The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-17 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 17, 1853.

but really we expected better things of you,
I seeing that Lord Nue had asked you to take office."
i I want to know, did the noble lord, when he stated be bad
the authority of the right hon. gentleman (Major Beres-
feed) to pot that question, did he mean to admit that he
mentioned the right bon. gentleman's name—did be mean
to admit tha,, or did he mean to convey to me that he was
entirely ignorant, either by knowledge he had then,
or subsequently acquired after the receipt of my
letter, that the conversation with the right hon.
gentleman, to which I have alluded, had not
taken place But the right hon. gentleman, I am sure, has
a memory which is accurate enough for my purpose ; and.
lest I should be mistaken in that supposition, I would re-
mind the right hon. gentleman that a friend of mine, the
hon. and learned member for Cork 'Mr. Berjeant Murphy),
was close by when that conversation occurred. Now
I come to another branch of this case which I think, if
every word I hare said were out of the case, would place
the noble lord in no very enviable position. Recollect, the
noble lord held conversations with other persons besides
me. I am now about to mention the name of a friend of
the noble lord—an early friend of his—not known now for
the first time, • gentleman to whose honour, veracity, and
high character I should have no hesitation in asking the
noble lord himself to speak. I recollect distiactly that in
the summer of last year the lion. gentleman, the brother of
an hon. member of this house, told me that he had met the
noble lord, and that the noble lord had made many complaints
to him of my conduct in parliament. The gentleman to
whom I refer is the brother of the hon. gentleman the
member for Galway, and he was a candidate at the last
election for Dungarvan. He left this country for Ireland
in company with the noble lord. They travelled together,
they crossed in the same steamer, and they travelled to-
gether from Kingstown to Dublin. The noble lord was
pleased to make some observations respecting me ; and I
asked my hon. friend—for after the circumstances which
had occurred I was prepared for any species of denial—
(hear, hesr)—to give me as accurately as he could the sub-
stance of that conversation. My hon. friend wrote me a
letter in reply, and that letter I will proceed to read. The
noble lord is not unaware of its contents, because,
although I have been treated in a very different manner,
I thought it was right and proper that the noble lord
should have the result of the information conveyed to me
in that letter ; for my hon. friend told me that, however
disagreeable it might be to the noble lord, he felt it was
only just to give me the benefit of his statement. (Cheers.)
Mr. O'Flaherty writes to me thus
"37, Jermyn-street, June 15, 18.53.
" My dear Keogb,—l have a perfect recollection of the
conversation between me and Lord Naas, to which you refer
as basing been communicated to you shortly after its occur-
rence. It took place during a journey to Ireland last sum-
mer, when we were both going over to our respective elec-
tions. Ile spoke in terms of much disappointment and
regret at what he considered your ungrateful conduct, in
making an attack • few evenings previous, in the house, on
Mr. Disraeli; as they had deserved a kinder consideration
from you, after the feeling evinced in his having sent for
you and asked you whether you would take office under
the government of Lord Derby. (Cheers.) [I do not
think the noble lord will venture to throw any doubt upon
the veracity of his and my friend. (Cheers.)] Lord Naas
never mentioned to me whether or not be made this offer by
direction of any other person, but he dwelt much on Mr.
Disraeli's kind feeling towards yeu—(laughter)—and said
that the step he had taken entitled them at least to have
hoped for a more generous forbearance. I thought he de-
sired his remarks to be conveyed to you, and 1 mentioned
them when I saw you. I have written to Lord Naas, ap-
