The Sun.
London, England, 1839-06-28 00:00:00

merit had been got up that those petitions had
been procured by the interLrence of the Diocesan,
although no statement could be more contrary to
the fact. He had carefully abstained from express-
ing his opinion to his clergy on the nature of this
measure. He had even received the thanks of the
clergy for hi, abstinence on the point, and he certainly
hoped that the Bill would be returned from the Com-
mittee in a very different shape to that in which it was,
when introduced by the Noble and Learned Lord on
the Woolsack.

Lord Abinger, Lord Glenelg, and Lord Ashburton
presented numerous petitions in favour of a uniform
rate of penny postage.
The Marquis of WESTMINSTER presented a pe-
tition to the same effect. Also, a petition against the
Beer Bill, and contradicting the assertion that viee had
increased in proportion to the number of beer-shops.
Likewise a petition in favour of Vote by Ballot, and
Triennial Parliaments.—( Hear, hear.) In refe-
rence to the subjects of the last petition, he
begged to say that unless the Ballot were adopted
bribery and intimidation at elections would never be put
down. He was so thoroughly convinced of this that he
was favourable to the Ballot. This was an opinion he
had long entertained, and it had never been altered from
any thing he had observed at any elections with which
he had been acquainted. He was likewise (as we un-
derstood the Noble Marquis, who spoke in an extremely
low tone of voice) in favour of triennial Parliaments.
He should think that a more constitutional mode of
proceeding than the present.
BLACK WALL RAILWAY BILL.

The Duke of WELLINGTON presented a peti-
tion against the Blackwell Railway Bill. This Bill
stood for a second reading in their Lordships' House.
Notwithstanding the objection ho had to interfere
with Bills of this nature, there were circumstances
attending this Bill which should make it his
duty to oppose its second reading. He should
oppose its second reading, upon this principle
that an Act had passed three years ego upon the
subject of this railway, containing certain conditions,
which conditions had not been performed by the Com-
pany which were to carry into execution that Railway
Bill, yet they now asked to depart from these conditions,
and to have another Act of Parliament, enabling them,
in violation of those conditions, to carry their works
into Fenchurch•street. By the former Act they were
not allowed to come into the City of London westward of
the Minories, whereas they now wanted to carryit into the
heart of the City, contrary to all the stipulations they
had entered into. Under these circumstances he now
gave notice that he should oppose the second reading of
the Bill, and he trusted he should then be enabled to
satisfy their Lordships that the Bill ought_ to be
rejected.

JAMAICA BILL.
The Marquis of NORMANBY said that with re-
spect to the Jamaica Government Bill he proposed to
read it a second time to-morrow, and to hear Counsel at
the Bar, taking the discussion on,Monday.
The Earl of WINCHILSEA presented petitions
against any further grant to the College of Maynooth.
Also petitions against the Clause in the Prisons Bill
allowing Roman Catholic priests to officiate in prisons,
from the Protestant Association. The Noble Earl
considered the clause a direct attack against the Pro-
testant religion of the country ;he was sure it would
never meet the sanction of the House, or the Sove-
reign of this country as its provisions were
in direct violation of the Coronation oath. If, however,
the Sovereign did assent to the Bill, he would take upon
himself to say she had openly renounced the only title
she had to the throne of this country.
CANADA CLERGY RESERVES.
The Bishop of EXETER wished to know from the
Noble Marquis the Secretary for the Colonies,
whether the Bill which had been passed relative to
clergy reserves in Canada had been received by him,
and whether he was enabled to decide upon bringing it
before the House.

The Marquis of NORMANBY said the Bill had
been received, but it was not in such a shape as to
enable him to lay it before the House.
The Bishop of EXETER wished also to know
whether any instructions had been given by the Govern-
ment to Sir George Arthur, respecting the clergy re-
serves, and generally in support of religion in Upper
instruction.
The and the spread of religious
The Marquis of NORMANBY said that instruc-
tions had been given in the despatch of 1837.
The Bishop of EXETER wished to know whether
there would be any objection to lay that despatch on
the table of the House ?
The Marquis of NORMANBY said there would not.
BEER SHOPS.
Lord BROUGHAM said that he had received a
great number of letters from persons keeping beer-
houses, relative to the imputation which they had
supposed had been cast upon them in that
House with respect to their having no
capital, and only a few chairs and cans in their houses.
Now with respect to that, he must be allowed to say
that he had never stated that the beer-sellers were per-
sons without capital ; all that ho had stated was, that
the business required little capital to carry it on.

