The Press.
London, England, 1854-03-25 00:00:00

'Sir F. KELLY, thus challenged, reopened the legal
Arguments regarding the interpretation of the In-
demnity Act, and contended that its tenor was so
ittnbignous as to warrant the witnesses in relying
,upon the most perfect impunity, and to render it
,tusjust for the house to visit them by a retrospective
act with pains and penaltim
The house divided on the question whether leave
should be given to bring in the first bill, relative to
Canterbury. There appeared—
Ayes 189
Noes llB-71
The other bills of the series were then successively
moved and leave given to bring them in.
COLONIAL CLERGY.
The second reading of the Colonial Clergy Disa-
bilities Bill was moved on Monday evening, and
opposed by Mr. HADVIELD, who moved the usual
negative as an amendment. The opposition was
seconded by Mr. A. PELLATT.
Sir 3. PAKINOTON commented upon the provisions
of the bill, expressing some preference for the mea-
sure on the same subject unsuccessfully introduced
last session, but refused to throw it out neverthe-
less.
Mr. WARNER supported the bill, and Mr. R. PHIL-
LIMORE defended it.
Mr. Hume, Mr. Wigram, and Sir G. Grey having
successively expressed a wish for more detailed in-
formation touching the powers and purposes of the
measure,
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL explained the nature and
origin of the peculiar disabilities under which the
colonial clergy now laboured, and which the bill was
intended to remove. The clergy in the colonies were
now fettered by the action of statutes some of which
were passed as long ago as the reign of Henry
and were altogether inappropriate to the present
state of things. These acts interfered both with the
spiritual functions and the temporalities of the
Church and its minioters in the colonies ; and the
bill was designed to remedy the evil thus occasioned
by totally aluogating the statutes in question on
some points, and on others enabling the local Legis-
lature to interfere.
Mr. T. CHAMBERS urged another question. If the
hill passed, would the Church in the colonies be free
or established ? If the former, he contended that
the measure was supererogatory ; if the latter, it would
be unjust.
Mr. Mowentv supported the bill.
Mr. KINNAnte declared that his objections to the
measure had not been removed by the explanation
of the Solicitor General.
Mr. NAPIER was still unable to comprehend the
full scope of the bill, or to admit its necessity.
Mr. WAr.poi.e contended that the object of the bill
was just and expedient, admitting at the same time
that the mode in which that object was to be carried

out might require further consideration.
Mr. Mum opposed the bill, looking on it as a
contrivance to strengthen and perpetuate the con-
nection between the Church in the colonies and the
English establishment.
Lord J. RUSSELL pointed out the expediency of
placing the English Protestant Church in the colo-
nies on the same footing and endowing it with the
same rights as the Roman Catholics, the Scotch
Presbyterians, or the Nonconformist bodies gene-
rally. This was attempted by the present measure,
and he therefore supported the second reading of
the bill.
On a division there appeared—
For the second reading
Against 62-131
The bill was then read a second time.
LAW OF SIMON V.
The second reading of the Simony Law Amend-
ment. Bill was moved on Wednesday by Dr. Pniut-
MORE. It was, he explained, practically the same as
the measure introduced last year, absolutely prohibit-
ing the sale of Church livings or the next presents
tion thereto after the decease of the present holder.
He described the abuses which existed under the law
as it now stood, and declared that his bill had received
the approbation of nearly all the judges.
Mr. Or. Burr contended that both advowsons and
rights of presentation were, strictly speaking, rroper-
ties which the law recognised as being saleable or
transferable, requiring only certain qualifications on
the part of the buyers. He moved as an amendment
that the bill be read a second time that day six
months.

The amendment was seconded by Mr. Spoor;En.
Sir W. HEATHCOTE drew a distinction between ad-
TOWSOW4 and next presentations. The former was
property in every sense ; the latter might be given
Into the hands of laymen in the character of spiritnal
trusts, but ought never to be made articles of sale
and barter. He supported the bill.
Sir G. GEE? believed that the bishops held powers
amply sufficient to restrain any improper or scanda-
lous traffic in ecclesiastical preferments. Advowsons
were, he thought, legitimate subjects for transfer by
sale or otherwise.

