The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-19 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-(THIS DAY,

BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.
Their Lordships sat this morning at eleven o'clock.
The Peers present were the Lord Chancellor, Lord
Brougham, Lord Redesdale, Lord Truro, and the Bishop
of St. Asaph.
Pursuant to the order of their Lordships' House, Mr.
Spry, who, it will be recollected, presented a
petition last night through Lord Brougham, complain-
ing of having been arrested for debt while on his way
to attend a Committee of the House, was this morning
brought to the bar of the House, in the custody of the
Governor of Whitecross-street Prison.
Mr. Spry, examined by the LORD CHANCELLOR, said
that ho resided in Oakley-square, and on Tuesday last,
between nine and ten, ho left his house for the purpose
of coming down to their Lordships' House. He had
presented a petition against a Bill now before
their Lordships, called the London Necropolis
Bill, and was informed by his agent that it would
be necessary for him to be sworn at the bar, and he
was then coming down for that purpose. On arriving
at the corner of Queen-street, by which way be had
gone for the purpose of obtaining a cab, he was met by
two men, one of whom asked him if his name was Spry,
and on his rather hesitating to reply, said to him, " I
know you are Spry, and I want you." He then took
him into custody for a debt of 1601. He told the she-
riff's officer that he was going down to the House of
Lords to attend a Committee, and showed him the Bill
which he held in his hand. The sheriff's officer, how-
ever, said he had nothing to do with that, and persisted
in carrying him to Whitecross-street Prison, refusing
to allow him to communicate with his family, or with
his Parliamentary agent.
By Lord BROUGHAM—The agent informed him that
it was necessary that he should come down to the House,
but did not tell him that there was any order of the
House for his doing so.
F. Willis, the sheriff's officer, examined by the LORD
CHANCELLOR, said that on Tuesday last he received in-
structions to arrest the petitioner. He met Mr. Spry
that same morning at tho corner of Queen's• street, coming
in the direction of their Lordships' House, where he
took him into custody. Mr. Spry said he was going
down to the House of Lords, but on being asked to
produce the order, or stibpona, he said that he had
not got one.
By Lord TRURO—HO did not show me the Bill until
I was taking him to Whitecross-street.
By the LORD CHANCELLOR—I distinctly understood
him to say that he was coming down to this House, but
as ho had no order of the House I did not attend to that.
Mr. Burdon, examined by the LORD CHANCELLOR,
said that on Tuesday he received Mr. Spry into the
prison of Whitecross-street, for debt, where he had
kept him ever since.
After a short consultation between the Noble and
Learned Lords present,
Lord BROUGHAM moved that Mr. Spry be discharged
from custody.
Lord TRURO concurred. He did not think that the
fact of Mr. Spry not having an order of their Lordships'
House was of the slightest importance in this case. It
was perfectly possible that persons might have to attend
before their Lordships on affairs of the greatest impor-
tance without having an order, and so long as they were
bon& fide coming down to the House they had a right to
be protected. There was no doubt, however, that any
man in a similar position, pretending that he was going
down to their Lordships' House, and deceiving the she-
riff's officer, would be guilty of a gross breach of privi-
lege, and would he liable to severe punishment. At the
same time, it should be understood by the public officers,
if individuals on _being arrested stated that they were
going down to the House, it was their duty to attend
with them before the Committee, and doer° was no doubt
that the House, upon application, would take care to
protect the public officers in the execution of their duty,
and punish individuals who endeavoured to practise a de-
ception upon them in this manner.
Lord BROUGHAM entirely concurred with what had
fallen from the Noble and Learned Lord. It would be
without doubt a very great contempt, and severely
punishable to enter into a plot to deceive the public
officer by a pretence of having business before their
Lordships, and thus to evade a legal arrest. It would
always be the better course for the officer to attend with
his prisoner before the Committee, because no injury
would then be done to any party and no responsibility
incurred.
The LORD CHANCELLOR entirely concurred with his
Noble and Learned Friend. He would state for the in-
formation of the parties that the order would extend so
far as to enable Mr. Spry to return home without
obstruction, but after that its protection would cease.
Lord BROUGHAM said that, in addition, he would
strongly recommend Mr. Spry to go home by the shortest
way, and without any delay.
The motion was then agreed to, and Mr. Spry ordered
to be discharged from custody.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The annual benefit
of Signor Puzzi took place last night. The performances
were of a wholly miscellaneous character. The first act
of. Semiramide led the way, in which Madame de la Grange
and Didlle. Angri were the representatives of the heroine
and Arsace ; followed by an act of the Sonnambula, with
Cruvelli ; and the condensed version of Gnecco's Prova
d'un Opera Seria. Besides these operatic fragments, there
was a wholesale supply of dancing, in which department
the accomplished Rosati was the leading name.
THE ROYAL PRINCESS'S TnEATRE.—IIer Majesty,
as will be seen by the Court Circular, honoured this theatre
with her presence last night. Her Majesty's visit was for
the purpose of witnessing Mr. Lovell's new play, the Trial
of Love. The play was presented as second piece, as her
Majesty was not able to arrive at the theatre so early as
seven o'clock.

