and taxes, and there- I fore we propose that, in future, persons on the register shall give their votes without being subject to the check. (Hear, hear.) We propose another change in the existing law with respect to the register of electors. There have been various decisions in election committees upon the question of striking names off the register ; now we make the register of voters final. (Hear, hear.) I, perhaps, have not explained myself with sufficient clearness on the subject of the 101. franchise. We preserve this franchise exactly as it is, with the exception of two changes, one of which provides that, if the franchise is claimed in respect of buildings and dwelling-house of the joint value of 101., thelbnildings must be of the value of 5/. a-year ; the other charge relates to the payment of rates and taxes which will no longer be insisted on. To this franchise will now b e added the new one, founded on a residence of two years and a half or two years and 10 months in a. house rated at 61. in a municipal borough. Auy pe rson fulfilling that that condition can compel the overseer to put kis name on the register. I have still to a cquaint the house with another change of considerable importance which we purpose effecting. When compla.mtfsrestpectg bribery arid corruption have proceeded ron many ie boroughs in this kingdom, it has been ove r r woe a epr nl ,rp o o v ns e e r of voters—namely the again represented that one freemen—were deeply implicated in t Proposed the Reform actions. (Hear, hear.) When I -e o t that for leave to is 1831, it contained a clause i inserting into the measure as similar a b a r o u ht t eos t introduce—namely, a clause to enact that, after the ex -we preposo that . no person who may tion of existing interests, the freemen's franchise shall cease. (Hear, hear.) hereafter take up his freedom by birth or servitude shall have the right of voting. It is this which has influenced us in our proposition to add the new right of voting founded on the 61.1 municipal rating ; for otherwise our bill, by ex tinguishing t h e freemen's right of voti ng, wou ld b e a mea sure for contracting instead of extending the suffrage. I have now to mention another intended change, which, though not arising immedietely out of the proposed bill, is connected with the general scheme of representation. It is ou r intention to propose an alteration in regard to the statute of Anne, which obliges any member of the House of Commons who accepts office under the Crown to vacate hi s seat and go to a fresh election. The spirit of this act w as unknown from the time of the Revolution until the 6th of Anne. The act arose out of a dispute on a great principle, respecting which Whigs and Tories took entirely different views —namely, the question whether the House of Commons should be entirely independent of the Crown, or whether it should contain Ministers of the Crown who, having an influence over the assembly, might establish Parliamentary government in the country. The Whigs maintained that Ministers should have seats in Parlia went; the Tories, on the other hand, maintained that all placemen should be excluded from the house. It being impossible to reconcile these conflicting views, an act was passed by way of compromise, which provided that all members of the Commons who might take office under the Crown should vacate their seats, but be eligible to be re-elected. As long as the House of Commons continued unreformed—as long as there were a number of convenient members connected with the Treasury or dependent on persons in immediate connection with the Ministry, no great inconvenience was experienced from the operation of the act. When Mr. Canning accepted the office of Se cretary of State he vacated his seat for Liverpool, and was immediately returned for Harwich, because the latter was an easier seat, and would cause him less trouble than must attend the representation of a large town like Liver pool. In those times, when a seat could always be found for any person for whom it was required, Ministers suf fered little inconvenience from the act of Anne ; but when the principle of popular representation was introduced into all our elections, the statute created difficulties which were hardly compensated by the advantage of having new elections. The theory is, that a person ought to go before his constituents in order to enable them to decide whether they will have a member who is a servant of the Crown, or one who is perfectly independent. Now, in point of fact, that question it ,rdly ever arises on such au occasion ; but the question which generally arises is—" What is the most embarrassing topic connected with the member va catine his seat," or "is he likely or not to obtain his re turn The consequence of this state of things is, that very often the Crown is embarrassed in its choice, and is obliged to select a person whose re-election is sure, rather than one mere fitted for the office, but whose re-election is doubtful. lam of opinion that no public benefit which may arise from an. adherence to the principle of popular control in the representation can be equivalent to the ad vantages arising from it in this instance. If Ministers are to appear in this house, and to be answerable for the conduct of affairs, they ought to advise the Crown to give office—if to members of Parliament--to such members as in their judgment are most fitting to hold it. It must be obvious that there are many things which a member may do fully as important as taking office, without asking the opinion of his constituents. For instance, he may totally change his course of politics. (Hear, hear, and laughter from the Opposition.) Upon such an occasion he may, or may not think it advisable to go before his constituents, but the decision on that point rests with himself. For these reasons we think the operation of the statute in question is not generally beneficial, while it is very often inconvenient, and therefore we propose its abolition, and to allow any member—as was the case during the reign of William lll.—to accept office under the Crown without vacating his seat. I will now proceed to state to the house the various boroughs from which we propose taking one member, and likewise the places to - which we propose giving the members thus removed. I mentioned to the house two classes of boroughs from which respectively 29 and .13 seats are to be taken. To these 62 seats it is neces sary to add 4 more which are now vacant, making a total of tea. I will state the places to which we propose giving 63 of the vacant seats. The remaining 3 will be given by a measure which I will not now stop to describe, to populous -places and universities of Scotland. Fir.-t, as regards, the places from which seats will be taken. The following bo rotighs, having less than 300 electors, or less than 5,000 in habitants, will be disfranchised :—Andover, 2 members ; Arundel, 1; Ashburton, 1; Caine, 1; Dartmouth, 1 ; Evesham, 2 ; Harwich, 2 ; Honiton, 2 ; Knaresborough, 2 ; Lyme Regis, 1 ; Marlborough, 9 ; Midhurst, 1 ; Northallerton, 1; Reigate, 1; Richmond (Yorkshire) 2 ; Thetford, 2; Totnes, 2 ; Wells, 2; Wilton, I.—Total, 19 boroughs, returning 29 members. The following bo roughs having less than 500 electors, or lees than 10,000 inhabitants, will lose one seat each ;—Bodnain, Bridge north, Bridport, Buckingham, Chichester, Chippenham, Cirencester, Cockermouth, Devizes, Dorchester, Guild ford, Hertford, Huntingdon, Leominster, Lewes, Lud low, Lymington, Lichfield, Mahlon, Melton, Marlow, (Great), Newport (Isle of Wight), Peterborough, Poole, Ripon, Stamford, Tamworth, Tavistock, Tewkesbury, Tiverton, Weymouth, Windsor, Wycombe (Chipping)— total, 33 members. The counties and divisions of counties containing a population of more than 100,000, and at pre sent returning two members, to which an additional mem ber will be given are these :—Bedford ; Chester, southern division ; ditto, northern ; Cornwall, western ; ditto, eastern ; Derby, northern ; ditto, southern ; Devon, southern ; ditto, northern ; Durham, northern,; ditto, souther.. ; Essex, southern ; ditto, northern ; Gloucester, western ; Kent, western ; ditto, eastern ; Lancaster, northern ; Lincoln, parts of Lindsey ; ditto, parts of Kes teven and Holland ; Middlesex ' • Monmouth ; Norfolk, western ; ditto, eastern ; Stafford, northern ; ditto, south ern ; Somerset, western ; ditto, eastern ; Salop, northern ; Southampton, northern ; Suffolk, eastern ; ditto, western ; Surrey. eastern, Sussex, eastern ; Warwick, northern ; Worcester, eastern ; York, East Riding ; ditto, North. Wales.—Glamorgan, 1. Additional members, 38. The cities and boroughs containing more titan 100,000 inhabi tants at present returning two members but. hereafter arc to return three : Birmingham, Bristol (city), Bradford (Yorkshire), Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester (city), Sheffield, Wolverhampton ; Salford, to return in future two mem bers—total nine members. Unrepresented towns contain ing more than 20,000 inhabitants to receive one member each are : Birkenhead, Burnley, Staleybridge—total, 3 members. I have already mentioned that the West Riding of Yorkshire and South Lancashire are each to be divided into parts, with two members each, which will appropriate eight more of the vacant eeats. The new borough of Chel sea and Kensington will take two more . the Inns of Court two, the London University one ; and all these together, with the three seats reserved for Scotland, make up the total number of 66. A MEMBER, asked whether each division of the West Riding and South Lancashire was to have three members ? Lord J. RUSSELL.—Yes. It may be convenient to the house if I give a summary of the manner in which we pro pose disposing of the f;t; vacant seats. It is thus Counties, and divisions of counties West Riding South Lancashire Three new boroughs, one each One new borough Nine boroughs, one each additional 9 Inns of Court London University Scotland .. 38 Total I have stated the general provisions of the measure, I hope not at too great length, but in such a way a 9 to make it understood by the house. I will net enter further into any general considerations connected with the subject. It wh o L belief that the measure will tend to correct defects inch, sooner or later, must be amended, anal . that, by addin g to the n- umber of wrsons privileged to return mem bers to this house, we shall give a wider basis to our re presentation, and thereby contribute to the strength and security of our constitution, ! inil cause the people to feel g reat er confidence i n leave to brine in With these observations I ask 0 a bill to amend the laws relating to the ...