The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-24 00:00:00

BROKERS RENTS BILL.

Upon the motion of Mr. METNARD, the adjourned
debate upon the Brokers' Rents and Bonds Bill, now
before Parliament, which was among the business
of the day., was further postponed, it being stated
that some amicable arrangement was likely to be
entered into between the brokers, who feel aggrieved
at the present state of things, and the Corporation.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

-0- --
HOUSE OF LORDS-THIS EVENING.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
it five o'clock.

EXCHANGE OF TITHES.
The Duke of MARLBOROUGH brought in a bill for
the purpose of enabling district churches in the new
parishes to exchange tithes with other parishes. His
grace said that he would reserve auy explanations in refe-
rence to the bill until the second reading.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Agra and Masterman's Bank Bill was advanced a
stage.
The Glasgow City and Suburban Gas Bill was read a
second time.

The Dingwall and Skye Railway Bill, and the Leaming-
ton Gas Bill was read a third time and passed.
ILLLGAL DETENTION IN A LUNATIC ASYLUM.
The Earl of MALMESBURY called the attention of the
house to the illegal detention of the late Mr. Docknall in a
lunatic asylum at Sedgefield, and moved that all the docu-
ments in reference thereto in the possession of the Home
Office should be produced. From inquiries ho had made,
he could vouch for the accuracy of tho brief narrative
ho would submit to the house. It appeared that in 1863
the late Mr. Docknall, a respectable bookseller, who had
formerly been a clerk for 17 years in her Majesty's service,
opened a shop in Chester-le-street, Durham, and was
for some time engaged there in business. Though what
he understood was a conspiracy between the wife of the
deceased and a gentleman, Col. Johnson, the deceased was
taken to a lunatic asylum at Sedgefield. Only one medical
man's certificate was obtained, while the law required two,
and it was stated that Col. Johnson had not examined the
deceased. After five days detention the deceased was dis-
charged, it being proved that he was not insane. He was
advised to bring an action against Colonel Johnstone, and
laid damages at £5,000. Owing to the pressure of business
before the court, he was unable to have his case heard, and
he applied in vain for redress to the Home Office. These
circumstances operated on the mind of the deceased to
such an extent that he committed suicide by taking prussic
acid last October. The noble lord then read a correspon-
dence between the father of the deceased and the Home-
office, as well as affidavits in support of his statement, and
said that the conduct of Col. Johnson was most repre-
hensible, for he had committed a most illegal act while in
the discharge of his official duties. His lordship proceeded
to state that the deceased had been treated wit great cruelty,
having been taken away from his home forcibly while he
was at dinner. It appeared also that Col. Johnson had
offered £BO as compensation to the deceased, thereby ad-
mitting that he had been guilty of an illegal act. He thought
he had made out a cats for inquiry into this matter, assuming
that Col. Johnson was not reprimanded for his conduct.
Earl GRANVILLE contended that the Home-office had
not acted improperly in the matter, and was understood to
say that the documents in question would be produced.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY contended that the sub-
ject should be rigidly inquired into, for here was a case in
which a magistrate had stated what was false, and acted in
violation of the statute law by affirming that he had made
an inspection of the deceased.
The Earl of DERBY agreed with the noble lord
(Shaftesbury), and he could not see why the Home-office
had abstained from an inquiry into the subject.
Earl RUSSELL said he did not know whether Colonel
Johnson had been communicated with, but he thought the
facts should be laid before the Lord Chancellor.

After a few words from Lord MALMESBURY and the LORD
CnAnELLon the motion was agreed to.
(LEFT SITTING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS-THIS EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Brighton, Hove, and Preston Constant Service Water,
Ciystal Palace District Gas, Great Eastern Railway
(Bishop Stortford Railway Purchase), Bolton Improvement,
Bristol Joint Station, Leicester Lunatic Asylum and Im-
provement, Limerick Embankment and Reclamation,
Liverpool Improvement, and West Worthing Improve-
ment.

The Belfast Borough Bill was read a second time.
LANARKSHIRE COUNTY PRISONS BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Sir E. COLEBROOKE took objection to the motion.
and moved as an amendment, that the bill be read a
second time that day six months.
Lord ELCHO seconded the amendment.
After a short discussion,
The LORD ADVOCATE said he intended to bring in
a bill that evening which he thought would render the
present bill needless.

The house then divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment 95
Against it
Majority —s6
The bill was consequently lost.
PETITIONS.

Mr. Cox presented a petition from certain Indian offi-
cers praying for redress.
Mr. HADFIELD presented petitions in favour of a reduc-
tion of the mileage duty.
Mr. Hymen]) presented a petition against the Bank
Notes Issue Bill.

Mr. BRADY presented petitions from different places in
'eland praying for an alteration of the law with regard to
andlord and tenant.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD presented a petition from certain
Indian officers praying for redress.
BLEDLOW SCHOOLMASTER.

Mr. FERRAND moved for a copy of all correspondence
between the Poor-law Board and the guardians of the
Wycombe Union, and other papers relating to the serious
charges which had been made against the master of Bled-
low school in that union.—Agreed to.
ORDNANCE EXPERIMENTS.
Mr. H. BAILLIE moved an address for return of all the
experiments carried on by the Ordnance Select Committee,
including those in progress from the Ist day of January,
1859, to the 20th day of February, 1865 (also including
those made on Armstrong guns whether adopted into
the service or not), showing the name of the originator or
proposer, and the nature or object of each experi-
ment, and by whom recommended to be carried out; the
amount of the cost paid or agreed to be paid by the ori-
ginator or proposer of each experiment ; the total cost of
each experiment and the estimated cost of those in pro-
gress ; the sums of money paid or recommended to be paid
by the Ordnance Select Committee to any inventor between
the above dates, together with the name, rank, and occu-
pation of each inventor.—Ordered.