The Express.
London, England, 1852-06-15 00:00:00

MR. FEARGUS O'CONNOR._

Mr. J. BELL prewuted • petition from Hannah Bar-
nard Brown O'Connor, praying that Mr. Feargus O'Connor
may be liberated, by order of the house, from the
custody of the Sergeant-at-Arras, with • view to his being
placed in a lunatic asylum. I move (said the boo. gentle-
man, amid cheering), that the petition be read by the
clerk at the table.
_ .

The petition was accordingly read to the house. The
petitioner states that she is the sister and nearest surviving
relative of Mr. O'Connor. She refers to the medical cer-
tificates regarding Mr. O'Connor's state of mind, which
had been placed in the hands of the Sergeant-at-Arms,
through the instrumentality of Mr. Bell, as justifying the
prayer of her petition.
Mr. WALPOLE raid (when the petition had been read)
This is a matter of urgency ; and I beg leave to give notice
that after the orders of the day I shall move for a committee
to inquire into all the facts of the case as alleged in the pe-
tition, and to report to the house upon those statements.
An lion. Ms —Why not nowt (Load cries of
" Yes, yes, now, now.")
Mr. HINDLEY—There are 36 orders on the paper. The
right boa. gentleman bad better more now for the commit-
tee. (Dear, hear.)
Mr. WALPOLE—I have no objection to more now the
appointment of a committee ; but that is all I can do ; for I
am not quite prepared with the names. The right hoe.
gentleman then sat down, without moving tor the commit.
toe. Accordingly there were cries of " Move, move ;" and
after some little confusion, the right hon. gentleman again
rose, and moved " that a committee be appointed," he.,
which was agreed to.
THE NATIONAL SOCIETY AND THE QUEEN'S
LETTER.

Ilkaseary WALPOLE, ia laying on the table the
aiMla sitlawnali altering the management clauses of the
Neduri IMsettleasl Grant, stated, in reply to Mr. S. A.
"Wm that as the Archbishop of Canterbury had as yet
ads so application for the Queen's letter, under which a
' pinks a** funds were raved, he could give no answer on
tha Ont.
0151T..13.1 WI • 11l

Mt. WALPOLE, inanswer to Mr. Lamm, announced
art the Corporation of London had submitted a plan to the
Plamegase,whieh had been approved, to take Copenhagen-
Lli the site for the new Bm4kiteld market..

Mr. B. COCIIRANE (pursuant to notice) put this ques-
tion to Sir J. Pakington : Whether it is the intention of
the government to devote any portion of the sum of 14,0831.,
granted to her Majesty for the purposes of emigration,
and towards the accommodation of emigrants at the Port
of Southampton, in conformity with the report of Mr.
Lean, of the Government Emigration °Mee ?" The hoe.
member added, that the " tenders" sent in by the South
Western Company were exceedingly low, compared with
former rates for the conveyance of emigrants.
Sir J. PAKINOTON said—l am quite ready to admit
the great advantages which Southampton possesses as a
port for the departure of emigrants. I beg to state that
measures are in progress to carry out the objects referred
to; of enures with a duo regard to general considerations,
and to the public convenience. Amongst other questions,
; expense is an element in these considerations ; and although,
as the hon. gentleman says, the tenders made last year by the
South-Western Railway Company were low, yet he must
remember that the conveyance by railway is only a small
portion of the general expense. At the close of this year
tenders will be required for a renewal of the contract, and
I Southampton will be quite free to compete with other
places.
JOINT.STOCK COMPANIES' LAW.

Mr. CiiiciiiieilyioiiiriiLlllll;f3;:iniiinated a
probability of the introduction of a bill neat year to pre-
vent the evanion of the Joint Stock Act.
THE FROME VICARAGE COMMITTEE.

Mr. G6l7ll,lll.l:4puiinestiOriato Sii.li;r;man: The
hon. member, he said, has given notice that he will this
, evening nominate the committee on the Frome vicarage
case. The committee consists (on the paper) of 18 mem-
, hers; and I wish to know why that number, instead of 16,
the usual number in such a cane, has been adopted ; also, is
it certain that he will proceed in the matter this evening;
and also whether, in the event of the nomination being
agreed to, the hon. member will accede to the motion of Mr.
Gladstone, viz., that Mr. Borman " do reduce intoheada
or articles the several charges which he has made in his
place against Richard Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, and
0417 Sag
itti;,4!miti h. eV: oisr arm Lie iestotot this
‘ toh o use ."
the
I of the committee tli:nevenninn It
to to tsitet
lof fifteen, not eighteen, members: the three. names beyond
the fifteen being introduced only by a printer's error, whichl
have explained to the clerk at the table. I have been in
communication with the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Dis-
raeli), and I am in hopes that after supply I may be
allowed to bring the subject on, in order to avoid the difti-
eulty which would arise If I had to wait until
after all the orders of the day have been disposed of. As
for the last question, I think it is for the house, n it for me,
to decide. The right hon. gentleman (Mr. Gladstone) has
stated that the course he proposes 1 should take is in eon-
forma), with precedent and constitutional law. If the right
Imo. gentlem in does show that, and if it should be, conse-
quently, the pleasure of the house that I should reduce my
cam to " heads" or " articles," I shall of course be bound

