The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-16 00:00:00

MERIAL PARLIAKENT

HOUSE OP LORDS—Last Evening,
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack Ey
five o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Rhymney Railway (Cardiff to Caerphilly)-oswestry and
Newtown, London and North Western, and other Rail-
ways Amalgamation—London (City) Tithe*—Buckfast-
leigh, Totnes, and South Devon Railway—Northfleet Dis-
trict (as Sea Lea Bridge District) Gas—and Bristol Port
Extension Railway.
METROPOLITAN RAILWAYS.

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presented a petition from
the inhabitants of Finsbury Circus praying that the Metro-
politan Railway Bill (Extension) to Trinity-square might
not be allowed to pass into a law.
CONVOCATION.

Lord HOUGHTON rose to ask her Majesty's Govern-
ment whether they had taken, or were willing to take, the
opinion of the law officers of the Crown as to the powers
of the Convocation of the province of Canterbury to pass
a synodical judgment on books written either by
clergymen or laymen ; as to the immunity of the
members of that body from proceedings at com-
mon law consequent on such judgments ; and as
to the forms according to which such judicial power
must be exercised if it belongs to that body. He asked
the question because of the verdict that had been passed
upon the volumes called "Essays and Reviews." He
did not wish to enter into any theological discussion in
their lordships' house; he simply drew their attention
to the subject for the sake of freedom of opinion
and liberty of religion. Having referred to the origin of
" Essays and Reviews," ho remarked that it was matter
of regret that a book of that description should have been
selected by the Convocation of Canterbury. The proceed-
ings of Covocation in. earlier times, in respect to censuring
books, were kept in check by the Upper Rouse of Convoca-
tion. In the year
1700 a work by Tolan, entitled "Chris-
tianity not slysterious," was condemned by the Upper
House, but when the Lower House came to consider
the subject they came to the conclusion that without a
licence from the King, which they had not received,
they had no authority to censure any such book,
but, on the contrary, they were advised that by doing so
both Houses of Convocation might incur the penalties
contained in the statute of twenty-fifth of Henry VIII.
flaying remarked upon other and later circumstances, espe-
cially upon Dr Wiston's, he said he thought he had demon-
strated the dubiousness of the law upon the subject, and ho
considered himself justified in asking his first question
whether the Government intended to take the opinion of the
law officers of the Crown upon the powers of Convocation.
The result of the censure upon the "Essays and Reviews"
was fraught with the most important considerations, espe-
cially as amongst the authors were Dr Temple, the head
master of Rugby school and Professor Jowett, who
had been treated with much injustice by the Uni-
versity of Oxford. If the syateoa of censuring
books was to exist they must go on and not stop, at
" Essays and Reviews." They must go on and censure
the book of a bishop of a colonial church, which
produced some time ago the greatest excitement. Ile
wanted to know under what form or restrictions they
could exercise their power of censuring works. It had
long been understood that they could only exer-
cise the power at the instance of the Crown. To
alter a canonical law they required a license of the
Crown. He considered that no distinction could be
drawn between the censure of a book and the alteration of
a common law. One thing had occurred in connection
with this case which must be most repugnant to
their lordships. Dr. Williams made application to be
heard in his defence before judgment was pro-
nounced, but it was refused, and therefore Dr Williams
was condemned. That, he felt certain, their lordships would
think repugnant with justice; and, under such circum-
stances, he begged to ask the question of which he had given
notice.