prising him of my having given you this letter; but I trust,
unless absolutely necessary, you will not bring my name in
question, as, independent of other feelings, I should be
very sorry personally to take any course disagreeable to
him.—l rennin, very faithfully,
EDMOND O.FLAIIIIITY."
Will the noble lord be good enough to explain to the house
how, after thiastatement, he can distinctly deny that, either
directly or indirectly, he ever made an offer of office to me ?
An bon. gentleman who is a political supporter of the noble
lord has had the candour to tell me that be would rise in
his place and confirm what I am about to state.
(Cheers) On the day oa which I had an interview with
the noble lord he had been offered the chief secretaryship of
Ireland, but he had not then accepted it. I asked the hon.
member for Youghal whether he recollected my coming out
of the noble lords house on that day, but I told my bon.
and learned friend that as he was a political supporter of
the noble lord, if the question was not in accordance with
his feelings or views I would waive the advantage of his
reply. Greatly to the credit of my hon. friend, however,
be at once said frankly, and without a moment's hesitation,
that however disagreeable to him it might be to appear in
the matter, and whatever consequences might result from
it, I should have his testimony either here or elsewhere.
(Loud cheers.) " Unquestionably," he said, " you
shall have my testimony ; and, moreover, you shall have
this additional circumstance, namely, that I had to wait
in the noble lord's ante-room for at least twenty minutes
while you were with him." (Cheers.) Well, then, the
noble lord did disease other questions; for I will not shrink
from anything that has the most remote bearing upon the
questim. The noble lord inquired of me about his
prospects in the county of Kildare. The noble lord asked
me whether I and my parliamentary friends were disposed
to give him opposition. The noble lord sits there, having
declined to do me justice, although the noble lord knows
that from that time I have remained under a weight of
obloquy and slander—aimed at me as only such things can
be done by the Irish press—(cheen)—for I have been
charged with having sold the county of Kildare to the
noble lord, and with having made a corrupt easetpaet with
him. (Cheen.) It was impassible for me, without soaking
• public disclosure, to stem that tide of calumny and
slander; bat it was open to the noble lord, by • single
word or alines line, to have relieved me from that obloquy.
Now I call upon the house to rensemberli the solemn
denial of the noble lord that either directly or indirectly he
had made an offer of office to me, and I call the noble
lord's attention to these circumstances, resalading him and
the house owe more that I have sever asserted that the
noble lord "offered " me office, but that what I have always
asserted, what I now mart, and what I always will assert, is
that he asked me if I would accept Ales if it were offered
me. Hut we all know what that means. (Loud cheers.)
Is there any politician in this loam so young as for a
moment to doubt what is Use saseminw of snob a condom
when put by • Chief Secretary for Ireland? (Cheers.
Recollect, too, that all this took plow at the day on
which he himself bad been offered, hot when he had not
yet accepted office. (Hear, hear.) Td. Me is just as if
a gentleman were to go to a lady sad say, " tipples I
were to offer to marry you, what would be your answer ? "
(Great laughter.) Perhaps the aebio lord may shift the
expression to some other analagonsAme, as, for inatanee,
" Suppose you had been offered weld yea have ac-
cepted it ? ' . (Chews.) But is be ea both to the
hones to suppose that they would beed amok worked aleeties,
even if the noble lewd should attempt them.l Malt believe
that be will deny my statements; foe sr nalleminal ex-
position bee Wight in that whoa mesa hen mommitted
themeless so for as to make admission Was poem liv-
ing witnesses they no scarcely sae, op nee cgs enough to
deny them. glkeers.) Now, if that is the OWN the noble
lord does net deny what I have said—whet, I ask, becomes
