The Express.
London, England, 1860-03-23 00:00:00

MARCH 23, 1860.

the franchise he scold lave an beetled. be Mid kr al
Wood read* of this bill.
Mr. K. SEWER observed that they were told that
the bill was • simple eon It was so, bat it wee
pp. to the same objestice es the bill of 1422,Zbe
lend, epeaking of /hat hill mil
Eg Arad that Ail senor 1.61=t wan
that ammies, no new
imt that it was all a dead el. Phi's=
lard bed eonineitted tin um error in thelev present bill. Ila
mololue iiroimmil Asp, IMO la the eonathe and am is
awl Gel was his reknit bilL All maim
to di=tim'tite expense of elections, or to aid War
points which-were raised is the bill of the late govassmak
which he still believed contained the elements ni •
far better measure than that now before the bum
Oer peeeliarity in the bill
.was, that it extended the oboe,
rector of the metropolitan representation to some other
trHome hon. gentlemen were in the habit of lay ing
things about metropolitan members, and he believed
that quite as hard things were said of them at Brooks's as
at the Carlton. (Laughter.) When, on the introduction
of the bill, it announced that the metropolis was to
hare only two 1 members, who in that house felt
any regret at declaration? (Hear, hear.) The
truth was, that the metropolitan members generally
did not • represent the wealth and intelligence
of the metropolis. In the borough of Lambeth
• kris of the electors would not go to the poll
without bbeeiinngg cseied at the expense of others, and with all
the efforts that were made, not half the electors voted.
Who were lie clam among the metropolitan constituencies
that possessed the chief influence ? Why the licensed
victuallers. (Oh, oh.) What was the first question put to
a metropolitan candidate, " Are you sound on the licensing
:tyr• (Laughter.) There would shortly he an op-
of testing metropolitan members on that point,
nod woe afraid the Chancellor of the Exchequer would find
lb mlaiteity of them sound on the licensing question.
Whet was the use, bea=ked, of an extension of the franchise
Alas would leave wealth and intelligence unrepresented?
Me knew that the ministry had • party majority in that
bare, but he had such confidence an the good sense of the
isitothers generally that be firmly believed that in the fur-
ther proceedings us reference to this measure they (the op-
position) would be enabled to introduce such modifications I
as would make the bill, what it was not at present, a bill for
the real anendrueet of the representation of the people.
Mr. E. BAINES said, though he was about to support
the messes of the government, he hoped that in doing so
be should not 'object himself to the taunt just tattled
against the hon. member for the West attic's (Mr.
Crossley), namely, that he was influenced in favour of the
bill by the feet that an additional vote was given to the r
place which he represented. It was true that an additional
member wasgiven to heeds—(opposition laughter)--but Uwe'
well known to many members of that house that he heifer
yeareestertained the opinions which be had risen to express.
For years be had believed that it would be safe, wise, and
right to lower the borough franchise to 61. It
would be unsafe for parliament to shut out men who had
such intelligence and such laudable habits as he had pawed
the people of our large boroughs possessed. He believed
there was truth in the statement that the elite of the work-
ing alums were more independent than those who ware
higher in the social scale. He admitted that there was
much to regret mown them. Ont of 50,000 adult males
they were still only paving the franchise to 10,000 in the
borough of Leeds. Forty thousand were still left out of the
pale of the constitution. If they did not extend the fran-
chise as far as was proposed by this bill, he thought
they had better not attempt to legislate at all.
No meanie short of that of the noble lord would at all
meet the enies of the casei
uSHear, hear.)
Mr. WH IDE said he vainly endeavoured to
learn what was the paramount necessity for this measure.
Mr. Bright had stated that it bad been introduced in re-
demption of a pledge given by Lord J. Rumen when he sat
on the opposition side of the house ; but this was no argu-
ment whatever for the production of this ball. Sir G. Grey
had maid it was to enable the government to secure the sup-
ppoosrtt of the house; this misnomer:a for introducing& bed bill.
Referrinigithe views which bthought had been disclosed
by Mr. ht, that the mama, should bare the franchise,
he asked w ther his object was to reform the constitution,
or to reconsteact it. If the latter was the object,
then what be contemplated was a revolution. It was
the constitutional doctrine that the qualification for the
franchise was political eipacity ; yet this bill would confer
the franshise upon a body amen of whose political capacity
no evidence was ofered. On the other hand they had
a great aptitude for political organisation, as bad been',
proved, /se mid, in the course of the late strike. He reed
extracts from the proceedings of the workmen, which de-
monstrated, in his opinion, at once, their power of combine-
lion and their want of political capacity ; and he asked,
what could justify, with referees., to these proceedings, the
transfer to them of so vast an amount of political power,
which as organised minority could employ as • dangerous
instrument. He implored those who had brought in this
bill to consider whether they would not raise their repute-
tioa by raising the proposed franchise.
Mr. E. JAMES moved the adjournment of the debate.
Lord J. RUSSELL and many other members rose to
speak. The noble lord said he was quite ready to go on
with the debate, but he would not of course attempt to do
so against the wish of the house.
Mr. DISRAELI said it would be convenient to know
when the debate was adjourned to. There ought to be a
clear understanding. (Hear, hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON said it would be equally desirable
to many hon. mambas to know how many more nights of
debate there were to be. The government would take
the chance of peg oe to-marrow night after the other bu-
siness. (Cries of " Monday, Monday," from the opposition
benches followed that intimation.)
Lord PALMER/MN rose again and said—Then I will
at once_ ay (Hear, hear.)
BDSCHOOLS BILL (No. 3.)
After • short conversation, the bill passed through corn.
mittee, and the house yawned._

