The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-25 00:00:00

1111.1)E1i,IAL
HOUSE. OF LORDS.—FRIDAY, MARCH 21.
The LORD CRANCSLLOR took his seat at 6 o'clock.
PUBLIC BUSINE:qt.
BECOND READlNG.—Criminal Law Administration Amendment
bill.
COMMITTEE..—Queen's Pri•011II.
TIIIRD REAPING.—Audit of RAll4Bll3' Accounts Bill.
CRIMINAL LAW ADMINISTRATION AMEND-
MENT BILL.
Lord CAMPBELL, in moving the second reading of this
bill, said its object was to estabash a court of appeal in
criminal ea-es. In the present mode of the trial of erimings
Boi was not aware that any improvement could he introduced,
let after that process there won a great want of a court of
appeal. A great part of the criminal law was administered
at courts of quarter sessions, where very difficult questions
often arose ; and is ease of any error the uniy remedy at
'present was an application to the Home Secretary, who
c attest in the Attorney.Cicnersl, and d:spceed of the question
in a manner not at all satisfactory. No doubt juatice
was administered generally with great can; but
some times it had not bon so, and even before the
judges of assize much inconvenience often arose from
Caere being no tribunal of appeal. The learned judges often
✓.-smved coxes tor the opinion of their brethren in Westmin-
ster-hall, but in the meantime a verdict of " guilty" was
✓zeorded, and sentence pronounced. At the commencement
of the ensuing term the learned judge stated the ease for the
opinioa of the other judges. This used to be done at See-
jcsnts'-inn after dinner, at what was called the computation,
but the learned judges were not bound to hear counsel. The
case was not argued, neither was there any judgment given,
no
reasons whatever being assigned for the decision which
sight be come to; and if such decision was in favour of tha
.prisoner, a pardon was granted as if the person had been
s.tally guilty. By the provisions ef the bill before their
lordships the case would be reitularly heard and discussed
publicly, and a judgment would be expressed. There would
also be a power given to the judge to
.take a verdict condi-
tiznally at the assizes, and if the decision, on an appeal,
should be in favour of the prisoner, the verdict would be
sol entered, and he would be free from all imputation.
he thought would be a considerable improvement in
administration of criminal law. (Hear, hear.) It
might be sold that the bill did not go far enough, inasmuch
as it did not establish the right to move for a new trial on
t'. facts as well as on points of law; but each a mea-
sure appeared to him to be involved in some difficulty, and
P. was not at present prep ued to propose it. He should
now move that the bill lee read a second time, and then
referred to a select committee, before whom might be heard
tlt: advocates of an extension of the measure to appeals
a:pon the facts, and if such a scheme was found tangible he
should he most happy to give his assistance in carrying it
out. (Hear, hear.)
After a few observations from the Marquis of SAL' sBUIT,
the Earl of DEVON, and Lord STANLEY, the bill was read a
second time, and ordered to be referred to a select
committee.
Their lordship) then adjourned at ten minutes before
silt o'clock.

ROUSE OF COMMONS.--Fm DAY, NIARCH 24.
The SFEAltill took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
1113:7•5Nr) READlNG.—Burntisland Harbour Improvement Bill
tv:.y bills ,eoe Railway News in page 4).
PUBLIC 11116ISEKR.
'COND READINGS.—Property Tax; Stamp Duties' tile:lU,-
tine; Game Ct rtiflcates for Killing Ilona (Scotland);
NOTICES forsMOTION.—GmsIittIOHT, on an early
day after the Easter recess, leave to bring in a bill for the repeal
of Me game laws.
htILWAY COUNI.,IO?t.-11r. Has nisi, On early day, to more a re.-
Itt:or that in the opinior of the house powers and authorities vested
in the Ilsilway Board by the act 9 end 10 Vie. c. 105, may be .o revs-
bd. 3 ••• insure the ettleterd exit:talon ut the oommission and greatly
to diminish the clingy to the country.
RETURNS ORDERED.—Oa the motion of Sir R. Faactwon, in.
ric r: tarts relative to the valuation of counties, counties addle.
ace. ;ovaries of towasin Ireland uuder the Act 6 and 7 %PULP,. Os 06,
oornoteacod or completed.
SLIGO ELECTION COMMITTEE.
The following gentlemen were swore to try the petition
against the return for the borough of Sligo • Mr. Disraeli
(nbcirman), Mr. J. Heywood, Sir J. Johnston, and Mr. P.
Scrope.
RYE ELECTION COMMITTEE.
The following gentlemen were sworn to try the petition
ma(tnst the return for Rye Mr. Divett (chairman), Sir H.
Ifalford, Mr. J. H. Vivian, Hon. F. Cbarteris, and Mr.
J. IS. Blake.
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY (POWER
TO PURCHASE, &c.) BILL.
Mr. FOSTER presented thirteen petitions against this
and on the motion (by Mr. GLTN) that it be 'read a
second time, opposed it, on the ground that it was promoted
solely with the view of eonstituting the proprietors a steam-
boat se well as a railway company—thus throwing a mono
poly of traffic, by sea as well as by laud, into their hands
Me, therefore, moved that the bill be read a second time
that day six months.
1•; r. GLYN defended the bill.
Mr. F. FRENCH thought they ought not to deviate
from the derision of the Holybe.id committee, who were , f
opinion that neither directly nor indirectly should such
power§ be given to any railway company.
After a few words from Mr. H. Berkeley, Sir W. Heath-
cote, and Sir W. Verner,
Mr. GLADSTONE said that although th Mproposed
to allow a company to trade for other purposes than those
for whLh they were incorporated, yet he did not thiak the
ought to reject it without special examination. For
thnt e
reni in he suggested that it ought to he postponed till
Monday.
Mr. GLYN acquiesced in this course, and the second
r:a•ling of the bill was put off till Monday.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY (BRANCH FROM
WINDSOR TO SLOUGH) BILL.
On the order of the day for reading this bill a second time,
Mr. GLADSTONE expressed a hope that the n-ble
lord at the head of the Woods and Forests would interfere to
effect a satisfactory adjustment of the differences between
the two companies on the subjt.ct of this line.
1.. d MORPETII would he most happy to endeavour to
efi,2ct an adjustment of the dispute between those companies,
h.. 1. ,psi red of succeeding in any such attempt.
lilt. CRIPPS was prepared, on the part of the Groat
\Postern, to leave the question to the decision of the noble

