The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-14 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TI: LsDAT, MAY 13.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his scot os the woolsack at
Iv. o'clock.

The Queenstown Improvement and the Bristol, Exeter,
Ohard and Taunton Railway Bills were respectively read a
third time and passed.
The Archbishop of YORK presented a petition from
Yurk against the revised education code.

QUALIFICATION FOR OFFICE ABOLITION BILL.
Earl de Grey aced Ripon, the Duke of Newcastle, Lord
Lyvedee, Lord Trustee, and other peers having presented
petitions in favour of this bill from Gateshead, Liverpool,
ester, Northampton, Leicester, and other places,
Lord TAUNTON roars to move the second reading of the
bill. He observed that the question bad been so recently
discussed by th.•ir lordships that it was scarcely necessary
for him to remind then, what was the present condition of
the law it was sought by this measure to amend
There could be no real, substantial danger to fear from the
abolition of this qualification, while, on the other hand,
their lordships would gratify the feelings of many of the
dissenters if they would concur in the passing of this bill.
He could remember the time when parliament repealed the
Test and Corporation Acta, and the fears then expressed as
to the result, but none of them had come to pan. The
question now was, whether they could or could not safely
give up this declaration without any danger to the church
of bland, and he believed, and bad endeavoured to show,
that they could most undoubtedly do so. Those who h►d
held high political oeloe knew practically that the act now
on the statute books was a dead letter, and with regard to
that portion of the act which had any vitality in it, viz., the
oath required to be taken by the members of corporation,
there were two objection; first, the oath was unintelligible,
and secondly, it was unnecernary. No nth should be re-
quired to he taken except on special occasions, and their
endeavours should be to clothe oaths with the sanctity and '
respect which was due to a solemn amveration. He would
repeat that solemn oaths were not to be administered
lightly. The present circumstances el the times were very
favourable, for the church was both strong and popular, and
deservedly so, depending as she had done upon her own in-
ternal vigour and utility. He would venture to observe
that this was but a very small matter, and he did not intend
to attach any undue importance to it. In conclusion, he
would ask their lordships to give a second reeding to the
bill, as he felt quite sure that sot the slightest injury would
follow to the church of England. (Hear.)
•

The Duke of MARLBOROUGH did not believe that the
• of this measure would make the dissenters more
ry:111r better citizens, and under all the circumstances
be would confidently urge upon their lordships to oppose
the second reading of it. lie begged to move that the bill
be read a second time that day six months.
Lord WODEHOUSE trusted their lordships would not be
led to imagine that they were voting against the supremacy
of the church by voting for the bill, any more than they
would by throwing it out add one jot or tittle to its stability.
(Hear.)
Their lordship then divided, when the numbers were
Contests 65
Non oscines B7-32

The bill was aeoordhgly rokr&ed.
The Marvin of CLANRICARDE drew the attention of
their lordships to the fact that, by misteke, a right rev.
prelate (the Bishop of Winchester) had gone into the lobby
with the " contenta," whereas he intended to have voted
against the bill. The name of the right rev. prelate had
been recorded by the clerk, but he had not been counted by
the tellers. He (the Marquis of Clanricarde) apprehended
that it would sot be right that the name of the right rev.
prelate should remain, under the circumstances, on the
journals of the horse es having voted for the bill.
The LORD CHANCELLOR pat the question that
he should ask the right rev. prelate which way he intended
to vote, which was agreed to, although a few peers cried
" non-content."
The LORD CHANCELLOR, then turning to the Bishop
of Winchester, said, " My lord bishop, I am directed by the
house to ask your lordship whether you beard the question
put from the chair'"
The Bishop of WINCHESTER—Yee.
The LORI) CHANCELLOR —On which side was it your
lordship's intention to vote?
The Bishop of WINCHESTER—With the non-contents.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—Os which side does your
lordship now vote?
The Bishop of WINCHESTER—With the non-contents.
The Duke of BUCCLEUGH raid that, during his long
experience of the house, be heard, under the pretence
of making a simple question, any noble lord subjected to
so much examination and croon-examination. (Laughter.)
. . •

Ha was afraid that peat irregularity might result from fol-
lowing each a warm
The LORD CHANCELLOR hoped the house would ac-
oept his apology if he, unwittingly, added one more to the
many irregularities of the evening. (Laughter.) It was
possible that he might have overstepped the limits of the
direction given to him by the house, but in putting the
questions as he did, he only followed the example and the
analogy of the House of Commons in similar circumstances.
(Hear.) He hoped this explanation would in some degree
mitigate the strong censure of the noble duke. (Laughter.)
BILLS OF EXCHANGE (IRELAND) ACT (1881)
ABLENDMENT BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
Their lordship. adjourned at twenty minutes to seven.

HOUSE OF OOMMONEL—TUESDAY, MAY 13.
The Eirlaw took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

- -
The Denbigh, Ruth* and Comm Railway Bill was read
• third time and passed. The Abingdon Railway (Capital)
Bill passed a second reading.
Mr. ROEBUCK presented a petition from officials in
the Bankruptcy Court complaining of the way in which they
wertialfected under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Actof last
year. The hon. and learned member gave notice that on
Thursdsy nest he should move for • select committee to in-
quire into the allegations contained in the petition.

NOTICES OF MOTION.
REDUCTION OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.

Sir C. DOUGLAS gave Doti°, on behalf of the hon.
member for Halifax (Mr. Stanfield) that on that day three
weeks Le would subunit a motion to the house, having for
its object the reduction of the public expenditure. (Hear.)