The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-15 00:00:00

THE "POTTERIES FREE PRESS."

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Mr. RICARDO said, he hoped lie might be more fortu-
nate than the right hon. member fur Manchester had been
in obtaining an answer to his question. This subject, it
seemed, was so difficult that the law officers of three succes-
sive ar.ministrations had been unable to decide upon it. The
government having Lilted to get a judiment frees the Court
of Exchequer against the " household Narrative" had
taken another course with regard to the " Potteries Free
Press." They. had handed over the editor of that paper to
a police magistrate, having summoned him to appear on
I Thursday next and show 'why he should not forfeit
201. a copy for every copy published. he wished to know
I whether that was with the knowledge of the law officers of
the crown ?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the hon. member
was mistaken in supposing that the two cases were at all
similar. The " Household Narrative " was published at
intervals of not less than 26 days. The "Potteries Free
Press," he understood, was published every week, and con-
tained regular Mitten:tents of news, and therefore was not
at all within the principle of the decision with regard to
the "Household Narrative." It was a clear infraction of
the law, and without entering into the policy or impolicy
of the law, it was the duty of the law officers of the crown
to carry the law out, and therefore this proceeding wu
taken with their sanction. _

Mr. EWART expressed a hope that the stamp would be
atolished ; if it were not, government might depend upai
it numerous modes of evading the law would he adopted.
The Metropolian Improvements Bill pawed through com-
mittee, and was read a third time.
In committee upon the Jewish Disabilities Bill,
A conversation took place in reference to the alleged
pressure of the bill through the house, to which objection
Lird J. RUSSELL replied by pointing out the many
occasions on which the house had already discussed the
question, and the ample oppoitunities which members had
enjoyed for its mature consideration. Under those circum-
stances he declined a postp inement until after Easter, and
would bring forward the third reading on Friday.
The bill passed through committee after some further
conversation. . _ .

The Land Improvement (Ireland) Bill was read a turd
time, and agreed to with some slight alterations.
The Oaths in Chancery Bill passed through committee
with some formal amendments. _ .

Mr. H. BROWN moved a resolution expressive of the
necessity of introducing some measure for the protection of
the public against railway accidents ; but withdrew his pro-
position for the present, on the recommendation of 'Mr-
Cardwell, who said the subject was under investigation by
the committee.
. . .

-1111 other business was divosed of, and the house ad-
journed.
SCOTCH UNIVEIISITIES.

The LORD ADVOCATE moved that the house should
this day resolve itself into a committee of the whole house,
for the purpose of introducing a bill to regulate the admis-
sion of professors to the lay chairs in the universities of
Scotland. He did not think it necessary to ea into the
question further than to say that the bill he proposed to in-
troduce would abolish entirely the subscription of tests
now required by the statutes as far as regarded the lay chairs
in the Scotch universities, bat it would not extend to the
chairs which belonged to the theological departments of
study. Under its provisions the professors would be re-
quired to subscribe a declaration almost in terms the same
as that introduced into the Test and Corporation Act of
1825, namely, that he would not exercise any of the func-
tions or influence of his office to the subversion or prejudice
of the establishment.
The motion was agreed to.

RETURNS ORDERED.
On the motion of Sir G. FEctiELL—Address fy cc; .e of
the report made by William Forsyth, Esq., to lice Moji,ty
in Council, in or about the montliot November la't, on the
subject of a petition of the inhabitant householders of the
town of Brighton, praying for a municipal charter.
On the motion of Mr. Kiltli.—Return of the number of
vessels, distinguishing British from foreign, wrecked or lost
on the coast of Ireland during the live years ending the sth
day of January, 1853; stating the names ct the places
where each wrecks took place, the number of liro 1014
and the amount of tonnage and value of the caro of the
ships lost.
The house adjourned at S o'clock.

CONVEYANCE OF MAILS IN GREAT BRITAIN.—The
Post-office authlritics have, at the present time, to oil fat
ma: being eouvey .1 over Learly 20,090 miles 1..:.,733l
io West Britain daily ; and in addition to this they have to
pay for the conveyance of mails over common roadt in mad
;.:achtt and mail carts a diatance of nearly 4,1100 links (11.17.

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