The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-23 00:00:00

chisement of that borough. He had understood that the
government had a measure in contemplation for effecting
this object, but in coming into the house that night he was
told that they did not intend to proceed with that measure
during this session of parliament. During the evening,
however, he had been again told that the measure was still
under consideration. If this was the case he was aatisfied;
for all ho wanted was on opportunity of statire; his opinions
on the proper application of the four vacant seats.
Mr. WALI'OLE said that the bill before the house was
limply for the disfranchisement of St. Albans. Any pro.
position which might be made for fuling up the two seats
which would be thereby rendered vacant, as well as the
other two seats vacant by the diafranchi,ement of Sudbury,
ought to be contained in a separate bill. (Hear.) A bill
I for the purpose of giving tour members to 'game, upon
which it was thought proper to confer them, would be
drawn up in order that parliament might examine it.
Mr. BELL appealed to the house under the peculiar cir-
cumstances of the case not to proceed with the hill at pre-
-1 sect. The house, he thought, ought to give him a luarinc,
and he should therefore move the adjournment of the
debate. _ _

Ihe motion having been seconded, tho galleries were
cleared (or a division, but none took plave, the motion for
the adjournment being withdrawn.
The house tht went into committee.

On clause 1 (the only clause),
Mr. BELL stated that he now held in his howl the pe.
titian from the borough of St. Albans to which he had
alluded on a former occasion. It was signed by two hun-
dred of the electors who were nut implicated in the cor-
ruption, who complained of the injustice that would Ia
committed if they were punished for the offences of others,
and prayed to be heard 447 cuunsel at the bar of
the house. (Hear, hear.) he petition contained an
admission at variance with the plea which he had
put in in favour of St. Albans. It admitted the propriety
of punishing persona who had been guilty of impropriety.
His opinion was different from that of the su'weribers to
the petition, inasmuch RS he hod to defend the entire
borough, to urge in favour of the innocent portion the plea
of innocence, and in favour of others the plea of the peen-
liareircumstances of the case. The olkpiet of the bill in cum.
mittec was to prevent bribery and corruption. The bill was
confined to St. Albans. Punishment seas not general, in-
flicted in a vindictive spirit, but as an example, as &peeves:-
tive measure. But the kind of punishment bee produced no
effect. All over the kingdom the lllaggs and the Edwards
were as active as ever—(laughter) unawed and unin-
timidated, because they Now that the house was determined
to wreak its vengeance on St. Annuls alone. They
had even invented new dodges—(renewed laughter)--and
it was generally acknowl, aged that the new parliarnsiit
would he the most corrupt one that had ever met. (Oh.)
Ile knew of a large number of boroughs to be had at fa-
mous prices. Yet the course taken against St. Albans was
deserilted as &remedial measure. The attack was commenced
by the late government, and when that government tV3IIO.
rated in spontaneous decomposition—(great laughter)—it
leR a vacuum which was filled by the present temuits of the
Treasury bench, and who at once followed up the attack of
their predecessors. The former government having hunted
the game down their successors mime in and took the brush.
This was held to be so important a step that all other 01,
sures were to give place to it, and even a dissolution was
not to be thought of till atter fit. Albans was disfranehkel.
Besides this were two scats to be disposed of which the lin:-
sent government joyfully accepted; but they were not im-
partial persons in the cause, inasmuch as they were inte-
rested in it. He was astonished at the gratitude expressed
to the present government for taking up the bill, for instead,
as it was supposed, their doing so was an carnet of further
reforms, it would be made a settlement in fell of all de-
mands, and this bill would be a kind of basin of water for
the governmeht to wash their hands in whenever parlia-
mentary reform was talked of. (" Hear, hear, " and
laughter.) The new Reform Bill had been withdrawn,
and although the Bill for the Prevention of Bribery
and Corruption remained, ho feared it mild not be
carried on the eve of a general election, hut would not he
brought on until otter it, when every member hid settled
with his Edwardses and his Blames. After some further
observations, the hon. gentleman proposed to move, by way
of amendment, that certain other boroughs be included in
the bill.

