The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-17 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUIIR OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY, JOLT PS.
Tb• brasnas took the chair at twelve oclock.
PRIVATE Ht'slNEsS.
TM United Kingdom Electric Telegraph Company Bill
IPSO tad a third time and pawed,
Jackson's Estate Bill, Lethbridge's Estate Bill, and Dm
national lAind Company Dissolving Bill, were considered,
and ordered for a third reading.
TM Battersea Park Amendment and Extension Bill,
Dorward's Estate 1141, Oleagaw Provident Bank Estate
MB, sad tit. Mosselhorgh (Arrangement with Crediton of
the Burgh) Estst: 13,11, were
IC read •USINE second time.
PUB BSS._

PETITIONS PRESENTED.
Tun C PALACiI —By Sir J. Y. HULLER, fir..
Warwick ; Sir H. R. F. DAVIE, from Haadingtors
led Mr. CROWDER. from Unheard In favour of its
rsention es • winter garden.
Ritiorrn•etne or AssUlleeeli Brt.t..—By Mr. MUL-
LING/I, from the county sad city of Otoucester, against
thus bill.
TILE WATER SUPPLY.
Lord J. RUSSELL. in reply to • question from Mr. T.
Dosicou an, ancouneed that the government Wan inter
Mon of yyretting to maturity say net for mil* OM
metnpt'tan water supply during the current miss.
DISTRESS I v THE HIGHLANDS.
Is answer to • series of questions by Mr. Cowan,
Lord J. RU&SELL said that as the government MI NM
yet received the report of Sir John M•Neill, the Melia
the Swinish Poor Law Board, they were not yet in am..
too to lay it upon the table of the house, hut es soon so In
woo is Wir power that ahould he done. He (Lord Jam
Rowell) had, however, been favoured with an outline of
tie general tendency of the expected report, but he did
not perceive by that that any deatha had occurred from
domination.

THE HARWICH ELECTION.
Yr. BANK ES called the attention of the Mum to the
petition of the elector, of Harwich, complaining of govern-
ment interference at the late Harwich elgction, and moved
that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the

Lord J. RUSSELL said, on the part of the government,
that there wee no objection to the appointment of the com-
mittee.

The motion was agreed to, and
Mr. BANK ES gave notice that he should move the ap-
psiatewat of the committee this day.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS NOTICES BILL
On the motion that the Speaker do leave the chair,
The ATTOItNEY-GENERAL wished the bon. member
for Cirencester would state what was the necessity for this
bill, for its object only appeared to be to enable certain
charities to give notice of their meetings to its governors
by poet.
Mr. MULLINOS said that it cost one charity 1001. to
terve the notices in consequence of a rule requiring that
they should be " duly served."
1 he hill then pasted through committee.
CHARITABLY. PURCHASE DEEDS BILL.
. .

On Use motion that the Speaker do leave the chair,
The SOLICITOIt-fiIiNNUAL felt hound to give the bill
his docidisl opposition, because it proposed to alter in airmail
dente, the law of murtmain, respecting which there was an
inquiry going on, and upon which there was no necessity
for hasty legislation. Ile should therefore move that the
Nil be monnititeil this slay three months.
Mr. MULLINUS denied that the effect of the bill would
be as descrilied by the hon. and learned gentleman.
Mr. HEADLAM said the bill would apply to both past
and future charit.ible trusts. As there Was no pressing
necessity for the bill this session, he should oppose its fur-
ther progress.
Mr. ANSI EY said that tbe committee on mnrtmain had
taken some most important evidence, which would shortly
be reported to the house ; he should therefore oppose the
farther progress of the bill.
After • few words from Lord If. VANT,

Mr. MU LLINGSsaid he would nut pre,s the bill against
the feeling of the house.
The order was then discharged.
CORONERS BILL.

BOUVERIE moved that this bill shou:d be read a
second time that day three month,
Lord H. VANE, one of the promoters of the bill, eon.
cursed in the proposal, so a committee was taking evidence
on the subject.
Motion agreed to.
ARREST OF ABSCONDING DEBTORS DILL.

This bill paved through committee, receiving several
verbal amendments.
I.AW OF EVIDENCE AMENDMENT BILL.

The Wm then went into committee un this hill.
The ATTORNEY-Iit:NEIL:U. explained that the ob-
ject of the bill was to enable parties to give evidence in
their own eases. The judges of the county courts hail, with
IMP single exception, expressed themselves decidedly in fa-
vour of the prupimed alteration.
Mr. lIENLEY thought they should allow the wife of a
party. as well as the party himself, to give evidc nee in cases,
rrt often occurred that the wife had the be,t knowledge
of the ;circumstances which farmed the subject matter of
tr suit.

The ATTORNEY•GENERAL would not defend the es-
elusion Witte wife ; bat from what had occurred before their
lordships in the other house, he feared the tubule:ion of such
evidence would peril the passing of the bill.
Mr. CROW ItElt thought the husband and wife should
be made competent witnewes for each other, hut not com-
pallaMe or admis.ihle to give evidence aoaiiot each other.
He therefore should prop me the introduction of a clause to
that effect.

ICVANS objected to the course proposed by the bon.
sad kismed wend. ruin.
Mr. WA KI.EY susnrested that the third clause should be
111Mitird altou.•ther, and the biU returned in that shape to
the leak

Yr. lIBNLEY thought the matter would be remedied
ti met making it compellable for the hte.hend or wife to
pee evidence for or agairmt each other in criminal matter*.
The ATTOHNI:YAIENE.ItAL assented to that view of

the mar, mid
Mr. CROWDER having withdrawn his amendment, the
elesase as naneuded ow the suggestion of Mr. Henley, was
M.
'uliTi7rhill Dien passed thmugh committee. and with some
ammedmesits was reported to the house.
Mr. E. WOlt'flAY said he wish“l to guard himself by
ears* that he was far from approiine all that had been
dame that day Ile did sat see why the evidence of a wife
shield be rekeived in Medial refused in criminal cases.
PHARMACY BILL

On the motion that ;;;;;;;;;;; committed,
Mr. WAK LEY wired that the bill be committed that
gay three asmiths, which after n few words from Mr. HIM-
LINT and Mr. J. HILL. Wall agreed tn.
The Local Acta (Preliminary Inquiries) Dill was read a
seesnid time.

The Copybold and Enclosure Collllllilolollll Bill went
through committee.
Th.• Stock-in-Trade Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Yietnria-park Bill passed through committee.
COUNTY COUNTS Ft ETHER EXTENSION BILL.
The home then went into conunittec on this bill, and
pared the masiaing dames.
Ill►. CROWDER proposed a clause, giving power to the
eragsrier courts, or any two judger, to bear appeals in term
as well as out of term.