—representation of the people in k, n ~, , 1 an (1 Wales. ' r . IL T. LIDDELL said, he rose thus early in the debate, became the hon. mem b er f or M anc h es t er th oug ht St to open thes j og a petition signed by some 3,000 names of the in habitants of Liverpool, to the freemen oferP t oo_l, imputing bribery a nd comm at constituency. H e (M r . Lidd e ll) had h rejoiced that he done so; because, without auy violation of the rules meet the charge at the earliest thei house' he was enabled to l h e o st possible moment. (Hear, bear.) He trusted the member for Manchester would take the first opportunity of making some specific motion upon the requirements that petition. He told the hon. member that he of Liverpool, prepared to fight the battle of the freemen . to vindicate their character, and maintain their sights, He trusted that the house would not be , y o o o t h electorse when a h pepa consistede a}:,re ance of a bulky petition with 3,0 ' 07 1 signatures, reminded them that the populatio n o f 500,000, with a constituency ofo n a b o e f u t l Liverpoolbi not the register. He rejoiced that the. noblaenlyoro4fl did e existing pro pose a bill of disfranchisement against freemen, though he might see reason to object to the,,: wfeudttuhree disfranchisement of that class of voters. As re g measur e which the noble l ord had s ketched fort 7 deration of the h ouse, he could not hel p remarking that the reference to the p etition of the Frien ds of the People People had cut the ground from under his feet. The noble lord read seriatim all the complaints contained in that cele brated document, and then declared that the causes of every one of them had been removed by the Reform Act. It was not his desire, nor was it the desire of those with whom he acted, to add to the difficulties in which the moble lord appeared to be prepared to plunge the country 17 discussing at the present moment a subject of this ex citing nature. He hoped that the measure would not reach a second reading, but that it would be postponed in deference to the feelings and welfare of the country. The noble lord had begun by stating that 19 boroughs, which returned 29 members, were to be disfranchised. Was it rs!dble that the noble lord could proceed to a measure of rsachieement of that extent without provoking a most Petard discussion both on the part of friends and foes, or Bald , he Possibly proceed to the prospective disfranchise mut• of freemen without occasioning a vast amount of painful and acrimonious discussion ? (Hear, hear.) In the Present House of Commons the noble lord knew the sup .ort which he might anticipate in case of need • but if he mied the bill which he had laid, upon the table it would ? I most involve the necessity of a dissolution of Parliament during the summer or autumn ; and who could tell what changes and vicissitudes might take place in the course of a protracted war, or in what temper the people of Eng land might be at the time when the dissolution took lace ? (Hear, hear.) The noble earl at the head l o ' f the Government had stated in another place that the hope of preserving peace need not yet be abandoned. T ope o he feared, was shared by very few persons in this country, and in whatever bosom it found a refuge it must be a hope very near akin to despair. He certainly could not share that hope, and, as he believed the country to be nearly involved in a war which was likely to be snore protracted in duration, and to be fraught with more serious consequences than the noble lord seemed to antici pate, he conjured him once more to consider whether the present was not a juncture at which such a measure ought not to be pressed upon Parliament. Before he sat down there was one point to which he wished to allude, upon which he thought the house was entitled to some explana tion. During the discussion of the Reform Bill in the Cabinet the resignation of the noble lord the Home Secre tary had been made known to the country. He begged to assure the noble lord that, as no man upon the Treasury bench possessed more the confidence of the country than the noble lord, so no man in that house was prepared to speak of him with more respect than he was ; but he thought the noble lord owed it to is own character, and to the satisfaction of the house and the country, now that that the question of Parliamentary reform was brought fairly under their notice, to give some explanation of that retirement which, at a very moment of our domestic his tory, left this country for 12 days without a Home Secre tary. He hoped the noble lord knew that he was of suffi cient importance, and filled sufficient space in the estima tion of his countrymen, to render anything that he did in a public matter the subject of remark, and deserving such an explanation as the circumstance might seem to demand. Upon that account he wished to ask the noble lord if he would condescend to inform the house what were the circumstances in connection with the Reform Bill which had led him to abandon the helm which he guided with so much vigour, and leave the country at a most critical period 12 days without a Secretary of State for the Home Department? (Hear.) Mr. H. BAIL LIE asked whether the same principle which had been laid down for England would also be ap plied to Scotland, and whether all places which did not contain 300 electors would be disfranchised ? Mr. F. FRENCH asked the same question with reference to Ireland, and also whether counties with populations exceeding 100,000 were to have additional members, as in England ? Mr. ELLICE thought it rather hard that the noble lord should have included all the freemen of this country in his charge of general corruption. Since he had represented those truly honest, independent, and incorruptible men, the electors of Coventry, in that house, now nearly 40 years, he defied the noble lord to say that upon any occa sion had any charge of corruption been made against the freemen portion of his constituents. There was one good argument upon which it appeared to him that the right of the freemen could be maintained. The house wished to give the franchise to the best instructed of the working classes. The process by which the freemen of Coventry gained their votes was by serving seven years to the same master in the same city. Unless their conduct was good, and their masters certified to that effect, they could not obtain their freedom ; and what better proof, he asked, than such a servitude could they have of the fitness and qualifications of a man to exercise the elective franchise ? (Hear, hear.) This was not the time when they should take away one of the franchises of the workmen of this country. They were just now engaged in a struggle for the maintenance of the value of their labour, and he asked them at such a time not to deprive them f the right of being represented in that house, especially when their fit ness to be represented might favourably contrast with that of any other class in the community. (Hear.) Mr. GEACH corroborated the views of his right hon. colleague with respect to the freemen of Coventry, and ex pressed his opinion that the system of freedoms provided a class of voters of greater aggregate intelligence and political knowledge than could be obtained in any other manner. Colonel SIBTHORP hoped that the freemen of Lincoln would treat with the same contempt that he did the un just, unnecessary, and unworthy observations of the noble lord. Ho wished that her Majesty's Ministers might be as honest, upright, and straightforward as they were. (Hear, tear, and a laugh.) Then we should have the Treasury bench more pure, more to be relied on, and deserving of greater con fidence than it was at this moment. He had known those freemen for years. He entertained the highest opinion of them, and he would not condescend, ob jecting as he did to the bill almost altogether, to do more than to repeat his hope that the freemen of Lincoln would treat the unworthy stigma which the noble lord had thought proper to place upon them with that contempt which he told the noble lord that he did. (Laughter.) _ Colonel BLAIR wished to know if counties in Scotland with a population of upwards of 100,000 would be allowed au additional member? Sir B. HALL complained of the want of enfranchise ment as regarded the metropolitan boroughs. (A laugh from the Opposition.) The noble lord proposed to give an r,dditional member to the borough of Salford, and he took—so far as he (Sir B. Hall) could understand—a popu lation of 100,000 as the point about which he would give a third member ; and on what principle was it, therefore, that he made the metropolitan beroughs an exception to this rule ? Mr. NEWDEGATE wished to know if the noble lord formed any calculation as to the number of each of the new constituencies? Mr. PHILLIMORE thought the project of the noble lord the member for the city of London as to the repre sentation of minorities, was certainly a whimsical oue, to say the least of it, and he wished to know if the noble lord would have any objection to apply the principle to the proceedings of that house, so that out of every three measures the majority might carry two, and the minority one? (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) He certainly disagreed with the noble lord's proposal to repeal the act which obliged all persons accepting place to vacate their seats. The act, passed by Godolphin's Ministry, was intended to provide against, placeiueu having seats la that house, and was described by Mr. Hallam as being a most valuable and serviceable provision. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord must recollect that it was part of a system, and, though it might produce great inconveniences at times, yet these were, without doubt, entirely balanced by its advantages. (Hear, hear.) Mr. TUFNELL regretted that the bill contained uo pro vision relating to the property qualification. He had ab stained last year from bringing the subject before the house, hoping that it would be included in the anticipated mea sure of reform, a hope which was greatly strengthened by the fact that, in the constitutions recently granted to the colonies, we declare that persons qualified to be electors should be also qualified for representatives. As the noble lord, however, had not dealt with this point in his measure, he now gave notice that he should himself, as early as pos sible, ask fur leave to bring in a bill•on the subject. Mr. HUME said, that one great object which he had always had in view in promoting reform had been to bring within the pale of the constitution a body of men who hitherto, he thought, had been hardly treated—the higher class of artisans. This measure, however, so far as he saw at present, gave no opportunity of doing that. Considering how many of these artisans were obliged to go about from place to place, often residing less than one year in a place, it was scarcely to be expected that a6l. franchise, with two and a-half years' residence, would admit many of them ; but, had the noble lord fixed a 5/. franchise, with one year's residence, he would probably have given many of them votes. He was greatly pleased with the noble lord for having persevered with the measure at the present time ; for he was perfectly satisfied that the country was fully capable of considering a measure of this sort calmly and deliberately, even under the pressure of an impending war. Of all parts of the measure he most approved of Schedule A. He hoped, however, that the house would never pass that part of the bill which related to the representation of the minority. All our institutions were grounded on the preponderance of the majority, and such a principle as the noble lord now sought to introduce was entirely new. He should also have much preferred that the noble lord should have brought down the suffrage to one universal standard—the municipal suffrage. In conclusion, he would ask the noble lord, whether he had made any calculation as to what would be the number of the elec toral body? At present it was, in round numbers, about 0)0,900, and he wished to know whether it would be in crease.' or diminished. He would ask how it was that a new member wits to be given to Salford, while the Tower }lamlets, with a population of 500,000 was still to have but two? After a few words from Mr. CAYLEY, Mr. H. DRUMMOND said, it cannot be expected that 1, who so much disliked the former Reform Bill, should look upon the present one with grateful eyes. That Re f arm Bill was hailed as a revolutionary measure by every man in the country who liked revolution, and it was re p tiled by every man who disliked revolution, and both of them alike called it honestly by that name. (Hear, hear, from the Opposition.) 