of the denial of the noble earl, repeated ea Tuesday night
at the out of the noble lord? (Hear, home.) When I
nano& Urnthe sobie earl was going to mho a otatoment
in moan phesi meetly seat a friend to Wm Se %.
that
it was set far to do so. I had given wan of my
Om to bring the WOW bane the Hasse of Commene—
enough had been said without amelme—and that
I ought to be darn& some small time to make
my defence. (Cheese,) The answer, Riveter, was that
the noble earl was pled.* to the noble lord to rtAnat that
solemn and unequivomol lonia (Bear, he The aeon
is now shifted, and the aside lord and myself an now in
the manes of earn other. (Conn.) The house hal
bend my statement, and it has heard this haters read.
ask the country to consider whether the probabilities of this
case are with me or with him, other the died testimony
of diendereeted person which they haw bend; and I
no fen that a true vadat will be returned. (Lath etheen.)
Lord NAAB—thr, I rime ander eiresmetanose of a very
Wien. I shall certainly not claim the at-
-Ilen bolos Isr am how mid ten minutes, as the
ism. smi Isms' semelosmsa isas; bat I shall ia • very
much shofar time make the staismems which I have to
lay before them. It will an be adorned with the powers
of rhatorie. or by the powers of eloquence which have been
teed by the hon. and learned, gentleman • but it will be a
simple elnloleat of the troth (Cheers.) air, I have listened
In *alma horn sod lye Wastes to the betrayal of private
411141111 W, of hafts, and of private conversations
Wows sma oh !") and to 61111 distortion of words
morn in mash arnersations. (Oneforna.) Under these
dreaminess% Irnmathre, I de not that It turnabout ea me
to Maw the ism. mad lama osmismema dissesh the web
of summoning dem& white he has latrodmosi hne the dis-
cussion. (Cheers.) I have a simple summon to make,
and that I shall do undeterred by the eloquence sad midis!
stayed by the threats of the hon. gentleman. When I have
done that I shall be able to appeal to the house, which
statement they consider to be true, and which they will be
inclined to believe. (Cheers.) Fortunately, my memory
is quite Acura e upon the facts I am going to state.
Now, sir, I will just refer to the terms upon which the hoe-
gentleman and I stood during the latter part of the last
parliament. We certainly came into parliament together,
and for some time we sat together on the opposition
benches. The learned member was also a member of the
Carlton Club—(hear, hear)—to which I likewise belonged.
Though we differed upon many essential points from the
earliest period of our parliamentary life, there existed a
considerable cordiality between us. At the period just before
the formation of the late government, I was in constant
communication with the hon. gentleman on the subject of
a motion which I then felt it my duty to bring before this
house. He called often at my house, and I saw him in
other places. The motioa to which I allude was with re-
gard to the conduct of the then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
The bon. gentleman was fully conversant with the facts of
the case, and he told me that he intended to speak in sup-
port of my resolution. (Hear, hear.) When
.the debate
took place, however, it was not considered right that he
should take part in the discussion, as he had been profes-
sionally employed in the case ; but he told me of his inten-
lion to do so. Well, the very day after that motion the
government was thrown aut. My motion was
made on Thursday, and the division on the motion of
the noble lord (Lord Palmerston) took place on the Friday. '
On Saturday Lord Derby received from her Majesty the
task of forming a new ministry. Shortly afterwards—l
cannot recollect the day, but I thiuk it was on the Tuesday
—an intimation was made to me that it was very probable
that I should be offered office—dependent, of course, upon
the probability of my being elected. (Hear, hear.) During
that time I thought I might safely refer to a member of the
opposite party, and a political opponent, to inform myself
whether or not it was likely that I should be opposed. I