Mr. WALPOLE said such an amendment was contrary
to the title of the bill and could not be proposed.
Mr. BELL—If that was so, he would move that the bill
be read this day six months. (Laughter.)
Mr. BEItNAL said if the amendment proposed by the
hon. member. was that contained on the paper of the day,
it was irregular and could not be put.
Mr. BELL would only add, that in dealing with this
borough, members were only conderunin4 that which they
bad dune thorns, Ives, and believing it to be unjust, unfair,
end not calculated to attain the object at proposed, ha
should feel it his duty to oppose it in every state .
Mr. 11. HERBERT recalled to the recollection of the
right hon. gentleman (Mr. Walpol,) that an important
notice was given by the lion. member fur Sheffield, that a
' gentleman connected with the lktorm Club should be
summoned to the bar. Therefore it was not fair to
bring on this discussion at that period of the evening.
Mr. WALPOLE captained that the notice of the bon.
member for Sheffield was to be made on the second reading,
and when it was moved ho was in the house and did not
take the opportunity of moving that Mr. Coppeck be called
to the bar. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.)
Mr. IIItOTHERTON believed that by the rules of the
house no one could be called to the bar tall alter the second
reading of a bill.
The bill then went through committee, and the house
resumed.
PARISH CONSTABLES.

Mr. DEEDES obtained leave to bring in a bill to con-
solidate and enlarge the seta relating to the appointment
and payment of parish constalikoo.
POSTAGE LABEL STAMPS.
On the motion of Mr. Mesra, tho select committee on
postage label stamps was appointed: Mr. Mentz, Marquis
of Chandra, Mr. Cornewall Lewis, Mr. Mowatt, Mr. Gro-
gan, Mr. Leach, Sir John Tyrell, Mr. Rich, Mr. Mostyn,
Mr. William Hodgson, Mr. Henry Drummond, Mr. John
' Greene, Mr. Ormsby Gore, Mr. Spooner, and Lard Alfred
Paget
On the motion of Sir T. ACLAND, espies of all corres-
pondence relative to the conveyance of her Majesty's mails
to the west coast of Africa, of the conditions of the contract
advertised, of the tenders received, and of the contract
entered into with Mr. Macgregor laird, were ordered.
ADVANCES TO DISTRICTS IN IRELAND.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved for
leave to bring in a bill to amend the acts raiding to the
payment of advances made to district. in Ireland. It was,
in fact, a bill to ratify a Treasury minute of last autumn,
and was introduced by the late government. He admitted
it was a subject of great importance, and any discussion
might be taken on the second reading ; but as 75.400/. was
now locked up until the bill passed, be trusted that as thre
wo be an early opportunity of discu3sion, be would bo
oblflred to hon. gentlemen if they would not now oppose it.
Sir L. O'BRIEN bezgcd to refer those lion, members
who wished to become acquainted with the fees of tho
cue, to refer to a document on the subject, which bad been
published that morning.
After some observations from Mr. Mos:earn,
Sir H. BARRON said that the bill involved the (Luella
of 15*. in the pound, on the valuation of unions in Ireland,
and complained of any attempt to tax further the already
overtaxed Irish people.
Sir C. WOOD stated that the hon. gentleman who had
last spoken had mistaken the object of the hill, which was
to remit not to impose a charge upon ths Eight millions
had been advanced, of which 4f was granted, snot tho TV.
payment of the remaining 3f was extended over 40 years.
The present bill would remit altogether 7i,Cdt) of the
amount stow due.
After a few words from Mr. CLEserwva, the motion was
agreed to, and the hill was brought its and read a tent time.
PHARMACY BILL.
Mr. J. BELL moved to nominate the select committee
on the Pharmacy Bill : Mr. Jacob Bell, Mr. Ewalt, Mr.
Bouverie, Sir Wm. Gibson Craig, Mr. Carolwell, Sir Henry
Willoughby, Mr. Wakley, Mr. Deedea, Mr. Huntley, Mr.
Jackson, Mr. Ferrer, Mr. Wyld, and Mr. Brampton.
to.
VitifIMATION AND LIGHTING OF TIIE HOUSE.
Lord R. GROSVENOR moved—To nominate the select
committee on the ventilation and lighting of the house:—
Lord J. Manners, Mr. T. Greene, Sir D. L. Evans, Mr. B.
Wall, Viscount Ebrington, Mr. L. Ricardo, Sir D. Sorrels,
Lord R. Grosvenor, Mr. B. Cochrane, Mr. Deedes, Mr. H.
Hope, Viscount Palmerston, Mr. Bsnkce, Mr. E. Venison,
and Mr. H. Drummond.—Agreed to.
'The Marine Mutiny Bill was brought in and read a lint
time.
SALESALE OF BEER DILL.
Mr. DEEDES withdrew the bill which stood in the name
of Sir J. Pakington, hut expressed himself convinced of
the advantage of some measure on the subject, and
mated his Intel GM to move a similar measure if in parla-
ment in another parliament.
The order for the second resoling was then read and d.s.
charged, and the house adjourned at halfspast one.