The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-01 00:00:00

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LONDON, THIIRSDdY, JULY I, 1e52.

The Parliament of 1847 dates from this day the
close of its existence, having been prorogued by the
SovfMEIGN prior to its formal dissolution. The cir-
cumstance cannot be regretted by the nation—re-
membering, as the people cannot fail to do, the extra-
cfrdlnaTy shortcomings of the recent House of Com-
mons. It was characteristic of th' dubious position
of the representatives returned at the last general
election by the various constituencies, that their legis-
lative labours commenced under the auspices of
a Whig Cabinet
in a minority, and terminated
under the authority cf. a Tory Cabinet
in a minority. Surviving en interval of five
years, and accomplishing
the Parliament of 1847 wit
130 less than six sessions,
11,ssed Its inauguration,
under the fectrle •a%d v
a itll4 temerity of the
Pas ELL Goverhment, and beheld its dismissal, in
1852-, under the sc.:rcely leas feeble
and vacillating
rashness of the DERBY Administration.
achieve-
ments have consequently been distinguished by a

kindred weakness and a corresponding uncertainty.
Whatever reforms have been yielded have been
yielded only piecemeal and with reluctance. It
must not be forgotten, in extenuation of this fact,
however, that the period traversed since the
hour of its first assembling at Westminster has
been one of almost unexampled anxiety, and, in some
particulars also, of unprecedented confusion. Scarcely
had the disasters consequent upon the Irish famine
been ameliorated by a wonderful and touching muni-
ficence, when the whole political framework of Europe
was convulsed by the outbreak of a sudden and ter-
rible revolution. Against the shock of that revolu-
tion the Legislature of
_Great Britain had to present
a stalwort and unshaken front—and nobly, it must
be allowed, did it in this respect fulfil the
anticipation of the English multitude. It
continued even at the stormiest periods of the great
political convulsion to maintain a serene and elevated
attitude—directing its energies to the toils of internal
administration ; and while it vindicated the magna-
nimity of the Constitution by maintaining the invio-
lability of the shelter accorded refugees from foreign
countries, it withstood the aggressive influences of the
Socialist and Communist conspiracies. Among the
historical incidents to be recorded of the Par-
liament of 1847, its sitting on the 10th
of April, 1848, cannot speedily be lost
to remembrance. Upon that occasion it preserved
the tranquil dignity of discussion at the moment
when the metropolis was agitated by the dread of in-
surrection. In all these critical situations, it must be
related to the honour of the Whig Ministry, that the
Legislature received the most powerful of all encou-
ragement through the self-possession of a hesitating,
but still, on emergency, courageous and patriotic
Government. Especially it must be borne in mind
that the glory of the example of Ministerial
daring thus set before the House of Commons belongs
by right individually to Lord PALMERSTON. In-
spirited by the decision and boldness of his po-
licy, the Parliament persisted in supporting
every act of his adminstration. For inasmuch
as these facts are undeniable, the House of Commons
elected in the summer of 18.17 —with all its faults—
must be borne in respectful, and in some sort also,
grateful remembrance.
Conspicuous atnoag the achievements of the late
Parliament was the abrogation of the laws relating
to navigation. Tnis, it will be recollected, was a pru-
dent and necessary corollary to the inauguration of
the Free Trade system. Besides this, it placed
upon an equality sugar both foreign and co-
sd terbyi
island.
de.ai e
le tfLoma], added to which it has materially improved
eeronenolacracu-xtlnema
idwbe
en
rs:yidse
haste mes estates
singularly
intinegsgle
unr
leicanyl
ra
Ityt
tdh— e facilitatedasn
hastthehmemor-
ablee
of the entail system
in Scotland. It has adventured—however slowly
or inadequately—it has adventured upon the begin-
ning of some real sanitary improvements. It has
countenanced, moreover, the enormous efforts made
by Lord BliouGinem and others with a view to
a thorough Legal Reformation. As to its efforts in
the cause of education, we cannot but think that they
are so infinitesimal in their character as to be abso-
lutely worthless for any good they may be expected
to produce. Partial efforts in reference to colo-
nial and financial reforms have only so far
benefited the country, that they have awakened the
knowledge of the community to the necessity of
some speedy and comprehensive innovations. In
this respect, as preliminary to the House of Com-
mons about to be elected early in the
autumn of 185->, the Parliament of 1847 cannot but
be regarded as one, the labours of which are a
veritable source of satisfaction. Therefore
it is that we have witnessed its final pro-
rogation, and await its immediate dissolution,
not without some kind of grateful appre-
ciation—but with a sense of pleasure which bids us
look forward with no feeble degree of interest to the
nomination and selection of the new representatives.

