The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-29 00:00:00

THE COURT

The Queen held a Levee (the second this season) on
Wednesday afternoon, in St. James's Palace. Her Majesty
and Prince Albert arrived soon after two o'clock from
Buckingham Palace, escorted by a detachment of the
Royal Horse Guards, and were received at St James's by
the Lord Chamberlain, the Vice-Chamberlain, and the
Clerk Marshal. Viscount Palmerston had an audience of
the Qneen before the Levee. Her Majesty and the Prince
entered the Throne-room attended by the Duchess of
Sutherland, Mistress of the Robes, and the great officers
of State. The Queen wore a train of white poplin em-
broidered in gold and coloured flowers, trimmed with
fringe to correspond. The petticoat was white satin
trimmed with white satin ribbon. Her Majesty's head-
dress was formed of emeralds and diamonds. The
Foreign Ministers were introduced, after which numerous
presentations took place. The Queen and Prince Albert
returned to Buckingham Palace after the Levee, attended
by the Ladies and Gentlemen
in Waiting. Her Majesty's
dinner party included the Princess Royal, the Duke and
Duchess of Argyll, Mr. Buchanan, the United States
Minister; Count Titzthum, the Saxon Minister; the Earl
of Eglington, the Earl and Countess of Mount Charles,
Viscount Monck, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lord and Lady
Robert Grosvenor, the Right Hon. B. and Mrs. Disraeli.
and Sir Benjamin Hawes.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY,

The royal assent was given by commission to the House
of Commons offices bill.

The charitable uses bill was read a first time, and the
joint stock banks (Scotland) bill went through committee.
The turnpike trusts arrangements bill was read a second
time.

APPELLATE JURISDICTION

The Earl of DEBBY moved for a select committee to
enquire whether it is exped;ent to make any, and if
so, what provision, for effectually securing the efficient
exercise of the functions of that House as a court of
appellate jurisdiction, and to report thereupon. In
explanation of the motion, the noble Lord mentioned
several objections to the manner in which their
lordships exercised their judicial functions, the smallness
of the number of judges, the uncertainty in this number,
the absence of any compulsion in obtaining their atten•
dance, the consequent uncertainty of their being present,
the probability that on appeal cases the same judges
might hear and decide, as had already adjudicated upon
the question, and the house sitting only a portion of the
year, and the want of an adequate tribunal for Scotch
appeals. After remarking upon the difficulties arising
from these circumstances, he referred to the various pro-
positions for the improvement and strengthening of the
jurisdiction of the House as a court of last appeal;
amongst other propositions he mentioned the introduction
of life peerages, the creation of official peerages, to be
held by legal officers during life or office. and the admis-
sion of ithe judges. . When the House acted in its legal
capacity he gave the preference that their lordships had
then the power of calling the judges and urged that it
would be of great advantage. if they had their co-operation
in speaking and voting. He' also recommended that the
Vice-chancellor and other eitity judges should be cal'ed
to sit and vote in cases of appeal, and that in Sootch
cases the lords of session should be called. He would
content himself with the suggestions and leave the matter
in the hands of the committee.

Earl GRANVILLE would not make any objection to the
motion, as he wished the important question introduced
by the noble earl to have a full and dispassionate consi-
deration. He would, however, move to insert after the
word " jurisdiction" the words, " and further, how any fur-
ther provision would effect the general character of the
House of Lords." His object in this addition was, simply
to provide a larger scope to the investigations, and to
include certain questions arising out of the Wensleydale
Peerage case. He regretted that a difference had arisen
between the House of Lords and the Crown, and that
party feeling had been introdnced into the question, Mr.
Disraeli having, in the other House, used it as a ground
of attack upon her Majesty's government, though he
believed the conservative leader disapproved of this
course.

After some observations from Lord CAMPBELL, Lord
BROUGHAM, Lord St. LEONARDS, and the. LORD CHANCEL-
Los, the motion, as amended by Earl Granville, was
agreed to. . . _

Their lordships rose at ten minutes past eight o'clock

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.

ROYAL ASSENT TO BILLS.
The Usher of the Black Rod summoned the Speaker to
attend at the bar of the House of Lords to hear the Royal
Assent given by commission to several bills.