The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-24 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS:THURSDAY, MARCH 23.
The LORD CRANCBLLOR took hh seat at b o'clock.
PUBLIC at:SINUS.
!MST HEADING.—Cowman' BUI (east.Unis coroners to take inni
la ores where Teraina of manslaughter ars found).
COMMlTTEE—Administration of Oaths, ke. (Court of Chnneer7),

.11

RE PORT.—Audit of Railway Acconts Rill.
PAt ERR PRESENTED.—Seoondu Report et the Sultan Cent-
mission.
CHARITABLE BEQUESTS—LEGACY DUTY.
The Bishop of LONDON wished to ask the noble marouL
(Lansdowne) whether the government would be able to c im.
ply with the prayer of a petition which be had presented for
a remission of legacy duty payable on charitable bequonsests ?
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said the pe pre-
sented on the subject a ere eminently entitled to the conside-
ration of tho house. But in that house no proceeding could
originate to give relief to the petitioners; and the time was
peculiarly unfavourable for a remission of any duties. It,
however, any remission of this tax was found practicable at
any time, it appeared to him to ho cue wed worthy the at-
tention of the government. (He)
ODD FELLOWS SOCIETIES.
Lord BEAUMONT asked if the government intended to
introduce any measure for the purpose of legalising Gdd
Fellow. Societies ?
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said these societies were
composed generally, he believed, of extremely respectable
and loyal persons, and their request appeared just and reason-
able. The mode which would be most convenient for giving
relief to those societies would not be by a separate act, but
by the extension of the Benefit Societies Act, so that it
should embrace societies of Odd Fellows. A bill had been
brought into the other house of parliament to amend the
Benefit Smieties Act, and he thought when that bill was in
committee the question might be considered, with a view to
the iutreductiou of a clause extending the operation of the
Benefit Societies Act to the societies of Odd Follows.
Lord BEAUMONT said the bill referred to in the other
house was brought M by Mr. F. O'Connor, and hetia
terence to the chartist laud scheme. He should be sun
that so respectable a body ss the Odd Fellows should, then-
fore, he supposed to be connected with the persons known
as chartists. He was. nevertheless, glad to hear the govern-
ment entertained so favourable an opinion of the societies of
Odd Fellows.
The Duke of RICHMOND thought it would be better to
refer the matter to a select committee.
The subject then dropped.
ADDITIONAL BISHOPS.
Lord STANLEY said a bill had been introduced last ses-
sion by the government with reterence to the bishopric of
Manchester, the preamble of which set forth the necessity
of creating other bishops. A statement was made on behalf
of the government to the heads of the church by a right rev.
prelate now unhappily no more, that four additional bishops
were to be appointed (and that was also distinctly stated
in the preamble of the bill to which he had referred)
with the understanding that no addition should
be made to the number of spiritual peers. The bill
itself only went so far as to confirm the intentions of the go-
emollient with reference to the see of Manchester, but the
First Lord of the Treasury said that it was the iutent'on of
the government to pros. eel with the appointment of the ad-
ditional number of bishops, and also that it was their inten-
tion to keep the episcopal fund and the general fund for the
augmentation of small livings separate. In the course of the
last year the church had b en deprived of the services of two
of her most cmineut petioles, and there must, therefore, be a
considerable addition to the funds of the ecclesiastical com-
missioners. lie thought it, therefore, a tit opportunity to
ask the goverument whether they adhered to the decla-
ration which thy had made last year of their intention to
keep the episcopal hind and the general fund separate, and
if so, whether, having a surplus at their dieposal, it
was their intention to apply it by following up
the plan announced last year, and ince, ming the num-
ber of bishops > He believed that 2,0001. had b• en audiod
to the fund by the death of the Archbishop of York, and
about 10,0001. by the deceak of the Archbishop of Canter-
bury ; and after making certain necessary reductions, the
sum now at the disposal of the commissioners was between
eight and nine thousand pounds. He had therefore two
questions to put, first, whether it was the intentiou of the
government to adhere to the distinction between the two
funds; and secondly whether it was their int, ntion to pro.
teed, without delay, towards the formation of one or more
bishop ties
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was happy to say that the
government enteitained the smile views as they did when the
bill to which the noble lord alluded was introduced, as to
the expediency, eventually, of increasing the number of
bishoprics in reference to the amount of the population and
the state of the particular dioceses. (Hear, hear ; The
noble lord had stated most correctly that the bill to whicl. hi
had alluded had reference only to the tee of Manchester; but
its preamble recited what the intentions of her Majesty would
be, with reference to the creation of additional
bishoprics, when it might be convenient so to do.
The preamble, however, was struck out in the othei
house, because it had nothing to do with the provisions 01
the bill. This was the state in which the question DOW
stood. Whenever there were means amply suthaent for the
purpose, it woulo be for her Majesty, in connexion with the
two houses of parliament, to consider whether further addi-
tions might be made to the number of bishoprics, void whe-
ther that would be the best application of the episcopal fund.
Therefore, when the means arose for endowing another
bishopric, it would be for parliament to consider tne goes
Lion. The amount of the fund had been considerably over- ,
stated by the noble lord, for he believed it was far short of
the sum he had stated. Under these circumstances, and in
consequence of the lamented death of two right rev. prelates,
it would have been impassible for the commissioners to snake
any report on the subject, but when they were in a position
to do so the whole matter would be taken into considera.ion;
and with regard to the application of the episcopal luhd. he
apprehended that the object alluded to would have a prefera-
ble claim on .t. (Hear, hear.)
The Bishop of SALISBURY said it was gratifying to tree
church to know that her Majesty's government adhered to
the declaration which they had made last year.
After a few words from the Earl of Devote, which were
inaudible in the gallery,
Lord MONTEAGLE deprecated the idea of increasing
the number of bishops. The feeling of the people, who
were as much members of the church as the clergy, was
opposed to it. He hoped the condition of the working
clergy would not be lost sight of, and that the increased
fund would be applied as might be thought best for the in-
terests of the church as a body, without reference to any
separate claims of the episcopacy. (Hear, hear.)
The Bishop of OXFORD regretted the tone of the noble I
lord's speech, which was so totally different from that of the
noble marquis (Lansdowne). It was no discovery that the
laity were part of the church ; on the contrary, he admitted
that they were the most important part of her, and the
bishops, priests, and demons were her ministers. There was
no jealousy on the part of the episcopal bench with regard to
the working clergy, whose condition they wished to see im-
proved ; and the question was merely whether the interests
and proper government of the church did not require en
additional number of bishops. (Hear, hear.) lle rejoiced
to rind that the government adhered to their determination
of last year. (Hear, hear.)
Lord LYTTELTON said the feeling among the laity of
the English church was, that the number of prelates was
greatly inadequate ; he thought an amalgamation of the
two funds would be desirable.
Lord REDESDALE said if the two funds were put to-
gether it would be almost impossible that an addition to
the episcopacy could take place. If there was now 6,0001.
is hand, as appeared to be admitted, why was it not at
once applied to the creation of a new bishopric ?
The Earl of HAItROWBY confirmed the statemeetol
his noble friend Lord Lyttelton, that the feeling of the laity
as well as the clergy we* generally in favour of an exten-
sion of episcopacy.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said he fully accepted
the explanation given by the Bishop of Oxford, as to the
proper application of the funds, that was, that in carrying
out an extension of the episcopal staff they should be applied
fa such places, or in such ways, as should tend most to the
interests of the church. Bat he never had given any pledge
that the whole of the funds should be applied only to
episcopal purposes, if it should appear that the interests of
the church would be promoted by a different application.
Under all circumstances it would be the true interests of
the church that would be considered.
The Bishop of OXFORD abould abject to such a ,111-
wing of the two funds as to make it impossible, under
any circumstances, to add to the efficiency of the episcopate.
Their lordships adjourned at ten minutes to seven.

