The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-26 00:00:00

had stated, that the party in question was illegally im-
prisoned? It was better for the honour and integrity
of the Established Church. and for the safety of her
Majesty's subjects, that these tribunals should be abo-
lished, and he heartily concurred in the motion.
Mr. DARBY thought if the House divided on this
motion an imputation would be thrown not only on Mr.
Morris and Mr. James, but on those who ought to have
brought forward a substantive motion before the House,
and he should therefore move the previous question.
He thought it was very unfair practice that Members
should bring forward cases against individuals, and that
their characters should be attacked in their absence.—
( Hear, hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
felt a great objection to be called on to decide by
resolution on personal character or judicial proceeding.
He did not wish to exclude the House taking cogni-
zance of either the one or the other ; but unless the
ease were a strong one, it was better the House should
take on itself to decide on personal character, or to
arrogate to itself functions it could not well perform,
by revising proceedings in Courts of Law ; but although
the motion of the Hon. Member for Lambeth most pro-
perly introduced the case of Mr. Morris, yet the motion
had no reference whatever to that case. If he were
called on to vote upon the case of Mr. Morris only, he
should decline to support it ; and perhaps the purpose
of the Hon. Member would be answered, if be merely
couched his resolution in the terms of the recommen-
dation of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. But as
the motion was at present framed, it was merely a
simple affirmance of the principle laid down by the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and to move the previous
question upon this motion was merely shirking the prin-
ciple. He would not go into a defence of the Government
on the delay that had occurred in bringing in a Bill on
this subject, because he was perfectly satisfied that on
the relation of the facts by the Right Hon. and Learned

Gentleman near him (Dr. LuAington), neither the
House or the public would condemn them for not being
able to effect this object before. Nothing could be

more unjust, or unfair, he agreed than bringing forward
personal charges without the fullest opportunity being
given to all patties to be prepared with their defence,
but he believed that in the late debate on Irish affairs

that maxim had been very considerably departed from.
—(Hear, hear.) He should give his hearty concur-
rence to the motion of the Hon. Member for Lambeth.
Mr. GAL LY KNIGHT trusted the previous ques-
tion would not be pressed, as he did not think the cha-
racter of Mr. Morris at all impugned by the motion.
Lord G. SOMERSET thought it was highly im-
proper that the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman
opposite should have condemned parties not berore
him in such unmeasured and unqualified language. As
an independent Member of Parliament, he (Lord G.
-Somerset) had a right to express his astonishment that
a Learned Judge should express condemnation of an.
inferior Court, unless he was called on to pronounce
judgment thereon. He entertained no affection for
ecclesiastical jurisdictions, but he thought it highly im-
proper that a motion of this kind should be hung on the
name of a gentleman who, according to the opinion of
all parties, was completely absolved from all blame.
Dr. LUSHINGTON explained. His opinion had
not been formed on any exparte statement, but on
the face of the proceedings themselves, and he could
come to no other conclusion than that to which he bad
come.

Sir C. DOUGLAS said he should vote for the
motion.

Mr. EASTHOPE believed there was nothing
more adverse to the spirit of piety, and more at
war with every thing which the Christian religion
taught and inculcated, than the proceedings in Eccle-
siastical Courts. He envied not the spirit of the man
who could support laws of this description, by which
individuals were imprisoned, and then claim to be the
champion: of religion. He wished not to be a party to
such religion—it was not the religion of Jesus Christ—
it was not the spirit of that religion which the Dissenters
sought to promote.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. ACLAND objected to the discussion of ab-
stract questions on casas of this nature, and would sub-
mit to Hon. Gentlemen the propriety of bringing forward
questions of this kind as substantive measures.—
( Hear, hear.)
Mr. HAWES briefly replied. He had not given the
Hon. Member for Carmarthen notice of the case of Mr.
James, bnause it had been for some time published in
all the Welsh Papers. He agreed to the omission of
the last words of the resolution.

Mr. DARBY having withdrawn his amendincnt, the
resolution as altered was passed.
LAND TAX.

Mr. LANGDALE moved for leave to bring in a
Bill to amend the Act 1 and 2 William IV., relating
to double assessments. The object of the Bill was only
to remove a technical difficulty in the operation of that
Act.

Tha CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
agreed to the introduction of the Bill, though he doubted
whether the difficulty was so technical as it had been
represented.—Leave was than given to brit;,-* in the Bill.
. CUSTODY OF INFANTS BILL.

Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD moved for leave to
bring in a B 11 founded on the Bill which had passed the
House last Session, and was only lost in the Lords by a
majority of two. The object of the Bill was to remove
the provisions in the existing law, by which a mother
could be debarred from the custody- of, or from inter-
course with, her children. The cases which he %visited
to relieve were such as these :—An innocent and virtu-
ous wife, who sued her husband fur cruelty or adultery,
could be, deprived by him, in revenga of all access to her
children ; and his Bill would enable the Courts which
had pronounce.l in such cases judgment against the bus- '
band, to take this custody of the children from the con-
victed adulterer or the cruel husband, and give it to the
mother. And as the Habeas Corpus Writ had often been
appealed to by the 'lather to recover possession of the
children, the Bill would enable the• Judges, notwith-
standing
that writ, to give the mother access to bet

children. Where the parents were living apart the Bill
will would also give the Judges power to enable the

mother to have access to her children. The Bill could
not be said to be likely to produce litigation, for all the
facts must come shortly and simply before the Ju.!ge
who bad to decide. He hoped the House would enable
him by bringing in this Bill to remedy the evils of do-
mestic tyranny, and mitigate the lot of innocent and in-
jured moth rs.—(Cheers.) -
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL consented to the
motion, which was agreed to, and the all was brought in,
The House adjourned at Ilalf-past Ten.

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MEETING OF MIDDLESEX

MAGISTRATES.