The Express.
London, England, 1865-03-08 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIpMT.

MUSS OF LORDS.-4stnaDAT, MAWR 7.
The Loan OlurcaUna took he seat en the node* et
***Wee.
THE CASE OF KR. EDHVNDS.
The LORD CHANCELLOR directed attention to the
amps of Mr. Loomed Edmweds, late reading clerk to their
herdthipe's hum, else a clerk Is the Patent Odes, and
elerk le the Ocommlasiours of Patents, mad who. in the
wane of en investigation in Tolerates to the Patent Office,
bed bean diseovesQ to be a defaulter to a considerable
mount. It appeared that a report to that effect having
been made, Mr. Edmonds pad Into the Treaeary seam of
7.87:11. A farther report wee this preened. which set
Beth that Mr. Edmunds was still • defaulter to the extent
of 9.1001. To this, however, he bad sot yet put is ea
ewer, bet it was understood that he disputed the amairecy
ef the statement Upon these aircumsteues comito
his (the Lord ChaseeWs) bacierledso be directed Xr.
Maude to be isfessed that be shield lay the two reports
upon the table, sad more for a eseumittes to inquire iota
the matter. At Mr. Limeade's request this proceeding
we delved for • few days, sad spas the arrival of the
day on elf& the communication we to have been made
to the house be presented • petition
from Hr.
Edmunds radioing the °Moe of readies dal and
preyism for • puska. That pentios wee referred
in tha usual way to • committee, mad be Lad
Chit:miler) had not commusicated the Gatermatioa
le possessed to the committee, because the law °Mese of
the crown were cif opinion that there was so ground for
laatitutier criminal proceedings. Moreover, the whole of
the inermatioa which led to the discovery of Mr. Ed-
moods's defalcations had bee °Wised from the cenfendoe
of that penes himself. With respect to the two posts
an-
ceded with the Patent Moe vacated by Mr. Falmesda, the
Prime Minister had appointed a relative of his (the Lord
Chancellor) alert to the Patent Office ; but the clerkship
to the mettle oonnoissiomere would sot be filled up esti!
theatre' al that oEoe had been eassidered. In conclusion,
the noble and learned lord moved the appointment of •
committee of *airy into the whole case.
Tito keel el DERBY said he was not surprised that the
Lord Cissecellor had taken the earliest oppeetunity of
making this explanation, for there were three distinct cease
to be inquired into. namely, the owe of Mr. Edmunds. the
OW of the committee who on imperfect information bad
woonunended the gnat of • peril= him, sad the OOWTOO
which had bees panned throughout the matter by the ruble
end leaned lord himself. He was teemed that Mr. Edmonds
had peed the money which he bad since paid ever foto a
deposit bank and received interest for it. And if that
were all, although be might have acted improperly, the
ease fell very short of that which eould be imputed as a
criminal sot. He (Lord Derby) was not altogether weig-
hed that • somewhat hasty awes had not been taken in
referees* to the office of reading clerk. sod he wee informed
that Mr. Edmunds had been told by the Lord Chancellor
that if he revived no obstacle would be interposed to his
obtainieg a pension.
The LORD CHANCELLOR &enured the noble earl that
the seteneat was entirely without fundaties.
The Berl of DERBY accepted the denial ea • matter of
amine, bat added that he had made the statement on
positive information. The most satisfactory coarse would
have been to bring the whole .abject in the first instance
before the house.
Several noble lords urged the anfairaern of withholding
from the committee to whoa the question of the prestos
to Mr. Edmunds had bees referred the ercuestasees con-
seated with his defalcatioos at Ohs Patent-Geier
Earl GRANVILLE—I shall certainly follow the press*
Into not the exempla of the cohle earl opposite (Esti of Derby).
The Lord Chancellor having made a unreal statement,
which the noble earl acknowledged that he wee justified is
making—(lmer. hear)-1 appeal to your lordships, whether
in that statement the noble and learned lord did not care-
fully abstain from making say stela upon Mr. Edmunds,
or upon the oormaittee—(bear, her)—who decided open
renting a pessioo. Feeling that ft is the ems of the house
that a commies* should be waisted, and ogresing with
the noble earl that a dissuasion is premature sad must be
uniatisfactory. I would suggest that the house should follow
the noble earl's precept, and at his example, in Marooning
the matter at present.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then rose to put the
question.
The Earl of DERBY —I would sagged whether the in-
quiry should sot extend to Mr. Reaunds's tq ap-
pointments, and to the circusastanois of his the
offices which he has resigned, as well se to the cause hie
resignation of them.
Earl GRANVILLE—There will be nothing to must as
inquiry into the circumstances of the resignation, but there
are no fans before the loan is retinue to the original

