The Press.
London, England, 1857-06-27 00:00:00

VrotteVings in Variiannnt.

HOU3E OF LORDS-MONDAY.
SALE OF OPIUM IN INDIA.

The LORD CHANCELLOR, in reply to the Earl of
Shaftesbury as to when the opinion of the law officers
of the Crown upon the legality of the trade would be
given, said that the case was now under considera•
tion with regard to the facts, and so far the matter
was suspended ; but he could inform his noble friend
that there was no desire on the part of the Govern-
ment that any delay should take place.
CRIMINAL LAW CONSOLIDATION.

The LORD CHANCELLOR, calling the attention of
the house to the third report of the Statute Law
Commission, introduced eight bills which bad been
prepared by the Statute Law Commission for the
codification of the law. These related to larceny,
including burglary, malicious injuries to property,
forgery, offences relating to the coinage, the game
laws, libel, and the laws relating to accessories to
offences ; but several others were in course of
preparation, and would in due time be introduced.
The Chancellor entered at some length into a detail
of the arduous and important labours of the com-
missioners, and believed that, as the result of their
work, the fifty volumes of statutes would be ulti-
mately reduced to two or three.
Lord BROUGHAM and Lord CAMPBELL joined in the
approbation expressed of the commission, and the
bills were read a first time.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
Lord An roan then moved for returns respecting
Roman Catholic Charities, which he withdrew upon
the explanation of the Loan CHANCELLOR that the
Roman Catholic Charities Bill would shortly be
brougtt under the consideration of their lordships,
and if that bill passed into law, the returns moved
for by the noble lord might be procured in future,
but at present it was impossible to procure them, as
the commissioners had no jurisdiction over the
charities.

MINISTERS' MONEY.
Their lordships then went into committee upon
the Ministers' Money Bill.
Lord CLANCARTY moved that the committal of the
bill be deferred for six months; but cn Lord DERBY
protesting against the measure, and throwing the
whole responsibility of it upon the Government, the
noble lord withdrew his motion, but gave notice that
he would repeat it on the third reading.
Lord Wicxxow moved that the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners of Ireland should be heard by
counsel at the bar; but this motion was negatived
without a division, and, in spite of several pro-
tests and much expressed disapprobation, the bill
went through committee, and their lordships then
adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS•
NEW MEMBER.

Mr. D. PUGH took the oaths and his seat for Car.
=when, in the room of Mr. Davis, deceased.

THE ROCHDALE ELECTION COMMITTEE.

Colonel FRENCH, referring to the exclusion of
members from the proceedings before the committee
on the petition of Mr. Newall, which met on Satur-
day, inquired of the Speaker whether a select com-
mittee appointed by that house possessed, either
directly or indirectly, such power.
The SPEAKER stated that the rule had been dis-
tinctly laid down that unless the committee were a
secret one members were privileged to attend com-
mittees.

THE ISLAND 01 PERIM.

Mr. V. Swim, in reply to Mr. J. White, said the
Island of Perim, in the Straits of Bab el•Mandeb,
was first occupied by the Indian Government in
1799; it was afterwards abandoned for a brief space,
but its possession by the Indian Government had
remained undisputed ever since its first occupation,
and it bad merely been reoccupied for the purpose
of establishing a lighthouse.

OATHS BH.L.

On the order for considering the Oaths Bill as
amended in committee,
Mr. S. FITZGERALD moved the addition of three
clauses—the first disabling persons professing the
Jewish religion from holding the offices of Lord
Chancellor, Lord Keeper, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,
or any post in the Ecclesiastical Courts of England,
or Ireland, or Scotland; a second incapacitating
them from presenting to benefices in right of office;
the third disqualifying them from advising in the
appointment to offices in the Established Church.
lie bad been informed, be said, since he came to the
house that her Majesty's Government did not intend
to offer any opposition to these clauses.

Lord PAIIIERS. TON said he had thought the con-
tingencies contemplated in the clauses so unlikely
to happen that it was scarcely worth while to make
provision against them in any Act of Parliament;
but, being extremely anxious that the bill should
asps, if the admission of the proposed clauses would

th.,