The LORD CHANCELLOR said there were three
modes of dealing with Convoc4tion since it had been per-
mitted to deliberate actively. One was to take no notice of
its proceedings—another was, if it were likely to be mis-
chievous, to prorogue it—and the third, when it exceeded
its powers, to bring it to the bar of a court of justice, The
supremacy of the Crown was most carefully guarded by the
statutes, and any one who presumed to exercise that autho-
rity directly or indirectly, save under special warrant of the
Crown, was liable to the penalties of prmmunire, More-
over, Parliament had carefully provided that any sentence,
or anything else, pronounced by Convocation had no vali-
dity whale ger, and could not be carried into practical effect.
But he was only partially aware of what Convocation had
done, his authority being chiefly by the reports in the news-
papers, and he was most reluctant to interfere, for the case
might prove to be a serious one, and he shrank from
enabling the Chancellor of the Exchequer to sweep into his
net at one haul the whole of the archbishops and bishops,
all the deans and archdeacons—in short the whole of the
Convocation. He warned the right rev. bench, however,
of the peril in which they had put themselves, and advised
the members of Convocation, if any attempt were made to
draw it beyond its proper limits, at once to secede, and
remembering the pillar of salt not to look behind them. In
reply to the question of his noble friend, he had to state
that there was no intention on the part of Government to
take any steps in the matter.
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY said that the object
of Convocation in dealing with the " Essays and Reviews,"
was not persecution, but toyindicate the Church of England
from all complicity in the doctrines propounded in that
work. Desirous of proceeding legally he had applied to
Government for the opinion of the law officers of the
Crown, which they had declined to give. Ho thereupon
took the opinion of Sir llugh Cairns and Mr Rolt, who
held that Convocation was proceeding legally.
The Bishop of LONDON thought Convocation had a
right to complain of the Government refusing to supply the
opinion of the law officers. It was not a case for ridicule
—and in religious disputes, however trifling, it was desir-
able to settle them before they became really serious.
The Bishop of OXFORD argued
,that the Convocation
when called together had power to express an opinion on
heretical doctrines, although it was doubtful whether it
could proceed against the authors. The case involved the
religion of the realm and the liberty of the subject—and
when the highest authority under the Crown descended to
ribaldry, he ought, if he did not respect himself, at least to
treat the audience he was addressing with respect. The
right rev, prelate also:complained of the misrepresentations
of the Lord Chancellor, and indignantly repelled the in-
sinuation that Convocation was asserting rights in viola-
tion of the Queen's supremacy.
The LORD CHANCELLOR observed that he had now
received a useful warning. He had wished to treat the
matter good-naturedly, and without the slightest
,ide a of
bringing charges or making misrepresentations.
The subject then dropped; and several bills, including
the Street Music Bill, having been forwarded a stage, their
lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.
Lord PALMERSTON stated, in reply to Mr Osborne,
that there was no present intention to appoint a consul at
Rio, and that Mr Morgan, our consul at Bahia, would ad
interim, transact the consular business there. He also said
that the Government did not intend proposing the repeal
of the Government Aot of 1845 relative to the Brazilian
slave trade.

On the order for going into committee of supply a con-
versation of a brief and desultory character was raised by
Mr Baillie Cochrane, respecting the conditions upon which
the lonian Islands have been annexed to Greece, anti the
convention between her Majesty and the King of the
IL:Bones, with regard to the claims of British subjects and
others.

Mr LAYARD stated that he hoped the Greek Govern.
ment would do justice to the pensioners; and as to the
bondholders ho trusted also that some satisfactory arrange-
ment would be entered into with them ; but he did not
think her Majesty's Government was bound to interfere
between the Government of Greece and its private credi-

tors.
Amongst the other subjects discussed on the motion for
supply were the alleged ill-treatment of a pauper lunatic
in the Clonnael Lunatic Asylum ; the resolutions of the
anion
assessment committees and the necessity of assisting
their operations, and the unsatisfied claims of British sub-
iPcts on the Government of Portugal.
SUPPLY.

The house went into committee of supply.
On the vote of £7,141 fur scientific works and experi-
ments,

Mr A. SMITri expressed his distrust of the weather
forecasts issued by the Board of Trade, and said he had
taken the trouble to go through the tables, and he found
them to be exactly twice wrong to once right. He wished
to know whether any instructions were given to the vessels
of the Admiralty to be
governed by the forecasts issued by
the Board of Trade.
Lord C. PAGET believed he was expressing the opinion
of almost every seafaring man in this country when he said
the remarks the hon. gentleman had made with regard to
Admiral Fitzroy's signals were very unfair. Admiral
Fitzroy had told them this system was still in its infancy,
and wanted a great deal to bring it to perfection, but the
fact was, other countries were joining us in these observa-
tions, and we had daily communication with moat of the
observatories of Europe. With respect to the vessels of the
Admiralty, he should think if a ship went to sea when the
bad weather signals were hoisted the cl. cer of that ship
was to blame. Great satisfaction with the system had been
expressed by people on the sea-coast, and he thought it
would be most unwise to check it.
Mr DILLWYN did not object to the drums, but he
thought the forecasts were useless.
Mr LAIRD believed the observations of Admiral Fitz-
roy were of great importance, and had been the means of
saving a great deal of life and property.
The vote was then agreed to.
A vote of £5OO for the Geographical Society was
agreed to.

