The Sun. — London, England, 1836-02-26 00:00:00

A tb° e --..................... factor that t her ------------- "'e w ou ld b e ro loss whatever by the previous I ns, and the mere standing expenses of the Commission 12ight surely be covered by a -1- or A- per cent. In Scotland the Commissioners .sf a similar Board - had last year s(nt left in wish e d their hands, havi ng no losses or expenses to pay out of it. He ished to kne m if it was the intention of the Government to renew the L Jan Act of -I 834 ? he. CPAANCELLOR of the EXCHEWMA agreed .tall_a,..t wome. alteration in the charges might be justly and bone -4,.a.A1) .- ..7 effected. He meant to give the Commissioners power Th. ?special cases to lower the rate of iltterest charged to facili tine cert.o..n works. He was not able to speak of the certain te-enaettnent of the Loan Act, but it was his intention to in strodnce ri. clause that would e•aable the Board to make a loan at once (without burdening the borrowers with the necessity of Making formal applicatior. to his Maj es ty t o l o d ge security as ' pn 4,t.e?snts w Prtsent) in cases whc they found th e property of the ap to sho as p e r f ect ly re adequate.—( Hear.) H e ment i one d t hi s w his lion. Friend that he was s not inattentive to the recommenda.tions of the Commissioners ; but he would not 'sacrifice a principle by int er f er i ng w i th the rate of public pecu niary transtmtions. ~ Mr. HUME sa id that it was thought by 'some that advan -"ge w° 111, 21 r4rise to Ireland if Government would advance lhlmoney thr.lr e at a lower rate of interest than ordinary ; but s Was an error, f or i f it was allowed that Ireland wanted the aid o f 'npital from private individuals, and it confessedly did, great danger and inconvenience to the country at large would ar ise, by interfering with the rate o f th e i r supp l y, which was illten times the yearly amount that Government afforded by use loans. He indulged no bad will to Ireland in the expres `s'ion of this opinion, which he felt convinced was the true view of the case. Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN was happy to hear that such improve 'Meets were in the contemplation of Government for Ireland, but he must enter his protest against th e p r i nc i p l e l a i d down : 1 1 the Cha nce ll or of the Exchequ er , th at b ecause the rate of interest was higher there than in England thereto of charge on the loan should be proportionately high. BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS . Mr. HARDY brought in a Bill to amend and consolidate the several Acts relating to bribery in the election of Mem bers of Parliament. H e sa id , that as the subject had already been SO fully before the House, in consequence of the labours et the Bribery Committee and Intimidation Committee of previous years, he felt it unnecessary to accompany it with any Qi3t,ervat ions. ROADS IN SCOTLAND. Mr. J. MAX WELL brought in "a Bill to Inovide for the better management of the roads in Scotland, supported by statute labour conversion funds." His r .onstituents, at whos e desi re h e i ntroduced this measure, coraplained that the collec tion of the funds for the support of th e public roads were at present very imperfectly and unequP;lly.made and inefficiently 4 PPlied, insomuch that in many cases they were obliged to Pay a second time, to get the - reads made passable. The Act by which the selection of t l ie trustees of these roads was regu lated was as old as the t .!.me of Charles IL, and the valuation of land at that period_ (on which eligibility to vote still de pended) was altor a ether inapplicabl e , an d pro d uctive of great practical anornal- f and inconvenience. The complainants de manded severa:i points of reform in the parochial management of their roar!.s, such as provision for the proper publication of of the las', year's expenditure and the coming year's demand hthe atnount to b e levied on each householder and labourer_ !e appointm en t o f trustees, collectors, and overseers the La tof appeal, &c. The evils under the present syste m were le -it to be extreme in some cases.' In a farm of sixty acres in 130 e parish the charge amounted to 31. (or 35.) al l acre, and oil the labourers, who were in a condition littl.4 superior to Paupers, 4s. each—equivalent to a whole wr e les wages th ere at p resent. The Hon. Member here rerd various statements from correspondents, illustrative of the, bad working of the Present Road Laws. Sir A. L. HAT should move as lion of hi s H on . F r i end, that r an amendment t o t h e !no- Select Co mm i ttee b e appointed t he existi ng l aws may brato investigat e th e whole su!,j ect, and report to th e H ouse h ow best amended. G. Clerk and Mr. After a few words f.torn Mr. C. Br uen , M r . W a ll ace, Sir , Maule, - 0 t h M r. MA er XW F 44 L consented t o w ithd raw hi s motion, and, appointed. mendin.t having been ag ree d to , t h e Committee were FLOGGING IN THE ARMY. ,„, 1% , 1 r• 1-4.ENNARD rose to bring forward his motion on the i - „7•ie..,t of corporal punishment in the Army. It was not his ;re'ntion, in so doing, to trencli upon the ground taken up by 'we Hon. and Gallant Member for Bratstaple (Major Fan ) ; all he wished was, to make an attempt to obtain that l Information without whi c h it would be quite imp oss ibl e to ca l u pon the douse to agre e t o any enactment upon the subject. 3efbre any Bill connected with thisbrou g ht question was for am w ard, he th oug h t t h e House had a right to inquire howfartte,°tint of co r p ora l pun i shment in the Army had been di ni / "ied, and how far the present military practice d wasin ac cor dance with that milder spirit of legislation m ercy , and I vilich every year infused a greater portion 'rite. geral it gislation of the country. It was only a short time s i n ce - that 'he House was put in possession of any material upon which to form their opinion respecting the use which courts-martial Made of the power, committed to their hands. The first light Which broke up on t h e House upon this subject, was from the l iberality and human i ty of the Hon. Member for Coventry, and afterwards trom the exertions of the Hon. Member for Middle "x• The returns which had been granted were certainly use ful, s o far Its they went ; but it was his (Mr. L.'s) wish to go Much fur‘ther. H e wished to show—what he believed was the fact—that when a man was once flogged, it was found ne cesasary to fl og him repeatedly, until, in fact, he became a s'..nt e,A.fr'gging brock,--(Hear, hear.) Not unfrequently it ed to the loss of health, and was assuredly a source of moral com p_ ..."---(Hear.) The substitution of hard labour P :ad solitary , wfinernent, would be attended with the e . t e st advan ,3ig!. In an early part of the session he In•A given notice „.- ' Motion for a return of the names of persons who ion -er e . •,„ subjected to corporal punishment, ti ll ,ea and the nature of the offence for 'and the number o#' which it had been in- D o -c 'e, d• This return would enable him to trace the course of this ' -4113hMent from its cause to the eject it produced, and would "able the House to say whether „enntinue. Finding, however., that the ft ought to be permitted to production of this return Wo u ld be attendee," 'with considerable expense, and that in movin g for it he ,, would have to encounter consider li- ? ° PPosition, he cont'mted himself by moving for a more il!lilted return—a spee'.fication merely of, the number of sol l'ers who had been r,,unished, and the number of times they This suffered either imprisonment or corporal punishment. appro xi mate, ti• ms would enab i le him, if not to accomplish, at least to _tlfieus for the, tell:Pointed to .e object he had in view. He was also very production of the report of the commission •aterlaite 'inquire into this subject, for he doubte d . not rn e ra : et ! of Which it would put the House in possession must did i i nflu ence their judgment upon this subject. He not th ose . m ean , in any respect, to d isparage the judgm en t o f h si xbo diff ere d f rom him in opinion upon this subject, but 4,- ,o uld be all owe d t o o b serve t h at the opinion of military fl, 't upon the propriety of abolishing the punishment of }„,iging in the army was by no means conc l u si ve.—(Hear, . `ztr) The y he feared, wedded to it with something tlf th wer e, • ;to e prejudice with which men look upon long existing cus ,vs, and this was strengthened by the mutual confidewee 04" ch they ent er t a i ne d, t h at i n the hands of imbers of 'th e i r I t tt Professio n t h e power would not be l i k ely to be a, 1, bused. 1 11 . 1 % l ;as curiou s , b ut not • t h e less true, that when S ir S. 0- brurious, S Sofought forward his ce l e b rate d proposition fer the miti s"" the penal co d e , th e c hi ef opposition lie encountered % from the judges of the land.