The Press.
London, England, 1856-06-14 00:00:00

111
558 THE PRE S S. SATURDAY,
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shed," was too plain to be controverted. He sug- ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. which Mr. Archer had been treated by the Treasury,
gested that, with a view of relieving Secretaries of Mr. HEYWOOD moved for a select committee to and exposed a discreditable case of jobbery. Mr,
State for the Home Department from importunities inquire what public measures can be adopted to ad- Archer in 1851 had completed his invention for per-
from the advocates of condemned criminals, whereby vance science and improve the position of its cal- forating postage-labels. The Treasury after offering
the course of justice was impeded, a certain number tivators. He urged the deficiency of practical re- him 1001. agreed to give him 4,000/. for the invention,
of persons, including the judge who tried the case, sults of science in this country, and thought the but they first insisted upon charging him 5001., the
should, if there be any fresh evidence, decide whether subject ought to be brought under the considera• alleged cost of certain preliminary experiments made
it was fit that the prerogative of mercy should be Lion and investigation of Parliament. with the machine, and then compelled Mr.
Archer,
exercised. Mr. MACKINNON thought that giving funds for the because he could not pay the 5001. down, to assign
Mr. BLACKMORE supported the motion. cultivation of science was perfectly useless; it would the machine over to the Treasury. The machine
Sir G. GREY said Mr. Ewart had contended that not create a genius for science. He had been was subsequently found by Mr. Archer to be appli-
the punishment of death was ineffective, unequal, twenty-five years a member of the Royal Society, and cable to perforating bankers' cheques, but the rreasury
and uncertain, but statistical records would confirm he did not believe the society did much good in pro- refused to permit him to apply it to such a
the fact that men looked at that punishment with moting men either of literature or of science. purpose, on the plea that the machine was
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed that already assigned. In April, 1851, Mr. Archer offered to
greater dread than any other; for, since the abolition
of that punishment for robberies, burglaries, and the practical question involved in the motion was print, gum, engrave, and perforate the postage-labels
other felonies of the second class had been abolished, whether the Government, by the judicious applica- at the rate of 41d. per thousand, surface printing
those crimes had progressively increased, whereas tion of public money, could advance science. But being used, but on the 16th Mas the Treasury con-
the crime of murder had remained stationary in relit- the terms of the motion were so indefinite, proposing eluded a contract for five years with Messrs. Bacon
tion to the increasing population. In 1845 the number merely that the committee should consider whether and Veitch (who had friends in the Treasury) to
of persons convicted of murder was 65, in 1854 62, some means could not be discovered, that he print (on the old system) and gum only, the
while the population had increased nearly 2,000,000. doubted whether any advantage could be derived stamps at sd. per thousand. But this was not the
The objection of " inequality of eflect " was one from the motion, which he recommended Mr. Hey- worst part of the case. Messrs. Bacon and Veitch's
which applied equally to all kinds of punishment as wood not to press. contract, by which they cleared nearly 8,0001. a year,
well as that of death. The sensibility of a The motion was supported by Mr. TITE. referred only to postage-stamps, and had nothing to
man to the disgrace depended upon a variety Lord STANLEY suggested that Mr. Heywood should do with the receipt-stamps afterwards introduced.
of causes. The " uncertainty " of the punish- not press his motion then, but consult eminent Mr. Archer then called on Mr. Hill, told him that
ment depended materially upon the vast differ- scientific men as to the specific measures which it surface printing must be used for the receipt.