lord
Mr. CHAPLIN said that the South-Western was a.. ami.
rab.y disposed as the Great Western. hut he still doubted the
of an amicable arrangement being effected.
Lord LINCOLN hop, since there was such readiness on
the part of those two companies to effect an amicable ar-
fangement that the noble lord would not decline to act
RA mediator.
Lard MORPETH maid he would be most happy to In so,
proeided the represents:lees of the land companies would
consent to such an arrangement
bill was then read a second time
NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY (No. 2) (JUNCTION
WITH LEITH BRANCH OF THE EDI NBURGH
AND DALKEITH RAILWAY, &c.) BILL.
ti.e order of the day for the second reading of this
bill,
Fsn G. CLERK opposed it. It was precisely the same bill
been rejected by the committee last year when op-
posed,at great exp.nse,by Mr.)liller, whose property it almost
exelusively affected and would greatly cut up and damage.
Itie. MACKENZIE supported the bill, which adopted a
line considerably improving upon that proposed last year.
Mr. COWAN supported the second reading of the bill,
which, i! passed, would get rid of one of the most objection-
able localities in the neighbourhood of its Edinburgh ter-
minus.
I.lr. SOTHERON said he had been a member of the com-
mittee of last session to which the bill had been referred,
and tae committee had unanimously resolved that the line
uld rot contribute to the public benefit. As his right
hon. friend (Sir 0. Clerk i has examined the plans deposited
this year, and had found them to correspond with those pre-
sented last session, he should join his righ hon. friend in
voting against tbe second reading of the bill.t
The house divided—For the second reading ao
Against it .....
T?..e bill is consequently lost.
BOROUGH Oh GREAT YARMOUTH
Ot the motion of Mr. SEYMEIt, a copy of the Great
Vermouth Freemen Bill was ordered to be served on the re-
tuning officer of that borough.
FRENCH SIiIPS OF WAR.
Lars RENDLESHAM asked the hon. gcaUeman the
Secretary at War whether it was true that two French steam-
ships of war had been brought into Sheerness harbour during
the night b; their own masters without any. assistant.. ENDI
a licensed pilot, and whether on the occasion of a French
ship GI war coming into Harwich harbour the last autumn
thew heal. not been some delay or difficulty in the garrison's
returning the accustomed salute fired by that stewed on en-
taing the tort ?
14r. H. G. WARD said, with respect to the second ques-
tion, there was no record at the Admiralty on the subject;
and with reference to the tee, he could state that treo years
sp., sir., in 181.5. two French steam-ships arrived from Trs,-
port in the Margate-roads, where they took ea hoard
Vugli ; Pots, and proceeded on their voyage.
HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL.
Lord MORPETH (in answer to a question put by Mr.
CARDWELL) said he should not, in the present state of
Itus:ness, think of proceeding with the Health of
T. 8..1 next we-k, but should take it as soon alter as

file.
posd
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
Or. the motion of Mr. PARKER, it was ordered ,hat the
b.,use e: is rising adjourn to Monday neat.
ELECTION RECOGNISANCES BILL.
Ist-. WORTLEY gave notice that he should more the
second reading of this bill on Monday next
Mr. STAFFORD remarked that many hon. members who
were pet:tioned against were placed in a position of great
difficulty and injustice. This bill proposed to refer the re-
wauisaucia entered into in six different cases to the select
easnmittce which would be nominated respectively to try the
merits of those six petitions. He thought in common justice
tte r - mination of those committees ought to he postponed
untit t'..e Cote of that hill was decided.
Mr. GARDNER (Leicester) was one of the members pe-
drioned a^ainst who was affected by this'bill, and he thought
*et as Its second reading was appointed for Monday. the
house could do no less, pending legislrion on the subject,
,n to cs;re,s ume opiniou to the respective committees
stilton weld be nominated on that day, in order to prevent
the merits or these CAMS being entered into until sues relief
as tite sitting members bad a right to expect was made avail-
able. Owe injustice woul.l he done if sitting members were
Maud toga before those tribunals early next week with re-
oogniuriess which were wholly null and sold, and .I..crefore
wlthon• 11.ot proteotion and security which the act
o: parlia-
ment prverly and wh...ly give to persons tat that predica-
ment.
Mr. F. MALILE 'aid he wished, as cman of the
general committee of 'election, to state heatrctunstanoes