had between Monday and Thursday, upon which day the
interview to which the hon. gentleman alludes took plan,
lad three or four communications with him upon that sub- I
jest. I think the house will admit that in those communi-
cations there was nothing that any man had a right to re-
proach himself with. (Cheers.) I eo not understand
what the hon. gentleman meant by his allusion to the
attacks made upon his character by the Dublin prey+. I
own that I was astonished at the extraordinarily malignant I
attacks that were made upon him, but I mast say,
with reference to that election, that I did meet with
the most friendly feeling from the hon. gentleman opposite;
and I believe that he did exert himself—without, of course,
in the least degree compromising his own opinions—to pre-
vent my having a contest. (Cheers.) Oo the day to which
the hon. gentleman alludes I had the interview with him
to which he has referred. Now, it is perfectly true that I
did seek the hon. gentleman, as he has described; for I
really wanted to speak to him on matters of es me impor-
tance, the most important of which was my own election.
(Loud laughter.) That to me was a matter of no small
importance; but if any hon. gentlemen means the house to
infer that he does not believe what I sty, let him rise up
it: leis plate, and I shall be prepared to meet him. (Loud
cheers.) Well, sir, on the day in question that interview
took place. It was on a Thursday. I can fix the day, be-
cause it was the day of the election. The hon. and learned
gentleman came into my rooms; we discussed for sonic
time certain topics of varied interest, and amongst others,
as well as I can recolfrct, my own election. I recollect dis-
tinctly putting to the hon. gentleman the question and re
ceiving the answer upon which the whole charge is based ;
and I think that when the house has heard that question and
answer, they will agree that a more serious charge was
never based upon such trumpery grounds. (Cheers.) I will
afterwards tell the house the reason why I put the ques-
tion ; but I asked it of the hon. gentleman in perfect confi-
dence, never thinking of the use that would be made of it,
or supposing that the hon. gentleman would endeavour to
damage my character by its mesas. (Cheers and cries of
" Oh !") I asked the hon. gentleman this simple question—
" If office had been offered to you under the new government
would you and your friends have accepted it ?" (" Oh !" and
cheer.) I fully admit that in asking that question it might
have been imprudent—perhaps it was. It might have been
improper—perhaps it was ; but I can safely say that the
intention was act as the hon. gentleman has said. (Cheers.)
The hon. gentleman made an answer which I perfectly re-
collect. It was not, as the hon. gentleman had said ; nor
did I ssy, " I asked you a serious question, and I want a
serious answer ;" but the hon. gentli man said, "I think
that after all that has occurred, and after the part that I
and my friends have taken in overthrowing the late go-
vernment, some such offer might have been made." (Loud
Opposition cheers.) After that we proceeded to discus other
topics connected with the prospects of different par-
ties at that time; and the hon. gentleman in the course
of conversation asked me a question which I thought was
rather peculiar. (Hear, hear.) He asked me whether any
person of authority with government knew, or had autho-
rised me to ask that question ? (Cheers.) I said, "As you
ask me, I must tell you that Mr. Bereatord knows that I
am asking this question ?" (Loud ministerial cheers.)
Hon. gentlemen opposite seem, from their cheers, to think
that they have made a most notable discovery ; but when
I tell them the interview that I had had with the right hon.
gentleman (Major Beresford) two hours before, they will
not be prepared to sneer in the way
they do. (Hear.) I
made that answer, because I was bound in honour to tell
the boa, gentleman, and I told him the truth on that occa-
sion. I had been walking that morning in St. James's-square
when I met the right hon. gentleman. I asked him what
news there were, and commenced a conversation. He said
to me most distinctly, " I wonder what position in the
new parliament the Irish party are likely to take with re-
gard to the government ?', I said I did not know ; but as
I was on friendly and intimate terms with the hon. gentle-
man
opposite, who has made this attack on me, I added
that I should have no hesitation in asking him the ques-
tion ; for I had intended to ask it as a matter of informa-
tion for myself, and in order to ascertain whether they
were disappointed at not having office offered to them ?
(Cheers) Well, then," the right hon. gentleman made
this statement to me, " you may say at the same time from
me that the government have no unfriendly feelings what.
ever towards them." (Laughter.) Now, air, that is the
reason why, when the hon. gentleman asked the question,
I was bound in honour to say that the right hon. gentle-
man knew that I was going to put the question ; but I do
say this, namely, that the right hon. gentleman never au-
thorised me to make any offer whatever to the right hon.
gentleman. (Lend cheers.) He never authorised me to
ask even the question I did ask; or to make any communi-
cation beyond the statement that the government had no
other than friendly feelings towards the hon. gentleman
and his party. (Cheers.) But I have so great an objection
to what are called "authorised communications" of any
sort or kind that I did not give the message to
the honourable gentleman, and in further proof of the
truth of the statement I have made, I
the day before yesterday mention the result of that inter-
view to any one single living man. (Cheers.) The hon.
gentleman left my rooms, as it seemed to me, without any