ences in degrees of guilt. The law gave a liberal was desirable for the Government or the house to labels, that it was already in use at the Bank of
discretion to the judges to award such punishment adopt for the furtherance of his object. England, and offered to print the stamps at 21d. per
as the circumstances of each particular crime de- Lord PALMERSTON said the difficulty lay in deter- 1,000. Mr. Hill went to the Bank of England,
served ; therefore if by " certainty "it was meant to mining how science could he promoted by public where he saw in practical operation the process pointed
inflict a similar punishment in similar cases without measures, and he did not think the appointment of out by Mr. Archer. The Government were free to pur-
reference to the varying circumstances of the case, a committee was likely to lead to any satisfactory sue an open course with regard to these receipt-
such a rule would be productive of vast injustice. result. He should be thankful, he said, to airy tables. But Mr. Hill was a joint partner in a patent
In conclusion, Sir George Grey maintained that person who could suggest any measures within the for cutting envelopes with Mr. Delarue, a respectable
capital punishment was not more vindictive in its scope of Parliament or the power of the Govern- stationer in the City ; and, having obtained an ap-
character than imprisonment for life, and, as one ment for the advancement of science; but he pointinent in the Post-office, and being a clever man
which was most dreaded, he thought it should be thought it better that the motion should not be besides, Mr. Hill disposed of his share of the patent,
maintained. pressed at so late a period of the session. and then gave the contract to Delarue for printing
The motion, opposed by Mr. LII,DELL, and sup- Mr. HEYWOOD withdrew his motion. the stamps at 7d. per thousand which would have
ported by Mr. BROTHERTON and Mr. WARNER, was, RIGHTS OF MARRIED WOMEN. been printed by Mr. Archer for 21d.
upon a division, negatived by 158 to 64. Sir E. PERRY called attention to the state of the The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that,
PETITIONS. law of property as it affected married women, and with reference to the reward of Mr. Archer, that
Lord J. RUSSELL presented a petition signed by moved resolutions declaring that the rules of corn- gentleman had signed a receipt for a certain sum,
upwards of 4,000 inhabitant householders of the city inon law, which gave all the personal property of a and the matter was at an end. The contract between
of London in favour ef the Reform of the Corpora- woman on marriage, and all subsequently acquired Messrs. Veitch and Bacon had already been inquired
tion of the City of London. The noble lord stated property and earnings, to her husband, are unjust in into by a committee of the house. With respect to
that the petitioners agreed generally with the provi- principle and injurious in operation ; that the princi- surface printing, he would have the subject investi-
sions of the bill introduced by the Government, that pies of the Equity Courts, which recognise separate gated, and see if there were any grounds for the
they rejoiced to find a proposal to take away all property in a married woman, and invest her with statement that the charge of Mr. Delaruo was ex-
power to levy street tolls, and that coal dues and rights of ownership, are in accordance with the re- cessive.
metage charges were to be abolished by the bill quirements of the age, and in conformity with the The house divided on the motion, which was
before the house. They stated further that they opinions and usages of the wealthier and better rejected by 57 to 39.
desired that the Lord Mayor should be elected by instructed classes of society ; and that accordingly
WEDNESDAY.
the general body of the citizens, instead of by the the existing conflict between law and equity should
Common Council. With these statements, the be reconciled, and a general act passed rendering NAWAB OF SURAT'S TREATY BILL.
petitioners prayed the house to pass the bill speedily the rights now accorded to a married woman by Upon the order of the day for the consideration of
into law. equity applicable in every court and to all cases. It this private bill being read,
'rho petition was ordered to lie on the table. was the duty of Parliament, he argued, to rectify Mr. V. SMITH suggested a postponement of the
Mr. DISRAELI presented a petition from the livery- this conflict. between the courts of equity and of third reading for a week. The measure, he re-
men of London against the City Corporation Bill. common law, by extending the principles of the marked, presented features which gave it the cha-
The petitioners stated that they beard with regret former, as more in accordance with the require. racier of a public bill, and rendered a more deliberate
and surprise of the bill brought into that house, ments of the age, and which would provide a remedy consideration necessary before further progress was
ostensibly for the purpose of effecting a better regu- for cases of grievous hardship suffered under the exist- made with it.
