The Sun. — London, England, 1857-08-04 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (This Da y SOUTHWARK. - - - BRUTAL ASSAULT ON A FRUALR. —LENIENT SRN TENCE.—Bartholomew Niamey, a tall powerful-looking man, was brought before Mr. Corube, charged with committing a murderous assault om Johanna Hunter . The complainant, who exhibited two black eyes, and a cut over the right eye, stated that she lived in in Moss alley, Bankside. and the pr isoner also resided the same neighbourhood. About four weeks agl he was committed to prison at this Court for assaulting his wife; and, because witness gave evidence in her favour, he bad frequently th re atened to serve her out. On Saturday, while s he was standing in the alley, be passed, and abused her very much, and struck her on the face, making it bleed , and blackin g her e y e. Sh e ran aura; from him, and Mended to apply at this Court for a warrant, but it was too late. On Monday in)rning she was standing at her door, when he came up to her , and w i t h o ut the least provocation knocked h er down , and s he fell on the stairs inside. He then kick e d her on the face and neck, and she believed be would hav e mur dered her, bad not a policeman com e up an d t oo k ' him into custody. Susan Stevens, the wife of a labourer, residing in Moss•alley, said, that she was standing at her door, when she sav the prisoner go up to Mrs. Hunter, and deliberately knock her down. She fell inside on the stairs, and witness went and fetohed a constable, and be was given into custody. Mr. Combe asked the prisoner what he had to say in answer to the charge I—He replied, that every time he passed the complainant she called him very bad names, and he had told her, if she did not hold her tongue be would make her. While he was passing on Monday she repeated her abuse, when he pushed her in her house, and she fell down. He denied having kicked her. Mr. Combs told him that it was satisfactorily proved to him that he had not only knocked her down, but kicked her in a brutal manner. He should therefore sentence him to three months hard labour in Wands worth House of Correction. THAMES. EMBEZZLE3fENT BY A BOY.—John Christopher, aged 15, described as a pot-boy, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with embezzling the Rum of 71. 7s. 6d. he had received for and on account of Mr. Gibbs, timber merchant, of High-street, Poplar. Mr. Gibbs stated that his brother formerly employed the prisoner as pot-boy, and discharged him for his bad conduct. Since then he had occasionally employed the boy to clean boots, and had often sent him on errands. On the 20th July he sent the prisoner with a bill to No. 10, Gun-lane, Limehouse, to receive 71. 7s. 6d. The money was paid to the prisoner who absconded with it. Mr. Yardley—The person who paid him the money should have been here, we can do nothing without him. George Patten, a police-constable, No. 161 K, said he apprehended the prisoner yesterday, and he stated that be went to sleep in some place after be had re ceived the money, and was robbed of 6/. 10s., and did not like to return to his master. Mr. Yardley—lf the prisoner was robbed of the money he is not answerable at all. • Paten—The prisoner said he went to the gallery of the Victoria Theatre five or six nights in succes ion. Mr. Yardley—Bring the person here who paid the prisoner the money, and let him be remanded. A SHOPLIFTER'S ASSURANCE.—EIiza Stockdale, a miserable-looking girl, aged 15, and re, , iding with her parents at No. 3, White Horse-lane, Stepney, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with stealing several pieces of ribbon from the shop of Mr. Emery, linendraper, of No. 31, Sidney-place, Commercial-road, East. It appeared that the prisoner entered the shop of Mr. Emery, and offered to Mr. Davie, one of the assistant , 4, a piece of ribbon, and said she had bought it in the morning, and requested it to be exchaneed fur a piece of ribbon of another col eir. Mr. Davis knew the ribbon had never been soli ; it had, in fact, been missed from the shop, and ho charged the prisoner with stealing it. She was taken into an up-stair room and searched, and seven pieces of ribbon, value 184., were found upon her. They were all the property of Mr Emery. W.Piarn Seeley, a police constable, No. 432 S, said, Mr. Emery told him the girl had taken the ribbon, and she said that she was accused of taking 12 pieces, but she bad not taken so many as that. The prisoner in defence said she was in great distress, and worked at her needle. She was very badly paid, and almost starving. . Mary Stockdale, the mother of the prisoner, told a pitiable tale of penury and ditress, and said she had 12 children, of whom she l ,, st four last Christmas. Her daughter was almost starving. She was very sorry the girl bad committed the robbery. Mr. Emery did not want to proFecute. Mr. Yardley raid he would allow the prosecutor to withdraw the charge, but the prisoner's assurance was very great to act as she had done. He discharged the prisoner. THE FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSIOY. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ASHTON, Monday. —The inquest upon the ho lies of the 31 men killed by the explosion at Messrs. Kenwo►thy;'s pit was held this morning before Mr. _Rutter, coroner for the county. The jury assem bled at the New Inn, a short distance from the pit, and after the bo , lies had been viewed, evidence as to the r - identification was given, and orders were made by the coroner for their interment. The coroner then proceeded to the residence of Edward. Elliott, the engineer at the bottom of the pit, who was severely Iturnt, and who lay in a dangerous condition. He was in a dreadful state, but he made his deposition in a very clear and straight for ward manner. Edward Elliott said—We stopped for dinner, as usuel, about half-past twelve o'clock on Friday the day of the explosion. William Nolan, the man who used to take the tubs up the brow, came to me at that time, and, according to our usual cus tom, we began winding up some tubs. While we • were doing so, we noticed that the coal hid fallen out of oue of thew, and we fancied that there wes something wrong, We then determine 1 that he should go down the brow before we wound up any mo:e tubs, in order to see whether there was any thing wrong. We arranged that he should keep going down until be get to the bottom of the br)w, if there was anything wrong. He we-nt down about one o'clock ; and I never saw orheardanything of him afterward-e I went to see if the boilers were all right, and finding that they were, I went into the engine-house to wait for i\.Tol ea. to give me the signal for him to ba drawn up. Before I received any sie pal the explosion took place. The ft.! st thing I no teed was flames ru4aing from the top of she engii;(- house. I did net perceive anything herons the flames, but immediately afterwards there was aloud report, like that of a eannen. There was ne gee used in the engine-hones, but there was a naptha lamp at the tep of the engine bmw, and there was ajar holding a few quarts of naptha in the engine house. I can form no sure opinion as to where the flames came from. Nolan took an open lamp when be went down the brow, which is 4.6 i yards Lug, and very steep. As soon as I head the report of the explosion I dropped down on the back side of one of the dtuns in order to escape the flames. I got fast there, and could nut move myself. if the gas had been lighted in the engine brow, the flames would have gone downwards, as the draught of air was downwards. 1 had not perceived any smell of sulphur, and it wes always considered that there was a first-rate draught of air. I chink the inAle is generally considered to make a moderately large quantity of gas. There would be no gas, however, down the brow where Nolan was geing. We used to work in the engine brow with open lamps, but no further. If the gas had been fired by Nolan, the flames would have come up the air brow, and not up the engine brow. When I stopped work for dinner on Friday, I opened the fire doors ; there were two fires, and they K ere kept brisk. We have not had a furnace lately. We gave up using the furnace about three mouths ago, while we were making alterition to put in better flues for ventilation. The air that had passed through themine was carried through the fires ; but the gas was ex tracted from it before it arrived at the fires. There was no " split" of fresh air from the down cast pit to the fires. There was nothing more than a " wheeze," that might escape through the sides of the door. This was the whole of the witness's statement, and after it had been read over to him it was duly !Signed. There a re s till e i g ht or n i ne more b o di es i n t h e in mine, ad liut it is p ro b a bl e th a t th ey w ill b e recovere d or tw o ; an d th e i nquest was accordingly adjourned. In the meantime a thorough examina tion of the m i • ne wi'l be made by the government inspector, Ai r. - Dick . The followin,, Dickinson.. sufferers :—Gen,.:Ze Thom names of the unfortunate a wi d ol a pson, 36 years of age, married, leaving above six children ; Robe i t Thompson, son of the William e ; Joseph Brookshaw, 26, married but no family elm Bratnmall, 18 ; Joseph Green, 12 ; TtiorL.til ...,?,ling, 26, has left a widow and two children ana m Preece 12 three children • William Knowlan, 30, widow Benjamin Greenwood (of Bengall), two children ; W. Webb, 23, unmartiweiddow "d °w than Webb, 13, brother of the above ; W, Cat at ?" - 22, unmarried ; Joseph Schofield, 12 ; Charles' Mottershead, 11; Samuel Walker, 18. Benjamin Greenwood (of Nook), 30, widow and five or six children ; George Gdtert, 17 ; Richard Barraclough, married, three children ; John Barra dough (brother of the above), 27, widow and three children ; Samuel Hopwood, 20 ; Samuel Saxon, 26, widow and two children ; Johu Tetlow, 21; John Foster, 38, widow andthrec children ; Philip Ousey, 12 ; Henry Hollaud, 50, widow and five children ; Ab ra h am H ol l an d , 1 8 ; Willi am H ea l e y, 20 ; Henry Braithwaite, 20 • John Underwo' , d, 27, widow an d t h ree children i Thomas Davis, 22 ; i John Peat, 19. Th e specie receipts yesterday have amounted to 663,0001. Of this total, 434 ,000/. (ircluding 327,0001. of silver) 18 from the West Indies, 225,0001. from N ew York, and 4,0001. from the Peninsula. country, Paul L. C 1.