The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-18 00:00:00

Great Western Railway (No. 1).
London and North-Western Railway (No. 2).
The following Bills were considered and agreed to:—
Blackburn and Preston Road and Bridge.
Bury and Little Bolton Road.
Brainley and Ridgewick Road.
From°, Yeovil, and Weymouth Railway (No. 1).
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.
Liskcard Roads.

North-Western Railway.
North British Flax Company (Clawson's Patent).
Rotherham and Pleasley Road.
Tramore Embankment.
York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway (Deviation of
Bishop Auckland Branch, &c.)

SECOND READINGS.
The Sunk Island Roads Bill and the Watson's Hos-
pital (Edinburgh) Estate Bill were read a second time.,
and ordered to be committed.
PE ri PIONS.
Mr. JOHN EL £,IS presented a petition from Leicester
against the Maynooth grant.
Mr. MUNDY presented a petition from Derby to the
same effect.

Mr. T. BARING presented a petition from the inha-
bitants of Mauritius, praying that the downward action
in the scale of duties on foreign sugars may be arrested,
and that the general sugar duties, as now operating, may
be maintained ; also a petition from the Legislative
Houses of the Isand of St. Christopher, complaining of
increasing distress, and against the admission of sugar
the produce of slave labour for consumption in the United
Kingdom.
Mr. WADDINGTON presented a petition from Mal-
don against the Maynooth grant.
Mr. P. HOWARD presented several petitions from
various places in the north against the Charitable Trusts
Bill. . .

Mr.:M'CULLAGH presented several petitions against
the Militia Bill.
Mr. HORSMAN presented a petition from the inha-
bitants of Frome, praying for a change in the law of
patronage relating to the presentation of clergymen to
livings.
Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from Manchester
in favour of the reproductive system of poor-laws; also
23 petitions from the same place against the Militia Bill.
Mr. COWAN presented a petition in favour of the
Patent Law Amendment Bill.

Mr. REYNOLDS presented two petitions against the
Charitable Trusts Bill.

Mr. PETO presented a petition from Norwich against
the enrolment of the militia.
PARLIAMENTARY OATHS.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave notice that it was not
his intention to bring on his motion to-morrow relating
to the oaths take❑ by Members of Parliament.
METROPOLITAN INTERMENTS.
Lord J. MANNERS gave notice that to-morow he
should ask to move for leave to bring in a Bill to alter
and amend the law relating to the interment of the dead
in the metropolis.

DUBLIN FEVER HOSPITALS.
Mr. REYNOLDS wished to ask the Noble Lord the
Chief Secretary for Ireland, if any arrangements have
been made to afford additional hospital accommodation
to the poor, who are now labouring under malignant.
fever in the city of Dublin; and if it be the intention of
the Government to reduce the annual grants to the Cork-
street Fever Hospital and other charitable hospitals in
the city ofDublin ?

Lord NAAS said, from papers he received to-day,
he entertained great hopes that the fever in Dublin was
decreasing, but should it become necessary the Poor-law
guardians had ample power to provide additional ac-
commodation for the poor suffering from fever. With
regard to the second part of the question, it was intended
to propose the same vote for the hospitals that was
taken last year.

Mr. REYNOLDS gave notice that to-morrow he
should ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he
was not prepared to place the Dublin Fever Hospitals in
their former position.
Lord EBRI&GTON said, as prevention was better
than cure, he should be glad to know if any steps had been
taken to secure constant medical attention in the affected
districts.

