The Express.
London, England, 1847-07-13 00:00:00

...

accident the oath against bribery were to be administered to I
him. Hs agreed with his French correspondent, that
it set only tainted the purity of our legislature, but
irreparably injured the morality et the English cha-
racter, that this offence should be committed whclesale.
What he would propose was this—thatch* maximum amount
of expenses should be fixed, suppoe.ng at 8001. or I.oool.—(al-
though the half of that ought to suffice)—and that proof of
more than that sum having been expended by a candidate.
about' be deemed conclusive evidence of bribery. Let them
adopt that plan, and they would at once annihilate the prac-
tice. He had no doubt, if they weed the resolutions he was
about to move, that measures would be taken in the next
session for carrying them into effect—one of which he wished
to be a measure scar continuing the power, during the parlia-
ment, of investigating any question affecting the validity of
a member's return. Such a power could only prove vexs-
Maus and annoying to those who were conscious of having
been ratty. He felt it the more incumbent on him to draw
their lordships' attention to the question, from the circum-
stance of olrervieg by the addresses of candidates already in
the field, that men were offering themselves to constituencies
to which they were wholly unknown, and to whom they
would ouly become known through the medium of an
attorney. This he regarded as a positive indication et
bribery. The noble lord concluded by moving :
That I. the bounden duty of both houses of parliament to adopt,
et the beginning of the next seam, whatever Me.. may be
moat effectual for detecting and punishing sets of bribery and
entrap:tin whim may be cconmitt-il dining the ensuing re-
am, at the election of members or parliament, and peers of tmotland
and es tretaed ; suit offences being altogether subversive of the
freedom of electioo, destructive of the independence and purity
of the legislature, leading to the mom: guilt of perjury in all cams,
End the actual commission, in many, of that most foul and heinous
mime. Toot it is *foil the duty of both houses of parliament to in-
quire of and visit with punishment all sets which may be done
during the recess for interfering with the free choice of members of
parliament, of peers of Scotland and Ireland, by intimidation or
otherwise. That it is the duty o • both &Qv. of parliament to inquire
of el: corrupt bargains, whether by compromise or otherwise, made
dung-, the recess, for the purpose of preventing and frustrating the
inquiry into such corrtption or intimidation at elections of members
of car lament, OT of Scotch or Irish risers.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, although fully renew-
ring with his noble friend that the subject was most impor-
tant, and that the moment was a fitting one for pointing oat
the gravity of the offence of bribery and corruption at elec.
tains, and the unbounded mischief that never failed to flow
from it, did not think the resolutions themselves expe-
dient, because they only recorded an opinion which it was
notorious their lordships already entertained. Hear, hear.)
If he were to agree to them it would only be with the
amendment that not only at the beginning of the next session
of parliament, but at all timos, it was the bounden duty of
their lordships' Souse to concur in measures for the suppres-
sion of bribery and corruption at elections. But on no oCc1•
siou upon which bills for thatiurpoee had been brought before
them had their lordships omitted to manifest, in the most dis-
tinct terms, that such was the sentiment they entertained on
the subject. In 1842, their lordship!, passed a bill—which was
seat no from the Commora—to enable election committees to
re-assemble when broken up by the withdrawal of the charge
against the sitting member. 'that proved more clearly than
could the abstract resolutions of his noble and learned friend,
what their lordship.' feelings on the subject were. His
noble and learned friend's reasons were good, and his facts
were true, hut he (Lord Lansdowce) objected to any indica-
tion of an intention to proceed furtter without letting their
lordships know what that proceeding was to be. His noble
and learned friend bad suggested certain provisions, but
no one knew better than he that they were
liable to objection, and that they could not be adopted
without much consideration. Year after year cot attires had
been proposed for putting an end to the abominable practice
of bribery. Some had been adopted, and some rejected,
but all afforded proof that there was no question upon which
it was more difficult to legislate with effect. He therefore
objected to their recording an implied intention of doing
what they were not prepared to say they had the means of
doing. 'the only instance he recoilected of their adopting
an abduct principle of the kind, wu in a resolution which
he had the distinguished honour of bringing up from the
other house of parliament, declaring the expediency of
taking measures in the next session of poriiement for
the abolition of slavery ; but as their lordships' sentimeuts
on the subject of the resolutions were already well known,
and as he doubted not they would willingly adopt any
measure that might be sent up to them next session for
punishing such delinquencies and crime, in connexion with
bribery and corruption at elections, as the existing law was
not able to reach, he should move In^ previous question.