-Irier, staid he was the only man in F arce who ball the good quality of net beli-vtng that he ! ought to be king of the country. It was a feeling in the HOUSE OF LonDs—(Y ESTERDAY . ) ; French people that trwy wished to bring down a'l to THE REFORM BILL. their own rank, not of raising others who were bt ltr.v Lord BROUGHAM rose to move for a return of the them to their own rank. Ho spike of course not of all c number of electors in ever y county an d di v i s i on o f a Frenchmen, but that this wass widelythe Fread French r feelingHe w ihed county, city, and b oroug h i n th e United Kingdom. He amongst the French nati m. said that he consid ere d it hi s d uty. f rom t h e s h are h e h a d would imitate us in our constancy and adherence to the of in the measure of 1831-32, to state one or two circutn. c a established useof order all things ; the want of that had been stances connected with th a t measure , also to call tho the lof all parties were determined to sacrifice their own their revolutions. In this country men attention of the Go vernment t o w h a t h a d b een th e resu lt s opi of it. It had be e n announce d th at it was th e i n t ens i on 1 ni7i narather than do anything to injure the working of system. The result of this composition of forces was of the Government to present next session a bill for I th Parliamentary reform, one having a tendency to ue effect 1 a diagonal motion such as we witnessed in our politic a l a change in the present syst e m of representation. affairs. In France the foices were in direct antagonism ; . each party carried out its own views as f ar as it h a d trusted bill would receive their most anxious cohn deration. There was a great difference in the situation power to do, and sought the destructi on o f it sopponen t s , of the country at present to what it was in 1830, when The inevitable consequence was revo l u ti on. T o avo id a ,repetition of these horrors as witnessed in 1703, and said toere was the last bill was brought in. It was then Parliamentary re- also the abuse of Pat liamentary government which oc no feeling in the country in favour of ththefact curred in 1846, as well as to avoid the evils of socialism, form, and he was taunted in that hou 7i e' the French people had submitted to a strong and able that in the canvas of the county of York which he had , . never beard the word reform governmeo , whichhad preserved peace and tranquillity just gone through he had . He was obliged to aimit the fact ; but cir- to all. He hoped they would long continue to flourish mentioned. u tancesoon changed, and every man in England under such a government. The views he hid propounded talkedc.nsofnsothing but reform. That was owing, in some were his own sincer e o pi n i ons . H e h a d d eeme d it his measure, to the change of Government, and the an- duty as one of the authors of the Reform Bill to protest nouncement they made of their intention to take up, the against any measure which went to alter the constitution of the House of Commons, by making it more demo question. It might be raid that, on the present occa • like announcement would produce the same cratic ; he considered that it was made sufficiently so by si , V, a pretested against any effect. He doubted it, however; for the reasons which the measure of 1832, and be prate . • d were no longer in operation. Public feel. titer change in that direction. He concluded by fur then existed ing was then welted by the long postponement of the for the re.urns above specified. measure and the refusal of the G overnmen t to con s id er Earl GRANVILLE said that all parties must have at hearing the opiniors of the noble lord, it ; and the declaration of the Duke of Wellington been gratified against it, and the fact that all the large towns—Man-entirely his g He (Lord Granville) had which were own. on Chester, Sheffield, Birmingham, and Leeds—were entirely not bad any communication with the Government unreeresented, coupled with the gross abuses at the elec- the subject. tiona in the small town s an d th e corrup ti on amorget the The motion was then agreed to. freemen ; all these causes operated to produce all over THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS. the country a desire for a large measure of Parliamen- The Earl nt HARD WICKE called the attention of the tart' reform. He entirely denied that the announcement house to the contract for carrying the Australian mails. of the Government would produce such a feeling on the The colonists had long suffered great inconvenience from present occasion. It might be a great advantage to have the way in which the postal service was conducted, but the country in a calm state for theconsiderstion of the sub- he did not blame the Government for this, he merely ject ; he admitted there were some defects in the former wished to draw their attention to the matter. Great de bill which might be safely and securely remedied, and he rangement had been caused in the service by the war. As would rather see a measure to supply one or two defects soon as peace was restored the Government had endea suggested by and arising out of them, than any great or inured to put the service on a proper footing. He found general plan of what would be called a sweeping measure that last year the cost of the postal service was 572,3901. of reform. He entirely denied the proposition that the while this year it was 785,3561. Contracts bad been en former bill was a failure. Two classes of persons held tered into by the Government by tender, and, as is usual that opinion ; one consisted of those who were strong in such cases, they did not bind themselves to accept the opponents of the bill, and who considered it a revolu- lowest tender. In this case they took the highest tender, tionary measure, and the other consisted of those who but along with that they took the worst means of per considered it did not go far enough, and called it a mock forming the tender, and after they discovered that they measure of reform. He denied altogether it was either had sought to bolster up the company to whom the ten s mock or moderate measure ; it was a very large one, d er was given. Two companies had tendered ; one was and some even, and they supporters of the Goverment, the Peninsular and Oriental, which possessed some of thought it went rather too far. He entirely ehffered the finest ships in the world, and they offered to perform from those who contended it was no reform at all, be- the contract with several of their best ships. They also cause it left so much undone. His answer to this was, had the advantage of having three of these vessels on the a single date—the 10th of April, 1848. He relied on other side of the Cape—already on the ground, so that the 10th of April, 1848. If the bill had not become law they were prepared to undertake the contract inimedi• that clay would not have parsedover them so quietly and atey from both ends. They proposed to undertake it for peaceably as it had done. Some persons were of opinion 135,0001., to terminate at Melbourne, or 140,000/. to ter that the machinery of the Retorm Bill had not turned minate at Sydney. The company was perfectly capable in out a very perfect manufacture; that that manufacture, every way of performing the duty. A certain company, namely, the House of Commons, was not so excellent as calling itself the Australian Mail Packet Company, it might be. That was the opinion of some. He did not offered to perform the duty for 185,0001., and agreed to share that opinion, and he hoped that the House of Coat- subject itself to higher penalties; but the difference in the mons, as at present constituted, would be found to de- amount of the contract was more than sufficient to cover serve the confidence of the country and of their loreseips. any possible penalty. They proposed to place at the ser- He believed that one of the great defects of the Reform vice of the Cro en certain vessels, equal in tonnage to Act was that of requiring men to be returned on vacat- those of the Peninsular and Oriental Company; but of the • their seats on accession to office. H e th oug ht t h a t vessels named two were not even built, and noneof them ing in any new reform bill this should no longer be required were on the other side of the water. One, the Oneida, was —at all events, that if the person vacated th e seat en reported ready for service on the Ist August, 1856 ; but appointment to the first office it should not be necessary the Parliamentary return showed that she was not ready to vacate it on promotion in office. He recollected— for sea till October. On 18th October she was surveyed, and with much pain—that the law measures which were and went to sea on the 20;h. In the other house it br o ught forward in the year 1834 were absolutely sus- had been stated by the First Lord of the Admiralty that pended altogether, because the then Solicitor-General, he did not know how it was she had gone to sea. Mr. o n his being appointed to the office of Attorney-Genera. l , Wilson afterwards stated that the report of the surveyor lost his seat for Dudley, and the consequence was had not been made to the Admiralty until after the ship that every one of those law bills was stopped. had sailed. The fact was she had been reported as He did not think there would he much difficulty on that totally unfit for sea, but she had sailed, to take her point, and in connection with that he thought it would chance with the mails, She broke down, some portion be a great