The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-15 00:00:00

_ to adopt seclusion were in these
any ease of violence towards them
Pf them proved ? Did the hon.
)(Mr. Spooner) believe that
lto-
eathoiice shift repeating the state of things described
sin the novelsof Mrs. Radcliffe, where a lady Irak taken to a
tower u Appeaines, and where she was met at night by
,some °Semen monk, whom probably the hon. member
might wish on such occasions to represent? (Loud laughter.)
Every one knew that days were appointed fur visiting
convents and that the friends and relations of the inmates
were afforded access. Dr. Ullathornr said "it was most
important that those who legislated for religious houses
should bear in mind that the relatives and'friends had con-
stant access to them, and that they could 'see the Inmates
without the presence of witnesses."
Mr. LACY—Read the next line.

Mr. -,icrieantMUliiffliriTaTit as follows :—" Cases
may, of course, arise in a convent where the superioress
may have to protect a lady from the intrusion of some in-
discreet person." (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He agreed
with the doctor. He believed that the methodist gentleman
who travelled on a coach with a lady at night might
proceed from religious matters to talk on matters more
' delicate, and to take advantage of his position ; and there
the presence of a third party might be advisable. In
private families it was so, and in convents the superioress
ought to be invested with WI equal amount of control.
Roman catholic females were content with seclusion, but
the apologists of this measure were ignorant of conventual
' life, which was not one of complete seclusion ; strangers had
free excess to the nuns at proper hours ; coercion was un-
known. Roman catholic* were proud of their females, who
engaged as nuns in the ministrations of education, ofekarity
and mercy, savoured with the influence of religion. The
effect of such wanton and unreflecting legislation would be
to compel these persons, who would never submit to the
proposed visitation, to leave the country, and thereby to
abridge the facilities of education.
Mr. 0. BERKELEY thought the house and the country
would come to the conclusion that a more objectionable
measure had never been offered.

Colonel THOMPSON, though he regarded the details of
the bill as objectionable, was not prepared to vote against
the second reading.
Mr. C. ANSTE T suggested to the hon. and gallant mem-
ber that all that was new in this bill consisted of details,
and that, therefore, the bill must be judged in reference to
its details. The principle involved had already received
parliamentary recognition. In the case of all parties impro-
perly detained in convents, the law already provided a re-
medy. And no case had been made out for these details.
Not even the boo. member for Warwickshire, whose name
was on the back of the bill, had ventured to approve of the
details. The hon. member had taken a course, therefore,
which it was impossible to understand, if it was not,
that the hon. member was possessed of a mania
for legislating about women. (Laughter.)
Mr. S. HERBERT agreed with the argument of the
Solicitor-General that it would be a dangerous precedent to
legislate on a subject like this without a came being made
out. Nothing had been alleged by the promoters of the
measure beyond the probability of a necessity. lie should
therefore vote against the bill. While taking this
course he wished it to be understood that he main-
tained that the state had the fullest right to inter-
fere in and to control the management of reli-
gious houses. His belief was, that monastic institu-
tions, with perpetual vows, were not only not necessary,
but were hostile to the spirit of the country. At the time
when these establishments were originated—whether for
the purpose of escaping from persecution, or fur the spread-
ing of a knowledge of Christianity among a hostile popula-
tion—there were doubtless good reasons for their existence
But those remota nu longer existed. At the time, even, of
tho Reformation, when they were verygenerally suppressed,
good reasons might have been urged in their favour, as
that they were for the assistance of the poor, or fur the spread
of education, or for the maintenance of learning. But all the
functions which they then fulfilled were fulfilled otherwise
and far more completely in this age. Therefore, on public
grounds and as a matter of state policy, and without any
reference whatever to the religious grounds, he would
always hold that the state had a right to regulate these
establishments, as being establishments the tendency of
which was to withdraw citizens from the service of the
state. Ile, of course, made exceptions and offered no
objection whatever to the institutions of sisters of charity,
who devoted themselves to purposes of usefulness within
the community.
After a few words from Lord BERNARD,
The house divided—
For the bill 9l
Against
The house adjourned at a quarter before G

rARY COMMITTEES.

iIARWICII ELECTION COMMITTEE--Yesterday the
committee declared another vote, that of Mr. Cotton, of
Doverseourt, void, making the fourth out of the six required
to seat Mr. Crauford, erased from the register of voters.
GENERAL. COMMISSIoN SIIIP LOAN INAtItANen COY-
PART.—Yesterday, after further settling the list of contri-
butories his Honour Sir Wm. Home, declared a call of
51. per :hare, to liquidate the outstanding liabilities of this
company.

EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY. Mr. Bramston, the
chairman of this committee, reports the preamble proved,
and that they have amended the bill by stiiking out all
powers of interference with other companies, and restrict-
ing the promoters to the remaining objects, which consist
in raising liol,ooo/. by sham, and 424,5331. by loan.
LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE (FIFTH SHARES.)—The
committee on this bill report that the parties promoting it
Bad requested permission to withdraw it.

WARRINGTON AND ALTRINCIIAM JUNCTION RAILWAY.
—The committee report the preamble proved, that the
proposed capital is 180,0001., rind loan 60,0001., amount of
shares subscribed 137,0001., and deposits paid 13,7001.,
amount subs, ribed by shareholders having a local interest
03,2301., and the length of line and branch 13 miles. The
committee, after special inquiry, report the bona fides of
the subscription contract.