Lord NAAS said that they were constantly under the
inspection of the medical poor-law Commissioners.
METROPOLITAN POLICE.
Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE wished to ask the Se-
crete!), of State by what authority a portion of the K
division of the metropolitan police wore ordered, on the
sth and 12th instant, to attend divine service
in St. Thomas's Church, Stepney, and in de-
fault of so doing were subjected to military drill?—
(Hear.) In order that the House might understand
the question he would state a few facts. On Wednes-
day, the sth of May, an order was sent down requiring
the police division he had referred to attend divine
service at a Protestant church, or to submit
to an extra drill. About one hundred of the
men, after expressing their surprise at the
order, preferred going to church, but thirty-eight of them
were Roman Catholics, and they elected to undergo the
drill. On the following Wednesday a similar order
came down, when thirty-eight preferred the drill to the
church.—(Hear, hoar.)
Mr. WALPOLE said the facts were not correctly
stated. No order had been given for a compulsory
attendance at divine service, but as many of the
men were unable to attend divine service on the
Sundays, they were allowed time to do so on Wed-
nesdays, which was their pay day. Some of
the men accepted the offer, while others
declined it, and in order that they might not be idling
about daring the half hour that they were required to
be in attendance on a Wednesday, they had to go
through a drill, which they would otherwise have to go
through on another occasion.
BIRKENHEAD DOCKS.

Mr. HEADLAM. wished to ask the Secretary to the
Treasury why the account from the trustees of the Bir-
kenhead Docks, pursuant to an Act of the Bth Vic., di-
rected by an order of this House, bearing date the 29th
day of July, 1851, and again directed by another order
of this House, bearing date the 26th day of April, 1852,
had not been laid before the House, and moved that it bo
made forthwith.
Mr. HAMILTON said the Treasury had nothing to
do with those docks, but he had been informed by the
secretary of the company that the reason why the ac-
counts had not been made up was that the books had
been sent to London to undergo an investigation before
a committee of inquiry.
ANTIGUA LOAN.

Mr. MACKINNON— wished -to ask the Colonia.
Secretary what were the intentions of Government in
reference to the loan advanced to the Antigua proprietors
in 1842, in consequence of the earthquake there.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said a memorial had been re-
ceived on tho subject, which was now under the con-
sideration of the Government.
EMIGRATION.

Mr. HUME wished to know from the Right Hon,
Baronet if he was prepared to state what steps Govern-
ment meant to take to assist emigration from Scotland?
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON could add little more to
what he had said on Friday, but he had since been in
communication with parties who were anxious to pro-
mote (migration, by benevolent and charitable means,
from the Isle of Skye and the western islands of Scot-
land, and some means would be taken to assist
distressed persons to emigrate to Australia.—(Hear.)
All he could add in addition to this was that the subject
was under the consideration of the Emigration Commis-
sioners.—(Hear, hear.)
CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL.

