The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-20 00:00:00

THE PRESS, MARCH 20, 1858.

Mr. ADAMS observed that a scant measure of jus
tice had been dealt out to British officers in India,
who, upon the authority of odd scraps cut out of
newspapers, had been assumed to have committed
acts utterly inconsistent with their character. He
reminded the house of what the insurgents really
were, and thought that too much of a maudlin sen-
sibility was manifested on their behalf.
Sir H. RAWLINSON remarked that the operations
against the mutineers had now lasted ten months,
and there was not a single prisoner of war in our
hands ; the inference was that no quarter was given.
He looked, he said, from this discussion for such an
expression of the opinion of that house as would
react upon India and teach the people that in Eng-
land it was considered that the moment for mercy
had arrived.

The motion, confined according to Mr. Baillie's
recommendation to certain papers referring to the
case of Mann Singh, was agreed to.

DISFRANCHISEMENT OF GALWAY.

Mr. G. CLIVE moved for leave to bring in a bill
for the disfranchisement of the freemen of the
county of the town of Galway, based upon the report
of the commissioners, who found extensive and
systematic bribery prevailing among the freemen,
the great majority of whom were of a very humble
class, and some exhibited the appearance of poverty ;
and that for a long period corrupt practices had
prevailed in Galway.
Sir T. BURKE rose to second the motion for the
introduction of the bill, leaving the house to dispose
of it as it saw fit on the second reading, and in a
speech descriptive of the recent election excited the
intense laughter of honourable members :

Gentlemen might laugh ; but be was neither afraid nor
ashamed of anvthing he had done throughout the whole
transaction. This was one of the most extraordinary cases
ever brought before the house as regarded purity ofelection.
It was, in tact, the want of spending money that had brought
up this charge against them. It was brought by the free-
men because they did not get the money they wanted.
( Roars of laughter.) On the morning after Colonel
French's arrival a number of the freemen came to him
(Sir T. Burke) and said—" What will you give ?"
" Nothing," said he. ( Laughter.) He had pledged him-
self not to interfere with either candidate. His own rela-
tive, Lord Dunkellin, was the whole and sole object of his
solicitude ; he did not care about either of the other candi-
dates; he was determined, if he could, to place his relative
at the head of the poll. ( Laughter.) There were up-
wards of 550 freemen, and ho had a promise from every one
of them but 180. What was he to do? (Renewed laugh-
ter.) Oa the eve of the election he sent e friend to Mr.
O'Flaherty's committee, to say if they would poll him 100
men by ten o'block next morning he would give 2501.
I Great laughter.) What happened? Was there any peti•
tion against the return of Lord Dunkellin? No. Then
the commission was issued, and what happened ? He (Sir
Thomas Burke) was summoned to Galway to give evi-
dence on oath before the three learned gentlemen of whom
it was composed ; he went, and he could assure the house
that a more unpleasant hour he never spent. ( Roars of
laughter.) He told those learned gentlemen all that he
had done in much the same terms as he was now doing.
One word more and he was done. He hoped,for the sake
of those poor people in Galway—for they did not get 2s.
in the pound of this money—(laughter I—that the house
would allow the lion, and learned gentleman (Mr. Clive)to
bring in this bill.
In the discussion which followed, and in which
Lord Lovaine, Colonel French, Mr. Maguire, Mr. K.
Seymer, Mr. Hope, and Mr. Ayrton participated, it
was urged that equal justice should be dealt to all,
and that the rich and greater delinquents, who had
seduced the poor electors to the commission of the
offence, should not be passed over.
Mr. WALroLE strongly advised the house to assent
to the introduction of the bill ; but be had doubts
respecting the measure. Fur example : first, it
proposed to disfranchise both the innocent and the
guilty ; secondly, there wag a list appended to the
report of persons who had been guilty of purchasing
votes, and the house should consider whether one
class could be dealt with and not the other.

The motion was agreed to, and leave was given to
introduce the bill.

Mr. BRADY, in moving for a return of the expenses
at►.endant on the prosecution of the Royal British
Bank directors, expressed dissatisfaction at the
punishment awarded to the directors for what Lord
Campbell bad characterised as an infamous crime.

Mr. G. A. HAMILTON said the accounts had not
jet been received; when they were they should be
produced.
After a conversation on the subject of the scale of
allowances to witnesses, in whicb Mr. Crawford, Mr.
Walpole, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Henley, and other members
took part, the motion was withdrawn.
On the motion of Mr. WALPOLE, the select com-
mittee upon the London Corporation Regulation Bill
was nominated.

Lord RAYNIIAM obtained leave to bring in a bill
to amend the Act 17th and ltith of Victoria, can.
(10, for the more effectual prevention of cruelty to
animals.

The Cambridge University Matriculation and
Degrees Bill was read a second time.

Other bills were advanced a stage, and the house
adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock.

NOTICES OF MOTION.
TUESDAY.
Mr. HATTER—on an early day after Easter, that in the opinion
of the house an Under•Seoretary of State for Scotland should
be appointed to perform the political duties at present attached
to the office of Lord Advocate.
Jr. COOPER—on Tuesday next, for leave to bring In a bill to
regulate the qualifications for practising in medicine and surgery.
Mr. MACKINNON-.-00 the 30th instant, to call attention to the
report of the select committee of 1/356 on mercantile tribunals
and equitable councils.

WEDNESDAY.
Mr. Cox—on the 30th instant, for leave to bring in a bill to
repeal the I Geo. 1., o. 3i, commonly oalled the Septennial Act,
and to limit the duration of parliaments to three years.

THURSDAY.
Mr. PAcut —that on the motion for the second reading of the
Agricultural Statistics Bill he would move that it be read a
second time that day six months,
Mr. S. FITZGERALD—that on Monday next he should move
the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the Con•
solar Service.