Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-10 00:00:00

AUDITOR OF THE POOR-LAW BOARD.

In answer to Mr. Crawford,
Mr. BOL'VERIE said that the member for Boston con-
tinued to hold the appointment of auditor under the Poor-
law Board. That officer was dismissible by the board in
case of incompetence or unfitness, but he was aware that
his election as representative of Boston incapacitated him
in the performance of the duties of the office.

CONSOLIDATION OF THE STATUTES.
In answer to Mr. Howell,
Mr. BAINES said that the report of the commissioners upon
the Consolidation of the Statutes was now ready, and
would be laid on the table in the course of a few days. It
was the intention of the Lord Chancellor to lay on the
table of the upper house a series of bils on the subject in
a few days.
THE ATTACK OF A FRENCH MAN-OF-WAR ON AN ENGLISH

VESSEL.

Mr. DILLWYN inquired of Lord Palmerston whether her
Majesty had received any information respecting the cir.
cumstances attending the fate or death of James Williams,
a seaman, on board the John and Edward schooner, of
Aberystwith, who was killed in'the:harbour of Belle Isle, on
the 24th of May last, by a shot fired from the French war
schooner Maratch. The hon. member stated the case as it
appeared in the public papers, and censured the conduct of
the cautain of the Maratcb.
Lord PA LMIRSroN said that the government had received
full information with regard to the melancholy occurrence
to which the question related, and the statement which
had been made of the circumstance, conveyed to the house
a true account of the transaction. The John and Edward
entered the roads of Belle Isle without colours flying, and
in that, no doubt, the commander was wrong, as no vessel
ought to enter a foreign port without colours flying, bat he
thought, on the other hand, that the proceedings of the
French man-of-war were unjustifiably imperative. It was,
however, but justice to the French to state that no oppor-
tunity had been given to the Government to make
a remonstance on the subject. Count Wale wski volunteered
of his own accord a most satisfactory and handsome
expression of regret at the occurrence, and stated
that orders would be given to dismiss from
the French service the officer who gave orders to
fire the musket, and in addition to this the French Go-
vernment was about to inquire in what way they could
mitigate the affliction of the friends of the man who was
killed. (Cheers.)

GRAND JURIES OF QUARTER SESSIONS.
Sir F. THESIGER moved for leave to bring in a bill to
dispense with the attendance of Grand Juries at the Cen-
tral Criminal Court and at Courts of General and Quarter
Sessions—holden within the Metropolitan Police District,
except in particular cases. The honorouble and 'famed
gentleman stated that after the Grand Juries' System,
Charges were often made against persons for extortion,
and his measure proposed that no trial should take place
Without previous investigation by a magistrate, whereby a
great saving in time and expense would be effected, and
the extortion prevented.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL approved of the measure, and
slated that the reason the government had not dealt
With the subject was, that they had under consideration
the appointment of a public prosecutor, whose duty it
would have been to take the matter in hand.
After a few remarks from Mr, Bowyer, leave was given.
THE AND TRANSPORT CORPS.
On the motion of L
Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE, it was ordered
that the petition of the members of the Land Transport
Corps, presented on the 12th of May last, complaining that
the War Department had not fulfilled the conditions under
which they enlisted, should be referred to a select com-
mittee.

WILLS MADE ABROAD.
Sir F. KELLY moved for leave to bring in a bill to give
validity and effect to the wills of British subjects made
abroad. He considered that the measure was necessitated
in consequence of decisions in the law, by
which
wills
made by British subjects, according to English law were
declared valid.
Mr. Maims seconded the motion.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL contended that the bill would
create more evils than at present existed, and would pkee
a greater distance between the acceptance of the decision
in one country by another. He would not, however, offer
any Opp( sition to the introduction of the measure.
After a brief conversation, leave was given.
TELE ENCLOSURE ACT.
Mr. CLIVE obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend
end explain the Enclosure Act. •
LUNATICS IN SCOTLAND.
The LORD ADVOCATE moved for leave to bring in a bill
to alter and amend. the laws respecting lunatics in Scotland
The object of the bill- was to establish a visiting board,
consisting of a commissioner, a medical inspector, a secre-
tary, and a clerk, who would be required to visit eight
lunatic asylums .in the north—to include Edinburgh,
Inverness, Perthy Dumfries, Lanark, Renfrew, Stirling,
and another. -
After some remarks from Mc 13aime, Mr. E. Ellice,
Mr. Drummond, aud Mr. Cowan, leave was given.
HIGHWAYS.
Mr. MASSEY obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend
the law relating to highways. The object of the bill was
to divide the country into districts, and to place the high-
ways of each under a highway board.

LAND POE CMARITABGE PM:WORM
ATHIRTON obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend
thelaw relating to the conveyance of land for charitable
UBBB.

Returns respecting Netley Hospital were moved by Sir
D. Norreys.
After a discussion, in which Mr. Stafford, Mr. S. Her-

bent, and Lord Palmerston took part, the motion was
agreed to.
ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONS, &C.
Sir G. GREY obtained leave to bring in a bill farther
to amend the actrelating to theecclesialticalcommissioners,
and to continue the act concerning the management of
episcopal and capitular estates in England, and also a bill
to promote the establishment and extension of reformatory
schools in England.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND brought in a
bill to amend the Militia (Ireland) Act of 1854.

MISCELLANEOUS BILLS.

The County Cess (Ireland) Bill, and the Court of Exche-
quer (Ireland) Bill, were read a second time.
The Joint Stock Companies Bill was read a third time
and passed.
After some discussion, the house adjourned at five
minutes past one.