ADULTERATION OP FOOD BILL.
The hone went into committee on this bill, but intros.
diately reported progress.
CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL.
This bill was read a mooed time.
PAWNBROKER'S BILL.

Bill brought is by amd twirl a first time.
The house edjourued et bolt past 12 o'clock.

labi intellignue.

COURT OF QUIZNII BENCH.
Sittings, M NW Prim In Middlesex and Landon, before t►o
Right Hon. Bir Alexander Edmund Cockburn, Bait, Lord Chat
instinct bar Majesty's Court of Queen's Bench, to an attar
Faster Tana HMI Term—ln Stiddkciel—lst sitting, Tut►
day, April 17: lad sitting, Wednesday, April 25 , 3rd sitth*,
Wednesday May t for undefended ewes only. In London-1
Ist sitting, kondiAfa April tg_ Mal sitting, Monday, April 1411.
Altar Tenn—ln dlanos—Wodnosday, May & In London—
/Wordily, May It The nowt u7l sit at 10 o'clock every day.
The wane Be the list for midi of the above sitting days In tens.
U not disposed don thorns day., tm be Wed by adjournment on
the days following each of wok Wain days.

COURT .OF BANKRUPTCY.-11A1eM 22.
(Before Mr. Conunimioner Evans.)
DI RR JOHN LOCIHAWf MONTOH.—DINTDEND.
The bankrupt, • merest at Fisch-lane, was sentenced
sorne time ago to 20 years' purl servitude, for the forgery
of hills of exchange to • large mount. This was a dividend
meeting. A &vetoed .1 21i. hen already been paid au debts
of 66,0001.; the assets in hand, 5,9001., will field • further
dividend of la. A further Nara of 10,0001. tt ie e
will be derived in the comma of • few months fri:Mct
bankrupt'. whites in Norway ; and out of this • further
dividend will be declared.

SHERIFFS COURT.—Mmunt 22.
THE GREAT SNIP COIPAXT r. WARDS.
This was an action to recover galls upon forty shams held
by defendant.
Y Leverson, solicitor to the company stated that out
of 0,.A0 shareholders there were only 30 defaulters, and
most of those had paid the calla made twee them.
The Registrar proved that the shares stood in the name
of defendant on Hie register.
Yr. Yates, the secretary, proved giving orders to send out
allotment Patters, and amongst the number that to defendant.
He also proved the directors' minute ordering the call.
The m for share., signed by defendant, aubjectto
the mo in the prcepectus, wee then put in. '
ar. Yates was then asked by defendant what was the
amount of the capital?
Yr. Tatos-330,0001., in shares of 11. each. At the time
of defendant's being placed on the register 280,000 shares
had been subscribed for. Up to the present time 300,000
had been subscribed for.•

It was then contended that the full amount not having
bees taken up, the contract between the plaintiffs and de-
fendant was void. A case was quoted in support of this ar-
gamest, and
Mr. Leverson said he believed it had been overruled ; but
until dtheefendant was taken off the register he could not sup-
poett4enti
Defendant o on.
said he had rawer accepted the shares.' He
applied for therm in the expectation that the capital had
been 3210,0001., and, finding It was may 226,0001., refused to
have anything to do with this oompany.
Mr. Leverson—You never said so. If you entertain the
point, I must ask for an adifouniment to produce authorities.
His Renoir did not think the case quoted by the defen-
dant had been overruled, and was against the plaintiffs on
the point ; but if the came ma to be argued, Mr. Leeerson
wee entitled to an adjournment.
Mr. Levenes—l may say that theft is hardly • company
in Loudon in whisk the is paid up fully.
The defendant said be had never signed the deed which
would complete the woeptanos of the diens.
Mr. Levenson said that the defendant might accept the
shares, either by signing the deed or by any means resolved
upon I/ the directors from tints to time. .
His Honour thou put upon his notes that the defiles
dun stijonsd to his being sued, as be had never accepted
the arms.
The defendant then o thirdly, ca thoground that
the contract was and quoted • ease.
Adjourned. Costa marred.