Lord BROUGHAM, after what had fallen from the noble
marquis, would withdraw his resolutions, hoping, however,
that whatever measure might be proposed next session
would require from each member before being sworn a
solemn declaration that no money had been expended, pro-
mises made, or gift bestowed, by him or by any agent or
friend of his on his behalf, to his knowledge, in order to
influence the vote of cry person ct his election. A provision
to this effect had been struck out of a former measure.
Resolutions withdraws.
IRISH EMIGRATION TO CANADA.
The Earl of ENNISKILLEN begged to call the attention
of the noble earl the Secretary for the Colonies to a letter
written by the catholic archbishop of Quebec, which ap-
peared in an Irish newspaper he had that day received,. de-
tailing the deplorable condition of those who kad been in-
duced this year to emigrate from Ireland to Canada. Fruits
the statement made by tho noble earl on a former occasion
he had been led to hope that after the necerssry ieconve-
nienees and sufferings of the voyage were past, the emigrants
would be taken care of by the government, who would make
the necessary arrangements to rant ire them on their arrival
in the colony and assist them in aniving at their destination.
From the statement made in the letter of the arch-
bishop, it would appear that the authorities in Canada
bad been taken by surprise, arid that thousands of enti-
grantakid arrived for whose reception no sufficient provision
bad been made, and that the vessels, filled withsick and dying
emigrants, arrived every week, and were required to perform
30 miles below Quebec. where
allea:eanetclnree,aatta;L datend e
of the letter, not less than 2.000
patients. The provincial government had manifested great
seal and anxiety to render every assistance in their power to
these unfortunate persons, but they had been unable to pro-
vide for so large an influx. The importance of making due
provision for emigrants on their arrival in the colonies, and
of affording every encouragement to emigration, was a mat-
ter of even greater importance to Eteland than to Ireland.
The average rate of wages of the alie.bodied labourer in
England was 25/. a year, while in Ireland it was only Se
And, remelt:do ring that the potato crop, upon which
hitherto the Irish peasant had in a great measure
depended, had failed, it was- surely a matter essential
to the iuterests of this country that every mans sho-ald bo
taken to prevent a en:netts competition between the labour
of the two countries. He wished to ask the noble earl
whether he had heard of the circumstances referred to in
the letter, and if so, whether any steps had been taken to
remedy the evil?
Reel GREY replied that it was too true that the stBlrern-
went had received accounts of the extreme safferings
endured by Irish emigrants on their arrival in Canada,
which emirate unfortunately he believed to be correct.
These emigrants bad gene out in ships as well provided as
emigrant ships usually were, but the sudden change of diet
from that to which they had been reduced had produced
fever and disease, and the consequence was that on
their arrival in the St. Lawrence, it was found neces-
sary to place them under quarantine. Lord Elgin.
who had been previously warned by him (Earl Grey)
lost not a moment in providing accommodation for
these unfortunate person+, by erecting tents and sheds
for their reception on the island, at the quarantine station,
and a large number of medical officers were engaged to at-
tend upon them, and everything that humanity and skill
could suggest was done to relieve them. Government had
this year increased the vote for assisting emigrants on their
arrival in Canada to 10,0001.; and Lord Elgin had been in-
structed to draw bey red that for whatever amount might be
necessary, the government feeling confident that parliament
would vote it. (Hear, hear.) What had taken place Ceta•
firmed his view that it would have been most unwire to
endeavour to relieve the eufferings of Ireland by giving any
extraordinary stimulus to emigration this year. and that
emigration had, without such meeelus, polgremed to the
extent of the capabilities of the colonies to re-
ceive. He hoped the effect of the letter which
had been read would not be to check emigration.
The sufferings referred to were consequent upon the
evils which existed in Ireland, and the sudden change to a
more generous diet than that to which the emigrants hat
been reduced was the cause of the fearer breaking out. Ho
muted the noble earl that the attention of the government
and the colonial authorities was directed to this matter, and
that no means would be left untried to mitigate these
calamities. (Hear, hear.
The house adjourned at a quarter to eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY, JULY 12.
The SpRAKER took the ebair at 3 o'clock.