FRENCH PLAY.—ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—Her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady
Fanny Howard, the Baroness de Speth, Lord James Mur-
ray, and the Hon. Thomas Bruce, honoured the French
plays with her presence last evening.
NEW BEETHOVEN CONCERT ROOMS.—Last night
the distinguished violinist and composer, Molique, com-
menced a series of classical chamber concerts at the New
Beethoven Rooms. The first part opened with Spohr's
Quartett in E fiat, op. 58, which was admirably played by
Molique, Messrs. Mellon and Hill, and Signor Piatti ; the
part terminating with a new sonata, by the
beneficiare, for
the pianoforte and violin—a work quite worthy of the fame
of the author, the three movements abounding in the best
traits and devices of a mind cultivated to the highest possible
point. Halle was the worthiest associate that Molique could
have had in the labours of interpretation, and the effect was
exquisite. The former gentleman, later in the evening, gave
a close and brilliant reading of Mendelssohn's presto scher-
zando in F sharp minor. The remainder of the concert
consisted of Spohr's duet in G minor, for two violins; and
Molique's quartett in B fiat, op. 42, which was executed
with matchless taste and neatness by the same artists
.who
were entrusted with the quartett by Spohr. A pair of
German lieder, sung by Miss Stabback, relieved the instru-
mentalisms of the first part. The attendance of visitors was
numerous and fashionable.

HANOVER-SQUARE ROOMS.—MIBB BINFIELD
WLL-
LIADI's MORNING CONCERT.—We were happy to see so large
and fashionable an audience yesterday to support this very
talented young lady. The programme exhibited a consider-
able display of vocal ability, as well as the selection of music,
which consisted of trios, duetts, songs, &c., from the most
eminent composers. Among those which called forth the
greatest applause we maymention a rondo in E minor, Men-
delssolm, executed with admirable taste and execution by
Miss B. Williams; a cavatina, Miss Bassano, who gave this
charming subject great expression and effect. Mr. Peed was
also much applauded for Beethoven's splendid scena Adelaide.
The instrumentalists on this occasion were Miss Bintield
Williams, pianist; M. Santcr., violinist; Mr. John Thomas,
harpist. M. Santon gave a solo and also accompanied Miss
B. Williams in a duett, both of which evinced great cower
and execution, and called forth rapturous applause. All the
other parts were admirably tilled, and the concert on the
whole exhibited much talent and good taste in all the
arrangements.
WILLIS'S Roopv.—Last Wednesday Allidanin tJo
Lozano gave a morning concert at the above rooms to a very
select and fashionable company. This accomplished artist
was ably supported by Madame Evelina Garcia, Miss Her-
mann, Kerr Standigl, Mr. De Munck, Mr. Kuhe, Herr
Laub, Mr. Tourneur, and Signor Pilotti. Madame de
Lozano was most warmly applauded throughout, and the
last, a Spanish song, was most enthusiastically encored.
Madame Garcia sang with her usual spirit and purity.
Herr Staudigl was greatly applauded in Schubert's Der
Wanderer," and Mr. De Munck exquisitely performed
solo on the violoncello, executing his own composition, of
which the melody and the intonation were most beautiful.
Miss Hermann, Mr. li.uhe, and Herr Laub also received
Bauch applause.