The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-06 00:00:00

THE ALEXANDRA CASE.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(Tins DA.y.)

JUDGMENT.

This morning their lordships assembled to deliver
judgment iu this case. There wera present the Lord
Chancellor, Lords Kingsdown, Crauworth, Wensleydale,
St. Leonards, and Chelmsford.

The Lord Chancellor first gave his judgment. He re-
viewed the provisions of the Queen's Remembrancer's Act,
and came to the conclusion that, under the 26th section of
that act, there was no authority to make such rules as the
Barons of the Exchequer had made. It had been
urged by the respondent that, even if these rules
were authorised by the statute they were not justified dur-
ing a suit. He did not agree with that view, but he thought
it was a pity that they should have been made pending the
consideration of such important interests. The noble and
learned lord concluded by moving that the appeal of the
Crown be dismissed with coats.

Lord Cranworth differed with the judgment of the Lord
Chancellor. He was of opinion that the Exchequer
Chamber had power to hear the appeal.
Lord St. Leonards was of opinion that the appeal
ought to be dismissed with costs.
Lord Wensleydale thought there was nothing unreason-
able in delegating to the Court such powers as had been
exercised by the Barons of the Exchequer. Parliament,
he thought, had delegated such power to the Barons of the
Exchequer, without restrictions of any kind. He was of
opinion that the judgment of the Exchequer Chamber
should be reversed. His lordship therefore was in favour
of the appeal.
Lord Chelmsford pronounced for the respondents, and
consequently against the appeal.
Lord Kingsdowa was also in favour of the respon-
dents.
The appeal was then dismissed with costs,

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS—This Day,

The SPEAKER took the chair at a quarter past 12 o'clock.

NEW MEMBER.

Colonel Strong took the oaths and his seat for the county
of Armagh, in the room of Mr. Maxwell Close.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Caledonian Railway (Bredisholm and Tennoehside
Branch), and North Eastern Railway (Micklefield Branch)
bills were read a third time and passed.
METROPOLITAN RAILWAY.

Mr. FOSTER moved that the order for the second read-
ing of the Metropolitan Districts Railway (No. 2) be read
and discharged ; that the bill be referred to the examiners
of petitioners for private bills, and that the examiners hare
leave to sit and proceed forthwith.
The motion was agreed to.
COPYRIGHT BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,

Mr. BLACK said he begged leave to withdraw the bill
in order that he might substitute another better calculated
to effect the object he had in view.
The bill was then by leave withdrawn, and
The HON. MEMBER then brought in a bill to consolidate
and amend the laws relating to copyright, which was lead
a first time.
THE BOMBARDMENT OF SONDERBITRG.

Mr. DILL WYN gave notice that to-morrow he would
ask her Majesty's Government whether they had received
any reliable information as to the bombardment of Sander-
burg by the Prussians, without previofts intimation to the
inhabitants, and whether the Government had by repre-
sentation to the Prussian Government urged upon them
the necessity of carrying on war in accordance with the
usages of civilised nations.
CHAIN CABLES AND ANCHORS (RE-00 M.
MITTEE, BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill.
On clause 1,
Mr. HUM BERSTONE moved that the words "per-
son or persons" be left out of the clause.
The object of the amendment was to confine the opera-
tions of the bill to corporations and public bodies.
Mr. M. GIBSON said he should vote for the retention
of the words. He thought it would be unwise to exclude
licensed or private persons from testing materials under this
bill, as there would be an dicer appointed by the Board of
Trade to inspect the machinery, in order to ascertain that
anchors and chains were subjected to the required tests.
After a short discussion, in which Mr. Laird, Mr. Henley,
and Mr. Bentinck took part, the amendment was negatived
and the clause was ordered to stand part of the bill.
On clause 2, an amendment was moved to strike out the
word " resident."

Mr. AYRTON asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether, as the Government intended to appoint a
person to act as inspector of testing machinery, they would
become responsible for the damage done in the event of the
testor passing defective materials ?
Mr. M. GIBSON said the bill was not a Government
measure, and the only desire he had was to make it as
efficient as possible. To guard against the event pointed
out by the hon. member for the Tower Hatulets, a clause
had been introduced into the bill retaining all the respon-
sibilities that now attached to manufacturers of chains
and anchors.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL remarked that no re-
sponsibility attached to the Government under the clause.
Clause 10 expressly stated that all the responsibilities at
present in force against manufacturers was to remain in
force as if the present bill had not been passed.
Mr. LAIRD supported the amendment, when,
After a short discussion, it was agreed to.
Mr. HUMBERSTONE moved an amendment in clause
8 to the effect that the operations of the bill be confined to
seagoing and coasting vessels.
Mr. M. GIBSON approved of the amendment, which,
after a short discussion, was agreed to.

The remaining clauses of the bill having been
agreed to, •
Mr. M. GIBSON said on the bringing up of the report
he should submit an interpretation clause for the approval
of the house.