PRIVATE. BUSISEESS.
SECOND READINGS.--Gilleepie's lrate; Northam Bridge Ocus-
pany's Palate; Bills.
REPORTS.—Edinburgh, Lrith. and Greaten Railway (Unica
Canal sad Caledonian Rahway Junction); Southampton and Dorolins.
ter Railway (Blandford Branch); Taw Vale Railwayand Dock; Bills.
D REPORT CONSIDERED).—SaIistwry end Yeovil Railway Bill.
THIRD READINGS.—Howes's rAtate; Brooks's Divorce; Dollar
lostituSon (34Ine's or kl.Nabb's) Estee; Goddard's Estate; Hug-
gers's CoTege Incorporwion; Rooke's Esatie ; Twists!' Market Com-
pany Estate; Bills.
PUBLIC BUSINESS.
PETITIONS.—By Sir J. T. Umaare, from the Bishop and Dean of
Grreferd, against such portion of the Mimehmter Bishopric Bill as
went to decrease .be revenue of the Deanery of Hereford.—Mr. J.
Crasser, from a place in Roscommon, complaining of the state of the.
in meat electoral divisions in that county.—Mr. T. Detrece us from
Robert Brien, a general poet ktter-carrier, complaining of haring
beers persecuted ever since he had given endows on the Inquiry seta
the caw of Mr. Kelly, and stating that he bed bees dramissel on
the 3rd of July.—Mr. Hula, from Mr sh:protrams ct Gateshead, coo-
p/sinter of heavvy port dues unoosed he Mc corperation.
SECOND REM/LlT:S.—Ominous inelegant (No. 3); Militia Pay;
Trusters Relief; NewEealand (No. 2); Bills
IMMMlTTEEB.—Destitute Peones Ireland (No. 3); Public Works
mat Drainage (Ireland) ; Loodon-britipe Approaches Fund; Canal
(0111/111ita ; Bankruptcy and laselvene 'No. 3); Bills.
ItEPOßTS.—Constahulary Force fireand), Res.; Recovery of Pubic
Monies (Ireland); Copyright Csecinim; Insolvent Debtors ; Poor
RemaratAct Amendment (No. 2) ; 1,..15.
THIRD READINGS.—MusseI Faber:ea (Scotland); Post.oflice ;
Navigation (Na 2) ; Herring Fishery
ARGYLE CANAL
Mr. HUME asked whether it was the intention of tl.e
government to proceed with the vote of money for the pur-
poses of this canal ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said it was not.
HERRING FISHERY (SCOTLAND) BILL.
Sir G. CLERK said that this bill had gone to the tHird
and in none of the various stages had he heard a
of explanation as to the objects of the bill. Ile
scarcely known to any member of the house.
' • • :. 0 said the bill had been put off, at least a
, fbr the convenience of the hon. baronet. daring
SS. weeks; and the fullest explanation of it had
bleilliPta: 'The simple object of the hill was to transfer the
L.
weasels iiagrcised from the queen and the treasury,
Or linen in* the queen in council. Great difference

had esisted between the trustees of these fisheries and the
governors of the school of degn, to which the funds were
applicable ; and the proposed trander would put an end to
these differences.
__

THAMES CONSERVANCY BILL.
Mr. HUME said he had heard a report that this bill wu
not to be proceeded with. He wished to know if it was
correct.
Lord J. RUSSELL said it wu intended to proceed with
the bill.
MANCHESTER BISHOPRIC BILL.
Mr. J. COLLETT—Dom the noble lord intend to pro-
ceed with the Manchester Bishopric Bill ?
Lord I. RUSSELL —Yes ; it is our intention to proceed
with that bill to-morrow (this day), at 12 o'clock.
Mr. J. COLLETT said he should take a division on every
stage of the bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL said it was intended only to take the
second readine to-morrow (this day), and not every stage.
Lord J. RUSSELL then moved that the order of the day for
the second reading of this bill should be discharged, and that
the second reading should be fixed for Tuesday (this day), at
12 o'clock.
Mr. J. COLLETT said it was a most important measure,
and he should move that it be not taken till live o'clock.
This amendment 11113 not premed, and the original motion
was agreed to.
NATIONAL EDUCATION.