kg As eensratioda of the house to do what I can to conduct'
tie Inquiry satisfactorily to the house and to the right hon.
149111eman. (Ilea, bear.)
Wor. DISRAELI—It is my wish to facilitate the ap-
pointment of the committee, and if I could be enured that
no diestanion world take place en the names, I should
waive any privilege of the government, and give the hou.
gentleman the opportunity ke seeks. But lam not satisfied
by the inquiries I have made since I saw the hon. gentle-
men this morning that there will not be a lengthy discus-
sion; and, under the circumstances, I must forego the inten-
tion I hail. The hours of the house are counted : and there
is a great deal of business that must be attended to. But I
shall watch the progress of public business, and if I ran I
will facilitate the hon. gentleman's object. At present, I
cannot pledge myself.
Mr. GLADSTONE—This mast be understood. As the
hon. gentleman does not ate mute to anent to the motion I
have made, and as the point involved is of constitutional
importance, of course it will be necessary for me to detain
the house at considerable length in making the motion.
(Great laughter.) The hon. gentleman must take measures
accordingly. (Continued laughter.)
Mr. HORSMAN—AII the gentlemen I have named for
the committee have expressed their readiness to serve.
Mr. ULADS'fONE—I said the other night nothing
should induce me to go into that committee unless the esta-
blished course I propose is taken by the hon. gentleman.
Sir F. KELLY—My name is down for the committee.
Tho hou. !gentleman does not assert that I ever was con-
sulted or consented?

Mr. HOItSMAN—No ; but I gave the Chancellor of the
Exchequer a list of the committee, and he struck out one
name, and put down instead that of the Solicitor-General.
(Great laughter.) Ceder such circumstances, I think I
am guiltless of want of courtesy to the hoe. and learned
gentleman.
Mr. 1/1:-.1ZAELI—No doubt I hail the communication
with the hon. gentleman, but there was a preliminary con-
dition,' sad I said, provided all thew other gentlemen as-
sented, no doubt you could take the Solicitor-General.
(Great laughter, caused by the appareat confusion and he•
sitatioe of the right hon. geotlemaa.) I did distinctly un-
derstand that the right hoe. gentleman (Mr. Gladstone)
had vented, sad hence my proposal.
Sir V. KELLY—After this explanation, I, of course,
acquit the hon. gentleman of any want of courtesy.
(Much laughter, the hon. and learned gentleman markedly
excluding Mr. Disraeli from the acquittal.) But I beg to
say that when the time 'alien I will put some questions
before consenting to serve on the committee. (This sen-
tence, as implying insubordination, increased considerably
the merriment of the house.)
THE MAYNOOTII REPAIRS ESTIMATE.

Mr O. C. LEWIS, in answer to a question from Mr.
MON/411.L, stated that the late government had had no
intention of omitting a grant for the repairs of tha build-
ings of Maynooth College from the estimates, and that, had
they continued in office, such a vote would have been
proposed.
LORD JOIIN RUSSELL'S REVIEW OF TILE
SESSION.

On the question that the report of the committee of
supply be received,
Lord J. RUSSELL rose and said-1 am at all times un-
willing to bong questions relating to the foreign policy of
the government before the attention of the house. I think
that, generally speaking, it is very difficult to judge
of the conduct of the government with respect to particular
transactions in which they may be concerned with foreign
powers. But the case I am about to call the attention of the
house to is a special one. Tee government has, of its own
accord, without any pressure on the part of the house of
which I am aware, produced a correspondence respecting
the assault made on Mr. Mather at Florence. These papers
arc presented to both houses by command of her Majesty.
Raving read those papers it could not but occur to me that
if they were left altogether unnoticed by members of this
house, such members as might have the good fortune to be
elected to the next parliament would be told that they had
taken no notice of the subj' et ; that having these papers
before them in the month of June they took no notice of
them, and that, therefore, it was presumed they had no'
fault to find with the conduct of the government.
Now itippears to me, although it is not necessary or ad-
visable to come to any resolution, yet that it is advisable
that the members of this house should not be supposed to
be committed to an approbation of the course which has
been pursued by the government—(hear, hear)--and,
therefore it is I think it necessary to call the attention of
the house to those papers. (Rear, hear.) The house wilt
recollect that at the end of December last year two young
gentlemen of the name of Mather, one I think of the age
of 19 and the other of the age of 17, being in
Florence, in a crowded street, attempted to cross
the street between a detachment of an Austrian

