The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-23 00:00:00

THE GALWAY CONTRACT.

Mr. CONINGHAM moved that Mr. Irwin's petition re-
lating to the Royal Atlantic Mail Steam Nevigaties Coen•
piny be referred to • select committee, to inquire into the
allegations of the mid petition.
&r G. GREY 'dated certain precedente which existed in
reference to caw of aflegations of • similar nature to those
in the wpm* paths, fit which, after the petitions had
been premeds& mad Gm 'members baud is their defence,
the tonne west no hirlber ; and he suggested that the sane
course should now be pursued.
Mr. LEVER proposed to read and answer the petition
PirtAtfiffririsposed, and suggested that Mr. Levee's
emphatic denial wee enough.
Mr. LEVER, however, with the evident assent of the
boom, proceeded at length to read and answer the
three of the petitloo seriatim, but still expressed a wish for
• committee. _ _ _

—Sir iiiicINGTON expressed his opinion that there
was no seesmity for a committee.
After a diemssioo, in which Sir G. C. Ltwie and Sir J.
OULU, axpesemcd opialous that the matter should go no
farther. the motion was sigatlved.
BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILL.

The ardor of the day for the further cousidwatioo of the
Lords' thestedreeste Mari been read,
ThoATTOBSEY AL said, on Thursday night he
Wood Ora after the jaigrotat at the house bad been takes
should not propose to raise say considerable dithussioo
on the esesaisa- oflaythe th• pelt eximidseeet before them.
He now thine to claw" 2, and with referewie to that he
proposed the house should dialer's with the Lords' amend-
neut.

fir H. CAIRNS said that after the decision of the house
with mord to the chief jedsie, It was quite useless raising
a discs/Moe ca theother portal's el the bill relating to the
same subject.
The motors was time agreed to.
Os the adios of the ATTORITIT4BIIIIIIIAL,
The law agreed to amend easenclmente made by the
Leeds.
Upon shame 11,

The ATTOHNHY-OHNERAL earned that the house
&add &sires with the aneeedeseet of the Leeds, WON..-
the camber el Use Mittel swipes I. the London dis-
trict frees lee to eight. The boo. sad learned ientlenue
sad that it them 211 were greed to, this aareadeoset of the
Lords would aeleally imersees the number of Aida soli.
mess to rime, and lawohe an additions! of 111:01. a
year, or sere Ulan the salary et the eidef
net aware et any requirements as Me tbe = re el=
nedinees in the Uses &Mid ',bleb celled kr me a
elreeis.
MTH add the bin erigiaany establisbed dm-
less' ladies's. and the Lords ace& la was letter that a
beakrapt's estate should Female I. t3..1dal matinee, sad
they sooontlegly mei the eamedaleet le geeridee. He
suggested that it would be bettor to deter the climamices of

this amendment until the subject of creditors' assignees
mum before the house.

Sr H. CAIRNS thought it would be better to discuss the
.
whole gumption of o assignees upon this amendment of
the Leeds. The great complaint of the commercial world
as to official assignees was not that they did not discharge
their duties properly, but that they were allowed to take a
very large per ceutage upon the proceeds of a bankrupt's
agate. That source of complaint had, however, been en-
tartly removed, as, under this bill, they would be pat on •
Mr
Mr. MALINS was of opinion that it would be a great
advantage to have an official person to collect the debts and
manage the estate of • bankrupt.
Ir. HADFIELD mid it would be very easy hereafter to
bermes the number of official assignees if it should be ne-
cessity, but he believed that under the bill there would be
keg for them to do than at resent.
Mr. VANCE could not riMw the clime to per without
?spotting that, in his opine*, it would not work, and that
the appointment of manager would frequently be jobbed.
Mr. W. E. FORSTER said that the commercial classes
in Bradford and other towns in Yorkshire were in favour of
the clams as it originally stood.
Mr. MURRAY supported the bill as it passed through
this home. He remembered when there were in London
DO leas than 18 official assignees, but by death and resigns-
, tion they were reduced to ten, and initespreatig toe smaller
°umbel; for an official assignee having died last year the
; vacancy was not filled up. He found that the hastiness of
the commissioner with only one official assignee bad
been dose in quite as good • manner and as efficiently
! in that of the othbr commissioners.

Mr. OLYN said the present system had become intolera-
ble to the merchants and traders of London, and they all
desired to avoid the Court of Bankruptcy, and its expenses,
although they nu the risk of 'moonstone( all sorts of legal
difficulties in winding up estates under deeds. (Hear, bast./
He thought the official assignees should be the &editors of
the court, and look into all the seccatots, sad watch. the pro-
ceedings of the creditors' assignees.
Mr. AYRTON said that the question in reference to the
cfidd assigoess' duties being confined to collecting debts of
101. and under was fully Obsessed in committee in that
house, and therefore it was not correct to state that it was
overlooked. (Hear.)
After seise remarks from the Attorsey-General sat Mr.
Bovill, Mr. Henley supported the disagreement with the
Lords, aid the motion of the Attorney-General was
agreed to.
The hoses then proceeded to consider the Lads' amend-
ments seriatim.

ifoniTec;ln new clause introdneed by the Lords (after
oleo's 97) as enabled a debtor to petition for au adjudication
of beakraptcy against himself, was agreed to.
Another new clause (re-inserted by the Lords), providing
that the debt of tLe petitioning creditor of a nos-trader
debtor must be oontracted after the passing of the ad, was,
' with certain quelifications suggested by the Soucrron.
GracaLL,likewae agreed to, after a strong protest from Mr.
Lotus., who argued for the retrospective antis of the
clause. _ _

The Lords' amendments expunging the creditors' ea-
*nee shun were disagreed to.
Io dinagreeiog to the Lords' amendments of clause 164
refs:lima the rules to he observed in granting orders of
discharge, a proviso was added to the clause, on the motion
at the SOLICITOS.GZINIMAL that no person should be liable to

any criminal proesedagfor erg natter occurring before the
of the sot, to which he would not have been liable
risilplf
eect had not passed.
• eammittee wee appointed to draw up the reason for
disagreeing to certain of the anumdments of the Lords.