—(Hear, hear.) In New llad t h l t, Wales, two or th ree years since, 'an Order of' Council th an On issued, ordering that no nean should receive more Peal m "3" lashes. It was then said that this order must be re nod,`"---•that it would be quite i :mpossible to govern the colony her ed r t his system. The Co anvil, however, very properly ad -04 ,-,' to the order, an '.l the colony has been ever since going (1 1 i, 3 ,. w ell as ever.-,..(Hear, hear, hear.) Such, he had no li c' ti - o - ti " would be t:ne effect, not of a mitigation, but of the abo hesl.-I°l the r,anishment of flogging in the . army.—( Hear, lgoer" c r,i s le Rouse had too long allowed its judgment to be e posse„ - - ',.r - those who, from their profession, were supposed - d, "Welr : 3 ' k particular knowledge upon this subject. opinions of cohere ''', of acting under the influence of the opini NI,-.,;',. 1- , o t best course for the House to adopt would be to in i t '''. t he greatest possible number of facts, and e-uided It o ,. 'll' decision by them.--( Hear, hear, hear.) Wh b en the ta•,„ lB ° Was about to renew the Mutiny" Act, or t h at . part of it i t • t r ?tin g flogging in the army, he trusted they would feel T vet e lr duty to inquire into the circumstances connect l ed t 'la piaeeY infliction of this punishment which had recent . y . ken rs ‘ v ould lie trusted that the report of the Comm is s ione rs ti ork Put the House in possession of much valuable informs viiro,ivltlt,otnotatililisy asbuobljiseheet,d,and would induce them to interfere to W, e that cruel, sanguinary, and in many cases fatal punish andbreplaced by some system less re. Pe o le l g to humanity--les.s in opposition to the feelings of the fnir, P dT e r these countries. If any doubt reste d . upon the Imp rehe anY Honourable Member on this subject, it . would, he re th, e tided, H onou rable removed by the circumstances detailed befo re the e:reneri inquests which had recently sat to inquire i nfi l 7 e ! c`f the deaths of two marines who had died after The j e tton of corporal punishment.—(Hear, hear, hear.) the k'°n• Aiernber - concluded by moving 011",:t.sItnent or I,ll_,,tsnirriber of soldiers who have suffered either corporal imprisonment, and whenever either corpo r a l 1 1 , 1 ! 8 ' . innent or imprisonment has been inflicted on the s n a so isflie'tnedrnore than once ; specifying how often it has bee n ili r. c u ., e 'ost • " T EIS, tho ug h h e had from time to time paid the iti d e fen attention to all the arguments that had been urged hat the ° of floggi ng i n the arm was still stron of oinion 4naicte.Pun'.shment outfit not to , y gly p be allowed to be any longer 41lowe'•In tim e of peace it oug ht not most assuredly to be say to reMajn, 14,411, far it though he wo uld not take upon himself to mi be useful in time of war, with an army on ket,”.Ber.vice. His . object in rising was to move as an am l e d n h cl e hp ob,k:_°..the adoption of which he apprehended there won v 4„Ton), the insertion of the words---" What the sentence /vir, "u what was its effect when put into execution." had *; C• FERGUSSON was sorry Ithat his Hon. Friend „(.140. tight it necessary to go at such length into the subject t he ra t ' r •Y fiognin. He (N 1 F r usson) had come down to i , ~,o us, .. _ b .b• . r. eg . .r a le ' supposing that his Hon. Friend would merely move tiueti returns of which he had given notice, and to the pro file "°I which he had , not the slightest objection. As eonl_sukiect of corporal punishment in the army would thoZiregularly under the consideration of the House, he Inotie4 not then enter upon it, but confine . himself to the Prod uct . f the Honourable Nlember, which was for the Production , l ml of certain returns. There certainly e th e tr ensidcrable di ffi culty in distinguishing, in these r etur n, it w as u lther of times corporal punishment was inflicted, where do ,!flicted more than once. With respect to an observe son) k mch had fallen from his Hon. Friend, he (Mr. Fergus the ili'egged to observe that there was nothing whatever before an y , a o s tis e to warrant his assumption that death bad been, in. rehe„,e, Produced by flovingthe contrary, he ap- nued, when the returnbwas made out, it would be found that death was not 13:reduced by the corporal punishment which had been inflicted. In conclusion; ,he s ,begged tO,sky he had no objection to the ViodUciin oTtbk rt fdr: Mr. 'ROBIN e subject of corporal pu nislthi y►ittn thb army was not regularly before the House, he Could not allow the opportunity to pass without expressing his utterabhorrence and disgust of the practice : nor could he he persuaded by any arguments drawn either from returns or•from presumed facts, that either that House or the public would be satisfied with any diminution whatever of the extent of corporal punishment. With nothing less than its t ota l a b o li t i on would they be content.—(Hear, har.) There were two cases which recently occurred at Woolwich, and which demanded the im• mediate interference of that House, It was not his intention to allude at length to these cases, as one of them he believed was still undergoing judicial inqairy. Yet he 'mild not help observing —n o matter what might be the return made to that House—he should be still convinced that had these men not been flogged they would oot have died. As a substitute for flogging he would suggest, in the case of great delinquents removal from the Attny. General Slf A RPE would implot the House not to adopt any course with a view to the abolition of corporal punishment in the army, without being well assured that they coota gupply a substitute that ehould be equally efficacimis bi preserving the discipline of our soldiers. He denied that flogging could be regarded as a degradation. The lion. and Gallant Member then referred to the cast of a private soldier in a olinint of cavalry who had been flogged for some offetteo, Six months after having been flogged he was prOrntna to the rank of a non-commissioned officer. Shortly. afterwards he (General Sharpe) returned from abroad with his regiment, and finding that he wanted an adjutant, wished to promote this Yuan. Upon signifying his wish, he was told that the man had been flogged. He said in reply, that the importance of this depended on what the man had been flogged for. Finding, upon inquiry s that there was nothing disgraceful in the conduct for which the man had been punished—that, in fact, in was foe going to sleep on his post after fatigue of service—and Olnerving the perfect pro priety with which he deported. himself amongst his brother officers, he had no hesit'ation in appointing him adjutant, and he had every reason to be fully satisfied with his subsequent conduct. After that was he to be told that Corporal punishment ought to be abolished ? Mr, HI/ME was surprised at the assertion of the Hon. and Gal.;ant Member, that there was nothing degrading in being flogged; and he could not but regret that the opinion of the Gallant General should be formed upon an isolated case, op posed as it was to so many, which should induce him to arrive at quite a different conclusion.—( Hear, hear.) However, this was not the time to enter upon the discussion of so wide a subject. He should, however, express his conviction that the time had arrived when that House should interfere to put an end to such a system. If the Government did not inter fere to put an end to this abominable praCtice, that House would be obliged to interfere, and tell both the Got - eminent and the officers of his Majesty's service, that the soldiers should no longer be subjected to the infliction of a punishment so degrading. He wished to know from Lis Right Hon Friend below him when they might expect the report of the Commissioners ? The CHANCELLP-jR of the EXCHEQUER Aid that his Noble Friend. tie Secretary of War was anxious to forward the Ikeport of the CommisSin and in answer to an applicator made within the tad few days to persons connected with. that commissieth his Noble Friend had been informed that within a week it might be expected the Report would be in the hands of his Majesty's Ministers. • Mr. C. FERGUSSON said that the individuals employed on that commission had been engaged most industriously in the duties assigned to them. N ot one moment h a d b een l ost, and he belie ve their labours had been brought to a termina tion. He could not say how long this report might be in the hands :of the printers, but he had little doubt but it would be in the hands of the Government before the expiration of a week. After a few words from Major FANCOURT, which were inaudible in the gallery, Colonel SIBTHORP said that he was opposed to the abolition of corporal punishment in the army, If the sugges tion of an Hon. Member were adopted, and solitary confine ment substituted for flogging, it would be punishing the entire regiment, by imposing on them the additional duty of the of fender. Flogging was necessary, in order to redeem the cha racter of the soldier.--(Oh, oh 1) Mr. O'CONNELL emphatically denied that flogging was either necessary or effectual for the purpose of what the Gal lant Officer was pleased to call "redeeming-d' the soldiers.