improvement that men in office should have seats in Parliament of her machinery h av i ng g i ven way. A t l ength she witheut votes. That was the case in found her way under canvas to Meloourne, and another almost all other countries, arid the only exception to the break-down afterwards occurred. The company had rule was England. His noble friends L o'd Grey and been obliged to go the Peninsular and Oriental Com- Lord Auckland bad no doubt whatever when the Reform pany and borrow one of their vessels, the Simla, to Bill was under discussion that this would be a great ha- enable them to carry out the contract, for which they proveneent. The necessity of a constantly renewed re- had obtained an amount larger by 45,0001. than the gletration was another defect of the Reform Act. The other company had demanded. Tula was not all ; this occupation of a 101. house was required as a proof of the comp an y was not only obliged to borrow ships, but they respectability of the voter, and as the man who once oc- were reduced to ask Cunard's Company to join them, copied a 101. house must necessarily be the same man and afterwards the Peninsular and Oriental, but in this when be came to occupy a 51. house, it was a great error they were not successful. Meantime the colonies were net to have a man once a voter always a vot er . It was suffering from the irregularities of the service. Uhl so, substantially, in the counties. The Reform Act gave mately this miserable company hit upon another plan the judges the power of appointing the r ev i s i ng barris• to relieve themselves from their embarrassments. tern. He had considerable objection to hiving that power They asked the West India Steam Packet Company to to the judges. He thought it was a b a d thing to give join them in their contract, and also attempted to get patronage to the judges ; that it was bad for the judges, two years added to the existir g contract of the latter bad for the profession, and not always good for the ser- company. The contract of the West India Packet Corn vice. He understoo I that favouritism rather than judg- pany was made in 1851, at a very exorbitant rate, 270,0001. meat guided the choice in many instances ;_ bur, be that a y ear ; an d t h e e ff ect o f th i s arrangement would he, as it might, the thi n g s ho u ld b e reme di e d in any new that for the two contracts a sum of 445,000/. a year would bi . l. Another defect of the Reform Act wa s , th a t it left be paid. It had been recommended that all the existing too many freemen in existence. That was one of the con- contracts should be revised before renewal ; and he had cessions made to a friend of his who was now now no no doubt if the West India contract were allowed to more. These freemen were not the best voters in any re- expire, there would be plenty of parties who would take , specs, and in general they were the worst ; more corruP- it for 100,000/. a year. Unless the government tenni twin prevaibug amongst them than any other class of nested this contract at the earliest period it would be voters. He understood that the state of things in Ireland most discreditable to the parties concerned. The was much worse than in this country. H e w o u ld there- government bad the power at once to terminate the fore restrict this claws of voters to the extent of abolishlua" contract, for the company had broken the conditions. them altogether. He thought it might be very possibl 1 a such a case there ought to be no patching and to redeem the ledge of a new reform, without grtatsr or propping up of companies by means of agents in a more r xtensive changes in the present system. Amongst government office. Where a company contracted to per the mere respectable class who now bad no rotes were form a duty, and was unable to do so, the government the skilled ar - isans. He did not mean the common day ought to dismiss it, and go main into the market. He labourers, but the artisans skilled in crafts, most of whom hoped this statement would put an encl e te any further were men of great merit and intelligence ; many of whom progress in this business. —as he well knew—were well educated, often endowed The Duke of ARGYLL said the proposal to amalga with scientific knowledge ; ail of whom, with hardly any mate the companies to which the noble earl alluded bail excepton, w e re en d owe d with ability, talent, and skill- not been referred to the post-office authorittee for their But apart from their talents, their skill, and their value, authorisation. If such a proposal were made, some new they were amongst the mo-t independent men in the conditions would at L-ast be required to be inserted in community. They were mere independent, with few the contract. The main question raised by the noble exceptions, of their masters than their masters of them, earl was whether the Admiralty and the Treasury were and he would veto urn to say that in no part of the couh• justified in their original contract for carrying the try had a cry ever been be a rd from that class in favour of A ustralian mail. Now, the ntble earl had passed over a secret voting. G ene rally s p ea ki ng , th e y t re ated he bat very important matter, namely, the question of penal lot- with centenop - , because in 99 out of 100 cases they ties, and this was a point upon which the post-office did not want to conceal their votes but to vote openly• authorities had expressed a very strong opinion. They It was very hard that these men should have no share infinitely preferred that the penalties should be absolute whatever in the elective franchise. In this greet town and that no excuses whatever should be admitted on the and most of the large towns throughout the country part of the c nitre:wars. With that view they were pre they were for the most part lo.igers—sca.retly one of them pared to give a larger sum for the service, and they paid occupying a 101 house. If, a ithout too much extending t h e ~,,„ amount i n , the way of insurance, for this the franchise, any means could be teken to give these system was found to act as a premium, and a very high men the vote it would on every ground, not merely on one too, upon regularity. In the present case the the ground of justice to the m , b u t f or the benefit of the conwactors were bound to pay a penalty of 100/ system, be a consummation ni‘ et devoutly to he wi , hed. f ur ev er y day's delay in finding a vessel fit to go to Some persons suggested a 101. franchise with one year's, sea after the time aointed. The were and a 51 franchise with two years' res id ence ; b ut he b e- , moreover, hound pp y to pay a penalty of 501. if the mail was delayed 1 eyed that whether it was a 101. franchi se o r a 57. fran 24 hours after the maximum number allowed for each chise very much the same class ef persons would be re- voyage ; 100/. for the next 24 hours ; 150/e for the thi. el, turned as now. He thought th e fra n chi se should he ,x- and so on until the whole allowance f th 4 tended to the chewy—rectors and curates—medical men, voyage was swallowed up. Now, he or (the noble particular duke) officers in the army and navy. apothecaries, and to lne- might remark that the Peninsular and Oriental Company rary and scientific men g enera lly. It h a d be en suggested had in point of fact never sent in a proper t en d er a t a ll ; that in each county, city, cr borough, containing a cer - because, although these penalties were distinwly stated tan nuwber of e oweits d men of the description he re- in the conditions, the Peninsular C wnpany declined to ferred to, a member m i g il b e c h osen from thi s thee the subject the members to any penalties except for avoida electors of that c'a,s voting for a riterebsr of the class, tile delays. The noble earl had said that the tender of without, however, l as i ng their o th er f ranc hi se as house- the Peninsular was lower than that of the Australian holders or freeholders. It h a d been suggested that 70 C impatiy ; but in point of fact the Peninsular only members might well be chosen by this class, and agreed to carry the mail from Suez, whereas the other this view had be e n s tr ong ly re o resen t ed to the company included in their tender the carriage of the noble lord at the head of the Government. He mail from England. The papers relating to this contract held it to be absolutely necessary to maintain inviolate had been nearly twelve months before) the house, and the distinction, between county and city or borough re- the noble earl bad never tll.l now said a word on the sub presentatives, and should regard, not only with jealousy scot, the noble earl must, therefore, have committed but with aversion, any such plan as that which so often what was a very serious fault in a seaman, he must have lately occupied the attention of the other house of Par- kept a bad look-out. (A laugh,) It was hardly fair to !lament for letting in upon the counties the 10/. voters, say that the company had broken do we, No doubt the thereby reducing to a nullity the votes of the proprietary Oneida had broken down, but the rest of the con body. The di-tinction to which lie referred was an es tract had been performed with considerable success. eeritial part of the mixed constnution, and he should re- Besides, let their lordships look at the consequences gard it as a blow all but fatal to that constitution if to the company of the Oneida's misfortune. They there were no longer to be county members, but borough had forfeited the whole payment due to them for the members ; for that appeared to him to be an inevitable voyage, namely, 7,784/ The second voyage occupied conssquence of swamping the counties with 10/. bouse• 1,246 hours, which was 24 hours more than the stipu hold votes. No doubt there was great hardship in the fated time. The delay not amounting to an entire day fact that a man having a 10/, bouse in a borou g h was there was no penalty. The third voyage was performed in entitled to