regiment and the military band preceding the detachment,
mad that one of these gentlemen, the elder of the two, re-
'shred first a blow on the back, next a severe blow on the
bee • and when he was recovering from that blow, received
a oat with • sword which opened his skull, and placed him
is a situation of some danger. I do not mean to say that the
iajary was of inch a kind as to endanger life, but it was •
very urious blow, leading to serious coneequences. COOL
'hint was made on behalf of the young gentleman to Lord
Onaville, then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who
iMlMatffiately wrote to Mr. Sculett, acting as Chargi
d'Allialres at Florence for this country. Lord Oran-
Ale likewise wrote to the Earl of Westmoreland,
bar Majesty's Minister at Vienna, stating to him the facts
ease as they had been reported. But in the mean.
lime a report had been received from Mr. Barlett stating
that • formal inquiry had been asked for, that that formal
gagairy was to be instituted, and wan about immediately
aramenoe. Lord Grenville therefore added at As SIM
tibia downtols that at that moment he hail no official in
sranba..l,skin bat that in ease of an inquiry not being'
fatly ainelanied, Of of any attempt to suppress the truth,
then, as he states, her Majesty's government would look
to the court of Austria, and would no doubt receive
Has proper reparation. I should now mention, however,
that Mr. Mather, sen., has made a representation with re-
slant le what was said in this house, as which he boa not
be= ostrectly informed. He states that it has been said be
•i bane by myself that it was proposed that Mr. lialitirm
dent proceed before the molar tribunals of Flans.. I
asearnade any each stateneaß I may have ben an mis-
mipsensted be seem newapeper ; bat the statesman I did
Isabel lad .seemly in listioni ; mg that statinent was
tag *judicial bong had boa wdeag reopening the case.
Tide being the one. Mr. Ileadsti ben Tuscaa
nlainat a pandes aa ingdm inipairy wee
patio Inelliated by tint gonennatt. Mm the first
whisk arises ea this subject is,what was Ism native
of lbe dense ? the snead, what wee the =in to be
rogibed ? Of eeneen the emend taendem
ea tin Oink
_bus.) If ti slim WIN =2
WORM ame
nd Rapootairff, sine of loperegan weali be
nipleal; if it wan merely aidinnad, a different Mad of
sepandon, not Vale so mai in extent, would ban
ban maffielmat. ow, bare biked into the pupae be
mkt le misatain what was the view takes by Übe Earl et
Molearabiny. It appears that gin statesman insie on this
subject by the two parties are gollifitegimaw anilictiop
than I at first supposed. Mr. Man -eine Oat ha was
nramiag, In order to get bnablet ell a millinebeass where
In wee neentotned to breaking I that be saw that the
thins, IMMO very much mowed; that be crossed be-
ams OM Inope sad a lima ef neele&ithere
bang Ant Alp p
es ie Ulnas ewns tbeil la ea be
was eine& yby as ins the; balk wilt the
of a sword ; that be tuned rand tad asked the Meer why
he struck him ; that imanillaisly afterwards be wee struck
la the bee en, violently lg oaths/ ; and that he
sewridlig *Wu the him cal bed meareely recovered
whoa tho first Ahoy, aim hail a drawn sword in
his band, eat Yes down, and he 111111 died a severe wound. I
The amount elm by the Amid= Ahem is very different.
They snan-1 Ann their etaiment km the report of
Maciallaoherkat Mr. Medlar bid several warnings
that be nee aseasing before a sneer awl Impeding the
antra the be did ass nisi their warming', but turned
slily to thew allow; that when be bed been struck
a Mew ia the face by the second officer he hansiodiately pat
=if in an attitude of defence, in what Marshal liadetaky
a " boxing attitude "—(laughter)-raosi that he was
advancing towards this officer iu • menacing manner whoa
be was struck down. Now, the house will see that there is
the greatest difference between these two statements. la
ibe on. cue, it appears that the offence was wholly wanton
aid aatscxvoked ; in the other, it appears that it had at
Wei this justification, or, if not justification, palliation,
=kapplared to the officer that Mr. Mather was about to
lan, and that be only prevented what he called a
illieneseable insult by striking him with his sword. Well,
em, Limturally looked to see what was the character
wkieb Lard Malmesbury attributed to this transaction,
whether he took this one view or the other. It appears to
me that the course which he might have taken without de-
ciding at once what was the character of the transaction,
was to have had the witnesses confronted with
one another, and evidence taken as to the facts.
That is the way in which we should have pro-
ceeded in this country. However, it appears that
ao such course was taken. It never appears to have occurred
to the government to ark to have the facts ascertained.
=on the one hand, Mr. Mather and the Tuscan wit-
Nam in one story, while they declare that this un-
firseasato man was struck and was staggering under the
blew, when he received another blow which cut him down,
the statement is quite as po-itive on the other side that the
set of Mr. Mather provoked what took place. I will
read to the house what Marshal Itedetsky says on the sub
jest; remarking heft re I do so that he appears to set aside,
as of no value, the inetitution of an inquiry by the °road
Duke of Tuscany at the solicitation of Mr. Scarlett.
Mar-
shal Radetsky said that the Tuscan witnesses did not repr►
sent the matter as it 'weaned, inasmuch es they pretended
to have remembered nothing menacing in the conduct
Mr. Mather, and he went on to say that fnim :he character
and the previous conduct ef the officer, he was of opinion
that ha wao in the right, and that he absolutely dill nothing
Dot lifbeithe was justified in iluing.Why. this is n very per mo-
notyedneation on the part of Marshal Itadeteky. Well, her
'1 government having taken no means of ascertain-
lag the troth, one would at least have supposed that they
would decide which was the story to be believed; that they