The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-27 00:00:00

LONDON,

any time loot in passing so excellent a measure as the pre-
sent by sen,,i- • it to a Select Committee.
Mr. FREStiFIELD spoke in defence of the management
of the royal liespitals, and sail thA the trustees of those
charities were most desirous of being exempted from the
operation of the present Bill. If they were liable to any
charge, let them be proceeded against, and let them take the
consequences; but do not call upon them year after year
to send their accounts into the County C mrts, to be copied
by the registrar, and require them to contribute, however
commendable their conduct, 501. a•year out of their funds to
enable those commissioners to carry out the Bill.
Mr. GOULBURN said, the present Bill came before them
in a very different form from the one to which he had origi-
nally objected. He admit'eid the necessity of legislation on
the subject, and was prepared to give to the Bill in its prin-
ciple his best support. Ha saw no ground why it should be
referred to a Select Committee. The Bill was one well
worthy of the consideration of the House itself.
Mr. P. HOWARD thought it best to submit the Bill, not
to the desultory consideration of an open Committee of the
House, but to a Select Committee. He should therefore
support the proposition of his Hon. Friend the Member for
Westmoreland.
Lord J. RUSSELL said, that after the delay that had al-
ready taken place, he should be very sorry that this Bill
should be further delayed, Lied therefore he could not give
his support to the suggestion of his Honourable Friend that
it should be sent to a Select Committee, fearing that thereby
fresh delay might occur, and that it might not pass in the
present session. But he thought that circumstances had
been stated as to the royal hospitals that deserved the con-
sideration of the Attoaney-General. It might be doubted
whether they should be totally exempt from the provisions
of this Bill; but the course suggested by the Right Hon.
Gentleman the Member for the University of Cambridge, by
which they would be free from constant interference, and
subject only to the visit of the Commissioners, might be suf-
ficient. It was desirable they should be under the control
of the Commissioners, but it would be a very unjust provi-
sion to tax establishments and charities that were well con-
ducted to pay for the management of those that were badly
conducted.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON withdrew his motion, and the
Bill then passed through Committee.
BRIBERY BILL.
On the order of the day for going into Committee on the
Corrupt Practices at Elections Bill,
Lord J. RUSSELL said he intended to reprint the Bill
before the House went into Committee upon it.
Mr. WALPOLE suggested that amendments might be
necessary, especially f_r the purpose of making it retrospec-

tive.
Lord J. RUSSELL intimated his assent to such amend-
ments.
Colonel SlBTHORP'opposed the Bill. Some rich men and
Noble Lords often did mistier things than poor men.—(A
lauz,h.) He (Colonel Sibthorp) never bribed; but when he
found a fellow-stranger in distress, like the " Good Samari-
tan," he relieved him.—(Laughter.)
Sir t. WILLOUGHBY -hoped the Noble Lord would
consider whether it' was not possible to introduce clauses for
ir.vfkatlaffisor.rupt pr.r.ripp. at elections, without having re-
course to the penalty of disfrancbis-ment ; oth-erwise parties
might resort to those practices for the express purpose of ac-
complishing the disfranchisement of a borough.
The bill was then passed through Committee pro forma,
and ordered to be ncommitted on Friday next.