a vete, whereas the man having a 10/. house 1,257 hours, which was actually 39 hours under the time, in the county was not entitled to a vote; but their sys- and the company received a premium of 30/. The tern was full of such hardships. It was a great hardship fourth and last voyage took ' 1,413 hours, which was that the 1,340 000 inhabitants of the West Riding .117 hours in excess, and - a fine of 5001. had been levied should return only two members, whilst the county of upon the company in consequence. Now if the govern- Rutland, with a population of only 24,000, returned two merit had accepted the tender of the Peninsular Corn members. It had been suggested to divide the country pany, they would not have been able to claim these into electoral districts, as in Prance, and he was at penalties ; for it was perfectly possible that the co npany one time inclined to adopt that view himself as the might have represented the break-down of the Oneida as only means of grappling with corruption and bribery. an unavoidable disaster. At ail events there might have But be was glad to perceive from the proceedings been continual disputes between the company and the before the election committees now going on that ' govern ment. The noble earl truly said tbat the amount nothing like general corruption or bribery was found to paid for the conveyance of these mails was very con prevail at the late elections, which result was chiefly to siderable ; but it should be borne in mind that half of it be ascribed to the competence of the pa r ti es to b e wit- was paid by the colony. Ne doubt, if the company was nesses under the act of 1851. They often had heard of in the state in which the noble earl described it to be, the great evil of universal suffrage, and to it he lately the effect of the penalties would rapidly bring the cen heard it said that the laying prostrate of the political tract to an end. The contract, however, bad been only liberties of France was to be ascribed. He was as much in operation for little more than nine months, and at opposed to universal suffrage if applied to the choice of th e present time the noble earl was hardly justified in' a man, an officer, or a measure, as any man could be. speaking of it in the manner in which it had been cha- He believed it could lead to nothing but evil, but he racterised by him. (Hear.) begged to say that the liberties of France did not lie The Earl of DERBY said that if the Government in. pro-trate before universal suffrage, but before the recol- sieted on the particular form of levying the penalties, lections of those dreadful scenes in 1793 and 1794, which which they seemed to prefer, the companies taking no man c , uld even name without shuddering—when the t these contracts would be certain to cover themselves, mob, the monster tyrant, ruled France—the mob, that and more than cover themselves against any possible worst of tyrants, which had all the bad propensities of loss. In the present case the government was paying tyrants, their cruel nature and vile caprices ; so that 40 000/. a year additional for the sake of these absolute one hardly knew whether most to dread it when ele- penalties. The noble duke was in error with regard vated by hope or depressed by fear—when intoxicated to the relative extent of the services the two companies with success or in the paroxysms of despair. There was offered to perform. If he would refer to the printed at later triumph of th e mo b i n 1848 an d 18 49. wh i ch tenders he would find that they both proposed to coin ugh not so cruel or dirgraceful as those of 1793 , t Produced ye mence the voyage at Suez. The noble duke had passed d scenes to be while deplored, all that followed over what was the most important point in his noble those scenes show e d the utter inCapacity—he said it with regret—of th •friend's question. He had not given any explanation carrying their excellent friends across the Channel for • hregard to the Oneida ' ssailing with the mail, not wit on parliaments was the can ofthis " y government as we did. What withstanding the Government inspectors unfavourable se the differenc e ie Use elm differenc e I It was owing first to report. The noble duke might not be himself prepared whereas the people of England of the two nations ; for i with an answer, but these questions were not put to the that which was established ato w a ere inclined to boll by I Postmaster but to the Government, and the Govern ages as the fruit of experience, and down from former i meat ought to be able to• reply to them. The case was of their cent-Hence —no doubt the therefore deserving a very simple one. The w ntract bad been clearly for they were much too slow in re y m c e a d rr , ied this too far, I broken, and the Government might at any moment put people of France, on the contrary, seemedin d t e o fe o c b t?—the I an end to it. If they did so and went into the market everything that was established. Whilst we, eirthtio ! fee a new tender, they would probably be able to make country, were inc,ined to think that " whatever i: a b-tter and a more economical arrangement. is right,"the people of France were disposed to think that I The Duke of ARGYLL had omitt e d t o no ti c e another whatever ie, is wrong. One of the witty writers o f t h at important difference in the two tenders. The Austra lian Company offered to perform the sea voyage in 39 . . days outward and 35 homeward, whereas the Peninsular and Oriental only offered to do in 45 days outward and 43 homeward. entitle all the gPn!.lemen (,f the long robe, members of the hou , e, to he upon the committee. The following bi 1 1 ,4 were severally advanced a stage : C,mety Court Judges' Salar.es Bill—Read a firs,; time. Lord J. RUSSELL perfectly coincided in that view. The SPEAKER—The correct mode of putting the quc;sti , m a ill be in tho manner suggee.te by the hon. and le:amed gentleman the member flr Sheffield. In that case the question will stand thus—that the coin , mitten do cmsist of 25 members nominated by the house, and of all the members of the long robe members of this house. The names of those hon. and learned gentlemen will of course be added to the resolution. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HILDYARD remarked that, among the 25 names proposed, there were many members of the long robe. _ Land Tax Commissioners' Names Blll—Read a second time. Parochial Schoolmasters (Scotland) Bill ; Caledonian and Crinan Canals Di ; Land and Asse.sed Taxe., (Scotland) Bill ; Christchurch (West Hartlepool) Bill— Conatuitted. Crown, &c., Suits (Scotland) Bill—Amendments re ported. Glebe Lands (Ireland) Bill ; Boundaries of Land (Ire land) Bill—Read a third time aid passed. FR,A.UDULENT SALES ACT. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition from a society at Glasgow, complaining of this act, which was passed last year. It appeared to him that the petitioners were under some misapprehension, but the subject should receive his hest attention. LUNACY (SCOTLAND) BILL. Lord REDESDALE presented a petition from Lin lithgow against this bill. Their lcirdships rose at ten minutes before eight. The SPEAKER—Twenty-five members will be no minated by the house, and all the members of the house who are also members of the long robe will likewise be upon it. Mr. CONNOLLY was at a loss to understand what question was really before the house. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY remarked that there were 97 gentlemen members of the house who were also mem bers of the long robe. The committee would therefore consist of upwards of 100, and he did not think that it would do much work in the dog-days. The SPEAKER put the question in the form he had blinse'f suggested. Mr. COX insisted on the propriety of the words " le gal.profession" being substituted for "long robe," so that he, and other attorneys, members of the house, might help the barristers in their deliberations. Mr. WARREN thought it would be a great benefit to have a couple of attorneys upon the committee, as they might fee the gentlemen of the long r , be. (Laughter.) Mr. HADFIELD thought that he ought to be on the committee. Mr. FITZROY thought the best course for the house to adopt would beto agree to the resolution as amended by the Speaker, after which it would be coaipetent for any gentleman to move that the names of the hon. mem ber for Finsbury and the hon. member for Sheffield be added to the committee. Sir F. THESIGER said that course could not be adopted without notice. HOUSE OF COMMONS. —(YESTERDAY.) Mr. WARREN gave notice that on the motion for going into committee on the Divorce, &c., Bill to-mor row, be would move that the house go into committee on that day three months. (Cries of oh 1) INDIA. In reply to a question from Mr. DISRAELI, Lord PALMERSTON said that another letter of Gen. Napier had been found at the Horse Guards rela tive to the Indian al my, and he would lay that portion of it relating to the native army before the house. Mr. ROEBUCK ridiculed the idea of any delicacy in communicating the whole of it to the house, after the statement of Sir NV. Napier that it was published three years since. WEEKLY COMMUNICATION WITH INDIA. In reply to Mr. R. BAILLIE, Mr. V. &111 ra said no steps had been taken to esta blish a weekly communication with India. THE OATHS BILL. Air. HENLEY said that among the names proposed by the noble lord there were already 15 members of the long robe. He wished therefore, to know if the resole tion in its present form would exclude them from the 25 to be nominated by the house, and place the house in the predicament of having to select 15 other gentlemen to supply their place. On the motion of Lord PA.LMERSTON, the orders for the day were postponed to enable Lord J. Russell . 