Mr. HEADLAM wished to ask the Attorney-General
whether he was prepared to introduce into the Cha-
ritable Trusts Bill a clause exempting Dissenting chapels
from its operation.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he had received
deputations on this subject from various Wesleyan
bodies, but he must decline granting exemptions to any
party.
Mr. KEOGH put it to the Hon. and Learned Gentle-
man whether there was any chance of disposing of this
Bill in the present state of public business, particularly
as ha principle had not yet been discussed.—(Hear.)
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said it stood on the
paper for to-night, but he should not bring it on after
ten o'clock.—(Hear.) Tim principle of the Bill had
been recognised by both Houses of Parliament, and ho
was most anxious for it to pass into law.—(Hear, hear.)
Ho would, however, state on Friday what chance there
was of his doing so this session.—(flear, hear.)
THE REV. MR. BENNETT.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said Perhaps he might be permitted to
take that opportunity of conveying to the
Reuse the result of their inquiries, which
Government had instituted with reference to the insti-
tution of the Rev. Mr. Bennett. The law officers of the
Crown had reported to Government that her Majesty
had no means of making any efficient inquiry into the
subject through the medium of a commission, inasmuch
as the commission would have no power to summon
witnesses, or to compel the production of any necessary
evidence that might be required. Besides, if such a
commission were to issue, the Crown might be embark-
ing in a course of investigation which might assume a
character of en ecclesiastical inquiry, which might be a
direct infringement of the Bill of Rights. The
Government had, therefore, acted in accordance with
the legal opinion. Bet had' they believed it possible,
under the exiiting law that a person in connexion with
another Church would be instituted to a living in the
Church of England, in defiance of its professed princte-
plea, they would not have hesitated, notwithstanding
Bill
toth
peculiar aspect of the session, to bring
in
a The law,
remedy so anomalous a state of things—(Bear.) meet the
however, it was thought would be sufficient to
to
prudentryng
case, and the Government had not deemed it
i to
give an advantage to the offending party by t
fie was satis-
vindicate the law in an illegal mannerd.
pursued would
tied that the course which they had
rolear hear.)
meet with the approval of thed H
been, advised that 9 the
Ilex Majesty's Government ba
aremedy
By the 3d
present state of the law furnishedB6
commonly called the
and 4.h of the Queen, cap.
open, to any parishioner
Church Discipline act,
p it
waseither to the Bishop of
of Promo to
( appeal
ela cheers from the Opposi-
the diocese'irc'nica
tion)—in which the offence was alleged to have
the Bishop in whose diocese the
committed, or to
been
preferment, and might call upon either
offender now held . a
commission
of
relates to ism) inquiry
of those
p investigate the circumstances. If there were
to
proved before
that commission a prima facie
case against the offender, it was in the power
not only of the prelates, but also of the parishioners of
Feenee, to call for a judicial inquiry, and on the guilt of
the offender being proved to punish him either by de-
priving him of the benefice he then held or suspending
hip, from his sacred functions. So far as her Ma-
jesty's Government had been able to learn, no
steps had been taken by any of the parishioners of
Promo to make any such appeal, and despite the iro-
nical cheer which had been raised on the other
aide of the Uoase, her Majeaty'a Ciovrnment had attffi-

ciciat faith in the discretion and in the seine

duty of the prelates of 'the Church of England.
that they could not suppose that thay would
oppose any obstacle to the exercise of this legal
remcdy. Her Majesty's Government had given great
and painful consideration to this kubjec t, and they had
coma to the conclusion—in which he thought the
House. of Commons would agree with , them—
that, before any other step were taken those who
complained of a grievance ought to seek that
redress which the present state of the law afforded to
them.

Mr. GLADSTONE wished to know whether the Go-
imminent had taken any steps to ascertain whether the
conduct of the Bishop of Bath and Wells had been in
all_points according to law.

fi'he CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
could scarcely understand the point which the Hon.
Gentleman wished to know.
Mr. HORSMAN said he could not see that
the remedy which the ...Right Honourable Gentle-
man hsd referred to, as being in the power of any
parishioner, was one which would apply.to the case. The
Rev. Gentleman now held preferment in the diocese of
Bath and Wells, and part of the offences charged against
Mr. Bennett had taken place on the continent, and
what effect could the remedy relied on by the
Right Honourable Gentleman have on that part?
As another illustration he would refer the House to
the Catholic Directory, published monthly, in which was
given a list of perverts to the Roman Catholic Church,
in which he read the name of Mr. W. J. E. Ben nett, late
of St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, as convert on truly 9th,
1851, and at the end of the announcement the
thanksgiving, Deo gratias. Now, he would ask,
what redress bad tho parishioners of Frome
against this? The composition, too, of the tribunal
—being composed of five clergymen nominated by the
Bishop of Bath and Wells—was not very satisfactory.
It was now a month since he had brought forward his
motion; and be thought that, if the law officers had
taken all that time to find out the existence of
this tribunal, there had been a considerable
time wasted. He gave notice that he should to-morrow
move for a Committee of Inquiry into the truth of those
facts which he had stated on a former occasion.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought
it would not be expedient to take any further steps until
the present means of redress had been exhausted.
Her Majesty's Government did not wish to mix them-
selves up with the circumstances of this case, and they
did not feel it their duty to counsel the Queen to insti-
tute an inquiry, which they %sere advised, and which
they felt by their own experience, would not result in
any good effect.
Mr. GLADSTONE said, that as the Government had
not appeared to have taken any steps to inquire into
tho conduct of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, which
on the occasion of the former discussion had been,
stated to have been entirely illegal, he wished to
give notice that when the opportunity arose he should
be ready to show that that Right Rev. Prelate had acted
throughout in entire conformity with the letter and
spirit of the law.
The subject then dropped.
THE MILITIA BILL.