— (Hear, hear 1) And so the Gallant Colonel had discovered that the substitution of solitary confinement for flogging would be punishing the remainder of the regiment for the of fence of one Suppose for the moment that it was so, would it not be cheaply purchasing the abolition of that disgraceful and degrading punishment by obliging a man to occasionally mount an additional guard?—(Hear, hear.) But what was really the case? " Solitary confinement," quoth the Gallant Officer, " would take the man from his duty." Well, did flogging send him to it ?—(Cheers.) No ; he was flogged till the skin was stripped from his back, and then sent to hos pital to abide the chance of a mortification.—( Hear.) But it was•necessary, it seemed, to flog, in order to " redeem" the soldiers. Redeem ! Oh, it was a word that should not be so deseerated.—(Hear, hear.) Thelarmy of Napoleon—not a sol dier in it was flogged, and yet they were tolerably well fitted for the ordinary duties of military life. —( A laugh.) It was time that this degrading punishment were totally abolished— tl:iat the lash should be no longer applied to the back of a Bri tish soldier, when it was discontinued even amongst the black men.—(Hear.) The Hon. and Learned Member concluded by expressing a hope that the Hon. Member for Barnstaple would persevere in his motion upon this subject. Mr. WAKLE Y said that without going into the general question, he should merely observe in ref e r ence t o th e recent cases at Woolwich, that he had himself seen one of the bodies, and he had never seen stronger proofs of death having ensued from bodily injury. Upon examination of the body, no trace of internal diseas e cou ld b e di scovere d, an d the blush of health was still on the cheek of the corpse. He should not advert to this subject at more length, as he should now give notice tisat he should on the morrow (this day, as we understood the Hon. Member), move for a return of the finding of the jury, and the evidence taken before them. There was an account of the proceedings at the Marine-barracks at this place, in a news paper of very great circulation and influence—he meant the Weekly Dispatch. He would now read it to the House :—" Early on Monday morning last, a private ma rine, named William Saundry, was led forth into. the open space fronting the barracks at Woolwich, to undergo the Christian-like punishment of receiving two hundred lashes. The square having been formed, and the wretched delinquent tied up to the halberts, the drummers commenced, when the screams of the miserable wretch were so loud and heart-pierc ing, that, notwithstanding the fifes and drums were ordered to drown them, it is positively stated that they could be heard above a mile and a half across the Artillery-ground ! After receiving one hundred lashes, or nine hundred cords having been passed over his lacerated back, Saundry was ordered to be taken down, for what reason is not known, nor will we renture to stale, whether it was a voluntary or forced act by the officer in command. Saundry was led to the infirmary in a fainting state; and whether the same fate awaits him that fell to the lot of the victim Ramsay, time alone will prove. It may be as well here to give a description of the cat used in the marine corps. Similar to others, it has nine thongs made of whipcord, in each of which three over-hand knots are tied, and at the end of each cord there is a hard substance formed, about the size of a large pea. On the night previous to the sentence being carried into effect, the drummers re ceived orders to soak the cats in water, after which they are hung up to dry, thus making each cord like a piece of wire. To complet e th e e d ucat i on o f the drummers in this diabolical practice, the figure of a man's back is chalked out in the drummer's-room, and they are taught so to administer the lash, as to prevent the cords being clotted together with an offender's blood, as they draw the cat across his shoulders. This is done that each of the knots, thirty-six in number, may . take proper effect in jagging th e man ' s fl es h." N ow thi s ac count had not been contradicted. The Gallant Member for Dumfries said, that flogging was not degrading to the soldier. Now he (Mr. Wakley) would ask whether it was honourable? He would also ask, if it was not degrading to the men, why was it not applied to the officers ?—( A laugh.) Major BEA UCLERK had received a letter from Ports mouth, in which it was stated that 4,000 lashes had been in flicted on the men in the corps of marines stationed there within a twelvemonth. He would, therefore, suggest that the return should be amended so as to include all the marine corps. He knew that it was the opinion of most of the officers in the army tha: the rime had arrived when corporal punish ment should be dispensed with. This could only be done sa tisfactorily in times of peace, and he entreated the Govern ment at least to try the experiment without delay. Colonel THOMPSON observed that he should feel him self degraded if he did not bear his testimony, after thirteen years' experience, to the mischievous and degrading results of the cruel system of punishment practised in the British army. —( Hear.) As he had served both at home and abroad, and indeed in most parts of the world, he could state with confi dence, that the practice of corporal punishment in the army was the bane and cause of misery to every officer anxious to do his duty. If it were desirable to get rid of this species of punishment in time of peace, it was ten times more so in time of war. When the army was in the field, it was extremely diffi cult to keep the soldiers from the commission of offences, and often nothing but personal attachment to their officers could keep the men to their duty. If corporal punishment had not existed in the army, he was convinced that those horrible scenes, the memory of which caused British officers to blush, which occurred in the late war, at the sieges of Badajoz and St. Sebastian, would never have happened.--( Hear.) If the officers were enabled to spare the men from this degrading punishment, and treated them with kindness, they could do almost anything with the soldiers, and easily induce them to abstain from crimes, from the commission of which hardly any thing could restrain them but respect for Their officers. In time of war, also, it was well known that men were not punished when the army was in face of the enemy. The general obser vation was, that punishment failed before the enemy. He might be asked what other course he would adopt. He would say, march the soldier, when guilty of misconduct, to the rear of the army, as a prisoner. If this did not shame him, he would then have him treated as a useless brute, or as a cart horse, and get rid of ,him altogether. General SH A RPE, in explanation, stated that be was anxious to get rid of corporal punishment in the army, but he was riot prepared to do so until he was acquainted with some other adequate punishment. Mr. ROEBUCK said that as punishments had been suc cessfully mitigated as regarded civilians, he did not see why such severe punishments in the army should be continued. He understood that the punishment in the marine corps was much more severe than that in the army. In the former, the cat which was used in the navy was used, while in the latter one of a different construction was used. It had been stated that during the Peninsular war, when the bodies of English and THE SUN, LONDON, PRIDAI, P_EBRUARY 2G, 1856. panislesoldiers were stripped and left together, that the rench, ttelopS,,wlien they,came up, could always distinguish the bodies of the English by turning them up, as they generally found their backs marked with the cat.—( Cries of " Oh, oh.") He, of course, did not state this on his own authority ; but it was asserted in a eublication written. he understood, by a per sou who was formerly a surgeon in the army'. ' Dr. B °WRING remarked that he visited the town of St. Sebastian soon after it was taken by assault by the English troops, and he had the declarations of the magistrates of the place in his possession, as to the conduct of the soldiers. He had then heard it stated repeatedly, that many officers had been destroyed in endeavouring to prevent the horrible depredations and crimes which were committed by the English soldiers. He had no doubt that the British officers could have exercised such a Control over the soldiers as to prevent them committing such atrocities ) had it not been for the system of flogging. The soldiers of the French army entertained an almost boundless confidence and attachment to their officers, and this chiefly arose from the lightness of' the punishment inflicted in that arnity. Mr. HA it VE Y stated, that when the question wastrought forward last year, it was postponed at the suggestion of the Noble Secretary at War, who steed that Government had ape pointed a commission to inquire into the system of military punishatonte, with a view to see whether a change could not Ile efPected, and that it was desirable to wait for its report. From what the House had that night heard, it appeared pro bable that a lane. delay would occur. He trusted, therefore, the 'House would not allow the matter to rest. Mr. R. C. FERGUS'SON repeated, that all the witnesses that it was intended to cell had been examined, and the report was nearly ready to be laid before the House. The hwestiga tiee had been carried on in such a way as to throw the most perfect light on the subject. Colonel L. JONES PARR Y observed, that as one of the oldest officers In the army, he was anxious to trouble the Huse with a few observations. He believed that he might quote the authority of Lord Hill, In saying that punishment in the army was declining, and that there was little doubt but that it meld within a short time be got rid of altogether. He lied Served many years in a regiment in a most excellent state of discipline, and during that time he did not recollect a single instance of petiishrfient having been inflicted.