1 can find no fault with the noble lord for pursuing the course upon which he then entered, hat I confess I am again somewhat surprised, as I was 1- it year, that, knowing how to interpret our own language, those who support this measure should speak of it under tile character of a measure of " Conservative progress." It is progress, undoubtedly; progress in that revolutionary measure which the noble lord himself so stigmatised 23 years ago. This is a measure which is entitled, I think, te the same character. Now, sir, not to call names with out stating clearly what I mean by the terms, I mean this, —that you do sever, and did at that time sever, and are going on severing, property from power. (Hear, hear, from the Opposition.) No matter by what means, no matter what words you use, that severance is Socialism. Whether it be wise in the noble lord to bring this measure oe at this time I care not. Ido not believe it signifies at all whether you discuss it in a state of war or peace,—the measure contains in itself that which must be sooner or later destructive. It is of no use in the world speaking of it in other language ; it is incense offered to that party which for 21 years the noble lord has idolised, the party which honestly, and without disguise, declares that its in teetion and hope is to establish shortly a democracy iu this country. (Loud cheers from the Opposition.) Mr. J. BALL thought that the provision in the bill which gave a vote to any man who had 501. in the savings baak would remedy some of the defects complained of by the hon member for Montrose as likely to arise from line itieg the franchise to 61. He hoped that this would be made to include every kind of savings, and particularly :Asurances. He thought Ireland would have great reason to complain if the same session which saw the application of sound views of reform to England was allowed to pass without their being extended to Ireland. Lord J. RUSSELL—SeveraI members have asked me wi .h respect to the measures to he introduced for Scotland and Ireland. All I can say is, that I will not attempt to explain those measures at present, but that the same prin ciples will be applied generally to all the three countries, and that the number of members for Ireland will remain what it is, while the number of members for Scotland will be three more than at present. With regard to any of their provisions, I beg leave to decline answering any questions at present ; the Chief Secretary for Ireland and the Lord Advocate will at the proper time submit the re speetive measures for the consideration of the house. The hee. baronet the member for Marylebone has asked why tal i re was not a greater addition to the number of the me tropolitan members. Now, we propose to create Chelsea awl Kensington into a borough, to return two members, awl really, sir, I think that will be sufficient addition to the metropolitan members. (Hear, hear.) When we consider how much the metropolis is one place, the advan the members have of being here with their constitu ents near thein—(a laugh)—coming down, as the hon. baro net often does, having had a communication with some hundreds of his constituents in the morning to express their views here in the evening—l really think we must agree that the metropolis—always excepting, of course, that part which I represent (a laugh)—is sufficiently well represented. My right hon. friend the member for Coventry complains of my proposal for the future disfranchisement of freemen. All I can say with respect to that is, that in all cases where THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING-, FEBRUARY 14, 1854. inquiry has taken place there seems to be at least a general opinion with respect to freemen, that they are a class ' more particularly liable to be worked upon by bribery and corruption, and I propose therefore not disfranchising those at present existing, but to prevent any such class for the future from coming in. Ido not wish to enter into any details of the bill now, but rather wish that the house should consider those details when they have the bill before them. lam well aware that no explanations that I could give would enable the house to form so complete an idea of the measure as they can obtain by a careful study of the bill itself, and I only hope that they will give it their fullest attention. The bill has been drawn with no reference to any party influence, but with a view solely to obtaining the best general representation of the country. The hon. member for West Surrey said that the whole plan of this bill is intended to advance democracy. I differ entirely in this from the hon. gentleman. (Hear, hear.) I remember perfectly well those predictions in 1831—the King was to leave his throne—the House of Lords was to belabolished completely—every sort of calamity was to fall upon us. For my own part, Sir, if lam not mistaken, the people, during the time the reformed Parliament has been in existence, have been more attached to the institutions of the country, more decidedly well-affected to the throne, than they were in times before. (Cheers.) One thing I remember particularly. In the close of the year 1819 the Minister came down to Parliament with six bills, which he introduced into this house. One was to prevent public meetings, another to ga g the press, another intended to re strain some other popular liberty—all measures, as Lord Castlereagh expressed it, of strict coercion, intended to repress what he considered the growing disaffection of the country. Let the hon. gentleman be persuaded that, as my noble friend the Home Secretary has said in one of his celebrated speeches, there were two kinds of re volutionists—one who seek by tumult and violence directly to change the form of government, and those who, by opposing well-considered and useful plans of reform, impede all moderate progress, and thus cause those violent changes which they themselves must deprecate. My belief is, that the present measure is what my noble friend at the head of the Government has in an ticipation described it to be, " a liberal and conservative measure." That I believe is the description which fully agrees with its character. With regard to the question put to me as to the numbers of the constituency, I really have not ventured to bring any calculation before the house. It was so difficult to calculate how many of certain classes now have votes, and it would be impossible to tell what the future number would be. _ _ _ Mr. W. D. SEYMOUR inquired whether the two years and a-half residence was to l,e in the same house or in the same borough ? Lord J. RUSSELL.—In the same borough, but not ne cessarily in the same house. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE thought that, oa the whole, the bill, with some amendments, would be a very excellent measure. The next thing the noble lord had to do was to convince the country that he and his Government were in earnest, and that they were determined to pass a bill to improve the representation of the people. They must on no account listen to the evil counsels with which ho was, no doubt, beset—to postpone the discussion of this measure until the question of war or peace was decided, or the war ended. But who could tell when a European war such as we were now threatened with would end ? Suppose the measure had been more mild, would hon. gentlemen opposite have supported it ? What did they settle to do with the noble lord's measure in 1852, which was really thought notlworth discussing by the Liberal party? He perceived from the noble lord's proposal that several of the Whig boroughs, left untouched by the Reform Bill of 1831 and 1832, were proposed now to be disfran chised. It was said the Reform Bill of 1831 and 1832 was corrupt, because Caine was one of the bo roughs left in by it, but now it was proposed to disfranchise Caine, as well as Richmond, in Yorkshire, Arundel, and other Whig boroughs. This he thought was a fact speaking well for the intention of Government. (Hear.) Ho hoped there would be no attempt to postpone the measure, but that Government would let it take its chance in that house, and trust the rest to the people of this country. He held in his hand a list of gentlemen who met at Lord Derby's in 1852, after the " little Reform Bill" was introduced by the noble lord (Lord J. Russell). Upwards of 100 were present ; and he had now before him a list of all their names. (A laugh.) He would not, how ever, read the names, as the house was well enabled to guess who would be there—namely, the friends of the right hon. gentlemen who by some accident got into office the year before last. (Laughter.) With regard to that list, he would read a paragraph accompanying it—" At a meet ing held at Lord Derby's house yesterday, the policy to be pursued by the Protectionists with respect to the Reform Bill was discussed, and it was unanimously determined to oppose the second reading of the bill." That was just what the other side proposed to do now, and the more so as they had now an impending war thrown into the scale to assist them. (Laughter.) If they opposed the bill of 1852, of course they would oppose the larger bill now pro posed. (Laughter.) But all the noble lord (Lord J. Rus sell) had to do was to convince the country he was in ear nest, and to render the measure popular in the country depended upon how wide the noble lord opened the door to the industrial classes of the community. (Cheers.) He thought the noble lord had not opened that door wide enough. The two years and a-half residence proposed by the noble lord would in some cases be in effect three years and a-half, inasmuch as a man might not take up his resi dence until just before the registration took place, and, consequently, his claim could not be considered until a year had elapsed. It would be seen, then, that this clause would exclude a large number from the posses sion