lation of the corporation. They stated that. if the ing law. Sir F. KELLY moved aSI an amendment that the
bill passed into law they would suffer very great The ATTORNEY-GENERAL concurred in the propo- bill "be now read a third time," and argued that
grievances, and prayed that they might be heard by sitions contained in the resolutions, and admitted that the bill was designed to neutralise an act of injustice
counsel at the bar of the house. Considering the the rules of the common law on this subject were which the East India Company had attempted to
ancient relations between the house and the livery- unjust in principle and injurious in their operation. perpetrate towards the heir of the last Nawab of
men of the city of London, he ( Mr. Disraeli) On the otherhand, he recommended Sir Erskine not to Surat in refusing payment of an annuity of 150,000
moved that the petition be read by the clerk at the press the adoption of the resolutions by the house, rupees. The essential point to be considered was,
table. assuring him that the subject had received the at• whether the grant was made to the heirs natural of
The petition was accordingly read by the clerk, and tention of the Government, and that it was their tho Nawab, or to his heirs being successors to the
was subsequently ordered to lie on the table. intention to bring forward a measure upon the sub- Nawabship. Fifty years since the Nawab of Surat
jest next session. reluctantly entered into a treaty with the East India
REFORM OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS. Mr. MALINS considered the alterations uncalled Company for the cession of his territories, his army,
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in reply to Mr. Hadfield, for. and his fleet to the company, upon consideration of
said Lord Palmerston had promised him that Mon • The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said the true defect in receiving an annual payment, at first, of 75,000
day, the 23rd of' this month, should be devoted to the the law lav in this—that in case a husband, asan- rupees and one-fifth part of certain revenues, and
second reading of the Wills and Administrations cloning his marital duty, totally neglected the subsequently a total annual sum of 150,000 rupees
Bill. He had agreed with Sir F. Kelly to make some obligation which accompanied the gift of the wife's to be settled upon himself and his heirs. That
modifications in the Government bill, particularly property, the common law could not enforce the treaty had been submitted to a committee of the
with reference to facilitating the proof of wills by obligation. The whole subject of the marriage law house, comprising some of the most able and acute
persons dying in the country, which he thought required great consideration, and he hoped Sir E. men among them, who had unanimously agreed that
would render the prosecution of the hon. and learned Perry would withdraw the resolutions, which were the annuity was payable to the descendants of the
gentleman's bill wholly unnecessary, and the hon. not, he said, framed in a manner to induce him to prince who made the treaty. The annuity bad be ea
and learned member for Plymouth (Mr. Collier) bad recommend their adoption by the house, and trust to regularly paid to the Nawab during his life, and
said that if he were assured it was the intention of the assurance given by the Attorney-General that the afterwards to his son and successor. Upon the death
the Government to prosecute their bill he did not in- question should not escape attention. of the latter, in 1843, Meer Jaffier Ali Khan claimed
tend to proceed with his bill. The Government Mr. WHITESIDE said he hoped some remedy would to be Nawab as the nearest surviving relative of the
never entertained any other intention than that of be applied to the evil. He thought the discussion deceased ; but, after much delay, the East India
diligently prosecuting the bill they had laid on the showed how great a necessity there was for a Minis-
Company came to the determination that the claim
table; and, if it should be the pleasure of the house ter of Justice,
could not be admitted, and decided ex parte that the
to read it a second time on the 23rd inst., he hoped Sir ERSKINE PERRY ultimately withdrew his reso- office of Nawab having by their own act ceased, the
it would be pressed through committee, so as to go lutions. payment of the annuity under the treaty also ceased.
up to the House of Lords within the first seven days MR. ARCHER AND THE POSTAGE-STAMPS. These heirs now came to Parliament to ask that the
of July, Mr. Win-resins moved for a select committee to annuity be paid to such persons whom Parliament
THE MEMORIAL OF THE GUARDS. inquire into the circumstances of the purchase of the should decide to be the heirs within the meaning of
Mr. F. PEEL, in answer to Major Sibthorp, said a machine and invention for perforating postage-labels the treaty made in 1806.
reply was sent to the memorial of the Guards, inti- by the Government, from Mr. Archer, the inventor ; Sir J. W. HOGG contended that the words of the
mating that there was no foundation for the repre- and also into the circumstances under which the treaty—" The Nawab of Surat, his heirs and sue-
sentations it contained. Everything remained pre- existing agreements between the Government and cessors for the administration of the government of
cisely the same as if no memorial had been pre- the contractors for gumming and printing the post- the city of Surat "—clearly indicated that the agree-
sented, and, under the circumstances, he saw no age and receipt labels were made. Mr. Whiteside ment was one only between the East. India Company
advantage from making public the reply. , complained of the shabbiness, if not injustice, with and the Nawab and his heirs being Nawabs. He