—( Hear.) As some auctions had been made to the marines—and he begged to observe that he had the honour during a portion of the late war of commanding two battalions of marines—a more excel lent or useful body of troops did not exist in the service, and their conduct was so exemplary during that time that there was no necessity to resort to punishment,-.s` Hear. ) After a few words from Mr. LENNARD, the motion was agreed to. At the suggestion bf Mr. HUME a similar return was or dered with reSpdet to the itiatitie§, trig LAW I/F CdrititOVERTEIJ ELEM'IONs. Mr e. ULLER rose for the purpose of bringing under the attention of the House the present state of the law relating to the trial of controverted elections, and to move for the ap pointment Of a gonireitthe to inquire into it, He was aware that the etilajeet Was not of a popular character in that House, Bikb lid trusted that attention would be given to him for a short time. He could not help feeling that he should have brought forward this motion with greater advantage during the last ses sion, when Members had to attend Election Committees, and when their attention was directed to the subject. At that time many Members on both sides of the House admitted that they found the present system to be inconvenient, and that occa sionally it was attended with injustice. If the feelings of Hon. Gentlemen had somewhat moderated since then, still he trusted that they had not altogether passed away, but that they were willing to enter upon the consideration of' the sub ject, and that they would devote to him for a short time their serious attention. Some Members might feel shocked at a proposal to make at once a complete change in the system of trying controverted elections ; but although he was satisfied that such a course of proceeding would be expedient, still he did not intend to do so, but merely wished to move for a Committee of Inquiry. Before the Grenville Act was passed, the House assumed to itself the right of exercising a jurisdiction in matters of election petitions, and determining in such cases who was entitled to a seat in Parliament. The decision of the House in such cases was come to under the same party feelings as operated on Members' minds in other matters, and a decision in a case of contested election was a party triumph. Never probably were the rights of such an important body as the elective body in this country, so reck lessly trampled on as by that which happened to be the predo minant party in the House.—(Hear, hear.) He would only 'refer to one fact in the history of the last century in confir mation of this. Every Hon. Member was aware that the downfal of Sir Robert Walpole was occasioned by the deci sions of the House in two controverted elections. A histo rian of that period (he believed it was Horace Walpole) said that although the Minister was in a majority of four, he thought that this was not sufficient to enable him to go,pn ; and in this view he was supported by the opinion of all honest men. The Chamber of Deputies in France also determined all cases of controverted election in the full House ; and he believed that he was justified in saying, with an equal sacrifice of justice to that which formerly was experienced here. The appointment of a Committee of limited numbers, and form ing something like a jury, was undoubtedly a great improve ment ; but still the system, in many respects, was defective. Indeed, he believed that it was now generally admitted that the tribunal for determining cases of elections, was most imperfect and incompetent, and there was a suspicion attach ing to it which he thought they ought to be proud, as. English men, did not attach to any other tribunal in the country.-- ( Hear, hear.) If the public were but behind the curtain they would be surprised at what took place at the ballot of an elec tion Committee. What would they think if they saw gentle men who were to be called upon to exercise their functions in a judicial capacity come down to the House under what was called "the whip." This was the case on both sides the House, and, therefore, he did not bring the charge more against one, party than another. For the last three or four years both sides the House had been assembled on the balloting for every election Committee under "the whip." What would the public say at hearing the expression of party feeling in the House on the appointment of members on this judicial tribunal where three or four names were called from one side ? H e repeated, that he did not apply the observation to merely one side, for it was equally applicable to both. If was also com mon to hear a Member's friends complain of Was a matter of shame if his name was called, and he was not present. Again, if a Member approached the table to be sworn off the Committee on the ground of age or official situation, what murmurs arose from his friends and what feelings of dissatisfaction were manifested,! After a ballot, also, nothing was more common than to hear a Member who might be peti tioned against, being congratulated on having a good com mittee, that was, one constituted of members of the same party as himself. He recollected a naive instance of the expression of public opinion on this point. Last session, on the ballot for the Ganterbury committee, a great many Members were chosen on it from the other side of the House —one of the great supporters of the Tory party at Canterbury stuck up the names of the committee with the letters T or R a g ainst each, so as to designate each member as a Tory or Reformer. On this becoming known, the Tory party got up a great jubi lation at their triumph in striking the committee.—( H ear.) He was sure that he should have the votes of all those gentle men who had experienced the expensive nature of an election petition. As an instance of the enormous expense of this tri bunal he,would mention to the House that he had repeatedly heard it mentioned that the expense of the Salisbury petition i n 1833 s was remarkably low, and on enspiiry he found that it was about 1,0001. The same observation had also been made in a more recent case, where the expense did not exceed 2,0001. The House could hardly be aware of the expense of some of these cases, and he happened to know one case in which the charge for counsel on one side was 10,0001. It was of the utmost importance for the constituent body that there should be' a satisfactory tribunal for the determination of election petitions, and that the expense should not be exces sive. One of the chief causes of expense was the great delay that took place, and this was chiefly occasioned by the circumstance that a committee did not consider itself hound by the decision of previous Committees. A point of law might have been decided over and over again by previous Committees, but, each Committee claimed the right of hear ing counsel and coming to a different conclusion. Of this the two Montgomery cases formed memorable examples. The Hon. Member, in illustration of the feeling generally enter tained of the nature of these Committees, told an anecdote of a Member whose return was being disputed before a Com mittee, stating to a friend that the event greatly depended on the weather—( A laugh)--and explaining, that if it should be rainy the Committee would have no objection to remain quietly under shelter and hear the statement of a knotty point on which the case turned, by which, if it were a fine day, they would not be very likely to stay and listen to. —( Hear, hear, and a laugh.) The great objection to Com mittees as at present constituted, was their absolute incompe tence to the work entrusted to them. The objection was, not That Members of the House were so swayed by party feeling, one way or the other, that they r ea lly cou ld no t be just and impartial, but that they came into Committees, in the great majority of cases, knowing nothing of the law, general or par ticular—( Hear)—that Committees were not bound by the de cisions of former Committees—( Hear, hear)—that cases were decided upon no fixed principles; that every question had to he urged before each Committee as a fresh. question ; and, as a general consequence of these circumstances, that there was in every case an utter uncertainty as to what the law had been, and what the law would be.