0 move his resolution. Lord J. RUSSELL then moved the following resolu tion—" For a select committee to consider whether the Act 5 and 6 Will. IV. c. 62, is applicable to oaths ap pointed by law to be taken by members of this house at the table, previously to taking their seats, and in what manner the said act can be so applied, . and to report their observations thereupon to the house : That the committee do consist of the following twenty-five members :—Viscount Palmerston. Sir Geo. Grey, Mr. Disraeli, Mr, Walpole, Sir J. Pakiugton, Lord J. Russeil, Sir J. Graham, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. S elicitor-General, Sir Frederick Thesiger, Sir F. Belly, Lord Stanley, Mr. Horsman, Mr. Henley, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Haling, Mr. Headlam, Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland, the Lord Advocate, Mr. Dither), Mr. Napier, Lord R. Grosvenor, Mr. Whiteside, Mr. Cobbett, and all gentlemen of the long robe members of this house." His lordship said that the Ba-on Rothschild had been informed that he could take tee oath under the above act ; and it was in consequence that he (Lord J. Russell) had brought forward this metier). His lordship then referred to the act of William IV., which was introduced to do away with the multiplicity of oaths required to be taken in the excise and customs, including the officersof thb great departmznte of the state, aed allowing a declaration to be substituted where nece-sary. The noble lord, after reviewing the act, said that ete considered the House of Coalmons was a body included within the provisions of this act, and that a select committee, with the assistance of the law officers of the Crown, was the best tribunal to which they could refer this vexed question. The words of the oath "On the true faith of a Christian" were never intended to exclude Jews, but a certain sec tion of Roman Catholics, and he saw no reason why the oath should be litera►ly strained against Jews, especially as Roman Catholics were by another form of oath admitted members of that house. Mr. Pease, a Quaker, was allowed to take his seat on making an affirmation, after stating to the select committee ap pointed in his case that the words " on the true faith of a Christian" were objectionable to Quakers, being considered by many of them as swearing. In the same session that Mr. Pease took his seat, an act was passer! to prevent a similar occurrence, arid to pre vent all future cavil. Upon that act and precedent he had named he bad founded his application for a select committee to give their decision of the true interpreta tion of the act, after due inquiry and consideration. It behoved the house, in consequence of this determination of the House of Lords, not pass an Oaths Bills omitting the words complained of, to try if they could not find some other plan bywhich Baron Rothschild could legally take his seat. Sir F. THESIGER said he should not divide the house on the motion, but he expressed his astonishment that the provisions of the act should have been so long overlooked, when it was recollected that the noble lord had for 10 years been struggling to gain the dar ling object of hie heart. (Rear, hear.) The hon. and learned gentleman referred to a silent committee ap pointed some years since on the motion of Sir W. P. Wood, relativeto the terms of theonths required by mem bers, and called attention to the proph e ti c wor d s o f Si r Robert Peal, cautioning the h use as to the probable result via., the ultimate admission of Jews into Parlia ment, which he said deserved especial attention ns they appeared to be on the eve of a crisis, (loud cr.es of ' " hear, hear," from the Ministerial side of the house) and he warned the house against doing any act that might precipitate it. (Hear, bear, from the Opposition.) The noble lord (Lord John Russell) had some doubts then, and again in 1851 when Ald erman S a l omons was returned for Greenwich, that Jews could not be admitted into that house ex .ept by an alteration of the oaths by Act of Parliament. Nothing more ridiculous or absurd, could enter the mind of man, than the idea that by the Act of William IV, Baron Rothe child could take his seat in that house, and the hon. and learned gentleman proceeded at great length to point out the inapplicability of this statute to the members of that house. C. 1. FRENCH said that the object of the noble lord, in which he concurred, was to refer an existine Act of Parltatneut to a cemmietee, t' see whether, under it, a declaration could be substituted for the present oath. He believed that the present dance under di cussion had been brought under the con.ideration of the Attorney. General by 4r. Anderton, a gentleman connected with the city of London, and that he had expressed an opi nion that ther . could be no doubt as to the meaning of the clause. Nobody could entertain any doubt that Baron Rothschild could take his seat under the Act of Parliament. Mr. GARNETT said it appeared to him that the course which the noble lord was prepared to take.would bring the house into coullict with the House of Lnr.i , , ) and put that house into colleiion with the urts of l aw; now, however much he loved the theory of civil io and re ligusSlibcrty, he preferred the m re glorious lib t ley o f the constitution. He, however, should vote for the motion. Lord PALMERSTO.N said be was not going to enter into any argument either as to his noble friend's mode of interpretation, and which his noble friend was die posed to put upon the act to which his motion referred, or enter into an argument with the hon. and learned gentleman (Sir F. Thcsiger) opposite; but be was simply going to state that he quite concurred with the motion of his noble friend, as he thought the matter of sufficient importance to be referred to a select crenuaittee ; and, therefore, he would simply acquiesce in his n o bl e f r i en d' s motion, reserving to himself th e r i g h t to form tiny opinion as to the correct inrerpretation of the act in question, after reading the observations of the committee which might be expressed in the report. Mr. NEWDEGATE would ask whether the noble lord at the head of the Government approved of the mode of selection proposed, which was a most unusual course to take. The house ought to re , olve in the first Place that a committee should be appointed, and then proceed to resolve that it do consist of 25 members ; but in this instance it was proposed to lump the whole together, and this, as it appeared to him, was a most unusual proceeding. The motion that a committee be appointed was then agreed to. Lord J. RUSSELL then moved that the committee do consist of the following 25 members— Sir F. THESIGER said the house must Srst deter mine that the committee should consist of 25 members, and that ought to be the first motion of the noble lord. Mr. LABOUCEIEBE said the best course at present was to adopt the form of resolution suggested by the Chair, leaving the point raised by the light hon. gentle man to be afterwards settled. Lord J. RUSSELL bad no objection to the substitu tion of the words " legal profession," for the words " long robe," but he thought it better that the house should agree to the resolution in its present shape. Mr. BENTINCK, who was met with loud cries of "Order, order," and "Spoke, spoke," rose to oppose the resolution. He maintained that as the present was a new question he had a right to address the house upon it. The SPEAKER ruled that the question was pre cisely the same as that before the bowie when the hon. and ,gallent member last spoke. Mr. BENTINCK considered it altogether a new question, and thought the confusion in which the house had been labouring for the lest 20 minutes ought to con vince the noble lord of his mistake in taking the unusual course he was taking in reference to this matter. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY was also of opinion that the resolution had been altered. Colonel KNOX wished the Speaker, as the highest authority upon all points of order, would explain how the question at pr esen t rea ll y stoo d. The SPEAKER—Th- re was some difficulty in the proposition as it originally stood, t . remove which I suggested the insertion of a word. That suggestion the noble lord received and moved it. The resolution was then agreed to without a division. Sir F. THESIGER said, as it.would now be neces sary to strike out the names of the gentlemen of the long robe which appeared in the notice given by the noble lord, and as the house could not substitute other names for them without some hon. gentleman giving notice to that effect, ho would suggest to the noble lord to post. pone the nomination of the committee until to-morrow (this day), and so give the opponents of his scheme an opportunity of having their views fairly represented upon the committee. Lord J. RUSSELL thought the objection of the hon. and learned gentleman the member for Stamford was alto gether owing to the uufortuoate position which he occu pied, seeing that the most eminent members of the party with which he acted were in favour of the emancipation of the Jews. He wished the committee which he pro posed should fairly represent both sides of the house, and be did not know how he could omit the names of the right hon. gentlemen the members for Buckinghamshire and Droitwitch, and of the noble lord the member for King's Lynn, all of whom were disposed to admit the Jews to a seat in that house. (Hear.) On the motion that Lord Palmerston be a member of the committee, Mr. NE WDEGATE Fad no opposition to offer to any of the names proposed, bur, he did not wis'a to see the exi.etence of more than 200 members of that house ignored. It was studiously endeavoured to represent to the public that this was aeon est between the two Houses of Parliament, and that no member of any importance in that hou,e was opposed to it. (Hea,r, bear, and ironical cheers ) That was not the case. There was a strong oppo sition to the admission of the Jews, and although seine of the hon. members upon the front bench were in favour o f it, still those who opposed it were headed