Dad J. MANNERS wished to ask whether the new clause
introduced into the trust-deeds of the national schools bad
the suction of the government, and whether any applica-
tions for aid towards the building of schools would be re-
fused unless the persons acting as trustees agreed to these
terms of the trust ? He also wished to know if the govern-
ment had announced their intention to give no preferment
to any clergyman belonging to the established church of
Ireland, unless he gave in his adhesion to the so-called sys-
tem of national education ? He hoped there was no founda-
tion whatever for that report.
Lard J. RUSSELL stated, with regard to the first ques.
tion, that the trust-deeds had been prepared in the same
way as they hid been for some years past, and that there
had been no dispute or contention on this subject.
Before the present government came into office, in
May of last year, a new proposition, and new
conditions, had been made in the trust-deeds. In
order to prevent these new conditions being carried into
effect, which the committee of privy council thought
1 injurious, they had suggested four different forms of clauses
which might be adopted by the trustees. This proposal had
I been laid before the Archbishop of Canterbury, who agreed
I in the object of the clauses, but wished that the local com-
mittees should be at liberty to adopt them or not as they
pleased. They also wished that, in the normal schools, the
clergymen should have the superintendence of the moral, as
well as the religious, education. The last proposal bad been
taken into consideration by the committee of council, wko
agreed to adopt it. But with regard to the clauses proposed
as part of the trust.deeds, they had submitted those clauses
to his grace, as being necessary, in order to the admission of
some laymen to the trusteeship of the schools. As the com-
mittee of the national society bad expressed no objection to
them, he trusted they would be generally adopted; indeed,
they had been adopted in almost all tke schools which had
since received the aid of government. With respect to the
second question, whether preferment in Ireland was only
to be given to clergymen who adopted the scheme of the
national schools, there was no foundation for the rumour.
(Hear. hear.) Of course, every government had its awn
reasons for preferring a certain clergymen ; but any exclu-
sion on the ground of non-adherence to the system of national
schools was no part of their scheme. (Rear, hear.)
SILK WEAVING.

Mr. B. OSBORNIIZhed to ask the hon. the Vice-Pre-
sident of the Board of Trade whether any bill for the reps-
' lotion of those employed in the trade of silk weaving would
be brought in this session ?
Mr. 'I.. M. GIBSON said it was not intended to introduce
any new measure of that description in the present session.
THE WELLINGTON STATUE.
Lord J. RUSSELL said—ln moving the order of the day
for the committee of supply I wish to fulfil the promise which
I made to the noble lord opposite (Lord G. Bentinck), to
state to-day the intentions of the government with respect to
the Wellington military memorial. (Hear.) Since the time
when I last addressed the house I have had cemmunieation
with her majesty on the subject, and with the illustrious
duke. in honour of whom the memorial had been erected.
The substance of the noble duke's reply, in answer to my
inquiries, was, that be considered it not a question for him-
self, but one to be considered entirely on public grounds—
(hear, hear)—that many persons had considered, and that
the committee who proposed to erect the statue
had considered, that its removal from the arch would
be regarded as a mark of disapprobation on the part of
the crown towards the individual for whose honour it was
intended—(hear, hear)—that, for his own part, he had had
too many proofs of the regard and approbation of the crown
to think that such was the intention ; but that such, in his
opinion, would have been the general feeling. He therefore
deprecated. upon public grounds, the removal of the statue.
(Hear.) This statement had been communicated to her
Maiesty ; and I have the Queen's commands to say, that the
government do not intend to take any further steps towards
:ha removal of the statue. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.")
GREENOCK ELECTION.
Lerd J. RUSSELL said there was a notice on the paper,
by the hoe. member for Greenock (Mr. Boise) " On read-
ing the order of the day for the committee of supply, to call
the attention of the hou:e to the recant interference of the
government, exercised chiefly through the medium of the
Secretary at War' with the constitutional privileges of the
parliamentary electors of Greenock." As this could only
lead to a long and irregular discussion, on the question of
going into committee of supply, and as the government had
clearly no intention tointerfere with the election at Greenock,
or to take part either for one candidate or the other, he
hoped the hon. member would not press his motion.
Mr. BAINE said he certainly had no desire to stop the
progress of the estimates; he would, therefore, withdraw
his notice.
Mr. F. hIAULE said he did not at all wish to interfere with
the discretion of the hon. member for Greenock as to withdraw-
Mg or proceeding with his motion, but be must say that he was
perfectly ready to justify his acts, whenever or wherever any
Ration might be made on the subject.