The House then went into Committee on this Bill.
Clause 14 was proposed, which enacts that voluntoeri
should be sworn and enrolled.

Mr. BRIGHT objected to the oatb, that in its present
shape the militia might be compelled to set ve in Ireland
or other parts of the United Kingdom in which they had
not been raised.

Mr. WALPOLE said tho oath was taken from the
Interchanging Act, which allowed the sending of
mili-
tiamen raised in England to Ireland or other parts of
the United Kingdom, and the bringing the militia raised
in Ireland to this country. But it did not follow that
this power would be put in force, unless the necessity
for doing so arose.

Mr. ARIGHT—The object of the Interchanging Act
was connected with a particular department of the
duties of the militia—namely, the suppression of insur-
rection and rebellion within the kingdom. But that
duty not being required of them under the present Bill,
he did not see there could be the same necessity for
sending the English militia to Ireland. A law of this
nature ought not to be confined to one portion of the
United Kingdom only, though he would not move that
it should be extended to either Scotland or Ireland. AS,
however, the Right Hon. Gentleman said there wags not
the slightest possibility that the power would be us ed--
(No, no)—he (Mr. Bright) suggested that in this case
the oath in the 42d Geo. IIL, which confined the or ora-
tions of the militia to England and Wales, should be
substituted for the one referred to in the clause.
Lord PALMERSTON hoped the Right Hon. Gentle-
man would not accede to the suggestion of the .Hon.
Member for Manchester. The services of the m ilitia
were originally limited to the island in which the force
was raised. The object of the militia was not to put
down insurrection, but to defend the country; and it
being found inconvenient to confine the Irish militias to
Ireland, and the English militia to England, Parliament
thought proper to alter that description of sereie:e and
enacted that thenceforward every militiaman should be
liable to serve in any part of the United Kingdom where
his services might be required.—(Hear, bear.) So far
from seeing any reason for restriction in the fact that it
was proposed by the Government to raise the militia
only in England and Wales, he (Lord Palmerston)
must say that it afforded an additional reason for ad-
hering to the arrangement made by the Act o f 1812'
The reason for which any militia was required wnu that
an additional force might be wanted to We nal the
country against invasion • and he bogged leave to 609,
that Ireland was just as likely to be invaded in ease el
war as England itself.—(Hear, hear.) The fact that the
Government did not think it necessary at present tc raise
a militia in Ireland was no reason for prevent in; g the
English militia from going to Ireland. On the con trary,
it was a reason altogether the other way.
Sir G. PECHELL said that seeing the Govan meet
had consented to the appointment of a Select Coma antes
of the House of Lords to investigate Captain We rner's
inventions, who could say but they might be able to do
without any militia at all?—(Laughter.) For his pa rt, he
considered the inventions mere humbug; but as an in-
quiry was to be instituted, he would suggest the t thelf
ought now to report progress and await the re suit 0
that inquiry.—(Laughter.)
Mr. BRIGHT—The Noble Lord the Member for
Tiverton (Lord Palmerston) had not allowed the L':orao
Secretary to reply to his (Mr. Bright's) observat ,onsi
because he entertained a fear lest that Right Hon. t 3ree"
tlensan would commit himself.—(A. laugh and OM) The
Noble Lord seemed to be quite a twin-brother of ' the
Right Hon. Gentleman on these occasions. But the / rale
Lord exclaimed the other night, " What, would yon treat
the people of Ireland as if they were traitors?" Wb,/
then would the Noble Lord exclude that part of the
United Kingdom from the operation of the Bill? It sfes
a special ground of complaint against the Bill that eO-_
forcing it in one portion of the kingdom only, they t $001'•
ballotted men from that portion, and insisted upon t heiris
serving in parts of the United Kingdom to NVoieu.
the Bill did not apply. That was not just deeding
with the people of England and Wales. The Noble
Lord's inconsistencies were interminable. As, ho PIE Ner
he seemed to ba able to make the Government take any
course he chose, he (Mr. Bright) would suggest t o
that ho should force them to extend the measure to Ire-
land, so that men should not be- dragged from Eng) and
and Wales to any part of Scotland or Ireland us .der
such an oath as this.