Lord BROUGHAM'S recommendation that a Royal
Commission should forthwith issue for the purpose
of inquiring into the practice and jurisdiction of the
county courts, is, like every other suggestion on
matters of legal reform emanating from the same
quarter, eminently worthy of consideration. It
is now certain that local tribunals cannot be dis-
pensed with, that whatever improvements may be
effected in the superior courts, still justice must be
administered in every important locality, so that
debts may be recovered without unneces-
sary delay or expense. There cannot now
be a retrograde movement. Measures that
would formerly have been received with gratitude,
and have completely satisfied the expectations of the
people, would not for a moment be considered as
eligible substitutes for the enactments which,
although defective in many important particulars,
still " brought justice home" to every man's threshold.
The great object then must be to render these tri-
bunals as efficient as possible and to make available
to the greatest extent practicable the services of the
several judges, whose attention will no longer be dis-
tracted by private business, and the necessity of de-
voting the greater portion of their time to attendance
in Westminster Hall, far from the district in which
the tribunals over which they preside are situate.
There can be no possible reason now why the seve-
ral judges should not become residents within
their respective jurisdictions, and, like the
Irish assistant barristers, s,j-officio magistrates of the
counties. Their assistance at quarter-sessions would
be exceedingly valuable. There would be the cer-
tainty that one or more competent persons would
take part in every trial, and the jurisdiction under
such circumstances might be materially extended, by
c'hich means considerable savings would be effected
in local
taxation, and greater security against illegal
or improper convictions.
The fee system should also be abolished. There is
a general
be gratuitcusl abroad that justice should
adminstered, that every person who
has been injured in person or property
should be entitled
to redress, without being mulcted
in heavy fees to
a number of different officials. It
would seem exceedingly strange if any English sub-
ject, who had been
grossly maltreated by the agents
of some foreign power,
cold not have his case taken
into consideration, or explanations afforded, without
handing over considerable sums
all to
at doorkeepers, and other functionariesthe housekeepers,
Downing-
street, together with a gratuity e
of the Foreign Secretary ; andthat the
coachman"
and applications should be stamped
before they are
laid before the officials. It would ‘i's memorials
ap
extraor-
dinary mode of affording " protectionta: an
to compel them to pay for it so heEZ citizens
defray a considerable portion of the expensesY as to
diplomatic and consular establishments, and the
yet
fee system in our courts of justice is scarcely more
anomalous. No suitor can seek relief without paying
heavy stamp duty, or other fees, and, if his
case should come to trial, fees to court
keepers, ushers, criers, &c., and if in the
Exchequer, to the Lord Chief Baron's
coachman. It was the number and magnitude of
these stamp', fees,
and other charges, that first occa-
sioned the demand for cheap justice. But the evil
was continued in the remedial enactments. The
Legislature fell into the grave mistake of endeavour-
ing to make the local establishments self-supporting,
forgetting that the entire fee system had been
so loudly and generally complained of, and that the
tendency of modern legislation was to substitute
salaries for fees in every instance, and that the
country had no right to look for any payment what-
soever, more especially to realise a profit,
on the administration
of justice
or criminally. Lord BROUGHAI: either civilly
truly declared
" that the Government was bound to
afford protection
on this point to the subject in return for his alle-
giance." We may add, in return for the surrender
of a certain portion of his national liberty and his
contribution to the liquidation of the national liabi-
lities, and to the maintenance of the national es-
tablishments.