—( Hear, hear.) One of the prin cipal questions before Committees was as to qualification, and on this subject the most contradictory decisions had been come to. The decision in the Drogheda case last Session was alto gether at variance with other cases.—( Hear, hear.) Then as to the question of custody of the poll-book —on this point the Dublin and Cork Committees had come to quite different decisions ; the former refusing absolute proof of the custody, in the very strictest sense of the word, of the books ; the latter, deeming the proof of a much less strict custody sum eient.—( Hear, hear.) So in the two Montgomery cases ; the proof of custody which satisfied the first Committee was anything but adequate to the requirements of the second ; the severity of the latter Committee might, however, perhaps be accounted for, from the fact that the day on which this ques tion came before them, happened to be the day of " The Oaks."—( Hear, hear.) The next question was as to the opening the register. This was a point of great importance , viz., whether the decision of the revising barrister should be final. All English Committees had decided in the affirmative, as bad the Scotch ; but in the Irish Committees, the case was different. Various opposing decisions had among these been come to on the meaning of the term conclusive, as applying to the barrister's decisi on . G a l wa y, C o l era i ne , an d two o ther Committees, limiti ng t h e mean i ng ; C ar l ow and Yougha l ad mitting it to the full extent. The Clonmel Committee took a middle course,_ admitti ng an ap p ea l f rom t h e d ec i s i on ' o f th e barrister in such votes as were objected to at the time of the registry, and this seemed the mostreasonable view of the point. —( Hear, hear.) Then came the proof of agency, a point which ought to be clearly laid down and understood.—( Hear.) But even on this question various contradictory decisions had been made, the question being whether proofs of acts of bribery should be allowed before the proof of agency had been esta blished. In the Session of 1833 the NoVry, Oiford, IVar wick, and Norwich Committees decided in the afiktaiiie, while those of Ennis and Hertford came to a precisely dif ~ • so that before the Bristol Committee ?•- At a loss to understand •th Corn- ferent determinats..., counsel expressed themselves as qui., which of these decisions was which. Nay, the Yarmos.— mittee of 1834 actually came successively to two different de cisions on this point in the cases of two brothers of the name of Tower.—(Hear, hear.) The second Canterbury and the Ipswich Committees had decided the new point that paupers were entitled to vote, so these were good Committees for the paupers.—( Hear, hear, and a laugh.) It had also been ge nerally understood that persons under age were disqualified to vote ; but these two Committees held that if the name of an infant happened to be left in the register he had a right to vote; on the same principle, if the name of a female were by mistake returned on the register, these Gallant Committees would no doubt admit her claim to vote, and perhaps they would not be so far wrong..--s( Hear, and a laugh.) On the other hand, the proltwicli Committee went so far as to lay it down that they would not admit the claim of a Peer whose name happened to be left on the register. Another under stood principle bad been that no persons employed in the eol= lection of the revenue should have a vote ; but a contrary de termination had been come to by the Windsor Committee of last year. Lastly, on the subject of wagers ;on this point, too, the most contradictory decisions had been made ; one Committee disqualifying on account of a betted bottle of wine, another going equal lengths the other way. The lion. Meet= ber proceeded to state that he had brought forward this sub ject in the shape of a motion for a Select Committee, because he thought such a course would be better than moving for a Bill in the first instance, and would be so considered by the House.—( Hear.) It was most desirable that the subject should be fully inquired into, in order that adequate, and not more than adequate, remedies might applied.—(Hear.) It was the opinion of some that no good would be done till all jurisdiction in these cases was taken from the House, and vested in some other tribunal ; but he certainly could not agree in this opinion.—( Hear, hear.) The jurisdiction, he thought, should be continued in the House ; but the tribunal should be rendered as perfect and unexceptionable a one as possible.—( Hear, hear.) Several other plans had been sug gested ; but he thought them all open to objection in some point or other. The plan which he should propose went to limit the extent of Committees—( Hear, hear)—to increase the responsibility of the Members—( Hear, hear)—to have the Committees struck off in a manner so as not to leave room for that violent party feeling and party exertion which was too often perceptible.—(Hear, hear.) These would be, he thought, useful changes ; but the most advantageous sugges tion he should make was, that as they had not the assistance of Learned Judges in that House, some gentleman should be appointed to preside permanently as Chairman of Commit tee, in whose knowledge of the law and experience of the practice of Committees, the House would feel confidence.— ( hear,) His plan was this :—That a Chairman (or ra ther several, as many as might be thought necessary) should be appointed at the comniencement of each Parliament of the House—( Hear, hear, hear)--that he should preside ex officio upon Committees, with a' right to vote ; that in the first week of every Session the name of every Member of the House, whether present or absent, should be ballotted for, unless sufficient excuse were offered, and allowed by the House ; that every name so ballotted for should be placed on the Committee list in its turn ; that the list of the names in that order should be printed in the votes, and that such printed list should' be considered a sufficient notice ; that all applications for delay should be left for the decision of the Chairman ; that for each Committee a list of eighteen should be made out, of whom six should be struck off by the one party, and six by the other, and that the reduced list of six should, with the Chairman, constitute the Committee.— (Hear.) He (Mr. Buller's) own opinion was in favour of but four Members for each Committee, but this would be for the consideration of the Select Committee. That in all cases on which divisions were called for, the Chairman should pro nounce his opinion publicly, and that in all cases he should charge the Committee publicly. He did not by this mean to give the chairman any powers derogatory to the House, nor to assimilate his course in this respect to that of a judge in a court of justice, but simply to enable the Committee to benefit by his knowledge and experience. That all divisions should be stated in the reports, with the names of the assentients and dissentients on each resolution.—(Hear, hear.) The only other change he should propose was in reference to costs. At present the costs were decided in reference to the nature of the petition or opposition to it, whether frivolous aql vexatious or otherwise ; but what he proposed was, that the Masts should be proportioned by the different allegations in the petition (so vte understood this part). There were other points which would be better stated in Committee. The Hon. Member con cluded by reading his motion—" That a Select Committee he appointed to inquire l into the laws regarding the determi. nation of the right of voting, and the trial of controverted elections."—( Hear, hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER believed that no person acquainted with the nature of election commit tees could deny the advantage of acceding to the motion. It would not, however, be just to attribute unfair dealing or dis honesty of purpose to these committees. Mott of their mis takes arose from the defects of the system.—( Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Gentlemkn then proceeded to refer to an in stance of inconsistency in his own case. In the case of Limerick the committee would not allow the seal of the poll-book to be broken ; but the Bristol committee, sitting about the same time, did allow the seal of the poll-book to be broken, though the book was offered in evidence under precisely similar cir cumstances. He approved of the principle laid down by his Hon. and Learned Friend, and he particularly objected to the course recommended by some, of taking the power of trying contested elections out of the hands of the House.