--Mr:WiLPOI:E---said that if it were intended to .entl-
ploy the militia to suppress insurrection or rebellion, the
Bill might be objectionable if it proposed to send tY Lem
to Ireland for that purpose. But it was only inter .ded
to send them for the defence of the country, ae' , to
enable the Government to bring over the troops oi' the
lino from Ireland to England, in case this co•aiitrY
should be invaded. Unless the necessity arose 'this
power would not be put in force, but if that necesi ill
did arise the power ought to be put in force, COl3O
quently the power ought to exist in the Bitl.—(Heal ..)
After a few words from Mr. CLAY and Mr'
MoWATY,
Colonel CHATTERTON trusted the Governor evt
would not take any advice from the lion. Gentler lel
upon military matters. He hoped no alteration 'eve el'
be made in the construction of the clause.
Mr. HUME said the quesion was not a milit aTY
question at all. The question was whether they vie Ill'
oblige a man who was to be drafted against his „Nil to
take the oath prescribed in the Bill—a Bill which. th°,
present Government would never have proceeded eseitih4
the late Government had not brought it in. Obj goi
tionable, however, as he thought the measure, mtl,ll,
his objection to it would be removed if the ballot clans e'
were struck out.
Mr. BRIGHT said they insisted upon the men tale
an oath which would oblige them to serve in Irelso
and Scotland as well as in England. To obviate thee
anti to confine their services to England, he moved the 5
the oath of the Act of 1802 be substituted for the oat) I
of the Act of 1811.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the question wee I I
whether they would adopt the oath by which they would
bo enabled to compel the attendance of volunteers u 1
those parts of the United Kingdom which required de
fence, or whether they would substitute an oath whict
providing for tho defence of England and Scotland
would not enable them to send a kforce into 'relate d,
whatever might be the necessities of the service the re.
lie was sure the Committee would not hesitate a m cr.
ment as to which to adopt.
Mr. M. GIBSON said, as one part of the force was tv
be raised by ballot, and another by volunteering, they
should consider what was the oath which was naelV
suitable to both, and that formed a reason for postponing
any clauses of the Bill bearing upon the question until:
the House bad decided whether any portion of the force
should be raised by ballot or not. It was most unjust
that the people of England, Scotland, and Wales should
bo subject to compulsory service, and the people of Ire-
land not.
Lord J. RUSSELL observed that the natural construc-
tion of the clause would be that there was no intention
of taking the militia beyond England and Wales. Bet'
advantage if they
when the militia was embodied, it would be a great dis-
could not remove them to any part of
the empire. With respect to Ireland, supposing there
was a war, and it were necessary to have a militia, no
doubt a militia force would be embodied in Ireland as
well as in England and Wales. In Ireland be wig"
observe that the militia was usually raised by volunteer"
ing—iu fact, by beat of drum; but, at all events, if 11
were necessary, they would have a militia force raised
in Ireland, and then, as during the late war, they could,
if they deemed it necessary, send a part of the Eeglis"
militia into Ireland end a portion of the Irish militia
into England. He could not, therefore, support the,
amendment of the lion. Gentleman (Nlr. Bright).
regard to the observation of the Hon. Member for Moot
rose (Mr. Hume), he begged to say that the Bill was
not his (Lord J. Russell's) Bill, and ho had not the re"
speesibility of it.
Lord PALMERSTON said that in Ireland the militia
force had been raised always by voluntary enlistment,
and he apprehended that by the existing law relating t