A vote of £I,OOO for the Royal Society was also agreed to.
On the vote of £5OO for the Royal Academy of Music,
Mr B. OSBORNE asked for an explanation of the vote.
Mr F. PEEL said the Academy afforded instruction to

persons wishing to make music their profession. It was
partially supported by public subscriptions, tend partly by
the fees of the pupils, and he trusted the house onld not
begrudge the small sum of public money that was'{:"Ten to it.
Mr. B. OSBORNE remarked that this A -zidemy was a
private institution. They had been occupiel d wing the pre-
sent session in putting an end to street tau, :c, which was
for the benefit of poor people, but the fact sills that the house
was becoming a rich man's club. This vote of £5OO to the

Academy of Music would, if agreed to, probably go on in-
creasing year by year. This was merely an attempt on the
part of a few amateurs to indulge their own taste at the ex-
pense of the public taxpayers, and he therefore had no hesi-
tation in moving the rejection of the vote,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER denied that
this was a private institution, unless the term could be ap-
plied to the multitude of institutions to which the house
gave assistance—such, for instance, as the Royal Geogra-
phical Society, This was only an experimental vote, and
was for the purpose of enabling the Academy to obtain ade-
quate public support. If they failed in doing so, of course
the vote would not be continued.
Mr AYRTON supported the amendment. and contended

that if they were to give this grant to the Academy of Music
in London, there would be deuzands from Dublin and Edin-
burgh for similar grants. It was evident from the tone of

the memorial presented by the Academy, that the memo-
' rialists did not concur in the limited view of the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, for they expressed a hope that the day
would come when music would take the same ground here
as it did in other nations where the Government entirely
supported such institutions. He thought as the higher
classes were depriving the lower classes of music that they
should pay for their own luxury.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER wished to
explain that he did not think it would be unwise in that
house to recognise the claims of Dublin and Edinburgh, in
case the present experimental vote should be sanctioned by
Parliament in a future year. He trusted the hon. member
for the Tower Hamlets would not propagate the fallacy that
this vote was a matter as between the higher and lower
classes. It was nothing of the kind, but would rather be
for the benefit of the middle classes. (Hear, hear.)
Mr CLAY supported the vote on the ground that within
his own experience a taste for music had been largely de-
veloped in this country, which was in a great measure due
to the Royal Academy of Music.
Col. DUN:%.,TE wished to know whether it would be regu-
lar for him to move that a similar grant be made to Dublin.
(Laughter.)

Mr A. SMITH objected to the principle upon which the
vote was based, and thought the less Government assistance
music) received the better it would flourish.

MT S. NORTHCOTE remarked that increased expendi
tun meant increased taxation, and he must own he was op
posed to the principle of creating new burdens.

Mr DILLWYN said the votes just givers to the Royal
Geographical and Royal Societies were for special and use-
ful purposes, but this vote bore no analogy to them, and he
objected to it both on account of its paternal character, and
its interference with voluntary efforts.

Mr ADDERLEY justified the vote on the ground that
it was the duty of the Government to cultivate the taste of
the nation in art until that taste became self-supporting.
Mr OSBORNE said this was a private society, instituted
40 years ago by the Earl of Westmoreland atid several
noblemen and gentlemen, with the encouragement of his
Majesty George IV. (A laugh,) It had gone on without
any assistance since that time, but now, in 1864, a band of
musicians waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and
said unless he gave them something they would be obliged
to close the doors. The next thing would be a vote for the
encouragement of dancing. If the house wanted this aca-
demy to be more than a rich man's club, they must reso-
lutely vote against £5OO being given to a bankrupt society.

Sir J. PAKINGTON supported the vote, which he said
was in favour of an institution which had produced some of
the best of our public singers.
Mr SC LATER-BOOT H denied that the science of music
stood in need of assistance.

Mr HENNESSY protested against the Chancellor of the
Exchequer offering the Irish members a grant for music at
a time when, through his mismanagement, their country
was going to wreck and ruin, and the people were flying
away from tt. (Oh, ch.)

Sir G. BOWYER said the science of music was in an in.
rant state in this country, and ought to be encouraged.
The committee divided—

Ayes 52
Noes
Majority in favour of the vote—

The following votes were then agreed to :—For Salaries
of Custom-house Clerks, for Salaries in Inland Revenue
Department, and for Safari 2s of Post-office Department.
The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and the house
resumed.