of the franchise. He approved of the proposal to extend the number of metropolitan members, and he hoped the noble lord (Lord John Russell) would receive, if ho was in earnest, the support of the country. The noble lord might rest assured that he must depend upon that support and upon the exertions of Government to give effect to that justice to the working classes which he (Mr. Duncombe) maintained had been much too long withheld. (Cheers.) Mr. E. BALL could not allow the debate to close with out expressing his gratitude to the noble lord the member for London for his proposal to give the London University the right of being represented in the House of Commons. Ho thought the representation of the country could not he better advanced than by conferring the franchise upon the educated portion of the community, and, on behalf of the University of London, he begged to thank the noble lord for the privilege he proposed to confer upon it. Mr. HEYWOOD observed that in the county of Lan caster the division of the 10/. householders would about double the number of electors, and at the same time it would, of course, double the expense of elections, as twice the number of electors would have to be brought to the poll upon each occasion. . . Mr. MURROUGH complained that in the proposal of the noble lord (Lord J. Russell) no step was taken to dis pense with the property qualification of members. After instancing the names of several illustrious statesmen and authors who had been members of that house in former years, he asked if there were not now, upon both sides of the house, hon. members who had served their country with ability to the public and honour to themselves, who, on the threshold of theirpolitical career, could by no chance have possessed the property qualification? The effect of the property qualification was frequently to unseat the duly elected representative of the people, and to defraud a constituency of its franchise and privileges. Without dwelling upon the character of a law which required a man to hold a seat in the House of Commons upon no better recommendation than the adequacy of his patrimony, he contended that the electors themselves were treated with the grossest injustice by such a provision, inasmuch as they selected the man they deemed the best fitted to re present them, and none but the most venal could form an opinion of the adequacy of his means. In many cases the property qualification acted in this way,—the man who was chosen by the electors as the advocate of popular rights, after possessing his seat for a few weeks, found him self ousted by an election committee, while a man whose principles were disapproved by the electors, and who pos sessed i neither their esteem nor respect, stepped into the seat as their chosen representative. Unless the noble lord (Lord J. Russell) made a provision in the bill to remedy the defect of which he (Mr. Murrough) complained, he should feel it his duty to propose the introduction of such a clause. Though it might be said that at present no agi tation was going forward upon this subject, he was con vinced that the people of this country would be greatly disappointed unless it was brought forward, and he felt that it would be playing a most dangerous game indeed to teach the people of England that they were to expect no thing save that which resulted from a successful agitation. Mr. MAGUIRE thought that in one feature the bill pro posed by the noble lord the member for London applied as much to Ireland as to England, and he begged the attention of the house while he referred to it for a moment. The feature in the scheme of the noble lord to which he alluded was sufficient to alarm both countries, but was most preg mmt with danger as regarded Ireland. He referred to the repeal of that provision which compelled a member taking office under Government to go before his constituents be ' fore he could again enter Parliament. To show how the repeal of that statute was fraught with danger even to Ire land, he alluded to a meeting at Dublin of 60 members of Parliament, elected by their constituents at great sacrifice, who at that meeting made a solemn declaration binding themselves to a certain line of policy sanctioned by the great mass of the Irish people. Since that period several of those gentlemen had ac( epted office under Government, and on doing so, under the statute at present existing, they were compelled to vacate their seats and go before their constituents for re-election. But if the measure proposed by the noble lord (Lord J. Russell) passed, and the pro vision to which he referred existed no longer, what check would there be against corrupti o n ? A hundred members might bind themselves to a particular policy, but if the existing check against corruption were done away with, every man of easy virtue would take advantage of it, sell himself to the Government, and abandon his constituents. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) He considered that there could not be two characters more distinct than the inde pendent member of Parliament and the servant of Govern. meat, and he should do his utmost to oppose the repeal of what he believed to be a most sanitary chock upon cor ruption and treachery. The SPEAKER then put the question, and leave was given to introduce both bills, which were accordingly read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on the 13th of March. for Montrose. A great change had taken place in the prac tice of the house since the precedents to which the hon. and learned gentleman the member for Youghal had re ferred. At that time there was no limit as to number, and the practice of appointing small committees in the na ture of judicial committees had not then been adopted. He thought it improper, in a case of this kind, , to appoint even so large a number as fifteen. The charges which had been made were such as ought to be judicially and carefully inquired into. (Hear, hear.) He was sure that the only wish of the hon. gentleman opposite was to have la tho rough investigation, but he had not been long in the house and had not had an opportunity of watching, as other hon. members had, the changes which had taken place in its practice. It was for this reason that he now called his attention to the fact, that what was in accordance with precedent in the year 1834, would be contrary to all recent precedent if it were adopted now. Mr. LUC. S said the mere appointment of a committee was not sufficient to effect the object which the hon. and learned gentleman had in view. It had been decided that the honour of the house required that the complaints which had been made should be subjected to a full and searching investigation. Those complaints included not only the specific facts mentioned, ley Mr. Kelly and Dr. Gray, but the general charge made against one hundred members of that house by the article in the Times newspa per. (Hear.) If that charge were true, multiplied offences had been committed of a very secret character, and such as were very difficult of investigation. What course had the house generally adopted when inquiring into secret offences of that kind? If they wished to inquiry into allegations of bribery—in reference, for instance, to such a borough as St. Albans—they took care, concurrently with the ap pointment of a committee or a commission, to pass an act of indemnity. (Hear, hear.) If they wished to get rid of the corruption complained of by this article, they must adopt the same course, and must place the witnesses who might be able and willing to give evidence before the com mittee in a situation to do so without risk to themselves. (Hear, hear.) He did not mean to say that any party wished to smuggle up the case ; but their own conduct in other instances was the best proof that a measure for the protection of witnesses must be passed, in order that those witnesses might be forthcoming. He had an additional reason for making this suggestion to the house, in some thing which had come to his knowledge since the former discussion on this subject. He had certain newspapers brought under his notice which had at first led him to ap prehend that ho might possibly have done some injustice that class of Irish representatives of whom he had expressed an unfavourable opinion ; for he had seen in the columns of those newspapers that Government appointments were " legally saleable," and that the Times itself had been a party to such transactions. (Hear, hear.) He had copied from that journal certain advertisements which seemed to him to deserve the attention of the house, if they honestly wished to inquire into the charge which had been made, that offices were actually sold. (Hear, hear.) In the Times of the 11th January this advertisement appeared : " Douceur-2001. will be paid at once to any lady or gen tleman who will legally procure for the advertiser (a young man of business habits, and who writes well—(laughter)— a permament Government situation worth 2001. per annum. The strictest secrecy will be observed in the matter.—Ad dress L. S. D., Post-office, Cork." (Laughter.) On the 28th of January there appeared, among others, an advertisement offering " a doceur of 1001. for five years, for a Government or other situation, legally saleable, of not less than 3001. per annum, by a gentleman aged 48, who with draws from one of the liberal professions; strictest secrecy may be relied on, and security, if required, in leasehold property—Address, J.M.,l2lEdgeware-roa.d,Paddington.' Another advertisement, which appeared on the 4th of Feb., offered 101. for a situation in any of the Government or public offices, as messenger, light porter, or gatekeeper ; and the Civil Service Gazette of the 28th Jan. contained an offer of 5001. cash for a permanent public appointment, with a yearly salary of from 2501, to 3001. (Hear.) He had been curious to see whether there were any advertisements offering places for sale. He had found one in which the advertiser professed to be able to procure a situation of 1001. a year 'in an old established business "—(Laughter) —but coupling this with the fact, which was stated imme diately afterwards, that the duties were " from ten until three," he must say that this looked very like an offer to diepose of a Government situation. (Laughter.) He had been anxious also to see whether there was any difference in the number of these advertisements when Parliament was up and when it was in session. (Hear.) He had ascer tained that during the whole month of January the Times contained 12 such advertisements; and in the first week of Feb. no fewer than 15. So that they had, in fact, consider ably increased after the meeting of Parliament. (Hear.) According, to " Russell on Crimes," the buying and selling of offices was an offence indictable at common law, and by the 49th of Geo. 111. the public aion of any advertisement containing proposals for that purpose made the party pub lishing liable to a penalty of 501. (Hear.) Within one week from the commencement of the 'session the Times had brought itself, in 15 instances, within the spirit of that