The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-17 00:00:00

understood to allude to the position of barristers, and tat
deprecate taking from the barrister the hope of rising ft
his profession, which would prevent their being a bar
out of which judges with the proper qualification might
be selected. Before he sat down, he would state what
he had hard with great satisfaction, that it was the
intention of Government to proceed with what was
called a digest of criminal law. A Commission had
sat on that subject for seven or eight years, which
had produced valuable materials to legislate upon ;
and, after the expenditure of many thousands, the
country would be anxious that money should not be lost,
but that we should have an Act of Parliament com-
prising a digest of the criminal law. Looking at the
great mass of materials already prepared, it was not pro-
posed to renew that Commission. He might say that he
was no friend to Commissions in general. The Noble
and Learned Lord then proceeded to declare, as far as
we could gather, his opinion against a digest of the
civil law, there being great inconvenience in a long Act
of Parliament, and he concluded by expressing a hope
that in the projected bills he should have the assistance
of other Noble and Learned Lords, who, though they
might not agree with them in everything, yet might feel
disposed to assist. The subject had a great deal to do
with the administration of justice, and he trusted they
would give their valuable assistance, without which the
labours of the promoters of the measure might be in-
effectual.

Lord BROUGHAM expressed his gratitude to the
Noble and Learned Lord for the statement he had
just made. He himself was disposed to lay before
their Lordships this Session a Bill relating to the Bank-
ruptcy Courts ; and the question would then arise as
connected with the County Courts whether one or the
other would be the best. He should also lay before their
Lordships again that part of the County Courts Exten-
sion Bill of last year and the year before which was not
passed last year, which were then postponed in order not
to obstruct the great and valuable measures which were
then in progress for the improvement of the judicature
of the Court of Chancery. He should also add a third
Bill which was before them not, last year, but the year
before to extend the jurisdiction of County Courts to
matters of equity. The suitors in these courts and the
public at large had not been able to see why they should
be unable to obtain the establishment of a right without
being driven at a greater expense to the more distant
Court of Chancery in London. He.should at the same
time present another Bill for the further improvement of
the law of evidence and procedure, which Bi d con-
tainllifill provisions upon these important matt aking
the husband and wife competent and comp... .-1 wit-
nesses in every case, except criminal cases ante adul-
tery, and making the wife's evidence not compellable
on matters, communicated from one to another ;
secondly, for regulating the payment of money
into court ; thirdly, for regulating the mode of examin-
ing and cross-examing witnesses with regard to subjects
of collateral issue ; fourthly, for regulating the examina-
tion with respect to adverse witnesses and of collateral
issue ; next, for setting the law right, partly by enact-
ment and partly by legislation, with regard to the rule in
what was called the Queen's case in examination and
cross-examination, when the matter for examination and
cross-examination, was contained in a written document ;
next, and lastly, as to the law of evidence to regulate
the law, partly by declaration and partly by enactment,
with'regard to the comparison of handwriting. Next,
as regarded procedure for putting the Crown and the sub-
ject on the same footing in all respects with regard to
replying and other privileges now claimed. Also for
giving, where a party had been acquitted, whether on a
procedure for penalties or a criminal procedure, a right
to his costs against the Crown, subject to the discretion
of the Court ; and lastly, as regarded the subject of pro-
cedure to facilitate under the authority of the court, and
subject to its discretion, in criminal procedure the
changing•of the venue. 1

TheirlordAiip's then adjourned at ten minutes to eight
o'clock. .'

HOUSE OF COMMONS--(YESTERDAY).
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before four
o'clock, when Sir William Molesworth and several other
Hon. Members were sworn in.

PETITIONS.
Mr. A. HASTIE presented a petition from Glasgow
against indirect taxation.

An lox. MEMBER presented a petition from the Bel-
fast Chamber of Commerce in favour of cheap international
postage.

ARREST OF A BRITISH SUBJECT IN VERONA.
Mr. HUME asked the Under-Secretary of State for
the Colonies, whether any inquiry had been instituted
into the complaint of Mr. Henry Robert Newton, who
in June last was arrested in Verona, imprisoned, and
treated with great indignity, and all explanation then
and there refused; and whether any apology or explanation
has been offered by the Austrian Government ?
Lord STANLEY replied that it was perfectly true that
Mr. Newton was arrested at Verona in June last by the local
authorities under the impression that he had been engaged
in sketching fortifications. Instructions, however, were
given to the police, that if there was nothing in his
papers to implicate him he was to be immediately released,
but the police officer who had him in his custody dis-
obeyed this order, and Mr. Newton was detained till the
next day. Mr. Newton then attempted to obtain redress
without applying to the British Consul at Venice, and it
was not until that attempt failed that Sir W. Newton,
his father, put the Foreign-office in possession of the
circumstances of the case. No time, however, was lost
by the Government in seeking some explanation from the
Austrian authorities, and it was ascertained that the ar-
rest arose out of an unfortunate mistake, The Aus-
trian Government expressed the utmost regret for what
had occurred, and promised that in future more care
should be taken in the arrest of British subjects, without
there was a previously ascertained good cause for it.
(Hear.)