—( Hear.) He was sure the House would not allow the Court of King's Bench, or any of the other Courts, to be mixed up with party politics, and thus become exposed to suspicion.—( Hear, hear. ) His Hon. and Learned Friend's description of the balloting for the committees was a dramatic description, but it was true. Surely they ought to adopt some plan by which committees would be rendered more impartial tribunals. He approved of a limitation of the numbers composing the committee ; by limiting the number, they would increase the responsibility. If, however, the number were to remain fifteen, there was still a better protection than limitation—a protection which had been often asked for, and it would be a real protection—he meant publicity.—( Cheers. ) Mr. WYNN begged to express his th an k s t o th e H on . an d Learned , Gentlemanfor the ability and industry he had exhi bited on this occasion. When he first came into the House, which was about thirty-nine years ago, he recollected that it was an object to strike particular Members off the election committees, not on the ground of any suspicion that they would take an unfair advantage ; but they were held to be dangerous men, because they were known to be so determined to act fairly that in doubtful cases they would rather decide against their own party than in their favour. Ile recollected having thought there was some doubt as to the decision of the revising bar risters being conclusive,' and he urged on Lord Althorp the necessity of passing a declaratory Act on the subject. The Government had promised that there should be a declaratory Act with regard to all the doubtful points in the Reform Act, but unfortunately such a Bill had not been introduced. Mr. W A SON supported the motion of the Hon. and learned Member for Liskeard. Mr. BE RNA L had no wish to throw impediments in the way of the Committee moved for by his Hon., and Learned Friend, but he believed it would be impossible to find an ade quate remedy for the evils referred to. Sir F. PO L L CK expressed his entire concurrence in the motion that had been brought forward. He had attended many controverted election committees before he was a Member of that House, and now in his placb in that House, he declared plainly and frankly, that a ComMittee of that House was the worst constructed tribunal he was ever before.—( Hear.) Mr. ROEBUCK remarked that they all agreed as to the evil, but difFered as to the remedy which ought to be applied. What he should propose was, that at the commencement of Parliament the House should determine to elect a judge, not a Member of the House, but appointed by that House. He would suggest that the person to be so appointed should be one of the twelve judges of the land, and who would have nothing else to do but to decide election matters. After a few words from Mr. Ewart, Colonel Parry, Mr. Aglionby, and Mr. Potter, Mr. BUL L R briefly replied, and the motion was agreed to. SCOTTISH LAW AISINDNIENTS. The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in six Bills to amend the state of the law in Scotland—namely, 1. A Bill for regulating the sequestration of the estates of bank rupts in Scotland : 2. A Bill to amend the law of Scotland in matters relating to bankruptcy, personal diligence, arrest meats, poinding of goods, inhibitions, adjudications, judicial sales, and poindings of the ground ; 3. A Bill for regulating the process of cesszo bonorunz in the Court of Session, and for extending the jurisdiction of sheriffs in Scotland to such cases ; 4. 'Bill to amend and regulate the law of Scotland as t o erasures i n i nstruments of sasine, and of resignations ad re. manentian z ; 5. Bill to enable bastards in Scotland to make testaments ; 6. Bill to abolish the remaining jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Edinburgh, and to regulate the mode of taking proofs in consistorial causes in Ireland. Mr. LYNCH obtained leave to introduce a Bill to extend the jurisdiction and to regulate the proceedings of the Civil Bill Courts in Ireland. C OMMISSIONERS OF THE GREAT SEAL. Mr. HUIVIE moved for a " Return of the amount received for salary and as fees by each of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, in addition to the fixed salaries of their diffe rent offices, during the time they held the Great Seal ; and under what authority the same were paid : stating, also, the amount of salary and fees from their other offices during that period. Also, return of the patronage enjoyed by the said Commissioners, in appointing to benefices, offices, and places ; stating the name of each benefice, office, and place appointed to, the name of the persons appointed, and the estimated amount of salary and allowances of each." The Hon. Member did not wish to make one word of remark upon the subject, until the return lie moved for was on the table of the House ; but as soon as that was the case, it was his intention to move a resolution, to prevent any such excessive payments in any such contingency in future. Mr. PE MBE RTON thought that he, also, should best con sult the wishe s of the House, and of the persons concerned in this commission, by likewise deferring the remarks which he had to offer on the-subject till the necessary returns were made out. He should then take the opportunity of calling the at tention of the House to the circumstances connected with the appointments of the late commission of the Great Seal ; the time it was permitted to exist, and the raode in which the com mission discharged the duties of their office. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL was inclined to concur in opinion that such a commission as a permanent measure would be objectionhble ; but he believed it would be found that in the present instance it had been permitted to endure for as short a period as possible. The returns were then ordered. ( M. tifilCH mclre:..4 MARRIAGES IN IRELAND. for leave to bilng in a Bill to repel so much of Act liitli George ;:. f: 13 (Irish), as amends and makes void all marria,,efl Celebrated by any Popish Priest be tween Protestant and Catholic. '' l -. Sergeant JACK SON would oml pose the projected Bill .I.• ••• • of the Hon. aa:r.l Learned M em b er , in every :3 , AL thought the Bill ouk ossible called Colonel PE RCi Y. stine Marriages ;" ,t to be called " An Act to facilitate Clatit:P d have no other effect. for it cOul Mr. SHAW disapproved of the laW as it stood at present, _and should be glad to see a general measure on the subject brought in-by the Law-officers of the Crown. He could not support the present Bill, however. —Leave was then given. BOROUGH OF POOLE. Mr. BL ACKBURNE moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the circumstances connected with the recent mu nicipal election for the borough of Poole, which had been de tailed to the House in the petition which had been printed and circulated among Hon. Members. The Hon. and Learned Member briefly adverted to the false return made by the Mayor, in consequence of which a majority was given to one party n the town council, whereas that majority really be longed to the other, and maintained that this was a case which especially called for the interference of PArliament. Sir F. POLLOCK did not rise to oppose the motion, as he should follow now the same course which he pursued the other evening when this question came before the hoz:se. But he hoped the House would allow him to make a few remeks on the observations made, not in that place merely, on the conduct which he adopted on the last occasion of this motion coming before the House, for in some measure his own per sonal character was affected try them. He thought he then said he should act very incorrectly and without that due sense of delicacy which every Hon. Member must feel if he took part even in the discussion, much less in the decision of this question. Now he apprehended that the House, in any de cision it might come to on this question, was acting in ,a judi cial character. He was sure that every Gentleman must admit the impropriety of a Member who was retained as an advocate in the Courts below sitting in that House as Judge in any stage of the same case. The Hon. Member for Middlesex had said that if he ref Used to interfere in the discussion because he was retained as an advocate, a delinquent had nothing to do but to retain as many Hon. Members as possible for advocates, in order to screen himself by preventing them from interfering. Was the Hon. Member for Middlesex aware of the still greater evil that might occur if delinquents were allowed to retain Hon. Members as advocates, in order that they might take a part in the discussion ?—(Hear, hear.) Was it not better that a:Member so humble and unimportant as himself should abstain from taking part en this occasion than that the honour, the in tegrity, the purity of the administration of justice by that House should be questioned front the circumstance of an ad vocate for the accused taken part in its discussions.