CIYcrAL PAIJCZ. 0112 Rau.Luto D*T. .-
TIIOIIADAIf, itni 22.—Artnuairion on par:amt. 914;
ditto by . s oti tickets, 386; total viaatoes, 1,270.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
HOME CIRCIIIT.—Lawa, arms 22.
(Before Mr. Justice Wigbtman.)
Oserpe Martin, 40, • blind man, who appeared to be in a
state of great mental excitement, was indicted for feloniously
shooting at Elisabeth Martin, with intent to murder her.
In other counts of the indictment the prisoner was charged
with intending to do the prosecutrix grievous bodily harm.
The circumstances of this case were somewhat peculiar.
The prosscutrix is the step-mother of the prisoner, who is •
labour* man, residing in Roasell.street, Brighton, and he
was to the habit of going to her house to visit her, and they
venom the most friendly terms. For some time prior to the
4th ofAEtron which day the occurrence took place, the sight
of the had been failing him, and since his commit-
tal he become totally blind. The condition of his eyes
appeared to have caused hrm to become rely depressed, and
he was watched for fear he should do himself some mischief.
On the night mentioned he was at the house of his step.
mother, and he wee going away without kissing her and
wishing her good night, which it seemed it was his custom
to do, when he was reminded of it and asked to go into the
bedroom, where the prosecutrix was in bed, to part with her
as usual. He replied that he would not do so and he at
the mime time mid he wished the children and all the rest of
the family goodbye, and wished them all the
wealth in the world. At the same instant that
be made me of this expression he pulled e pistol
horn his pocket and fired it through the wooden parti-
tion into the bedroom where his step-mother was lying, and
in the direction of the bed, and part of her night-dress was
slightly scorched by the explosion. The primmer was MI- •
mediately secured, and upon some of the by-standerr
saying that he had attempted to shoot his step-mother, he .
exclaimed, "It is false. I intended to destroy myself, and ;
lam only sorry I have not done it. I intended to have pat
the pistol into mouth, but my finger slipped. The
prisoner a to have purchased the pistol two days
before, but there did not appear to be the slightest ground
for his desiring to destroy or to do the prceecutrix any
injury.
Mr. Connolly, in his address to the jury for the prisoner,
cemiamted upon the extleordinary circumstances under
which the charge was preferred, and he urged that if the
prisoner really intended to injure any one, it was himself,
and that all the facts in the case negatived the supposition
that he had any intention to injure the prowcutrix.
The learned Judge, in summing up, said that the circwn-
dames of the came were certainly very peculiar, and he amid
not understand bow it was, if the prisoner really entertained
the intention to take the life of the proeeoutns, or to do her
any serious mischief, that he should have fired through the
putition, when there was nothing to prevent him from
going into the room and carrying out his intention, if be had
been so minded. The jury, he said, would also bear in
mind the deposed state of the prisoner and the condition
of his eyes, and it was for them to decide whether it wee
net much more probable that he should have intended to do
some mischief to himself rather than to commit the offence
imputed to him.
The jury after • very short deliberation, returned •
verdict of 'Not Guilty.
His lordship. said it appeared to him that the jury had
come to the right conclusion, and baking at the excited
state of the prisoner, his friends should watch him, and take
cam that he did not do himself some mischief.

(Before Lord Chief Justice Etle.)
Caroline Martin, 28, who waa convicted of the man-
slaughter of her illegitimate child, was brought up for
judgment, and sentenced to four years' penal servitude.
In consequence of the pressure of busmen in this county,
the opening of the commission for the county of Surrey has
been postponed to this (Friday) morning, at ten &clock, and
the grand jury will not be called until one o'clock. No
civil business will be taken before Satunlay.

OXFORD CIROIJIT.—R —HRZIIIIIIIRY, MARCH 22.
Caovar Courr.—(Before Yr. Baron BramwelL)

this morning he lined
17Cahis I°TashiP
"Id?
his
sent
tit shown that the
an a t juryman 5/., • though was own
absentee win between 60 and 70 yesrs of age.

?Hi CHARGE 01 roIDII AT LUDLOW.
JoAss Dortough, a young gipay, was charged with the
wilful murder of William Pearce, at Ludlow, in August last.
The grand jury ignored the charge of murder, and returned
a bill for the manslaughter.
Mr. Best defended the priaoner, who was found Guilty,
and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.