enactment. Nobody could doubt, after reading these ad vertisements, that the buying and selling of offices did take place. The fact was put before the public in the newspapers in the most glaring and offensive form ; and the disgraceful character of the transaction was attested by the stipulation made, in every instance, that strict secrecy was to be observed. (Hoar.) They could not hope, therefore, to obtain the information which they sought, without the act of indemnity which he had suggested ; and he ear nestly appealed to the noble lord opposite to state whether he would, by bringing forward such a measure, take the only step which could make the inquiry effective. Mr. GOULBURN supported the view of Sir Geo. Grey as to the propriety of having a small committee, of which there should be no quorum, so that all the members would be appointed under a solemn obligation to listen to all the evidence, and to attend from day to day until the charges made, and which affected the honour of members of that house, should be supported or disproved. They had already ample powers to indemnify any witness in respect of any statement before a committee of that house which might otherwise subject him to a prosecution, without waiting for the measure which the hon. gentleman opposite pro posed. Sir J. PAKINGTON was also of opinion that any com mittee which might be appointed to investigate this mat t ter should sit as a judicial committee—that no quorum should be appointed—anti that every member should at tend every sitting. In order to attain this end, 20 would be an inconveniently large number. In a case somewhat analogous, in which the late Mr. O'Connell was concerned relating to the Carlow election, the number of the com mittee was 11; and in another case, in the year 1835, the number was 15. Neither of these cases, however, was put as a case of "privilege," and he wished to ask the Speaker whether the fact of this being so put obliged them to revert to the precedent of 1834? Lord H. VANE trusted the committee would not be constituted like one upon which he had served some years ago. In that case, a certain number of members had been appointed by the house, but all the members represented counties, and some others had the right of attending when they pleased. The SPEAKER said the committee to which the noble lord had alluded was a standing committee, appointed at the commencement of every session. It was called the committee of privileges, and was composed of a certain number of gentlemen nominated by the house, with all the members representing counties and gentlemen of the long robe, making up almost as many members as the house itself. It had, however, very often happened of late years that matters had been referred, not to the committee of privileges, but to a committee of privileges, which was a select committee nominated by the house. In 1834 it was the practice to constitute committees of as many as twenty members, or even more ; but a standing order had since limited the number to 15, and still more recently it had been the practice to appoint to all committees of a judicial character a very small number of members, of whom every one was required to be present at every sitting. He thought this case would fall quite within that pra ttice. (Hear.) Mr.E.DENISONT suggested that, consulting precedence, they would reduce the number of the committee to five, and recommended, further, that the committee of five should be nominated, likewise, in accordance with the pre cedent, by the committee of selection. Mr. HILDYARD contended that the house could not indemnify a witness who had violated the law of the land —(hear, hear)—a doctrine which he felt bound absolutely to deny, lest the country should suppose they had any such privilege. The witness, indeed, might be able to decline criminating himself, and might, when asked if he had been guilty of trafficking in office, decline answering a question his answer to which would subject him to punishment ; but the house could not screen one who had expressly broken the law of the land. Mr. F. FRENCH thought this question was being ar gued on what ho should call Red Tape principles. Admit ting the desirability of their having a committee, it was to the ability, not to the number, of those upon it that the house should look. (Hear.) He asked why, if they were disposed to have a real and searching inquiry, they should not have a commission instead of a committee ? And why not pass a bill of indemnity. If the truth was that mem bers had disposed of patronage, and that the Government had had cognizance of such dealings, then there should be the fullest inquiry; and, with a view to the fullest in quiry, there should issue a commission. This was the only way in which the persons on whom this charge would be thrown could be freed from suspicion. He said, on the part of the Irish members—" We dare you now to a full and ample inquiry." The responsibility would be on the Government, not on members, if that inquiry did not as sume the form most likely to arrive at the truth. Mr. BUTT observed that there were two propositions before the house. One that this committee should be re duced in number, another that its appointment should be referred to the committee of selection. He had no wish but that this inquiry should he as full as possible, and that it should be conducted in such a way that the people both of England and Ireland would consider it to have been so. It would not, he said, be of any use to appoint five gentlemen unless their names were such as would give satisfaction. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL was not aware that among the Irish members on his side of the house there was any objection to any form or any extent of inquiry whatsoever. Sir J. YOUNG explained Lord J. Russell's absence by the fatigue incident to his long speech on the Reform mea sure he had brought in that evening. As regarded the proposal for an indemnity bill was not needed. The house had itself ample power to protect the witnesses brought before it. The sole question was as to the number of which this committee should consist ; there was no ques tion as to whether the nomination should be by the com mittee of selection. As to the number, it had, in the recent practice of the house, been reduced, with great advantage, from the larger to the smaller number. The number was the only question. In reply to Mr. PHILLIMORE, Sir J. YOUNG repeated that the house had ample power to protect its witnesses. Mr. ROEBUCK doubted this doctrine. If he indicted a man who had confessed before a committee of the house that he had trafficked in the sale of office, he suspected the house could not interfere to shield that man, or to protect him from legal consequences. Mr. BUTT was willing to withdraw his motion for a committee of twenty members, substituting as his num ber, fifteen—which was agreed to. Hethen gave notice of the nomination of a committee of that number this day. The house adjourned at half-past nine. THE Cold, TAX. —Yesterday an interesting return to the House of Commons was printed respecting the coal tax. It appears that the amount of local or municipal dues collected on the importation of coals or coke into the several ports of the United Kingdom was, in 1851, 243 2131. Ils. 9d., and in 1852, 240,5771. 3s. id. The taxes on the exportation of coals exported in 1851 was 48,4831. 12s. 10d., and in 1852, 47,2911. 19s. 2d. The tax on coals and coke brought by railway into the ports of the United Kingdom was 17,5331. 4s. 7d. in 1851, and 26,516/. 16s. sd. in 1852. DEPARTURES FOR AUSTRALIA.—The departures from London for the Australian colonies during the part week show a decrease. They have comprised altogether four vessels—three to Port Philip, with an aggregate burden of 1,331 tons, and one to Sydney of 946 tons. Their total capacity was consequently 2,277 tons. The rates of freight exhibit a further tendency to decline. were in possession of any information with regard to the alleged bombardment of St. Nieh Ala, and the descent of Russian ships on the Circasian coast ? Lord J. RUSSELL replied in the negative. THE FIRE IN SOHO. Admiral WALCOTT called the attention of the noble lord the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the facts elicited at the coroner's inquest, held on Friday last, the 10th inst., on the 1053 of eight lives by fire in Princes-street, Soho, viz., that the parish engine of St. Anne's, Soho, which ought, under the provisions of the 14th Geo. 111., cap. 78, secs. 74 and 75, to be kept in a known place, and to be readily accessible in cases of fire, was not available on the occasion of the late fire, owing to the want of proper powers under the said act to engage any person to keep the fire-engine in order ; and asked whether any means would be take❑ to remedy the deficiencies of the said act, and appoint persons to keep parish fire-engines in London in efficient and ready working order. Lord PALMERSTON said the circumstance had al ready been brought under his notice, and it certainly appeared to him'that the conduct of the church warden had been both flagrant and extraordinary. They were in possession of an excellent fire engine ; but a year ago they thought proper to discharge the keeper, and to lock it up so that nobody c old get at it. He did not know whether there was any law that could reach such con , duct, but if there was, the honourable and gallant mem ber might rely upon it being put in force. (Hear, hear.) c; - ottrtblitittion SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. LAIPERIAL PARLI HOUSE OF LORDS—(THIS EVENING.) Their lordships met at five o'clock. There was a rather full attendance of peers, and a considerable num ber of ladies in the Peeresses' gallery. Lord BROUGHAM was among the earlier arrivals, and was cordially greeted by the Earl of Aberdeen and other noble lords, on his return from France. ASSESSED TAXES ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Duke of NEWCASTLE moved the third reading of the above bill. The bill was then read a second time and passed. THE WAR QUESTION. The Marquis of CLANR.IOARDE then rose to move " That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, humbly praying that her Majesty will be graciously Pleased to direct that further information respecting the cessation of diplomatic relations with the Court of St. Petersburg, and the war which appears imminent, be laid before this house." He said he did not make any charge against her Majesty s Government for doing all they had in their power to prevent a war, as long as that was possible ; but what he com plained of was that now, when we might be said to be actually at war, that greater activity and energy was not displayed by the Government. (Hear.) With regard to the origin of the dispute between Russia and Turkey, namely, the question of the Holy Places, he quite agreed in what was said on that subject by Lord J. Russell, that with that quarrel we neither had nor could have anything to do. But when the mission of Prince Menscbikoff became known the whole question was in a different position. It was no