appointments.
The Mugu's of BATH—There are rummy all over the
town of pudic notoriety in referees, to Mr. Edmunds's ap-
pointment,' at the Patent-ones, and it would be well to
stake inquiry into them.
Earl GRANVILLE— I have aridashe to conceal anything,
and I believe that when the committee is appointed your
lordships will dad that the members of the government will
be anxious to give them, and to obtain for the.., every wire
Elation. But fdo think that riunours, w have sot
eves bees stated, are beneath the dignity of this home to
notice.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—If I rightly. underlined
the edge serf (Berl of Derby), he dishes to loot*, hi%
the eireumstenose euenseted with the original appointments

of lir:Edmunds, and the habil', of his —offices:
The Earl of DERBY— I certainly think that the dream-
eleaces under which Mr. Edmunds held his offices ere °kronor
stances which must necessarily arise in the room of the
Inquiry as to the alleged &detentions of public moneys. Bat
if I am assured by the noble earl that the inquiry of the com-
mittee will tot be stopped because of the mete want of formal
words being inserted in the motion in reference to the re-
signation of Mr. Edmunds, and that the noo•iusertion of
them will not preclude inquiry into the circumst•oom under
which be bald his offices. I will not call upon your lord.hips
to lomat particular words. It mast, however, be distinctly
iendarsiood that the inquiry is to extend to all the circum-
stances connected with the various offices held by Mr.
Edmunds
Earl GRANVILLE—I have not the slightest hesitation
in saying that, so far from opposing, we shall promote the
most smashing inquiry into the whole subject. But Ido
not think it is desirable that any mere tinned wards should
be added to the motion.
Lord ItEDESDALE—I still entertain great objections
to this motion, for we do not know whether Mr. Edmunds
will be promeded against in a civil action. I 'meld meted
that the latter part of the nisei= should be emitted, and
that the inquiry should be ooefined to what took place in
this house and before the committee in reference to the
The Earl of DERBY—The committee is to inquire into
all the circumstances connected with Mr. Edmunds' lreeig-
Wile of his offices of reading clerk, clerk of committees,
clerk of patents, awl clerk to the commissioneis of patents.
There is uo mention in the motion of his compulsory resig-
nation of clerk of patents. But that ought to be inquired
Into, and the report of the commissioners laid before the
misomittee.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—There will not be the !met
abjection to this addition to the motion, and I should think
it will be reasonable to inquire into the whole subject.
Lord REDESDALE —I still think that the inquiry should
be confined to whet occurred before the committee.
The Duke et ARGYLL thought it would be better that
the whole of the subjects should be inquired into.
Laid COLCHESTER was uederstuod Mao, that nothing
was before the committee bat the petition of Mr. Edo:mods,
Malin that be had resigned and preying for a passion,
sod that the committee unanimously agreed to grant a

. _
penflon.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then put the following
motioo :—" That a committee be appointed to inquire into
all the circumstances commuted with Mr. Edmunds' maim-
nation of the ewer of reading clerk, clerk of oommittees,
also of slack of patinas sad deck to the oommissioners of
pates* end aim into the circumstances attending the
grant of a pension to Xt. Edmunds," and the motion am
minded was speed to.
CAKE LICENSES (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill mused through committee.
THE BA N ICRUPTCYANp INSOLVENCY (IRELAND)