impression that an offer of office had been made either to
him or to any other of his party ; and my impression—to do
him justice—was that if an offer had been made, he would
not have Mime it. (Cheers.) Now let me call the atten-
tion of the house to the day on which this conversation took
place. It took place on Thursday by which time every ,
office under government was filled up. (Cheers.)) The ,
authorised list had appeared in that morning's Times;
and it is quite impossible for the hunoarable gentleman ,
looking at that fact, to pretend to say, by any construction
that could be put upon the words that paned between us, i
that an offer was intended. (Loud cheers.) I feel it in-
cumbent on me to say, after the statement I have =de—
an(' which I declare upon my honour to be true—that there 1
is considerable probe.ility in the interp-station the hon
stentlitnan has nut neon what occurred at that interview: i
but I as also safely say that in putting that question on
that day, I have a distract recollection that I was only ask-
ing it fir my own information,: as to the course the hon. ,
gentleman's party and other parties were likely to pursue. i
That is the statement I have to make concerning the inter- i
view I bad with the hon. and learned gentleman. (Cheer,.)
And when I assure the house again and again that I
never did mention the subject of that interview to any one
connected with the government, or any other person
whatever, I think I may lay my hand upon my heart and ask i
the house to believe thet every_ word have said is true. i
(Cheers.) A letter has been produced, stating that I said, i
in • railway train, going from here to Dublin, that I had I
made an offer of office to the hoe. gentleman and his friends. ,
It is perfectly impossible I could have made that state-
ment (Cheers.) Aad I cannot doubt that the gentleman ,
who mesa such an assertion—l do are call it a willing
assertion of what is untrue—but he must be under some
strange mistake. Will the house believe that
I mentioned a subject to an honourable gentle-
man who is a political opponent, which I a
mentioned to any other person ? (Hear, hear.)
What could be the object of my making each a statement
to Mr. O'Flaherty ? In the first plan it would have beea
at variance with the fact. (Hear, hear.) Perhaps, viewed i
through the light of parliamentary discussion, where every- i
thing that is done by • public man is senttinieed, there may ,
be some not disposed to attach full credence to all I have
said. I communicated freely end funk)/ on the subject,
under the circumstances I have stated. (Hear, hear.)
When I was asked the question which has been commented
upon so much, I answered with truth ; and that answer has
been endeavoured to be fixed upon as a mode of implicating
not only myself but other more distinguished individuals in
charges which are without foundation. (Hear, hear.)
The Ice. and lensed geatlemaa may have the ability of • 1
lawyer for rattling up a ease against me as against • pri- i
suaer—(hear, hear)—but I believe his ingenuity will not i
prevail; and the proof that I have given—end I pledge
my own honourable word to everything I have said—will
be sufficient to convince the house and the country of its
truth. (Cheers.) I freely admit I may have committed an ,
error ; hut it was not an error of princi le, it was an error I
of judgment I believed that I could judiciously, freely,
and frankly communicate with amass w. , though • polls ,
tieal opponent, I at that time believed to be • friend. 1
(Cheers.) And I regret to say that, in this ease, parlia- ,
meatary warfare seems to be degenerating into reentaina- ,
tory and personal attack—(hear, bear)—sad it is thought a ,
'manila object now for a statesman to endeavour to
damage the motives and character of his opponents. (Hear,
hear.) Such never will be my course ; and in spite of the
plausible statements of the hon. gentleman, I deny that it
ever has been my course ; and I maintain that I have not,
on any of the occuions referred to, done anything that is
in the least degree dishonourable. (Cheers.)
Major BEHR/WORD said he had listened with serious
attention to the charge sad the explanation that had been
given. He had come there, not to make • long oration,
but to state distinctly what knew, and to stand on what
he had done. Then were two wholly distinct parts in Mr.
Keogh's speech ; first, as to any offer, or bland offer, of
office made to him by Lord Naas, and autborned by him
(Major Beresford) ; and, secondly, a private conversation
which Mr. Keogh maintained to have been held between
them—evidently, by his own account, in a secret and con-
fidential way, and which had been now brought forth, as
was the custom of that house and these tomes, to be a con-
demnatory matter against himself, and a matter of reproech
against his noble friend. (Hear, hear.) Without treat-
ing the words in a jesuitical sense, as to whe-
ther they amounted to an offer of office or
not, he distinctly stated, in the presence of the
house and the country, that no one whatsoever authorised
him to offer or hint at an offer of-office to the hon. and
learned gentleman; and had he not been authorised, he
could not authorise his noble friend to make such an offer.
This prostitution of private documents and confidential words
detracted from the honour and dignity of that house, dete-
riorated the fame and character of public men, was inimical
to all feelings of honour and friendship, and tended to re-
duet memben of parliament, like convicts, to the solitary
system. (" Hear," and laughter.)
Mr. NAPIER stated that the rumour of the offer of
office to Mr. Keogh had reached Lord Derby's ears through
himself. He had written to the noble earl, at the request
of two gentlemen, to know if there was any truth in the
report, and had received from the noble earl an unqualified
denial.