USURY LAWS.

The Marquis of LANDSDOWNE said that it was
his intention to move an amendment in Committee on
the- Usury-Min-yr chcr-vatcr-vr-urtn-bn.s-
- notes when they were due to receive an
increased rate of interest.
After a few words from Lord Ashburton,
Lord BROUGHAM said he objected very strongly
to the introduction of the words " or other commercial
security" after the words " warrants for goods." It
would give rise to contests in courts of law, for there was
no such term known in law as " commercial securities."
He wished his Noble and Learned Friend could show
him where there was any legislative or judicial construc-
tion affixed to it.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had no objection
to omit these words.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH complained of moving
amendments which were not printed, and of which
very few Noble Lords understood the object. He
thought it due to the interest of justice and of the parties
concerned, to propose that the amendments be printed
and discussed to-morrow.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had no objection
to postpone the amendments till to-morrow.
The third reading was then postponed till to-morrow.
HIGH SHERIFFS' EXPENSES BILL.
Lord COLBORNE moved the second reading of
the Sheriffs' Expenses Bill. This Bill had emanated
from a Report of the Committee of the House of Com-
mons in 1830, the greater part of which had been
carried into law,'but this part remained for their present
consideration. It might be told that many of the ex-
penses attending the office of High Sheriff were vo-
luntary, but he could assure their Lordships that many
of them were absolutely necessary, and of great im-
portance ; there were, for instance, the expenses attend-
ing the introduction of the Judges into Assize towns,
which were necessary, and which weighed very heavily.
The object of the Bill was to regulate and reduce the
expenses of the High Sheriffs, and when so reduced, to
place them on the county rates. He believed the
principal objection to the Bill would be the fact of its
throwing the expenses upon the county rates. He had
been all his life unwilling to increase the charges on the
county rates, but he did not think that this was a
charge which they ought to bear in preference to indi-
viduals being called upon to defray them ; and he hoped
the House would give the Bill a fair consideration, be-
cause the present Bill certainly imposed a great hard-
ship on country gentlemen.
The Duke of RICHMOND rose to move as an
amendment, that the Bill be read a second time this day
six months. The very fact of the subject not having
been taken up since 1830 till the present time showed
that it was a useless Bill. The office of High Sheriff
was one of great honour, and he that filled it must pay
for his honour as every other person had to pay for such
a commodity. The proposed plan would be to relieve
the pocket of the rich and make even labourers contri-
bute in defraying the expenses that were now attendant
upon the office of High Sheriff. Was his Noble Friend
prepared to bring in a Bill to pay out of the county
rates the expenses of the Poor-law Guardians, the over-
seers of the poor, jurors, gentlemen of the grand jury, or
to render officers of Militia liable to hold the office of
High Sheriff ? He should have no objection to support
a Bill for the latter purpose, but he should certainly
object to the pockets of the rich being relieved at the
expense of the less wealthy.
Lord WINCHILSEA agreed in the observations
that bad fallen from the Noble Duke. He was sure
there could not be a measure that would be more unpo-
pular than the one now proposed, and therefore he
should support the amendment.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE thought that the
office of High Sheriff certainly threw an unequal bur-
then on the rich, but yet he hardly thought the House
ought to interfere by passing a Bill of this sort, because
it was calculated to relieve the rich by throwing the
expeclasses of society. He, for one, however, thought that
office
theueuyghttveoroetetalled
this
o be
upon to pay upon the poorer
imposed
u
pon any one whose
pocket was not well able to afford to pay its attendant
expenses. He was glad to hear the Noble Duke de-
clare himself willing to support a measure calculated to
do away with the exemption of militia officers to serve
as High Sheriffs. He had long had that step under
his consideration, and he should at no distant period
introduce a measure for the purpose.
—(Cheets.)
Lord COLBORNE said that what he had heard
had induced him not to think that this was not a good
Bill, but to think that:he had no chance of carrying it.
The amendment was then put, and carried without
a division, that the Bill be read a second time this day
six months.
The Bill was accordingly
LTA. rejected.
A

The Earl of RIPON said he had at length the op-
portunity of bringing under their Lordships' considera-
tion some matter connected with the late mission to
Malta, which appeared to him to be of considerable im-
portance, He regretted that any circumstances should
have occurred beyond his controul that prevented him
bringing the matter forward at the time he had selec-