CRESSWELL, WIGIITMAN, ERLE, and WILLIAMS, , Un-
der the provisions of the Act, it is provided (Re, g. 19)
in what manner the debtor may avail himself of a
discharge under any Act for the relief of in 3 olvent
debtors, and yet (after judgment) a everal
judges habitually disregard the plea. In a
recent instance, a party had been distil arged
after a strict and searching inve sti);ation
into his conduct. Among the opposing credi to; :s was
one who had obtained a judgment in a county
court. His complaints were heard, and deem ed not
sufficient to warrant the further incarceration of the
debtor. Not satisfied, however, with the rel ;ult he
issued a judgment summons, and althol4 ch the
adjudication of the Judge of the Insolvent Co. art was
proved, and also the fact of the attendance of the
plaintiff at the hearing, an order of commitmi for,
we believe, forty days was made, the Judg e thus
assuming a power not belonging to any Of the
Judges of the superior Courts. It has also recently
been held, that although there may be a reheat'ag
after the adjudication of any of the Learned Commi,
sioners, whose entire timellas been devoted to aciairiag
a thorough knowledge of the insolvent code, there
can be no appeal from, or rehearing of one, by a
county-court judge, however palpably erro-
neous his decision may be. These and
other matters require speedy amendment, and
in no mode is the desideratum more likely to be
effected than in that suggested by Lord BRO1101"31---
the immediate issuing of a Royal
Commission
similar to that of last year on the subject of Chancery
Reform.

THE FRENCH RaTi3Lic.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday
The Constitutionnel of yesterday has the following
on the message of the PRINCE PRESIDENT to the Le-
gisUtive Body :
a There is one fact that must be stated and that is the
lively impression produced, in the nebi:e mina by the
.
message' which the President of the' 11
met
Assemblywi th u. nvichniiEsuhhsaasi
hi marksjb,
es
..t
epnblic has itls"
adhesionon. i
nI t
thhaed
Ea
ileroe
tai already addressed to the Legislative Body for the close of its
floor; L sessi
terminated its labours. Opinions, which
ware of calling hostile, but divergent, have Shown
tem-
selves in this first year among the mum"— of the. Le-
gislative Body. Listened to and respected, they have
proved in the first
place, as was stated in the. message,
that the control of the Legislative Body i 3 ser it? Li that
the 'taxes
discussion is there free, and that the vote-
i- of
that there
is the:e decisive. They have proved also
majority,
fail in the Legislative Body a considerablell the scr:
fuil of gratitude towards Louis Napoleon
vices which he has already rendered to
.of confidence in his wisdom,
firmness; is majority always his mo
eager, and for
country, fall
thoticon,
and his
(btleld to support
and defend his Gov:raiment. ' In the interval of the ems-
-1
sion,' says the P . .-ince President, ' I shall apply all my
y,
care to examine into the wants of the co and pre-
ontr
pare bills which will . permit a dimiTtn in the
tio
charges of the State without compromising. the public
service.' Such expressions sad such promises are cal-
culated to remove every mistrust The relations between
the Legislative Body and the Council of State have,
siren the best results, particularly towards the en_d. t
The
the session; a good understanding was coma to. Th
speeches of M. Vuitry on the budget, of M. Bonjean on
the Ministry of General Polies, and p articuLrly that of
M. Magee on the Railway Bills, charmed and c elviaced
the Legislative Body. Applause is Dever wanting in
France for such a happy alliance of honesty and talent.
The first session of the Legislative Body and the mes-
sage of Louis Napoleon will reanimate, if it be neces-
sary, in every heart, confidence in the future, and those
sentiments of conciliation and coucord which vanquished
factions and the implacable enemies of society so much
dreaded."
The Senate met on Tuesday, M. MESNARD, the first
Vice-President, in'Ahe chair. M. SimEoN presented
the report of the committee appointed to examine the
tobacco monopoly bill, and the house having at once
discussed the articles, declared that there was no rea-
son to op
tepose it being promulgated. The various
bills adopd by the Legislative Body were then
brought up, and committees ordered to be named on
them. SOlllO reports on petitions having been pre •
sented, the sitting was brought to a close.
A great number of the members of the Legislative
Body assembled on the same evening at the Casino in
the Chausee d'Antin, at a farewell banquet. Up-
wards of 150 bat down to dinner, and the utmost cor-
diality and good,feeling prevailed. At the dessert,
M. BILLAULT, the President of the Legislative Body,
proposed the health of Prince Louis NAPOLEON,
which was drunk with unanimous marks of appro-
bation.
The Sedate will remain at work for about a fort-
night longer, es it has to give its approbation to the
bills adopted by the Legislative Body, and to delibe-
rate on the two Senatus Consults submitted to it—
one on the High Court of Justice, and the other on
the constitution of the colonies. Several members of
the Senate were anxious to leave Paris at once, but
orders were issued not to give passports to any but
those who had a regular leave of absence.
It is believed that the next session of the Legisla-
tive Body will take place about the end of January.
The Government, to that effect, is about to hasten the
vacation of the Council of State, which used gene-
rally to begin about the commencement of Septem-
ber. This year the time will be from August 15 to
October 15, as LOUIS NAPOLEON is anxious that the
Council of State should have three clear months
before it to prepare the bills which he intends to
submit to the Legislative Body on its re-assembling,
The budget for 1854 is not to be prepared by the
Ministers, but by the Council of State.
The Patrie says it is assured that the PRINCE
PRESIDENT of the Republic will honour with his
presence the inauguration of the Strasbourg railroad,
which is fixed for the 17th July.
The celebrated physician, M. RECAMIER, died
almost suddenly, on Monday night, in Paris. He was
in his 78th year.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
I LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, JUNK 30.
Luxembourg, 4:li—Namur vul Liege, 65/B—Northern of
of France, 243/B—Paris and Lyons, 12%—Paris and Rouen,
34 V,—Paris and Strasbourg, ,i—Rouen and Havre, 13%
—Sambre and Meuse, 53/4 Western of France, 8
--