torious that of all the armies of Europe the most orga nised army for—to use a French phrase—mobiliza tion or for commissariat was that of Russia. (Hoar.) The noble marquis entered at much length into the diplomatic negociations between the Four Powers, pre vious and subsequent to Prince Menschikoff's mission to Constantinople, which he had carefully read in the blue-book submitted to the house by her Majesty's Ministers. (Hear, hear.) He maintained it had been the constant aim of Russia to sow dissension between England and France, more especially on all questions relating to Turkey, and, therefore, the Rus sian Government was naturally rejoiced at the conduct of our Ministers on this question. The great question which Russia sought to have solved favourably for her self was, that she should have undisputed sovereignty over a large portion of the Turkish Empire. He (Lord Clanricarde) could not help bearing his warmest appro bation to the conduct of Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, as our Ambassador at Constantinople, for he had a most difficult part to play, the Turks being clamorous for war, and asking Lord Stratford for assistance, which he, by his instructions, was unable to promise them. Of all the admirable State papers he (Lord Clanricarde) ever read, one of the most admirable was one from Lord Stratford, which he would read to the house. Sir G. Seymour in formed Count Nesselrode that our sending our fleet into the Black Sea was done in no hostile intention to Russia. (Hear.) The very moment our fleet entered the Black Sea that was hostility. He maintained that our fleet convoying a.mrnuniton and provisions for the Turkish forces, that wa,s taking a hostile part with one of the belligerent Powers, and an act of hostile aggression on the other. It had been stipulated that the evacuation of the Principalities should be a sine qua non ; was that done— were not, in fast, those Principalities now a part of the Russian empire ? (Hear.) He maintained that when the Russian fleet went into the Bay of Sinope, and sunk the Turkish ships and killed so many Turkish subjects, it was not only an act of hostility towards Turkey, but it was also an insult to England and France. He did hope the nob`e earl (Lord Aberdeen) would not refer him for an explanation to the speech delivered from the throne at the opening of the session. We were now preparing a great fleet—he) hoped it would be a great fleet—we had a considerable body of troops—he hoped it would be a very considerable body—also ready to go into active service in this quarrel ; but he said this was the first time in the history of this country that ever such a state of things occurred without the Minister making some statement to Parliament. (LEFT SPEAKING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(THIS EVENING.) The SPEALBR took the chair at four o'clock. NEW MEMBERS. Lord PAGB.T took the oaths and his seat for South Staffordshire, and Mr. WYNDHAM for West Sassox. NEW WRIT. On the motion of an hon. member, a new writ was ordered to be lesued for the county of Cardigan, in the room of Mr. Powell, retired. SECOND READINGS. The Amicable Society Assurance bill, the Ayr and Maybole Junction Railway bill, the North Shields Quays and Improvements bill, and the Salford, Stock port, and Manchester Division bill, were read a second time and ordered to be committed. STOCKPORT, DISLEY, &c. RAILWAY BILL. On the motion that the Stockport, Disley, and Whaley Bridge Railway Bill be read a second time, Mr. HADFIELD moved that it be read a second time this day six months, on the ground that the line was very indifferently supported by the inhabitants of the district, and that an existing company—the Man chester, Sheffield, and Lancashire Company—whi.ch had already expended 85,0001. in its undertakings, had the sanction of Parliament to construct a railway which would accomplish the purpose of the proposed line in a more advantages manner, and which they were now prepared to carry out. Mr. GEACH supported the amendment. He con sidered it would be an injustice to the Manchester and Sheffield Company to agree to this bill, for their fin ancial difficulties had prevented them making the line ; they were at present in a better position, and were anxious to avail themselves of powers granted to them by Par liament. Mr. C. EGERTON trusted that as the Manchester and Sheffield company had failed to carry out their un dertaking the house would not refuse to pass the second reading. Mr. LOCKE also supported the second reading. Mr. BOUVERIE hoped the house would not. depart from the usual practice of the house, which was to read these bills a second time and refer them to a select com mittee. The amendment was negatived without a division, and the bill was read a second time and ordered to be corn mitted. PETITIONS. Mr. 0. STANLEY presented a petition fro rn Lord Ebrington, praying, it was understood, that a n ew writ be issued for the borough of Barnstaple. The petition, which was of con2iderable length, was read by the clerk at the table. Mr. FAGAN presented a petition from a member of she Society of Friends praying for the abolition of Minister's money. Mr. DEEDES presented a petition from the medical profession of Canterbury praying that medical men in the navy may be pla!'ed on the same footing ass their brethren in the army. Mr. INGHAM presented a petition from Shields against the present system of licensing public-hot/vies. Mr. WALTER presented a petition from Vtie pro prietor of the Nottingham Journal, praying for the re peal of the paper duty. Mr. BASS presented a petition from the Corporation of Derby in favour of the establishment of Reformatory Schools. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. T. CHAMBERS gave notice of his intention, on the 2Sth instant, to move for a committee upon the subject of Conventual Establishment. Mr. LAYARD gave notice that on Friday he. should call the attention of the house to the present state of our relations between Russia and Turkey. Mr. PHILLIMORE gave notice that, on the 27th or 28th instant, he should move for leave to bring itu a bill to amend the law of simony. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. Mr. BAILLIE wished to ask Lord J. Russon whe ther there had been any treaty or engagement entered into between the British Government and the Po rte, or between the French Government and the Porte,. previ ous to the passage of the Dardanelles by the combined fleets of the two nations ; and if so, whether such treaty will be laid on the table of the house ? 2. Whetlrer any treaty, offensive and defensive, has been entered into be tween the Governments of England, France, and Tur key, or any proposals made by the latter power to. attain that object ; and if not, wh e th e r her Majesty's Mmisters are prepared to enter up o n a war, and to send a great mili tary expedition to Turkey, without any guarantee or se curity that either France or Turkey may not at any time make a separate treaty with Russia, or withdraw from the war whenever it may suit their convernen ce to r do so. 3. Whether any proposals have been made by the French Government relative to the mode of carrying on operations as the several or conjoint occupation o f points or fortresses of the Turkish territories ? 4. Whe ther any such oommunicatione have been omitted from the blue book, either in entire documents, or as cut out from documents given in extract ? Lord J. RUSSELL said, in reply to the first of these questions, he thought it would be better th a t h e s h ould reserve his answer until Friday next, when the whole subject of our relations with Turkey would be brought under the attention of the house. He should he then ready to defend and explain the policy which the Govern ment had thought it proper to a d opt w i th regard to the aggression of Russia. , (Cheers.) A s f or th e third and fourth questions, in toe existing s t a t e o f affairs and while war was impending, it would be highly inexpedient that he should answer either of them. (Cheers.) Mr. BAILLIE complai ne d th at the noblo lord had evaded the two first questions. Lord J. RUSSELL had done nothing of the sort. He had only declined to answer them at present. Mr. FRENCH wished to know if the Government TR E MILITIA. Mr. E. DENISON wished to ask Viscount Palmer ston whether his attention has been called to section 37 of the Militia Act, by which the expense of providing a store-house for arms, accoutrements, and clothing, and quarters for a sergeant-major and a portion of the non commissioned officers of the permanent staff, is to be provided out of the county rate, while the boroughs, not contributing to the county rate, will be exempt from any portion of this charge. Lord PALMERSTON said the attention of the Home-office had already been called to the subject, and it was now under consideration whether some change could not be made in the law. ARRESTMENT OF WAGES. Mr. A. HASTIE wished to ask the Lord Advocate when Mr. Hill Burton's report on the Arrestment of Wages and the Truck System in Scotland will be pre sented to the house ; and whether it is the intention of Government to introduce any measure on these subjects this session. The LORD ADVOCATE said the report would be presented in due course, With regard to the second part of the question the subject was now under conside ration. LAW OF SUCCESSION. Mr. L. KING then rose to move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law of succession to real property in cases of intestacy. The hon. member pointed out the anomalies of the present system, and contended that it was hurtful to our national welfare that the law of intes tacy, with reference to real property, should be continued. In the case of personal property the law was, perhaps, fair enough, but it was a gross wrong that, unless a man possessed of real property made a will to defeat the law all his children, except the eldest, should be unprovided for. The only argument that could be used to keep up this system, was that of expediency, but Adam Smith had disposed of that objection by proving that it was not wise in a nation like this to have a law which made distinctions in families. It should rather be the object of the Legislature to secure equality amongst families if it could not do it among men generally, and since the example of almost every civilised nation in the world was favourable to an equ .1 distribution of a man's property amongst all his children, he was at a loss to discover what danger could result from such a measure as this. The Greek and Roman law invariably recog nised the principle which we apply to personalities in the case of real as well as personal property, and the house might depend upon it the country would be more prosperous if they no longer delayed the abolition of that pernicious system which went by the name of the law of primogeniture. (Hear, hear.) In all ages a monopoly of land has proved pernicious co the state where it was allowed to prevail ; for in stance, in this country, where perhaps there were fewer proprietors of the soil than in any other nation, they had :enes of unlioundel wealth and great prosperity, sur rounded by vice, misery, arid starvation, and he therefore hoped there would be no objection to his laying on the table a bill to abolish the law which assisted in producing this et ite of things, and which was a dishonour to the Legis lature, and a disgrace to a country like our's, professing to be civilised. Mr. HADFIELD seconded the motion, and, in doing SO, he insisted the personal property of the country was far greater than its real property, and yet no evil had resulted from the right of making a will in respect of the former. But the law as it now stood, in respect of real property, was anomalous arid unjust. If a man left be hind him his only daughter, all his real property was equally divided amongst them ; but if he left an elder son, all the daughters, as well as the younger sons, were deprived of all their means. Mr. BRIGHT said that if he were an elder son he should as soon think of defrauding his creditors in forging a will as depriving his younger brothers of their just share in his father's property, so unjust and unnatural did he consider the existing law. It was a remnant of the exploded feudal system, and a disgrace to the statute book. He, therefore, most heartily approved of the introduction of this bill. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he certainly should not oppose the introduction of the bill, though he could not approve of some of the propositions which had been made in the course of the discussion. With regard to the bill itself he should reserve himself for its future stages. Leave was then given to bring in a bill. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR. Mr. J. G. PHILLIMORE moved for leave to bring in a bill for the appointment of public prosecu tors, and said he was glad to know that the Government did not intend to oppose its introduction. The adoption of his scheme would save the public much annoyance and expense, for under the existing system prosecu , tions were left to chance after the accused left the police court, and the consequence was it frequently happened that while some parties were unjustly brought to trial, others who really were guilty were enabled to escape through' being able to tam per with the evidence. Now, the object of the bill was to amend all this. It would authorise the Crown to divide the country into assize districts, and to appoint public prosecutors for each of them, wlio should hold office during good behaviour. In addition to these the Crown would have power to ap point examiners to conduct the case before the police magistrate, and return the evidence t• the public prosecutor, who should decide whe ther it was sufficient to justify its prosecution. The bill contained other provisions with regard to the pay ment of witnesses, but these were the principal pro visions, and he hoped there would be no objection to his laying the bill on the table. Mr. HUME seconded the motion, and thought the bill provided the best means for preventing the com pounding of offences, and the prosecution of unjust charges. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the Government were anxious to have the question discussed, and there would be no objection to the introduction of the bill, but at the same time he did not think the plan upon whit h it was based was the best that could be adopted, but the Government had the subject under their most serious consideration, and they hoped after a discussion some settled scheme would be arrived at and agreed to. Mr. NAPIER rose, and was [LEFT SPEAKING.] THE LONDON GAZETTE (THIS EVENING.) LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, FEB. 13. Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold levees at St. James's Palace, on the following days, at two o'clock :—Wednesday, the 22d of February inst. ; Wednesday, the Bth of March next. REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED AT THE QUEEN'S LEVEES AT ST. JAMES'S PALACE. The noblemen and gentlemen who purpose to attend her Majesty's levees at St. James's Palace, are requested to bring with them two large cards, with their names clearly written thereon, one to be lea with the Queen's Page in Attendance, in the Presence-chamber, and the other to be delivered to the Lord Chamberlain, who will announce the name to her Majesty. Those gentlemen who are to be presented are hereby in formed, it is absolutely necessary that their names, with the name of the nobleman or gentleman who is to present them, should be delivered at the Lord Chamberlain's Office, before twelve o'clock, on the Monday previous to each levee, in order that . they may b e su b m i tted for the Queen's approbation ; it being h er M a j esty's command, that no presentation shall bo m a d e at the levees but in conformity with the above regulations. It is particularly requested, that in every case the names be very distinctly written upon the car d s to b e delivered to the Lord Chamberlain, in order that there may be no difficulty in announcing them to the Queen. The state apartments will not be open for the reception of company coming to C our t , unt i l half-past one o'clock. Notice is hereby given, that all persons having petitions or addresses to present to her Majesty at the levees, are to deliver a card (having on it their names, a statement of the object of such petitions or addresses, and the names of the persons from whom they come), to the Lord Chamber lain's office, before twelve o'clock, on the Monday previous to each levee above announced ; and that two other cards, having on them precisely what is written upon that sent to the Lord Chamberlain's office, are to be taken to the levee; on e of th e t wo cards to be delivered to the Page in the ante-roo m , an d th e o th er to th e L or d Ch a mberlain, who will read its contents to her Majesty; and, on these occasions, no other s t a t emen t is to be addressed to her Majesty. A Deputation to present an Address is not to exceed four persons. FOREIGN-OFFICE, FEB. 13. Mr. Thomas The Queen has been pleased to approve of Steers as Consul at Dundee for the United States of America. WHITEHALL, FEB. 13. The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, granting unto James Robinson Planche, Gentleman, the office of Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms, vacant by the p romotion of William Courthope, Esq., to the office of Somerset Herald. DOWNING -STREET, FEB. 14. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Hercules Geor Robert Robinson, Esq., to be President and Senior Mem ber of the Council of the Island of Montserrat. Her Majesty has also been pleased to appoint Steph en Rico and George Birnie, Esqs., to be members of the Exe cutive Council; and Joseph Hensley, Esq., to b e a mem ber of the Legi slative Council, of Prince Edward Island, Her Majesty ha s farther been p leased to appoint Alfred J. Duncome and William Hamilton, Esqs. ' to be members of the Legislative Council of the Turks and Caicos Islands. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, FEB. 13. The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a des patch from her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Florence, enclosing translation of a notification issued by the Papal Government, extending the permission granted by the no tification of the sth October. 1853, for the free importation of wheat, of Indian corn, and the flour thereof, of spelt, of barley, of oats, of legumes (except lupini), of potatoes, and of chesnuts, and the flour thereof, to the end of April next. CROWN-OFFICE, FEB. 14. MEMBERS RETURNED TO SERVE IN THE PRESENT PARLIA- MENT. County of Stafford—Southern Division.—The Honour able Henry William George Paget, commonly called Lord Paget, in the room of William Walter Legge, commonly called Viscount Lewisham, now Earl of Dartmouth, sum moned to the House of Peers. . County of Sussex—Western Division.—Henry Wynd ham, of Petworth, in the county of Sussex, Esquire, in the room of Richard Prime, Esquire, who has accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds. ' COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORD-LIEUTENANTS. 2il Regiment of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Militia.— To be Lieutenants. —Ensign Frank Cavendish Ward, Feb. 7 ; Ensign Theophilus Preston, Feb. 8 ; Ensign Thomas Pilkington, Feb. 9 ; Ensign Hewett Massey Dillon, Feb. 10 ; Thomas Gardner, late Lieutenant 4th Regiment, Feb. 11 ; Lambert Disney, Gent., Feb. 13. Ist or Royal East Middlesex Regiment of Militia.—Jas. Robert Innes Gregg, Gent., to be Ensign, Jan. 13 ; Georg. Cumming, Gent., to be Ensign, Feb. 10. bth or Royal Elthorne Light Infantry Regiment of Mid dlesex Militia.—Joseph Wallis O'Bryen Hoare, Esq., to be Captain, Feb. 7; Alexander Aitken, Esq., late Captain 77th Regiment, to be Captain, Feb. 9. LAND FOR CHURCH BUILDING. Sir W. MOLESWORTH moved for, and obtained leave to bring in a bill to facilitate the apportionment of the rent, when parts of lands on lease are taken for the pur poses of the Church Building Acts. CHARGE OF CORRUPTION AGAINST IRISH MEMBERS.-COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES. Mr. I. BUTT rose to move that the committee of privi leges, which the house, upon his motion, had decided to appoint, to consider certai n a ll ega ti ons w hi c h h a d appeare d in the Times newspaper, should consist of 20 members. He was not aware whether he was to anticipate any opposition to the nomination of the committee, and for the present would confine himself to a brief statement of the reasons which had induced him to think that the number which he had mentioned was that which he ought to propose. The house would remember that, when he brought for ward his motion, he had referred to a precedent of the year 1834, as the only one which he could find to justify the course proposed. (Hear, hear, hear.) In a matter of this nature, involving such considerations as those which were involved here, he had thought it better to conform to precedent as far as possible. The resolutions, there fore, which he had moved had been copied, word for word, from the resolutions of 1834. And finding that the committee then nominated had consisted of twenty mem bers, that several distinguished members of the house had served upon it, and that the late Sir R. Peel, who had been one of them, had thus testified, as he was bound to assume, his approval of twenty as the proper number, he had thought it desirable that that should be the number now. Ali: IIUME said there was a rule of the house that no committee should consist of more than fifteen members, unless there were some special public reason for appointing a larger number. He thought that no such reason existed in the present case, and ho should certainly object to so numerous a committee as that which was now proposed. He had rather that the number should be limited to five. Sir G. GREY agreed with his hon. friend the member BANKRUPTS. Washington Yarroll and Thomas Hallam, tailors, High street, Borough, to surrender, Feb. 22 and April 5, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Linklater, Sise-lane. Richard