The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-30 00:00:00

lIOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Half-past One o'clock,
PETITIONS.

Mr. T. BUNCOMBE presented a petition from tier•
tain individuals complaining of the coadnot of Russia in
reference to its interference with the affairs of Sicily.
The Hon. Member also presented two petitions from
the City of London, praying for the repeal of the taxes
on knowledge.
Mr. SPOONER presented a petition from Salisbury,
praying that that City might be excluded from the
Public Health Act.
PATENT LAW AMENDMENT BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this Bill were considered
and agreed to.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE JURISDICTION OF
EQUITY BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this Bill were considered.
Mr. WALPOLE moved that the House do disagree
with the Lords' amendment which proposed to strike
out clause E.
Mr. BETHELL seconded the motion.
Sir W. P. WOOD took the opportunity of this dis-
cussion to complain of the conduct of the Lord Chan-
cellor in imputing to his Right Hon. Friend the Master
of the Rills sinister motives with reference to the Relief
of Suitors in Chancery Bill. There was no foundation
whatever for such imputations, and he was sorry they
had ever been made.
ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod here appeared
at the table and summoned the House to attend at the
bar of the House of Lords, to hear the Royal assent
given by Commission to several public and private Bills
(for which see Lords' report.) On his return the SPEAKER
announced the titles of the Acts.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE JURISDICTION OF
EQUITY BILL.
The consileration of the Lords' amendments to the
Bill were then resumed.
Sir W. P. WOOD added to what he had already stated
in reference to the Master of the Rolls, that the Bill was
prepared by the late Lard Chancellor upon the recom-
mendation of the report of a Committee, and the Master
of the Rolls had nothing to do with the preparation of
its provisions.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said ho was convinced
the House would feel perfectly satisfied with this expla-
nation ; and he was equally convinced with his Noble
Friend in another place that no stigma whatever could
be attached to the untarnished reputation of the Master
of the Rolls in reference to this or any other subject.
It was quite evident that the statement complained of
was made under a misapprehension, which perhaps
was excusable when it was remembered that his
Noble and Learned Friend who made it had
been so much taken up with such extensive and
valuable law reforms as those which had just been
brought about. He would take the liberty of mention-
ing, in conclusion, that those improvements were only
the precursors of others of a far more important cha-
racter, which would be proposed to future Parliaments.
After a few words from Sir H. WILLOUGHBY,
Tho Lords' amendment was disagreed to, and a
Committee appointed to hold a conference with the
Lords on the subject.
SUITORS IN CHANCERY RELIEF BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this Bill were considered
and agreed to.
RELIGIOUS PROCESSIONS.
Mr. HENRY BERKELEY wished to ask whether
the Act in force to prevent Roman Catholic processions
cannot restrain processions by clergymen of the Church
of England in imitation of Roman Catholic processions;
and, if it cannot, whether her Majesty's Government
have any intention to frame such an Act as may put a
stop to such practices.
Sir F. KELLY said in answer to the question of his
Hon. Friend he had to state, in the first place, that the
Act of Parliament which was now in force had no rela-
tion whatever to religious processions—if such had ever
existed—in which clergymen of the Church of England
performed a part. The Act of Parliament applied entirely
to processions composed of Roman Catholic priests or
Roman Catholic persons.—(Hear, hear.) With regard
to the remaining part of the question, he had only to
state that the Government were not at all aware that the
law had been violated in the manner represented in any
part of the kingdom; and therefore it was scarcely ne-
cessary for him to state that the Government had no
intention whatever of proposing, either in this or any
other Parliament, a Bill of the nature suggested by the
q uestion.—(Hear.)