MOUSE OF COMMONS. THURSDAY, MARCH 23.
The firrraza took the
L chair at
ESS.
4 o'clock.
PUBIC BUSIN
NOTICES OF MOTlON.—Bluseee AT Eurrorra—Mr. Iltarr,on
Iltureday next, to more that the attorney-General be d,ecti...
I.
Ftoaeeu .te Mr. Attwoed for bribery end corruption is different
he.

ON TO POLITICAL 0111.1.1)FRX-Mr. F. O'Coamoa, on Aprill3,
to more an address to the crown for a free pardon to John Frost, Wil-
lson and Jones, and all otberpolideal offender&
HORSHAM ELECTION.
ViacountCOURTENAY brought up the report of the cow
inlttee on this election, stating that Mr. Jervis had not been
duly elected; that he had been guilty,threugh his 'gum, of
treating ; and that, therefore, the election war void.
ELECTION RECOONISANCES BILL.
—lr said that, as it appeared that the hon.
did not intend to proceed with this
was so strongly convinced of the ne-
the subject, that he would move the
bill, with the amendments he had
,on Monday neat. (Hear, hear.)
iH OF HARWICH.
moved, pursuant to notice, that the
warrant to the clerk of the crown tc
the election of a burgess to serve in
for the borough of Harwich, in the
Esq., whose election had been de-

said that though on a former ewe-
. duty to oppose the issuing of the writ
evidence taken before the election cora-
and in the hands of members. he was
reading the evidence, that there was
t on which to visit the borough with
• its disfranchisement. He begged the
condition of Harwich, and to contrast
- by the census of 1831, with that of
. bad been understood at the passing
.at no borough should return two mem-
population of not leas than 4,000, but it
matter Harwich had been highly
government of Earl Grey ; for
of Harwich had a population
the government added an adjoin-
population of 356 inhabitants, thus

1.
Mr.
member for Midhurst d
lull, he (Mr. Wortley) we
amity of legislation on th
ascend reading of the bi
already laid on the table,
BOROUGI
Mr. MACKENZIE m
Speaker do issue his wi
maks out a new writ for 1
the present parliament ft
room of John Attwood, :
doted to be void.
.
'.l
Mr. BLACKSTONE I
*on he had felt it his dui
until the minutes of avid
'1 mattes were printed and
now bound to say, after r
no ground afforded in it
so great a punisluneatm i
house to look at the coi
ill population, so shown
*a census of 1841. It
*the Reform Act that n
ben unless it had a popu
wanted in this ma
favoured by the go
in 1831 the pasi!ih 0
of only 3,771, but „_
• with, with a 9,
•
•
•