George Beesley, cotton spinner, Manchester, Feb. 24, and March 17, at twelve, at the Manchester Dis trict Court. Pott, official assignee, Manchester ; Atkin sons and Last, Manchester. Isaac Dewhirst, commission agent, llalifax, Feb. 27, and March 28, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Hope, official assignee, Leeds ; Rudd and Kenny, Halifax ; Bond and Barwick, Leeds. Rowland Hill, lace merchant, Nottingham, Feb. 24 and March 17, at ten, at the Birmingham District Court. Harris, official assignee, Nottingham; Shilton, Nottingham. Bircham Alpe, miliner, Duke- .treet, Manchester-square, Feb. 20 and April 5, at twelve, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Linklater, Sise-lane. Charles Leake, grocer and draper, Crowland, Lincoln, Feb. 24, and March 17, at ten, at the Birmingham Dis trict Court. Harris, official assignee, Nottingham ; Hill and Matthews, St. Mary Axe ; Bray and Bridges, Bir mingham. George Brooks, builder, Tonbridge Wells, Feb. 25, at eleven, and March 31, at one, at the Cgart of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghaltstreet ; Richard son and Talbot, Bedford-row; Foreman, Tonbridge Wells. Alexander Stuart, grocer and cheesemonger, Chelsea, Feb. 23, at eleven, and March 30, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street buildings ; Fitch, Southwark. James Heathwaite, cheesemonger King-street, Covent garden, Feb. 24, and March 27, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Cannan, official assignee, Alder manbury ; Ashurst an., Son, Old Jewry. Frederick James West, draper, 2t, London-terrace, Hackney-road, Feb. 24, and March 28, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lee, official assignee, Moorgate street ; Jones, Sise-lane. James Gibney, currier and leather seller, Notting ham, Feb. 24th and Mnrch 17, at ten, at the Birmingham District Court. Official assignee, Graham. Thomas Ballinger, confectioner and baker, Birmingham, Feb 23, and March 22, at twelve, at Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham ; Hodg son, Birmingham. Jos ;ph Grave, warehouseman, Manchester, Feb. 28 and March 28, at twe,ve o'clock, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, o iicial as .ignee ; No rr i s and Allen, Lon don ; John and William Norris, Manchester. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of this day.) SUGAR.-To-day grocery and refining qualities of West India sugar were held for Friday's rates, lout there was only a limited demand. Purchases amounted to 440 hhds and tierces. There was no public sale. REFINED.-To-day refined sugar was purchased with caution for home trade purposes. Brown lumps are 445., and low to fine grocery 445. 6d. to 48s. 61. In crushed little doing for exportation. MAURITIUS.-To-day little was done privately in Mauri tius sugar, ami,prices were barely supported. At auction 1,772 bags found buyers, low yellow 33s to 345, mid to good 34s 6d to 35s 6d, low brown 27s to 28s, and better sorts 293 6d to 33s per cwt. COFFEE.-To-day Native Ceylon was operated in with freedom ' and prices are firmer, good to real good ord rea lising 48s 61 to 49s 9d per cwt. In Plantation several purchases were made privarely at full Friday's prices. None was offered at public sale to-day. TEA.-To-day there was little passing in tea, and mer chants are willing to accept previous prices. Public sales are declared for the 22d, at present the quantity is 12,003 packages. RICE.-To-day the market for East India Rice closed quietly-sound white Bengal at 15s to 15s 9d, and Madras 14s Gd to 143 9d per cwt. FOREIGN.-To-day Foreign Sugar met with little gatig'. tion for shipping or home trade purposes, and rather lower rates were accepted for duty paid parcels. There was no public male. COCOA.-Demand decreases for West India, and supply being larger prices have given way is p er cw t . MOLASSES.-There is still a good demand and prices are fully supported. CHICORY.-There is no advance, yet supply does not en large. British Root 101. to 11/. 55., qonder 181. to 211 and foreign Root 101. 10s. to 101. 15s. in bond. TALLOW. - There is a decrease in stock compared with this time last year of 2,000 casks, and deliveries have again been to a sair extent although prices rule 17s to 19s per cwt above that period. Demand hsa decreased for Russian for all purposes since this day week, and prices declined 9d to is per cwt. First sort P.Y. Candle on the spot at 62s 3d to 62s 6d, and for delivery 62s 9d to 63s per cwt. OILS. -Sperm continues to be much wanted, and th ere is a firm market-fair to fine quality realising 901. to 911. 10s, and Headmatter 911. to S)3/. In Seal operations are limited, but sales are not pressed ; the currency is for pale 411. to 431., colored 361. to 401., and dark 341. to 351. 10s. Few buyers of cod, and 371. to 371. Os. are the rates accepted. Olive is less wanted, and a desire evinced to sell Gallipoli at 631. to 641. other sorts 571. to 601. per tun. Cocoa nut is less required. and there is a reduction, supply having increased ; Cochin is now 50s. to 51s. ; Ceylon 493. to 50i., and other sorts 475. 6d. to 48s. 6d. per cwt. COURSE OF EXCHANGE—Tuts DST. Amsterdam 11 14% Gibraltar Ditto, three:months .. 11 16 ..eghorn •....... 30 5734 Rotterdam ...... • • .... 11 164 Genoa ...... • • •....... 25 5734 Antwerp .............. 25 20 Milan Brussels 25 20 Venice • ..... Llaniburgh ............ 13 5 1 Naples ................ 42 Altona ................ Palermo 12 , x Paris • • .... 25 0 - ,21essina .............. 127 Ditto, three months .. 25 3) Lisbon 53 • • .... 25 3234 Oporto .. 53% Bourdeaux ............ Rio Janeiro ............ Frankfort-on-Maine .... 11851 Buenos Ayres Berlin . .............. New York, 60 days' sight Vienna ................ 12 60 Philtulelphia .......... Trieste .............• .. 12 55 PRICES OF BULLION, PER oz. Petersburgh............ Foreign Gold In Bars £3 17 9 Madrid ................ 503 Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 o Cadiz 50% Mexican Dollars .... 0 5 0 Sew Dollars 0 0 0 seyule 411ver in bars ...... 0 5 1% SOUTH DEVON ELECTION-(THIS DAY). (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. ) EXETER, JULY 14. Sir Stafford Northcote has res gned. Mr Laurence Palk's election is unopposed. [ADVERTISEMENT.] Sight and Hearing The Royal Exhibition, 1851 Extraordinary Powerful Munich German Glass Telescopes. 39, Albemarle. street, Piccadilly. Observe opposite the York Hotel. The Royal Exhibition. - A valuable, newly invented, very small powerful waistcoat-pocket glass, the size of a walnut, by which a person can be seen and known one mile and a half distant ; they answer every purpose on the race-course, at the opera houses, country scenery, and ships are clearly seen at 12 to 14 miles. They are invaluable for shooting, deer stalking, yachting, to sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Telescopes —A new and most important invention in telescopes, possessing such extraordinary powers that some, 34 inches, with an extra eye-piece, will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring, a n d th e double stars ; with the same telescope, weighing only 3 ounces, can be seen a person's countenance three mil es and a half distant, and an object from 16 to 20 mil es . They supersede every other kind for the waistc oa t- pocket. and are of larger and all sizes, with increasing po wer , aoccwoerrdi;nagnly. object Ope can b raamleraccleea-crolyur:etzsm 14 to 16 m il es , with wonde r f u l p distant. Deafness—New Discovery — The Organi c Vi brator, an e f x o t r rao rdinazi .powerful and n ew l y- i nvented Deafness, entirely diffe ren t f rom all instrument, others, to surpass a nything of the kind that h as b een, is not or probably ove r can t . be, produced. B e i ng of the same colour as the skin, i perceptible ; it enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at public as semblies ; the unpleringing noises i n the ears is en tirel • y removed ; ensation of and it affo r d s a ll the assist. anco asant s that possibly could be desired.-39, Alb emarle -street, p iocad di v . Observe, opposite the York Hotel. BIRTHS. or ♦ SON. On the 10th inst., at tho residence of William Norton, E sq ., Down-loge, Epsom, Mr, William Lyon. On tho 10th inst., at Brussels, the wife of Major Jeffrys, 88th Regiment. OP A DAUGHTER. On the Bth inst., at Bruges, the wife of T. H. King, Esq., jun. On the 10th inst., the wif e o f H enry Hagen, Eq. , of Duncroft, Staines, stillborn. MA &WED. On the 9th inst., at St. Michael's Church, Bath, Edward C. Boville, Esq., son of Edward Boville, Esq., Glenthorn, Torquay, to Louisa Margaret, only daughter of the late Try Maguiac, Esq., of the Bengal Civil Service. . Drowned, o n th e night DIED of the 20th December last, by the foundering of a boat on the Indus, near Kotree, Lieut. Win. Chapman, Bombay Engineers, second eon of Wm. Chapman, Esq., 54, Wimpole-street, aged 31. On the 10th inst., aged 62, Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Crawley, late of the 74th Highlanders. LoNDON: Printed and Published by lEURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, N 0.112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Saroy, in the county of Middlesex, Tuesday, February 14, 1854. . aid i g .,..,:........m..5igi of lii 47 ♦, Moorgate• APAND DIRECT ErtIBETION, s quiresC oloursthesAdaPnielni SIR. AL include EVERY EVEN Tuesday, Thursti which can be tal 2c; gallery, 15. EGYPTI) open TO o'clock. The Lei Luis been wrltte BROOKS. A.dm LAUREL (Lessee, The above 1 and will conti CELEBRATED Dancing to coin ROYAL PA TURES, preps PEIOTOGRAY thousand supt DISSOLVINC LECTURE by M tNPFACT' COLOURS, h and WARRE LECTURE by • UNIVERSAL DESCRIPTION TUBULAR I Open Mornin Children under ' lINW —Admi Adelaide-street, renowned HUN such intense int programme is v ancient and mo Clonal Melodies loady, eonductc Augarde; Brougham. M Tbree. Overture (Gt Canld Blast), 1 farbaden), :Art Warm an Ori Song (Fend Mt Royal Sussex is Ellzalteth Selection (L. Glover, the solo, planofort (Dream of the Ealozdy ; Soni drllle (Idalta), MINES sate I to the shares c their estates a of thkse are € while others prospects of sc alone from an en account of tendant there( eorrespon tent position early eeive all requ either dividen wishing to ern dting. 32, Poultry rirlHE C Lord and Ireland, Instant, at rich Person delivering in lindermentiol HAY OATS Half of eac one week al A sample by the parth The condlt tender .btait one o'clock c Every tens and bear in must also bi GLEI her made CONE (which gain Wholesale Cheapside, ME ( LC Emporium They will b Mach 6 prof potation lc tables, Des for the I' N.B.— Th Useful Pa AT R' STERY,: LADIES' lie:nent SHAWL MEN. London 69, 70, 71 - _ TRI Pharmac The In whilellit 1 to embitl appoints] of a moe space of these Di, Ing at 0] of taste toilet tat Sold tr separate &c. Th protract , 95, Far Oxford-! ON Til C Plustra New E • KILLARI NOTICE GEls ERAL MEE PANY will be he gate-street, Lon& at One o'Clock in And notice is Company for the on and from Mon of Monday, the sa Depar p PA The , sable tr per rem , ern butt per ehr< «ton mei are don Ele