by the real and recognised leaders of the Conservative party. .He would therefore move as an amendment the adjourn. merit of the debate. Mr. SPOONER seconded the amendment. Lord J. RUSSELL said he would be disinclined to stand in the way of the pubic business, and would, if it met the convenience of the noble lord the First Lord of the Treasury, p ietpone the nomination of the com mittee until to-morrow (this day). Lhr I PALM ERSTON said he considered that that would be the most coneenient course to follow, and to take the nomination the first thing to-morrow. Lord J RUSSELL—At the evening sitting. Mr. HENLEY said that among the 25 names pro. posed there would be 13 who were not members of the long robe, including in that 13 the right bon. gentleman the Secretary of State for tho Homo Department, and the right hon. gentleman the inenther for Cambridge University, who, although they were barristers, yet were not generally accounted as belonging to the profession. Of the 13 there were only two were opponents of the ad mission of the Jews, and 13 to two was, he thought, a ratio rather Wrong even for the noble lord. Lord J. RUSSELL said he thought there were four opponents of the Oaths Bill upon the committee. Mr. HENLEY said that as the noble lord had made an error in counting, he hoped he would now correct it. Lord J. MANNERS hopef tho noo'e lord would fol- low the n , ival practice, arid consult with the hon. and learned member for Stamford as to what names should ba placad upon the c nnruittf3e. Aftera few words from Sir If, Thesiger, Mr. Bantinek, and Sir H. Willoughby, the motion for the adjournment of the debate to this day was 30 - etai to. BEVERLEY ELECTION, Mr. A. SNlati appeared at the bar, and hrou4ht up the report of the committee on the B2verley election. The committee reported that Mr. Glover had not been duly elected a member to represent the b . ,:rou , ,;h of Be. verLy. The committee also adopted a resolirion to the following effect :—" That Mr. Glover made and sitvaed a declaration in the f , rn prescribed by the 1 and 2 Vic., c 48, secs. 2 and 6 ; and that it was the unanimous opi nion of the committee that the evidence taken before them should be laid before tha Attorney-General with a view to further proceedings being taken with reference to such declaration " The report was ordered to be laid upon the table. PROBATES AND LETTERS OF AD MINISTRA. TION BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. Lord J. RUSSELL said that that no doubt was the usual course ; but it he did so in this case, it would ex clude all the members of the long robe, who it was de sired, should have a voice in the committee; but he would defer the question to the Speaker. The SPEAKER said it appeared to him that this was not the usual course in nominating a committee who were to exceed a prescribed number. It might, however, not be necessary to put the proposition in two distinct resolutions, but in the one which was now proposed, that would be a direct mode of putting the resolution. Lord PALMERSTON said that perhaps the difficulty might be met by putting the resolution in this way ‘' All the members of the long robe, and the following 25 members." (Hear, hear, and loud laughter.) ' Sir F. THESIGER said there was very considerable doubt whether the noble lord had permission to make this motion at all. He did not see why the house should pro ceed to select a committee. No resolution bad yet been carried. (Oh, oh.) Ifhe was rii:ht, they could proceed regularly, and if wrong, he shottd be corrected by the highest authority. Lord J. RUSSELL said the hon. and learned mem ber gave a true reason whtn he said the urgency of the case required this form of resolution. If these objections were rab , ed, he must ask the house to consent to his mo tion. Hedid not think the proposition of his noble friend would meet the difficulty. Ho would simply move that the cummittee do cnsist of 25 members. On the motion being put, Mr. BENTINCK said he confessed he was at a loss to understand upon what ground the noble lord opposite proposed to urge on the house at this sort of haste. Being at•tbe end of the session might be a good argument, but as he had been strongly opposed to the admission of Jews, he could not assent to that reason. The noble lord proposed to combine all his resolutions in one, and his answer was, that if be couid not be allowed to do this be should not have time to do it at all. He would submit to the Speaker whether the house was compelled to adopt the course proposed. The SPEAKER said there was nothing irregular in the motion made by the noble lord. Mr. ROEBUCK said that if the question was put that the committee should consist of 25 members, that would be an exclusive proposition, and no other names could be added to it. He would therefore suggest that the question should be put in such a form as would On clau4e 1. Mr. MALINS moved the insertion of the following clause :—" Whereas it is expedient to provide a tempo rary fund for the payment of the compensations under the provisions of this act, be it enacted that in future the proctorial fee at present received and taken by the proc tors practising in England or Wales, in respect of grants of probate and administration, shall be levied, raised, and collected by the Court of Probate and District Re gistries, and paid into the account of Toe Testamen tary Fee Fund Account ; ' provided, that as the respec• tive annuities allotted under this act by way of compen sation, shall from time to time cease, and after the commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury have been repaid all sums of money, with interest thereon, which they may have advanced in carrying into effect the provisions of this act, it shall be lawful for the judge of the court, and he is hereby required from time to time to reduce as he may deem necessary and proper the fees so to be levied and paid. Mr. SALISBURY moved the following amendments: —" Page 29, line 1, after "emoluments" insert "or business;" line 19, after "clerks" insert "and also to all such other persons ;" line 21, after " courts " insert "or by or under such registrars in the business of their respective offices." In reply to Sir H. WILLOUGHBY, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, by the returns made in 1832, and since, the whole amount of the emolu ments of the judges, &c., were—Ju , ig-s, 13,2711., regis trars 28,0761., and deputy -registrars 15,851/; and that in• eluded a number of persona who would be entitled to compensation under the new hill. The persons to be com pensated were, as he had already stated, divided into two classes, viz., those appointed before the statute of 6 and and 7 Wilt. IV., acid those appointed since that date. After making a deduction for the number who would continue to be einployed under thenew act, he calculated that the total ainoutit ofcompensation would not exceed 29,0001. With regard to the next portion of the question, he had to state that all the fees received into the court would be paid over to the consolidated fund, and prac tioally whatever compensation might be a carded would be levied upon the tax-payer. Lase ly, with regard to the suggestion of the hon. and learned gentleman that the stamp distributors should receive compensation, he had to remind the committee that that was not an office which in any way entitled the holder to compensation— the stamp distributor was simply the machinery em ployed by Government for providing the public with stamp, and indeed he (the Attorney General) antici pated that persons holding that office would not be losers by the change in the law. After some discussion of no interest, the amendment was withdrawn. Sir F. KELLY proposed the omission of certain. words in order to make the clause, as he said, reasonable, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL defended the clause as it stood. Sir F . KELLY again impugned the construction of the clause, but the discussion" entirely turned upon the wudiug of the proposed enactment. The clause as it stood wool I disrntit!e from compensation 411 who might receive Office uudt r the act. The atnendruent was tflen withdrawn, and tl,e words "of equ 1 value" were inserted at the suggestion of the ATTOUNEY-GENERAL. Mr. HADFIELD called attention to some of the enormous claim+ for compeni.ation which bad been put in. In one case a gentleman, who was a registrar at Chester with an income of 5,0001. a•year, bad received no less than 112,1401 in 20 years, and yet had the mo desty to come forward and emaplain that be was to be cut down to a retiring NI! ow ance of 6001. a-year. The hon. gentleman moved that the proviso appended to the 29th clause be omitted. Mr. SALISBURY defended the Rev. Chancellor Raikes, the gentleman referred to by the hot, member for Sheffield, 33 the registrar of the Diocesan Court of Chester. That gentleman perecnuliy superintended all the duties belonging to his office to the entire satisfaction of the public, and it was invidious to single him out for comment. Mr. ROEBUCK said that the gentleman in question enjoyed an office for 20 years bringing in 5,0001. a-year, and doing absolutely nothing for it. He lived 12 miles from his place of business, and it was idle and absurd to say that such a man was entitled to compensation. He hoped the hon. and learned gentleman the Attorney- General would resist such a rnonqtreus proposition. Col. SYKES asked whether the case of Mr. Raikea cams under the operation, of the act 6 and 7 Wm. IV. (1836) ? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that Mr. Raik4 case came within tile act 6 and 7 Wm.IV. That act had remained obsulete for 20 years, and he asked whether it would be fair, inasmuch as the ecc:e.dastical courts had not been abolished by it, to take down the act and use it against parties seeking compensation at the preFent day. Mr. T. EGERTON said the doctrine laid down by the Attorney-General was a new one; but it behoved the house to consider well the principle before they admitted it. Mr. ROEBUCK was also startled by the doctrine of the Attorney-General. An act of Parliament was passed, which distinctly stated that if this gentleman accepted the office he should not be entitled to compensation ; but, said the Attorney-(general, Parliament made a pro mise and had not kept it. But this gentleman having been kept in office—which was a benefit to him—for 20 years, at an income of from 5,0001. to 8,000/. a-year, he now came to the house and asked for compensation. (Hear.) There had been no promise made to this gentle man, but to the country. He would call upon the House of Commons to look these matters steadily in the face, and refuse this compensation. After some observations from Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Barrow, and the Chaneellor of the Exchequer, Mr. ROEBUCK asked whether his hon and learned friend meant to divide the house on the subject. (Hear ) The committee must remember what they were doing. They were destroying the effect of an act of Parliament, and they would bave some future Attorney-General saying that acts of Parliament like the present were ab solute, netwithstandinz the provisions they contained. Tne ATTORNEY -GENERAL said it was extremely invidious to select the ca-ie of one overpaid functionary, and to neglect the casee of the many underpaid func tionaries of the same class. He should certainly divide the committee upon the question. The committee then divided, when the numbers were— For the amendment Against it Majority -68 Mr. HADFIELD then moved an amendment to the Iclause, to the effect that, in computing any allowance, due consideration should he given to any office er situa tion retained by the party. The AT FORNEY-GENERAL said that the compen sation was to be given at the di icretion of the Treasury, and of course they would teke such circumstances as those referred to in the bon. member's amendment into consideration. The bill, besides, contained an ex press proviso, which would meet the cases referred to. The amendment: was then negatived without a divi sion, and, after some further discussion, the clause was agreed to. On the clause being proposed by which the proctors were to receive compensation, Mr. MALINS said that the proctors unanimously felt the privilege reserved to them, by having the exclu.ive right of province wills, was not worth preserving. Mr. ROEBUCK obj acted to the principle of compen sation being extended to the proctors. They had done no service for which they had not received an adequate reward. Mr. WHITESIDE could not see any analogy be tween the establishment of the county courts and the destruction of the proctors' business. Mr. KIRK said that be was quits wilfing that the same compensation granted to tee Irish bar, in conse quence of the recent Court of Chancery Act and the In cumbered Estates Court Act, should be granted to the proctors. Mr. AYRTON said they bad granted compensation in the vet y face of au Act of Parliament; and now they proposed taking it away from those for whom that Act had provided it. This bill was now so changed that he had altered his mind, and was in favour of granting compensation. Lord J. RU3SELL said he was satisfied that if the committee refused compensation to these proctors, they would do great irjustice to these men. They were a very peculiar body of men, limited in London to about 120 in number ; their clutiee were not only perTormed to their °dents, but also to the public, for they examined the wills, and pointed out fraudulent appearances, it such there were, and probate was thereupon refused. They paid about I,ooof. for their faculty to practise ; and it was admitted that they had acted with great Velity, ' both to the satisfaction of the public and the judges. The question had come up from time to time of reform ing these courts One commission bad stated that c im pensation ought to be given to these proctors; the Lord Chancellor proposed, instead, to ,give them a monopoly of the common form practice in London ; the Attorney- General himself had proposed to compensate them, and now he had introduced this bill with the clause of the Lord Obancedor's in it ; but the committee had changed all that—the business of these men was destroyed, and the committee could not, in justice to them, pass this measure without granting them compensation. ([Tear.) It was the principle of Sir Robert Peel that in making reforms in the law compensation should be given. That principle had been act -Id up to, perhaps rather too fully, and he could not conceive how the Attorney-General could oppose the proposition to give compensation to the proctors. M.. BRISCOE entirely concurred in what had fallen from the noble lord. He (11r. Briscoe) was a friend of refmns, but he was also a friend of justice. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL would explain the poltion of a proctor. He derived his business from three different sources—from the testamentary courts, the marriage and divorce courts, and the Admiralty courts ; _ .. .... in each of which be had a monopoly. It was proposed to compensate him in respect of ali proctorial business ; and yet he derived an income from the other two sources, supposing the t I.tamentary busine=s ti be thrown open. M. MALIN'S intended to confine the o mpensation to the test imentary btf-ine9q. The ATI'ORNEY•GENERAL would argue the matter upon that basis, then. In the Divorce. Bill there was a elsuse giving him the exalusive practice, and in one branch of that practice ho (tha Attorney-General) anticipated a great increase in thebusiness—(hear, hear) aod, unless the proctor withdrew his claims to such ex c'usive practice there was a difficulty in seeing how he was to be compensatsd. Mr. MALINS said the proct - irs would give up their claim to the exclusive practlcei. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought the commit tee ought to be accurately informed as to this, as it was impossible to argue upon an hypothetical case. It the proctors were brought down to the level of the solicitors then they ought to receive compensation, and be placed in the position contemplated by the Government in their bill of last year. lie wou'd state the two propositions of the Government, and leave the committee to decide between them. If the proctors received compensation according to the proposal of the hon. and learned gentle man, then they would be entitle-cl to no monopoly at all. It was difficult to proceed upon the contingency of the Marriage and Divorce Ball as well as the present becom ing law ; but in that event he should propose that, at the expiration of three years from the passing of the pre sent bill, an account should be taken of the professiona receipts of the proctors, and if, upon comparison with the receipts of the three antecedent years, a loss should be ascertained, compensation should be given upon that footing. He was not disposed to withdraw from the pro position of the Government in their bill of last year, to which he oonsitlered the Government pledged, namely; to give to the praetors an annuity equal to one-half of the Lases which they should sustain by the changes in the law, upon an average of the five or three years M. lowing and preceding the passing of the bill ; the monc poly being given up in all cases, and the whole business thrown open to the profession at large. He hoped the committee would think that the Government had met the case of these 'proctors fairly. Mr. WESTHE AD said there was this objection to the proposition of the Attorney-General, that if the proctor died during the three years he would get no compensa tion. _ _ _ Mr. ROLT thought it would be more convenient to place all the district and the London registries on the same footing, and to allow both solicitors and proctors to practise in all the courts. Lord HOTHAM drew a d!stinction between the sur rogates in the south of England and those in the pro vince of York ; the duties of the former were only confined to granting marriage licenses, whereas the latter transacted all the duties of a proctor. He had given notice of a claue to the following effect ;—" It shall be lawful for the Commissioners of the Treasury to grant to every clerical surrogate who, at the time of the pass ing of this act, shall be acting under appointment from the Prerogative and Exchequer Courts of York, sueh compensation for any loss the said surrogate may sustain by the passing of this act as the said commission , rs deem just and proper to be awarded ; the said commis sioners having regard in awarding such compensation to the circumstances of the said cletical surrogates not being able to follow any other professional employment in lieu of the said office of surrogate." Some of the surrogates in York were incumbents in large manufac turing town-, and only received a scanty remuneration for their services, and the emoluments which they ob tained as surrogates were necessary to the maintenance of these incumbencies. The case therefore of the surrc gates in the provicce of York was especially deserving the attention of the committee. Hon. gentlemen might be aware, in the clause he was about to move, that surro gates were not able_ to make up theirs salaries in any other way when they retired, as they were nit, like the proctors, lawyers, who had so many opportunities of doing so. Col. SYKES considered the London proctors were entitled to compensation, and would vote for the amend ment of the hon. member for Wallingford. Mr. WIGRAM said that anything done for the aer, rogatee of York in the way cf remun:',ration ghoul] be also (x:-ended to the purrog,,tes of Canterbury. The ATFORNEY-GENERAL conk' see no objec tion to the clause proposed by the noble lord (L )rd ll.,thatn). He would only a, , k the committee at present t. dettrmine the prineipl-‘, and afterwards have !h,,. form of the enactment determined. • • e. Mr. MALINS txoress e