TUFNELL said a noble friend of his, to whom
allusion had been made (Lord Melgund), had complained of
a charge being made against him of a breach of confidence,
by publishing a private letter addressed by him (Mr. Tuf-
nell) to the noble lord. The noble lord had assured him
that that letter was not marked private. It was addressed
to him, for the purpose of being shown to those parties, who-
ever they might be, who had contradicted his assertion that
he had not been dissuaded from coming forward at the elec-
tion by persons connected with the government. That was
the nurpose for which the letter was intended. (Hear.)
/HE NEWLY-DISCOVERED DISINFECTING
FLUID.
Mr. BERNAL asked if it was the intention of the heads
of any department of government to take any steps for test- '
lag the efficacy of a fluid recently brought into notice in this
country by a Frenchman, which was said to possess the ex-
traordinary and valuable property of disinfecting putrid ani-
mal and vegetable matter, and was also applicable to mei-
tare purposes ?
gir G. GREY said, that on receiving information in re-
gard to this fluid, he had expressed a desire that its capabili-
ties should be examined ; and, with that view, he had caused
information of its properties to be transmitted to the muni-
cipal authorities of several large towns, who might naturally
be supposed to have the greatest interest in such a discovery.
INCREASE OF EXPENDITURE ON THE MISCEL

LANEOUS ITEMS.
Oa the question that the Speaker do leave the chair, to go
into Committee of Supply,
Mr. V. SMITH calla attention to the arrangement of the
miscellaneous estimates, which he was anxious should have
been submitted to a select committee. Ile wished to know
whether any alteration would be made in the next session.
In the present session, there had been an increase in all
these estimates; and, with the exception of last session, they
had gone on increasing for several years. On public works
and buildings there was an increase in 1817,as compared with
1638, of 318,0001. This might perhaps be accounted for by
the erection of the new houses of parliament. In the salaries
of public officers, the increase in the same period was up-
wards of 240,0001. Doubtless many new officers had been
appointed ; but the business of the country had so outgrown
its institutions that an entire remodelling was necessary.
01 the item of law and justice the increase was 432,0361.;
and a proportionate increase in education and other items ;
making a total increase of 1,328,8861. since 1838. This was
not so much the fault of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as
of the house itself, by assenting to this increase. The want
of arrangement in the estimates was one great cause of this.
He did not blame the government for not taking the matter
earlier into consideration ; the house itself ought to take the
initiative in the matter; but he hoped the government would
endeavour to do something during the recess.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that no select committee bad
been appointed this year on the miscellaneous estimates, as
it was thought they would not have time to examine them.
Probably fro we understood the noble lord), that course
would be adopted next session.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS expressed a hope that this would be
done next session.
Mr. HUME hoped the Irish estimates would also be
looked into. He ►ad great confidence of something being
done in this way by the new parliament.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said he had heard outside that the
Thames Conservancy Bill had been given up. He wished
to know whether that was the case, as several hon. members
would discuss it clause by clause. Was it to be treated as a
public or • private bill ?
Mr. WARD said it had not been given up certainly; there
bad been a doubt about it, but that doubt had been removed;
and it was intended to proceed with it this evening after the
committee of supply had been gene through. It had been
made a public bill, and had been read a second time as such
at a late hour.
Sir R. H. INGLIS said he was informed it was still a
private bill, and as such it ought to have been proceeded
with at the time of private business. It contained 100
clauses, every ene of which might lead to discussion; and
it was impossible to pass the bill is the present session. Ho
hoped it would be thrown over, like other heavy goods, to
lighten the ship.
Mr. EWAIIT hoped that then should not be called on to
go into a long discussion on the bill, and then have it aban-
doned at last.
In answer to a question from Mr. Hume,
The SPEAKER said it was a public bill, relating to •
private locality. It had been necessary that it should go
through a select committee as a private bill; now it had to
be committed as • public bill, and was of course proceeded
with at the time of public business. When it was passing
through the stages ea a private bill, it was necessarily taken
at the time of priests business.
After a for words from Mr. W. W/LIALMS, the conversa-
tion dropped.
BONDING OF BRITISH SPIRITS.

Mr. MOTfitifr;o;ed to;aoelectC;tuntitiee "to in-