Mr. BUTT confirmed generally that portion of Mr.
Keogh's statement is which he was concerned.

Mr. DISRAELI said that the real question was as to
the veracity of two members of the house. lie was at a
losa to know that there wee any reasons why the late go-
vernment should not have off red office to Mr. Keogh, and
he should neither have been astonished nor displeased if
such an offer had been made and accepted As it was,
he maintained that the two statements were naturally
and reasonably reconcileable, considering the terms of
friendship then existing between the two gentlemen,
and the circumstance that the administration of Lord
Derby was at that time complete, with the exception of one
office, which could Snot have beta offered to Mr. Keogh.
The two gentlemen seemed to have drawn different infc-

recces from the same words, and that was all. With respect
to a course of invective which Mr. Kt ogh was pursuing at
the time against himself, and which was supposed to have
influenced the gat...raiment in atti mpting to conciliate that
gentleman, he did not recollect its nature' but with regard
to Mr. Keogh's invective generally, as directed towards
himself, he always regarded it a ith admiration, and on the
whole with pleasure. lie repeated his belief that the honour
of both gentlemen stnod unienpeat bed.
Lord J. RUSSELL reviewed the circumstances of the
case, declaring that the accusation against Mr. Keogh was
swept away and gone for ever, and that the statement of
Lord Naas, although in different words, entirely confirmed
that of Mr. Keogli. Fur he defied any gentleman, under
the circumstances in which Mr. Keogh was placed, to inter
from Lord Naas's words anything but an offer of office.
lie did not impugn the veracity of either gentleman, but
he did think that Lord Naas had not answered Mr. Keogh's
letter in a candid manner, or with that honourable conside-
ration which might have been expected, and which, it 'net-
cised, would have prevented the necessity of repeating pri-
vate conversations, or reading private letters.
Sir J. PAKINOTON complained of a sarcastic tone
which he perceived in Lord J. Russell's speech, and which
he compared with the moderate fairness which he conceived
to belong to the speech of Mr. Disraeli. With regard to
the " reputable " nature of Mr. Keogh's appointment, he
attacked his conduct with regard to the Ecclesiastical Titles
Bill, as furnishing a ground for Lord Eglinton's expression;
and he maintained that this charge had nothing to do with
the other question under discussion.

_ ....
Itlr. KEOCIII, in reply, expressed his satisfaction at the
explanations made, and gave all honour to Lord Naas for
his share in it. Ile was indignant against Sir John
Pakington for his new charge, and expressed himselt wil-
ling to meet that
.or any other that might be brought
against him. _ _

-Mr. Whiteside, Lord Henry Bentinck, and Mr. Vance
made same further remarks. and the iuhject dropped.
SUCCESSION DUTY BILL.
. . _ .

Oa the order of the day for going into committee on this
bill,

Sir W. JOLLIFFE said he was sorry to interpose any
delay to the Speaker's leaving the chair; but he must take
that opportunity of making an appeal to the right hon.
gentls man with regard to the mode in which the object of
this measure was to to carried out.

The CHANCELLthalishe EXCHEQUER said he was
very sorry that, in aceordance with what he considered his
absolute duty, he must decline to discuss the general bearing
and operation of the bill again on that occasion.
The house then went into committee.

On claw* 1,
Mr. MULLINGS said that the holders of heritable bonds
in Scotland, who were in precisely the same position as
mortgagees in England, would be taxed more lightly than
the latter class; he therefore moved an amendment, having
for its object the placing of these two classes on an (quality.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that the holders of
heritable bonds were in a different position from mortgagees
in England.
The amendment was negatived without a division and
the clause agreed to.
Upon Clause 2,

31. r. MILLINGS moved the 0MilISIOT: of the words "pad
or future," because he contended that, as it stood, the
clause had a retrospective effect.
The committee divided—
For the amendment 45
Against it
The clause was agreed to.
On clause 3, which provides that joint tenants taking by
survivorship shall be deemed successor.,
Mr. Henley, Mr. Moline, and Mr. Mulling. raised some
objections to the phraseology ; but, after an explanation
from the Solicitor-General, the clause was agreed to, as was
clause 4.

On clause 5, ." Extinction of determinable charges to
confer successions;"
Mr. CAIRNS Objected to the clause, and urged its post-
ponement.
The committee divided—
For the clause l7l
Against it lOO-71
The cleave was then agreed to.
Clause 6 was then agreed to.
On clause 7,
Mr. VANSITTART said that the latter part of the
clause was so tyrannical that he should more its omission.
Viscount GALWAY said that the clause was so important
that he should move that the chairman do report progress.
After a few words from Colonel SIBTUORP.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that if
there was a disposition on the other side not to proceed
further with the bill that night, the government would not
press the other clauses.
The CHAIRMAN then reported progress.
SOAP DUTIES.
The report on the soap duties was received.
SHERIFFS COURTS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill.

Clauses 1 and 2 were agreed to.
Mr. DUNLOP moved the omission of Clause 5, stating
that his object in doing so was to substitute for it a clause
which would have the effect of placing the trial of cases
entirely in the hands of the sheriff principal instead of, in
the first instance, in the hands of the sheriff substitute, and
to allow no appeal except to the Court of Session. The
sheriff principal was, he observed, a barrister of some stand-
ing, and evidently the beet fitted to pronounce a decision.
The gallery was cleared for a division, but in consequence
of there being only one teller none tok place.
The clause was then agreed to, u were also Climes 6to
inclusive.
Upon clause 10,
Mr. LOCKHART moved that the chairman report pro-
gress.
Clause 17, and also clauses 18 and 19, were then agreed

On clause 23,
Mr. CRAUFURD aaidj he should move to expunge this
clause. He thought the summary jurisoiction should be
extended to 264., and that would render the clause unneces-
sary.
After some discussion the clause was agreed to.
Clause 27 was Postimpled•
On clause 28,
Mr. CRAUFURD proposed an amendment that the
parties shall be entitled to appear and plead by • procurator
of court, but no such procurator shall be entitled to have or
recover any sum of money, for so appearing and pleading
for any party—unless the debt or damage shall be more
than 61.