THE Pl3l

Lord 021-opaarcH considered that the present sys..
tern permitted transactions highly discreditable to
the establishment. A seat on the Bench was quite as
fit an article for sale as a preferment in the Church.
He exhorted the house to adopt the measure.
Mr. NAPIER admitted that abuses prevailed at pre.
sent, but believed that the heads of the Church bad
power to abolish them. The bill, he thought, would
prove a failure with regard to its avowed purpose of
improving the conditions under which benefices were
transferred. The moral influence of the bishop was
quite sufficient without the bill. If that influence
were left unexercised the bill would be ineffectual, as
means would be found to evade it at every point.
The ATTORNEY-OENERAL confessed that the law of
simony was at present in an anomalous condition, but
opposed the bill because he did not feel convinced
that it would make any change for the better.
The bill was also opposed by Mr. Liddell, Mr.
Hildyard, and Mr. Aglionby.
Dr. PirthuatortE having replied, the house divided,
and the second reading was negatived by 138 votes

to 52-86.
The bill is consequently lost.
SEAMEN FOR THE FLEET.
Replying to Loid Ellenborough, the Earl of
ABERDEEN on Tuesday in the Peers stated that cer-
tain seamen in the fleet who had been engaged for
the period of one year would receive the same rate of
pay as those who had engaged to serve for five years.
The Earl of EILENBOROUGH objected to the plan,
and complained of the rate of pay to the coast-guard
men serving on board the fleet being higher than
that of regular seamen and of some of the petty
officers. The noble earl impressed upon the Govern-
ment the advantage of employing only properly-
trained seamen.
The Earl of ABERDEEN said it was premature, at
present, to pronounce any opinion upon the success
of the experiment. It had, however, been found
that though men were engaged to serve only for a
year they generally wished to continue in the service.
The exper►ment was worth trying, and he hoped it
would succeed.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH lisped so too, but
thought it extremely doubtful.
FRAUD IN THE HAY CONTRACT.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH referred to statements
in the newspapers imputing gross fraud to a con-
tractor for supplying hay to the artillery horses about
to proceed to the seat of war. It was stated that
when the hay came to be examined it was found to
be very good outside, but that the inside consisted
only of shavings and rubbish ; so that if the trans-
ports had put to sea with it the horses must have pe-
rished during the voyage. He wished to know whe•
ther these statements were substantially correct; and
if so whether measures had been taken for the
punishment of the contractor ?
The Duke of NEWCASTLE was ashamed to admit
that this statement was substantially correct. He was
not at present prepared to say whether the criminal
law would reach the miscreant, but the case had
been referred to the law officers of the Crown for
their opinion. The case was one of the gravest de-
scription, for if the discovery had not been made in
time the whole of the horses must have perished at
sea, and thus the efficiency of the artillery have been
seriously impaired.
The Earl of Ellenborough, the Earl of Derby, and
Lord Brougham expressed great indignation at this
atrocity, and hoped that, if the law was not found
sufficient to punish the offender criminally, it would
forthwith be amended to meet such cases in future.
The Earl of MALIILSBURY urged the noble duke to
mention the name of the contractor.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE stated the name to be
Sturges.
The offence of a contractor—or rather supplier, as
there seems to have been no contract—of hay for the
cavalry transports to the East has been mentioned
in both houses on several days during the week. It
seems that, upon examination, many trusses of what
was sent in as hay were stuffed with rubbish in the
inside, rushes, shavings, and, in one instance, a dead
lamb, being found packed round with genuine hay.
Much credit was taken by the Ministerial speakers
for the vigilance with which the fraud had been
detected before the articles were actually shipped,
and not a little indignation expressed at an attempt
that might have resulted in the loss of a large num-
ber of cavalry horses despatched to aid a most im-
portant expedition.
On Thursday evening the Ministers stated that
the offending firm was that of Messrs. Sturgeon, of
Grays, in Essex, and that the Solicitor to the Admi-
ralty had commenced proceedings in order to bring
the offenders to justice.
GAMING-HOUSES.
The promised bill for the suppression of gaming-
houses was introduced on Thursday by the ATTOR-
NEY-GENERAL. He described the contrivances by
which the keepers of such establishments were
enabled to defy the law, as it stood at present, by

• ' I•SATURDAY,

fortifying the entrance to their houses Po that, before
the officers of justice could make their way in, all
implements and traces of gambling had disappeared,
and the parties found in the place were brought up
before the magistrates afterwards, sheltered under
false names, and with no charge that could be main •
tamed against them. To remedy this evil, he pro-
posed to arm the magistrates with increased powers.
His bill, accordingly, provided—first, to make it a
substantive offence to adopt any fortifications or
other unusual means for excluding the officers ;
secondly, to threw upon the keepers of all fortified
places the onus of disproving, the charge that they
were kept for gambling purposes ; thirdly, to make a
distinction between dupes and sharpers, by enabling
the magistrate, with the aid of the suggestions of the
officers, to select from those brought before him
such as should be prosecuted and such as should be
made witnesses ; and, fourthly, to make it an offence
for any one captured in such a place to give a false
name. With the assistance of this bill, he believed
that gaming-houses would be as effectually sup-
pressed as betting-houses had been.