—( Hear.) There must certainly be some limit beyond which Hon. Mem bers should not refrain from interfering. Eitzt in a matter in which any Hon. Member was himself personally concerned, or in which he was confidentially trusted with the case of one of the parties, it was impossible for him conscientiously to do his duty to his clients, and to that House at the same time.— (Hear, hear, hear.) He might certainly be told, as he had been told, that in such a case there were conflicting duties. It was true ; but it was a case which could not often occur ; it was a case which be was not sure ought to occur at all'. He, however, could not help it. It arose from the circumstance of a case being brought before the House of which the Courts o! Law had already got seisin and possession. —(Hear.) The diffi culty was none of his creating. The view which lie had taken of the question was a view not dictated by his own feeling alone, but was founded upon what, as far as he bad been enabled to ascertain, had been the uniform practice of that House. He could quote the authority of two very distin-. guished men who had been Members of that House, Lord Brougham and Lord Abinger, and he was convinced that a contrary practice would be productive of the greatest incon venience. He should act that night as he had acted on a former occasion, and he hoped this explanation would be sa tisfactory, and that he could not be fairly accused of aban doning a public duty in pursuing that course which a sense of honour and delicacy alone dictated, and he hoped that the Hon. Member for Middlesex would not feel it necessary to make any remarks upon his conduct, either whilst lie (Sir F. Pollock) was absent or present.— (Hear.) Mr. HUME said the question stood just where it did. The Hon. and Learned Member was elected to that House to take part in its discussions, and by his own confession he was, on this question, incapacitated from fulfilling that duty. He would admit to the Hon. and Learned Alember that there might be an individual case—there might be two or three cases not worth mentioning—but his position remained un touched. He was far from desiring to cast any reproach on the Hon. Member, as he had no doubt he acted from the most pure and conscientious motives.—( Hear. ) Sir F. POLLOCK then left the House Mr. C. WYNN said, that there was in his opinion no ground for an application to Parliament on the subject of the motion of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman (Mr. Blackburne) because the acts complained of had arisen from the clause in the Municipal Act, which invested certain powers in the mayors of the different boroughs, that were stated to be abused in this ease; and the Court of King's Bench was a perfectly com petent tribunal to decide this question. The evils which had resulted from this clause he had pointed out when the Bill was under discussion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not agree with the Hon. Member wil^ spoke last, that no reason had been shown for the interference of Parliament in this case. It should be recollected that the petition whici, had been presented on this subject was printed scith the view pf giving the parties affected by the allegations contained in it an opportunity of meeting the charges_ urged against them. The parties had not, however, thought proper to answer the state ments made in the petition. Parliament was, in his opinion, justified in acting in the manner proposed, because it was ne cessary that a remedy shoulkbe applied to the evil before the Court of King's Bench coda do so.—( flear.) Mr. LAW thought, that when Parliament had so lately de clared itself unwilling to assume judicial functions when its own privileges were in question, they would not be warranted in taking the case out of the hands of the King's Bench. If they did so, it would fairly subject them to the imputation of being ready, when the dominant party in the House found themselves discomfited in a municipal election, to take away the jurisdiction over the matter from' thc King's Bench, where both sides could be heard. If such a principle were once es tablished, it would lead to incessant calls upon the House to assume unnecessarily judicial functions. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, after alluding to the strong party spirit displayed in the spce;:h of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who had just sat down, observed, that this was a case in which the courts of law could afford no remedy, because when money was paid away, as in this in stance, the Court of King's Bench could inter ere in no way to restore it. He thought therefore that this was 9. fit case for the House to inquire whether the paramount power m 3 autho rity of Parliament shOuld not be exerted.—( Hear, hear. ) Mr. SCARLE TT hoped, if inquiry were granted in this instance, a similar inquiry would not be denied to his congi-. tuents at Norwich if they should think it necessary to demand one. The Conservative party at Norwich had many grounds to complain of the proceedings which had taken place there, under the provisions of the Municipal Corporation Reform Act.—,(Hear, hear.) After a few words from Mr. I3LACKBURNE in reply, Mr. Sergeant JACKSON attempted to address the House, but was so frequently interrupted by cries of " Question," and " Divide," that _ . . Colonel PERCEVAL at. length moved (perceiving that there was no longer a disposition to give to both sides a fair hearing) that the House do now adjourn. Upon the question of adjournment, the House divided— For the motion 37 Against it , . Majority against the adjournment 72 During our absence from the Gallery we understood that the adjournment of the House was again moved, when, after some general conversation, the Gallery was again cleared for a division:— For the motion Against it Majority against the adjournment— 71 On our return to the gallery— Mr. C. BULLER, after some remarlzs which were not audible in the Gallery in cons;;quence of the confusion pre vailing, was understood to move, as an amendment to the motion, " That Mr. Sergeant Jackson be now heard." A long and desultory conversation ensued, which, from the great noise and the number of lion. Members speaking in an inaudible tone, we could not comprehend, in the midst of which— Mr. T. DUNCOMBE proposed that both sides should draw lots whether the original motion for adjournment or the amendment should be adopted. Mr. WYNN contended that. the conduct. of the Ministerial side of the House in attempting to force on a discussion at that late hour after they had by their interruptions at : 4 ,rst suspended it, and the Opposition benches had become thiuncci in consequence, was aiming a vital blow at the privileges of Parliament. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER suggested a course based on the proposition of the Hon. Member for Norwich. It was that the original motion should be agreed to; and the debate resumed, if deemed necessary, on naming the Committee. . Mr. YNN rettised to adopt the suggestion. To accede to such a proposition would be to admit the principle against which they contended. A further conversation ensued, in which Mr. Blaekburne, Mr. Hawes, Colonel 'Perceval, Mr. Roebuck, and Mr. Scar lett, took share. • The House then divided on the amendment, " That Mr. Sergeant Jackson be heard ;" when there appeared— For the amendment • 103 Against it • 29 Majority —,4 Mr. Sergeant JACKSON moved the adjournment of• the debate to five o'clock this evening. • as it was evident those repeated attem The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that were for the mere purpos e of putting of the question, and a. r position for the the question could not be placed in 1) • . a at,. should offer no public to see the object of tho opposition, he pts at postponement , further obstruction. —(Cheers.) Sir R. BATE SON congratulated the House on tt,:" victory obtained b y constitutional principles. o _ Mr. WAKLEY proteste d aga i nst t h e circumstance .e 4:, 4 small minority preventing so determinedly the business of the i country. , Mr. WYNN said th a t the Hon. Member ma d e ' ; T o high a flight when he took his side of the House to task for exercis ing their undoubted Parliamentary privilege. It was in his own recollection that Mr. Fox divided the House five-and twenty times in one night. After a few words from Mr. FINCH, the amendment was agreed to without a division. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed or, and the House adjourned, at a Quarter to Four o'clock. i;,;R,LIAMEN TARY PAPERS. IRISH MO-NICIPAL CORPORATIONS. The subjoined are . the titles and schedules relating to the principal provisions of the " Bill for the .regulation of Muni cipal Corporations in Ireland." Repeal of all Acts, Chartersiand Customs il.consistent with the s . Act. R e :ervation of all rights of property and benefisjal exemp tions to i ",-eemen, their wives and children. No person to be admitteil a freeman by gift or pun base. Corporations - to be styled Mayor, Aldermen, and BuTesses. Occupiers of house and shops of the value of 101. in bo roughs named in schedule A, and of the value of 5/. hi bo roughs named in scheduJes B and C, entitled to be BurgesseS, if resident within seven miles. No Burgess to be elected who is not qualified under this Act. Persons who, before the passing of this Act, were entitled to vote for Members of Parligmeut, may still enjoy such right. Mayor wilfully and corruptly expunging or not inserting any name liable to an action. Mayor, Town Clerk, or Churchwarden neglecting duty, guilty of a misdemeanor. The qualification for a Councillor Altilerman is an estate of 1,0001. in some cases, in others 500/. Dissenting ministers are excluded from office. One-half the number of Aldermen to go out of office every three yea:s. No inquirs' of the voter, except as to his identity, and whe ther he has vott:S l before at the same_ election. Existing Mayon: and Councils to go out of office on elec tion of Councils under this Act. Mayor to be elected out of the Aldermen, and to renugn in office one year. Every Burgess elected to the o ffi c e of Councillor, and every Councillor elected to the office of Mayor or Alderman of the Ward, shall accept the office, or' pay a fine to the bo rough fund. No person to be made liable to incapacfty, or penalty by this Act unless prosecution be commenced within two years after such penalty incurred. The Mayor to be A Justice of the Peace for tN3 borough and for the county; and _Retaining Officer at election of Meru, bers to serve in Parliamern. Questions to be decided i;v a majority of Councillors pre sent; one-third part of whole number to be a quorum. Constables to be for the county, &c. as well as borough. Watch Committee to make reolations for the management of the constables. Councils may make bye-laws on whi.ch the Crown may ap point salaried Justices. Justices not to be qualified by estates. Recorder to be a Justice, and to be appo.inted by his Ma jesty in certain boroughs. Recorder to be a Justice of the Peace fo r the ,imough• Not to be Councillor or Police Magistrate. Justices to make declaration before acting. Sessions of the Peace to be held for the borough. • Recorder to be Chief Judge. Capital Jurisdictions and all other Criminal Jurisdietiona in boroughs other than are specified in this Act, abolished. Charter Admiralty Jurisdiction abolished. Existing Courts of Conscience to be abolished. The King empowered to grant Charter of Incorporation. SCHEDULE (A.) Boroughs which are to have a Commission of the Peace,— House Laid Franchise, 101.—Belfast 5 Wards, 10 Aldermen, 30 Councillors ; Cork, 8 Wards, 16 Aldermen, 48 Councillors; Dublin, .16 N;Yards, 16 Aldermen, 48 Councillors : Galway, 5 Wards, 10 Alde:men, 30 Councillors ; Kilkem2y, 3 Wards, 6 Aldermen, 18 Cox;.ncillors ; Limerick, 5 Wards, 10 Alder men, 30 Councillors ; Waterford, 5 Wards, 10 Ald'ermen, 30 Councillors. scHEDULE B. Household Franchise, sL—Clonmel, Drogheda, London derry, and Sligo, 3 Wards, 6 Alde;men, 18 Councillors etach. SCHEDULE (c.) Armagh, Athlone, Bandon, Carlow, Carrickfergus, Cashol, Dundalk, Ennis, Kinsale, Tralee, Wexford, and Youghaf, 6 Aldermen, 18 Councillors each; Coleiaine, Dungannon, Enniskillen, New Ross, Portarlington, Antrilm, Ardee, Athy, Ballyshannon, Bangor, Belturbet, Boyle, Callen, Charleville, Cloghnakilty, Dingle, Enniscorthy, Feathard, /Gorey, Bells, Longford, Maryborough, Middleton, Monaghan, iNaas, Navan, Strabane. Thomastown, Trim, Tuam, and Wicklow, 4 Alder men, 12 Councillors each. PUBLIC PETITIONS—FIRST REPOPT. Carlow County Election--Petitions, 2 ; signatures, 492. Protestant Dissenters—Petitions, 3 ; signatures, 390 . Mr. Buckingham's Claims—Petit;Ous, 4 ; signatures, 603. Spirit Licenses—Petitions, 4 ; signa:ures, 205. Agricultural Distress—Petitions, 7 ; B :gnatures, 1,125. THE BRITISH AUXILIARIT LEGION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE 15W1V. Sir—Allow me to tresspass on your attention, r •equesting the favour of inserting in your columns a true copy' of the last return from the Head- Quarters of the British Auxiliary Le gion, now serving in Spain, signed by Adjutant- Ge,leral Le Merchant on the 25th of January last. Observing that a Morning Paper " has reason to believe that the strength of the Legion is not more than one half of what it is here stated to be," perhaps the insertion of this official document will remove the doubts of your Contempo ,rary. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, C.' WETHERALL, Major. 5, Freeman's -court, Feb. 25. REA R.QUARTERS, VITTORIA. RETURN OF THE BRITISH AUXILIARY LEGION ABSTRACT. JAN. '25, ISZO. Ic' , , Pg 4 ;c:: :::1 ray if' r g -- F 4 gra.. E:11,-, Fit for active and immediate ser vice at bead-quarters On Staff employ A Sick t headquarters 5 8 8 IIt 53 1058' 5 L Absent : 2 . 4 7 5 Prisoners Absent 1 r With leave t Without leave On Command ' 4. (i 26 • 15 ———— Total 46 102 102 92 9 15S 132 1762:i - - -- -- - --•. . .. . .. . ~ ___, (Signed) J. LE MI TECH_IN Lin-General. TOTAL OF BAYONETS Head-quarters .... On Staff employ Absent with leave. On Command .... Tr ROR Total 6,178 Besides the number in the depot at Santander, and 393 recruits who sailed from England in January, making a total of 6,571 fit for service. COURT CIRCULAR. A lar ! , - ‘ 1 party dined with their Majesties on Wednesday evening, to relubrate the Queen's birth-day. Amongst the company were their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent, the Princess 41;ctoria, the Landgravine of Hesse Romberg - , attended by Md.„'le. Styne ; the Duchess of Gloucester, the Princess Augusta, 4 !tended by Lady Louisa Cornwallis ; the Duke of Cumberland, .and Prince George of' Cambridge, his Serene Highness Prince frnest of Hesse Philippsthal, Mar quis of Winchester, Earl of Mayo, Countesses Howe, Den bigh, J3rownlow, and Mayo, Lards James O'Brycn, Temple more, and Elphinstone, the Treasurer of the Household, Miss Hope Johnstone, Lady Bcdingfielu% &c. Mr. Nicholson, who has recently had the honour of being appointed Flutist to his Majesty, perksrmed a fantasia. Sir George Smart, the Conductor of her Llojesty's private con certs, was in attendance. The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave a grand dinner on Wednesday even* at his residence at Dulwich, in honour of her Majesty's birth-day, to the Deputy Governor of the Bank, the Chairman and Deputy of the Commissioners of Excise, the Deputy Chairman of the East India Company, ti . :e Chair man and Deputy of the Commissioners of Custoos, the 1 Chairman and Deputvof the Commissioners of Stamps, &c. Lord Glenelg, as Secretary of State for the Colonies, en tertained on. Wednesday evening the Commander of the Forces, the Master-General of the Ordnance, the Presid ent of the Board of Control, the Paymaster of the Forces, the Judge Advocate-General, the Adjutant and the Quarter- Master-General of the Forces, Mr. Burge, agent for Jamaica; Mr. Mayers, agent for Barbadoes ; Mr. Colquhoun, agent for St. Vincent ; the Deputy Secretary at War, the Military Se cretary to the Commander of the Forces, the Surveyor-Gene ral and the Clerk of the Ordnance, Dr. Bonavita, one of his Majesty's Judges at Malta ; the Hon. Colonel Anson, Mr. Marryat, Mr. P. M. Stewart, and the Under Secretaries for t h e C,:Jonial Department. Russell, Secretary of State for the Home De- Lord Joh.: partment, enterth:ne, eellor, the Master et Lord the Vice-Chancellor, the Chancellor cf Ireland, the _ d , ( I ) e n R W ol e l d s, nesday evening, the Lord Chan_ of Common Pleas, the of ,the Courts of, lilts 's Baran and the Lords Chief Justices and the Judges Judge of the Admiralty, the Judgb ° Lord Mayor the Rem) fia',ol3:;lelitllndfiClohnudert I,olr f iecir E dolg x e c as h tei e xv : e u a e cn r do , ut t r h i irt e e: the Lord Advocate of Scotland, the der of Loudon, the Sheriffs of p0nd0.... Members of the City of Lon don. Victoria drove to, and w alked on, Wimbledon ~ o mmon, yes.. .5 ent o Their Royal Highness es the Duchess of and 'Princ e s terday forenoon. His Majesty gave audiences yesterday to the Bishop , of Lon den, the Marquis of Conyngharn, and Sir J. Cockburn. Denbigh, Th e Queen, attended by Earls Howe an the Princess S o phi a , and the d. Visited the visited th e i r M a j est i es yester d a y. ThßoyealAel Duchess v Mews • of yesterday. Gloucester, tk.sse Homburg h o n o ured the .Mar , Princess i.ci,Saioit;ghiraavAiluactilodfa, chio..ess of Lansdowne with her company on Wednesday c loning. - Baroness Bulow, lady of the Prusian Minister, had an audience of the Q ueen yesterday. - • . . . A Cabinet C ounc il was h e ld yester d ay a ft er noon at the Fo reign Office. The Council sat an hour and a hal f. The Portu guese Mi n i s t er t rans acted business yeste rda y at the Foreign Office. MeSsieurs Horsley-, Palmer, Bates, and Majoribanks had an i r :teryiew yesterday with Viscount Melbourne, in Downing street., • aise' r for irg e. 1 01 here , it 11l g" , ill to V OU ld Ch ief Arlo 0 h pre tO ra ;oda' I. b , 5u it ha t . ..nil n or ,oti" do s 01 , to