LIGHTHOUSES IN GUERNSEY.
motion of Mr. HUME, certain paper elating
to lighthouses in the Island of Guernsey were ordered to
be laid on the table.

On t,

METROPOLITAN GRAVE-YARDS.
Lord DUDLEY STUART moved for lists of the
burial-grounds or grave-yards which have been closed by
virtue of the powers contained in the Act passed during
the last Session of Parliament, entitled, "An Act to
amend the laws concerning the burial of the dead in the
metropolis ;" of the applications which have been made
to the Secretary of State for the Home Dtpartment to
recommend the closing of grave-yards, under the provi-
sions of the same Act, and of the applications to him for
permission to open cemeteries or burial-grounds within
the district defined by the same Act, stating in what
eases permission has been granted, and in what refused;
and copy of all correspondence which has taken place
between the Home-office and any parish or company,
with respect to the closing of, any graveyard or burial-
ground, or the openinc, of any new cemetry or burial-
ground, and of ali evidence laid before the Secretary of
State for the Home Department in relation thereto.—
Agreed to.

MANAGEMENT OF THE BOARD OF CUSTOMS.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS asked the Chancellor of the.
Exchequer, whether it was the intention of the Govern 7
merit to bring in a Bill to carry out the recommendation
of the Committee appointed last Session to inquire into
the constitution and management of the Board of Cus-
toms ?

The CHANCELLOR of the' EXCHEQUER said he
had transmitted the report of the Committee to Commis-
sioners of Customs, desiring that they should report to
him upon it. He received their report, which was a
very elaborate one, only last rnonth:,He had very much
considered it ;and it was the intention of the Govern-
ment to place on the table a Treasury minute indicating
all the changes which they thought ought to take place
in the present administration of the Customs, and some
of the changes would require Legislative interposition.
LAW OF MORT3fAIN.

Mr. HEADLAM wished to know if it was the inten-
tion of Government to introduce any Bill this Session
founded upon the report of the Mortmain Committee, or
for th4o improvement of the Law of Mortmain.
Mr. Secretary WALPOLE said the report referredlo
was of a very valuable nature, and its recommendations
were now under the consideration of the Government.
He could not pledge himself that any measure would be
introduced for the purpose of carrying them out, but
due notice would be given to the House of the course
which the Government would ultimately take in refer-
ence to this subject. (Hear, hear.) •
THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE DUKE OF
WELLINGTON.

Sir C. WOOD brought up the report of the- Select
Committee appointed yesterday_ to inquire into the ne-
.
- ressai7 steps to be taken-by-the House. for attending the
solemnities at the funeral of the late Duke of 'Welling--
ton, and Moved that it be read by the Clerk at ,the table;
'which was agreed.
The report stated that the .Committee had examined
the minutes of the House relative tothe proceedings
. • taken by-t•Ile House on its attending the procession of a
`9tblie funeral, and the Committee found that in 1694 the
House attended with the Speaker at the funeral of Queen
• . Mary, and on'this occasion seats were reserved by tickets
for the Members. ` The committee also found that in
1708 the Speaker was deputed, on the part of the' Rouse,
to present present an address to Queen Anne ; and in pursuance
~- of these precedents, the Committee recommended that
n.,Speaker ;should be d4uted Orithis occasion to attend
Z:74,the House in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's,
vitcn:ss and take part-in the solemnitiesof the funeral.
fore
thernmittee had examined the arrangements made
tllnaeantdseodota:t;:6o.da, don of Members, and they found
the, netti',lB:: had been reserved for them in the front of
The Committee- therefore pecom-
to tickets, the name of each Member should be fixed
of the ,speaker. the same distributed under the direction
The report waB
the motion of
St
Vered to lie upon the table ;and on
Committee to sit aga-uiNV,9,i2p, leave was given ter the"
• time to time as they she -.` report to the H9use, from
time_, as
movinginfqourzzehpeolrct
at
Sir J. F. FiTzGER.A.ti),GiE A.FrF,RRAY.
the evidence given befOre the Co'
of
merlarezen.b,nzin:iciulny.leialsete:
Bix-mile Bridge, in the county
said his object was to ascertain-the
diers, who had given rise to trig inehmai-zi wily, tthuersdoelr-
.
had been called out. The Hon.
that the soldiers against whom a verdict of wirfPlained
had been returned, hail been admitted-to-bail
Lord Campbell, the Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench
ch
had stated that there was no precedent in which a per
son found guilty of such a charge had been liberated on
bail.
Mr. NAPIER said he had no .objection to lay the
re-
port before the House, but as the matter was at present
under the consideration of the Queen's Bench in Ireland,
he thought it would be inconvenient to do so until the
was pronounced, which,
,*. W 1.4
.luchrment of that Court
At.fr.,,..i....... :t ;44110tti1d...t
wbheaitnevaervet;
do
days. The Government had no-
-0 d ewwithe.ling- out the .militarjr, wUoge
:: )/ ..! users brought into reVisitioll by tlta Illagis-
(
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