SPAIN.
Madrid journals of the 25th have been received.
The adjudication of the loan required by the
Spanish Government to pay off the 600,0001. Five
per Cent. Indemnity CHrtificates issued to British
subjects in 1828, took place on that day. The maxi-
mum of the sum to be given was fixed by the Go•
of reals. VICENTE BAY°
vernment at 77 non
tendered for 76,000,000 ; M.SALAMANCA,77,2OO,OOO;
M. SANCHO TOLEDO, 77,588,000; MM. TAPIA CAL-
DERON and Co., 77,600,000 ; M. MANZA.NEDO,
78,000,000 ; Messrs. BARING, of London, represented
by the house of O'SnEA, 81,000,000; and a house at
Antwerp, 83,000,000. The offer of M. VICENTE
BAYo being the lowest was accepted. It was sup-
posed that M. TOLEDO tendered for MM. GAYINA,
ROTHSCHILD, MORENO, and SEVILLANO. The
amount given for this adjudication puts the Three
per Cents. at 45g.
In consequence of a decision come to by the Su-
preme Tribunal of War and Marine, no individual
(with the exception of General Sir DE LACY EVANS)
who belonged to the late British Auxiliary Legion,
has the right to use the military title which belnngoa
to him when forming part of that corp..
The QUEEN was expeetod in Madrid on the Ist of
July, and will stmt for La Granja on the 2d or 3d.
Her mother is to leave for Asturias on or about the
:30th inst., and to rejoin her daughter at La Granja
towards the end of July.
General LARA, the new Minister of War, is stated
not to be at all in accord on several measures with his
colleagues in the Cabinet.
The French Ambassador, Generrl Auricx, leaves
on the 4th for La Granja.
The Marquis DE RIANI
ni&LLA Sionze, the Neapolitan Minister, just arrived,
Win present his credentials to 11.C.M. in the course
Of a few days.