THE TRUCK SYSTEM.
Sir H. HALFORD on Wednesday brought forward
for second reading the Payment of Wages (Hosiery)
Bill. The measure was designed to protect the frame-
work-knitters of the midland counties from the exac-
tions they now suffered at the hands of the masters,
who forced them to pay a heavy rent for the frames
or machines used in their work. The case was re-
moved from the operation of the Truck Act by a
technical flaw, and it was necessary, he contended,
to supply the deficiency by direct legislation. It was
intended not absolutely to prohibit frame rents, but
to prevent their being made exorbitant and stopped
out of the wages of the operatives.
Sir W. CLAY opposed the bill, and moved that it be
read a second time that day three months. All the
relations between masters and workmen rested, he
thought, on principles with which the Legislature
should not attempt to interfere.
Mr. WILKINSON seconded the amendment, and Sir
J. WALMSLEY supported the bill.
The discussion was pursued by Sir G. Strickland,
Mr. Packe, and Mr. T. buncombe.
Mr. FITZROY, on the part of the Government, was
willing to have the bill referred to the select com-
mittee already appointed to inquire into a kindred
subject—namely, the truck system.
Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Bouverie, and Mr. Cob-
bett having spoken, a division was called, and the
bill passed a second reading by a majority of 120 to
73-47. It was then orated to be referred to a
select committee.

SLIGO BOROUGH.
The committee on the above election presented their report on
Wednesday. It contained the following resolutions
"That John tiatileir, Esq., was duly returned a member for the
bosom-4i of Sligo.
"That A'exander Slater was by by Her
Simpson with,
ll the Wa (a 251. to refrain from giving his vote at the tart election
which sum he afterwards gave up.
"That ,lames Kerr was bribed through his wife by Henry
Simpson with 251. to vote fur Mr. Stulleir or not to vow at all,
at the last election, which sum he afterwards returned.
"That Samuel Gilmore was bribed with 301. by Henry Owen
O'Connor. since deceased, to refrain from giving his vote to Mr.
Somers at the last election.
" That it was not proved that the aforesaid acts of bribery were
committed with the knowleuge or consent of the said John Sail-
leir or his agents."

TREATMENT OF COLOURED SUBJECTS OF GREAT
BRITAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
Mr. IKINNAIRD having inquired what state the correspondence
between the British and United States Governments with refer-
ence to coloured seamen (being British subjects), on the vessels
to which they belong arriving at a port in any of the southern
states, being Imprisoned ou account of their colour, ROW RLOOd?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied that, according to the opinion of
Lord Clarendon, it would be better not to produce the corre-
spondence, relying on the Legislatures of the several states to
make such alterations in their laws as would prevent a recur-
rence of these causes of complaint. (Hear, hear.) In Carolina
the goveruor had proposed an alteration which had not been
carried into effect, but it wee understood that it would be again
proposed this year ; and believing that there would be a great
improvement in the legislation both of Carolina and of Georgia
npon this subject, Lord Clarendon, snotp was of opintoo
that the correspondence had better be produced.
MINISTERS' MONEY.
The second reading of the Ministers' Money (Ireland) Bill was
opposed on Monday by Mr. MIAI.r., who denounced the tax is a
church rate slightly disguised, and imbued with aggravated in-
justice.
Mr. II (-ME supported this view of the case, but on a division
the bill was read a second time by a majority of 203 to 97-106.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
Mr. EWART on Monday obtained leave to introduce a bill fot
amending and extending the act by which town councils were
enabled to establish libraries and museums freely open to the
public.

LORD HARRIS, the newly-appointed governor of
the presidency of Madras, according to custom with
departing functionaries of that grade, was entertained
by the Directors of the East India Company, on
Saturday last, with a very sumptuous banquet at the
London Tavern, previous to his departure for India.
The banquet-hall presented a most brilliant scene
when the company had fully assembled. Mr. Russell
Ellice, chairman of the East India Company, pre•
sided on the occasion.