After a abort discussion it was agreed that the Chairman
should report progress, and ask leave to sit again.
PUBLIC WORKS LOAN BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
TAXING OFFICER (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
PARISH VESTRIES BILL.
The bill was read a second time.
SALE OF LIVINGS.

Mr. IL PRlLLlMOlTEoitainedleWito bring in a bill
to amend the laws respecting simony, and to render illegal
the sale of the neat presentation to any benefice with cure
of souls.

The house adjourned at half-past one.

ELECTION EXPOSURES.
LIVERPOOL

The evidence of yesterday was of the same tame
and interminable nature as to treating that occupied the
committee for days preceding, the only new feature of any
interest being contained in the evidence of witnessed. Jones
and Bromfit to the effect that although they had served
warrants upon voters Chapman and Williams to attend be-
fore the committee, those individuals declined to come, and
stated that they did not care for the collective invitation of
the Speaker, committee, or House of Commons put together.
Evan Jones stated that Mr. W. B. Jones told him to pay
the men the usual ss. who voted from his house, and gave
hint altogether 261. for that and other matters ; bat the
committee, before concluding theproceedings, came to • re-
solution that the agency of Mr. W. B. Jones was not sell-
ciently ettablished.

PLYMOUTH.
FURTH/LB INQUIRY.
The select committee appointed to inquire further
into alleged corrupt practices at the last Plymouth election
met yesterday by adjournment from Monday last.
Mr. Alexander, Q.C., opened the proceedings by stating
that it was now his duty to inform the committee of the re-
sult of the investigation carried out by the agent appointed
by the Speaker relative to the alleged corrupt practices.
They found by Mr. Mare's cheeks upon his bankers he had
drawn about 3,0001. for the purposes of the election. That
Mr. Braine had expended about 7001., and Mr. Collier
about 7001. With regard to Mr. Escott's expenses, as far
as they had been enabled to trace them, they were very
small indec.l ; but with regard to the expenses of the other
candidates, he felt bound to state that the period over which
the canvass extended was a very protracted one—about
three months, be believed. The learned counsel then pro-
ceeded to detail some of the more prominent cases of
bribery by employment given to voters or their relatives,
and some witnesses in support of these statements having
been examined,
The committee adjourned to this morning.

DURHAM ELECTION PETITIONS.—The following
mernben have been appointed by the General Committee of
Elections on the Durham election petitions : —Right Ron.
Sir F. Lewis (chairman), Mr. R P. Collier, Hon. A. Dun-
can**, Mr. J. R. Phillips, and Mr. Bentinek.

SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING TUE GOSPEL IN
Fouston Pneas.—The service in commemoration of the
152nd anniversary of this venerable society was performed
yesterday at St. Paul's. The Archbishop of Canterbury,
the Bishops of London, Oxford, Salisbury, St. David's,
Norwich, Chichester, Bangor, Manchester, St. Asaph's,
Quebec, Nova Scotia, Montreal, and several other prelates;
besides a great number of lay peers, ladies, and gentlemen,
were present. The Lord Mayor and a number of the other
civic authorities also attended in state. The choir was con-
siderably strengthened on the occasion, and every song was
sung with the sublime harmonies of Talliv. The 'service"
was Kent's, and the anthem was, " Thy word is a lantern
unto my feet" (Purcell). Before the sermon the song and
chorus, " How beautiful are the feet" (Handel), was finely
performed; and the service closed with the Hallelujah
chorus. The preacher was the Bishop of Manchester, and
his text was from St. John, xii., v. 28.

SAMBRE AND MEUSE RAILWAY. —Traffic for the
week ending June 12, 1853:-4781. 18s. W. Correspond-
ing week last year, 2354 19s. Od. Miles open, 1853, 271 ;
miles open 1852, 24).