d his gratmcation at the can did manner in which his clau-e ha,l been m-t by the Government. As to the offer of the Attorney-General, he bezzed to say he preferred his own clauses being adopted, and in return cede all exclusive practice on the part of the proctors. Heals() tnenti- ned the case of the articled clerks, some of whom had paid 1 000 zuineas for their articles. and served seven years as will. Those gentlemen hoped Parliamant would return their 1,009 guineas to them. (0:1, oh.) After a few words from% Mr. ATHERTON, The ATTORNEY -GENERAL said the clauses for compensation in the bill of list year would be adopted. It his hon. and learned friend would withdraw his clauses for the present, they might be brrught up on the report in an amended fora). This suggestion was agreed to. Lord HOTHAM again moved his clause given above. Mr. WIGRAM moved that the said clause apply to the surrogates of Canterbury and Darham. Agreed to. Mr. WALPOLE moved a clause to enable managing clerks of proctors and notaries of seven years' standing is Doctors'•commons, upon proof, to be admitted, with in one year after the passing of the act, on payment of stamp duties, to practise as such. The clause was negatived. Mr. WIGRAM moved the following clause, which, with some amendments, was agreed to :—" All persons and corporations making any payment bona fide or other wise acting bona fide upon any probate or letters of ad ministration granted in respect of the estate of any de ceased person under the authority of this act, shall be in demnified and protected in so doing, notwithstanding any defect or circumstance whatsoever affecting the validity of such probate or letters of administration. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY moved the insertion of the following clause :—That the judge of her Majesty's Court of Probate for the time being shall cause to be prepared in each year ending December 31 a return of all fees and moneys levied in such year on account of the Testamen tary Fee Fund, and of any other fund under the autho rity of this act; also, a return of the annual salaries of the judge of the said Court of Probate, and of the regis trars, deputy-registrars, clerks, and all others holding offices either in London or in the country districts, with an account of all the incidental expenses relating to the offices aforesaid, whether such salaries and expenses be defrayed out of fees or out of any other moneys ; also a return of all superannuations, pensions, annuties, re tiring allowances, and compensations made payable under this act in each year, stating the gross amount and the amount in detail of such charges—provided always that all such returns aforesaid shalt be presented to both Houses of , Parliament on or before the I,t day of Feb ruary in each year if the Parlia ment i s then sitting, an d if Parliament is not sitting, then such returns shall be presented within ten days of the first meeting of Parlia ment after the Ist of February in each year. Agreed to. MALINS then proposed a clause to give articled clerks of proctors all tees, charges, and stamp duties paid by them on their entering the profession, the same to be allowed by the Trea , ury by way of compensation. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the clause, on the ground that it would open the door to a class of cornp,nsatton which could not be justified. Mr. MALINS said that there were only 12 or 13 of those articled clerks, and that as their all was embarked in the profession they had adopted, it would be gross i, justice to deprive them of the premiums and fees they had paid. The committee then divided— For the clause 57 Against Majority The clause was therefore lost 56 The ATTORNEY•GENERAL proposed to recommit the bill at 12 o'clock, for the purpose of adding new clauses, to have the biil reprinted, and then taken into consideration on Thursday, and read a third time on Friday. Mr. AYRTON gave notice that he sboull propose to add section 19 of the 3rd and 4th Wl.lltani IV. The preamble was agreed to and the house r.sumed. Toe General Bjard of Health Bill was read a third time and passed. The Illicit Di4tillation (Ireland) Bill was recommitted, and a new elawte added. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES BILL. In answer to Sir H. WILLOUGEIBY, • Mr. WILSON said it was inteuded to proceed 'with the bill this session. Sir J. TRELAWNEY moved that the house do now adjourn. lord PALMERSTON said the house had better go on with the business, and when any oppo , ed bill came on th'y nolli then determine the course they would. por•ue. The motion was then withdrawn. DUNBAR HARBOUR (CONSOLIDATED FUND). The house having gone into committee. Mr. WILSON explained that it was intended to intro duce a bill to authorise a loan of 20,0001. for the purpose of improving this harbour. It was necessary to have an act to enable the corporation of Dunbar to mortgage their pr,iparty to the Exchequer Loan Commissioners. The resolution was agreed to and reported to the house. SUPERANNUATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. 0 , 1 the motion that this bill be read a third time, Mr. AYRTON moved that the debate be adj,iurnsah Lard NAAS hoped that no further opposition would be offered to the bill. Mr. AYRTON said the bill was most objectionable, and therefore he should persist in dividing the house. A division was called for but none took place. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY objected to the third reading of the bill, ou the ground that it woul l not settle the question. He would ask the noble lord the member for Cockermouth (Lord Naas) how he intended to d e al with those parties who had already paid the sum of 760,0001. In this summaty mode of dealing with the question the house placed the Executive in a false posi tion with the civil service. Whether he considered the civil service, the taxpayer, or the position of the govern ment, he objected to the third reading. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said be wP 4 s not prepared to bring in a bill before he received the re i furt of the actuaries who had been appointed. Such was the haste of the noble lord that no time waa,given to the government to nrepare a bill. Sir TRELAWNY said the reason he bad opposed. the bill W4i becaused he wished to protect the national exchequer. The better plan would have been to app a committee to inquire into the whole of the civil ser- vice. AYRTON said the bill was not founded upon any principle of justice, and characterised it as a mea sure which had been got up by the civil servants can vassing membcrs of Parliament, instead of attending to their regular du ies. After owe irregular discussion, the house divided— For the third reading 9l Against tt Majority —6B The bill was read a third time and passed The Burial Grounds (Scotland) Act (1855) Amend ment Bill was read a second time, and alter garde passed. through committee. NEW WRIT. Mr. HAYTER moved that a new writ be made out for the election of a burgess for the borough of Great: Yarmouth, which, after some discussion, was agreed to. An HON. MENIBER, noticed to the Speaker that, there were not 40 members present.] It being found on a count taking place that only 16 members were in the house, it was adjourned at half• past two. Just published, price 3s. 61, "Letter to Viscount Pal. meriton, 8.G., on the Political Importance of the Euphrates Valley Railway, and the necessity of the financial support of her Maje.ty's Government." By W. P. Andrew, F.R G.S., &0., Chairman Euphrates Valley Railway; with rep:Tts by Major-General Chesney and Sir J. Macneill, and memorandum, by Sir Justin Shell, K.C.8., and map. Alto minutes of evidence before the House of COMMODE' on the establishment of telegraphic communication with India through Turkish Arabia. By Sir W. B. O'Shaughnessy, T. K. Lynch, El., and W. Ainsworth, EA., &c. "It can be hardly be doubted that ICurachee is destined to be the great arsenal of the PanjAub and North-Western India; per haps the emporium and even the real capital of British India. Kurrachee, by the Euphrates, is 1,400 miles. nearer to England than Bombay is by the Red Sea.;' — Sir Justin Shell, K.C.B. London : W. H. Allen and Co., 7, Leadehnall—street. BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the Ist inst., at 20, Hanover-square, Viscountess Hardinge. On the 3d inst., at 21, Bronapton-squara, the wife of the Rev. W. C. Dowding. OF A DALIGIITER. On the 2d inst., atl7, Mansfield-street, Cavendish-square the wife of William A. Chaplin, Esq. On the 2d inst , at 80, Eeelestou-square, the wife of Ormus Biddulph, Esq. M A It R I Ep. . _ On the Ist inst., at Reigate Church, Reginald F. D. Pa',grave, Esq., the youngest son of Sir Francis Palgrave, KAI., to Glace, younger daughter of the late Richard Battley, Esq. DIED. On the 3d inst., at 6, Montem-villas, Adelaide-road, Mr. Edward Graen, of City - road-wharf, aged 65. On the 3d inst., M r . G eorge Ellis, late of the Bank of England, aged 71. On the 2d inst., at the Vicarage, the Rev. Thos. Robin son, M.A., vicar of Milford, Hants, and Rural Dean, aged 71. On the let inst., Charles Turner, Esq., A.R.A., 50, Warren-street, Fitzroy-square, aged 83. On the Ist inst., Mr. Michael Samuel, of Colchester. On the Ist inst., at Lower Norwood, Mr. Win. Perry, aged 74. On the Ist inst., at Hayes, Middlesex, Mr. James Mid; dleton, late of Bermondsey, aged 80. On the 16th June, while doing duty with the 37th tive Infantry, from wounds received on the 4th, Ensign J• Y. Hayter, 25th N. 1., eldest son of John Hayter, Esq 4 Harley-street, aged 22. LONDON: Printed and Publicshed by KURD() YOUNC 4 P of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Mice, 14(14 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savor, in the oonalt/ of Middlesex, Tuesdal, August 4, 1857. r roi ~CC( up° 1 I Trier The eh() nno: 14n nee rliE SUN, LO' DON, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 4, 1857