The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-15 00:00:00

writers should go, day after day, to note down what a man
sod he the same before a magistrate, for the purpose
el foundin charge of felony. Ile e with. the
hon. and le.,g med member for Abingdon ass to his view of
sits clause ; but as the Attorne
shy. Geould neral had thrown
up. doubts
is the point it was proper it be cleared Ile
would. therefore, move to odd the words, " And • summons
or warren* forthwith issued, and an indictment preferred
within innuths."
In reply to a question from Mr. V. SMITH,
The A t 1 UltN EY GENERAL said, to make the matter
more clear, he would introduce the words, that no person
Mould be pro,ecuted in respect to words spoken, unless
informati,n of the offence, and the words by which such
offeace .I,,rested, uttered, or declared, be given upon
oitli b,for. ,ne row justices of the peace within six days
after the .oirai.sion of the offence, substantiated by two
credible witnesses.
Mr. 11L't1 E thought it necessary that members should
have the o; portunity of considering the clause a. altered
before they were called on to decide upon it. Ile moved
that the ch-irmon report progress.
Mr. D. M'NEALtt observed that by the law of Scotland
capital (poet we re not boilable, while for offences not
tal the c, might be bailed as a matter of right. Ropw
did government intend to apply the bill in this respect to
Scotland ?
The 1.0 r.I).ADVOCATE admitted that this was a point
for consid, r,tion, and he hid no doubt that on consultation
with his hon. and learned friend a clause to meet the case
of Scotlairl iniaht be framed.
Mr. 111.: ME Again urged that the committee should ad-
journ, and le: ,vco that the chairman report progress stud ask
leave to sit L,ernin.
Sir G. OR EY admitted the necessity of reprinting the
clause and i.. aging it up on the report. (Loud cries 01
" No.")
After a few words from Mr. NAPIOR and Mr. J. O'Cos-
ram., who. spressed a hope that in the case of Ireland toe
information- should be sworn before the stipendiary magis-

taste,
Mr. HUME, for the third time, moved that the chairman
report pews .s, observing that they bad been lloslsittii,g
11
hours. No wake having been taken of the hon. metnher's
motion, he .I..ked, amidst much laughter, if the chairman
was asleep ?
The Cue ItMAN having then put the question,
Sir 0. Glth If said that if the boo. member pressed his
motion, h., sh.,uid ask tho house to meet to-morrow (this
day), at 12
Mr. HUME persisted, and the house divided on his
Mike.
Ayes
Noes 3od-257
On the that the third clause, as amended, do sued
put of the b. 1,
A convers . ion arose, in which Mr. WAKLET, Sir G.
UPI Mr. AOLIONBY, took part.
Mr. O'CONNOR professed himself utterly ignorant how
the clause, 1. amended, stood. Instead of amended, it WM
Confllstd. it..l the learned Attoruey.General had made con-
fusion won- ....founded.
Sir U. (; SLY recommended the hon. member to look at
the clause ..- it stood in the bill, with the addition that had
been mad..
Sir F. ESIG ER thought it would be very inconvenient
to agree to the clause as amended, when it was known that
there was a proviso to be afterwards added. It would be
much better t • postpone the clause altogether.
sir G. OREN' said the clause had been discussed during
three days lie did not object to the fullest discussion pro.
tided it %% et not protracted for the purpose of delay. It
was quite a usual course to pass a clause when the su'istance
of it was agreed to, leaving provisoes to be added alter-

Ws;ds.
Sir F. TIIE-40ER said he had no wish to interpose any
nanecess.,r) delay; but govcrnmeht having proposed an
amendment on which they hail not made up their minds, he
had thought it de,irable, for the sake of making the bill u
perfect as possible, that the committee should have the
clause and thi. proviso before them at the same time.
Mr. Ill:ME doubted, although the clause had been un-
der consider.ition three days, whether any one understood
anything .ib,ut it. (Laughter.)
Sir G. GREY hoped tee committee would support him
by eaprrs.ing an opinion on that clause before they
separated.
Mr. d. START thought the clause was substantially
agreed to by all. (Loud cries of " No.")
Mr. MUN f Z said the long discussion on this clause was
owing to the bungling manner in which it was drawn.
However much members of the government might feel irri
tared at the delay, that was no matter to independent mem-
bers who del not care for government. (Cheers.)
The ATIORNEY-GENERAL supported the passing of
the clause.
Mr. WAKLEY said he should divide the committee on
the question of reporting progress, and the committee
divided accordingly :

Ayes - au
Noes
The house again divided on the question that clause 3, as
amended, stand part of the bill
Ayes
Nees
On clause 4 b..inir proposed by the CHAIRMAN,
Mr. F. O'CONNOR contended that it would be monstrous
to pass this clause until the proviso which was promised to
be added to the clause just disposed of was brought up and
agreed to. Ile hoped the committee would not hesitate to
sit all night, all to-morrow, and all the nest night, rather
than the bill suould be adopted in its present imperfect state.
If they did. he would venture to say the government would
never be one to obtain a >iaggle conviction under it.
The ATTORNEY-GENERA.L was surprised that the
hon. member for Nottingham should object to proceed with
this clause, which conferred a benefit upon the subject as
against the crown, inasmuch as it required distinct notice
to be given to the accused of the evidence on which the
charge against him rested.
After a few words from Mr. 111:Ntr, which did not reach us,
Sir F. TRESIG ER said that though he had no substan-
tial objection to this fourth clause, yet he, in common with
the hon. member for Nottingham, objected to its being
discussed at the present moment, or until the committee
knew the precite nature of the proviso intended-to be added
to the third clause.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL was of opinion that, even
taking the proviso as stated by the hon. and learned gentle.
man, there was no ground for the opposition which he offered
to it.
After a few words from Mr. AGLIONBY and Mr. R.
PALMER in support of the clause, and from Mx, MARTIN in
opposition to ii,
The house divided—For the clause 221
_ Against it,

The clause was then agreed to.
The remaining clauses and the preamble were agreed to.
Capt. HARMS postponed his clause respecting the
manufacture and sale of pikes, till the bringing up of the
report.
The house resumed, and the report was ordered to be
brought up on Monday.
CUSTODY OF LUNATICS.
On the motion of the LOUD ADVOCATB, leave was given
to bring in a bill to amend the law of Scotland, relative to
the care and custody of lunatics ; and for the better regula-
tion of lun:,tic asylums; and for the establishment of asy-
lums for pauper lunatics.
The house adjourned at a quarter to two o'clock till
Monday.