The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-15 00:00:00

IRISH CONSTABULARY.

Colonel DICKSON asked the Chief Secretary for Ire-
land whether the attention of the Government had been
drawn to a representation by the county of Limerick grand
jury to the judge of assize at the late spring assizes, with
reference to the employment and organisation of the police.
Sir It. PEEL said that the attention of the Government
had been called to the subject, and the foreman of the grand
jury in question had stated that the police force in Ireland
was of 'too military a character. That force had always
been under the control of a military officer, and he consi-
dered that a force amounting to 12,600 should be
under such control. There was nothing, 116 w of a
military character introduced into the orgaiiisalsi-Of .that
force. Ho said there were other repreaentattioias by
the grand jury of the county of Limeric)f on3thenie:cter,
but the Government did not consider that they contained
anything to call for the interference of Government.

SPECIE PAYMENTS ON IMPORTS TO THE
UNITED STATES.

Mr. POTTER asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether his attention had been called to the practi-
cal increase of duties on imports into the United States
consequent upon such duties being payable only in specie,
the premium on such specie being likely to be excessive
owing to the gradually increasing depreciation of American
paper currency.
Mr. M. GIBSON said he was not aware of any such
regulation as that alluded to having been adopted.
ALLEGED DESECRATION OF CATHOLIC
CHURCHES IN SICILY.
Sir G. BOWYER asked a question of the First Lord of
the Treasury, regarding certain events which had recently
taken place in the kingdom of the Two Sicilies. He said
that he was informed that the church in which the corpse
of the Bishop of Amalfi was placed had been broken into by
the revolutionary troops, and the body of the prelate fre-
quently stabbed. He understood also that certain other
outrages were contemplated by the same revolutionary body.
Lord PALMERSTON said he could only state that her
Majesty's Government had received no information of any
sort or kind in reference to the event to which the hon.
baronet alluded as being contemplated or having taken
place. He entertained some doubt as to the accuracy of
the information of the hon. baronet as to the events which
bad taken place, and would advise him to receive with
caution any communication as to attempts to be made
bq Persons who were under the authority of the King of
iiy (Hear, and laughter.)
SirICEDUCTION IN THE INDIAN NAVY.
for
re In:: ELPHINSTONE asked the Secretary of State
111 of certain reductions having been made in the
sotfrnarT of the force of the Indian navy since last session
traent, and what were the intentions of Government
as
service ?
the future.
Prospects and position of the officers of that
Sir C. WOOD said it was impossible at present to state
wliv,t were the intentions of the Government on the sub-
ject,

Mr. P OLLARll.tatMcrugr/
liT asked the Chief Secre-
BILLS.
tary for Ireland, on what day
ba intended to go into com-
mittee on the poor relief (Ireland
; also, on what day
he intended to move the second reactts of the registration
of births and deaths (Ireland) bile,
Sir R. PEEL said he could not exactly state on what
day he would be able to go into the cooltaittce in question,
or when he could move the second reading °f
bill alluded to. On Thursday next he hoped to e "'amid
gross with the Markets and Fairs (Ireland) BM:
flake
REDUCTION
-
REDUCTION OF THE INDIAN CAVALRy,
Sir M. FARQUHAR asked the Secretary of State for
India, in consequence of his having authorised the Goveru_
went of India to reduce the youngest of the regiments of
cavalry lately formed in Bengal, what would be, in the
event of such authority being acted ur on, the position of
the officers and men ?
After some remarks from Mr. Adams, Col. Sykes, and
Mr. Vansittart,
Sir C. WOOD said that though some hardship might be
inflicted by the reduction referred to, it was unavoidable in
consequence of the altered state of affairs in India.
CESSION OF ITALIAN TERRITORY TO FRANC E
Mr. GRIFFITH asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign
,‘mirs would endeavour
whether the Secretary of State for Foreign
mdeavour to ascertain that there was no in-

tent'on on the part of the new Italian Ministry of entertain-
ing any question of the cession of any territory now belong •
ing to the Italian kingdom to France, under any pretence

or consideration whatever; and moved an addr :sfor copy
of any communications relating to that sifi.:ect which
might have taken place with the Italian Government.
He contended that the policy of France was aggressive,

and that Ratazzi's views were in favour of .4n alliance be-
tween France and Italy, which would enable these powers
to overrun the whole continent of Europe.
Mr. LAYARD said that this was a very important ques-
tion, and he trusted the house would feel grateful to the

hon. member for the vigilance which he exercised over the

foreign relations of this country. (Hear, and laughter.)
He would not, however, follow the hon. member through

his rather discursive address. This subject was discussed
fully last session, and on that occasion Lord Russell
said that he had the most positive assurance from
Baron Ricasoli that it was not intended to cede an inch of
Italian territory to France, and they had also the assurance
of the Emperor of the French that he would not require
the cession of the island of Sardinia. Ho had perfect re-

liance on the good faith and loyalty of the King of Italy, and
ho thought it would be an affront to that sovereign to
require any assurance in addition to what ho had already
given on this subject. He was unable to produeo the papers
alluded to as it would be inconvenient to the public service

to: do so.
Mr. GRIFFITH wished to know whether there were

any papers on the subject.
Mr. LAYARD said if there was he would not be justified

in producing them. (Laughter.)
The motion was then withdrawn.

TURKEY.
Mr. FREELAND called attention to the papers pre-
sented in 1861 relating to reforms in Turkey, and to the
mission of Lord Hobart and Mr. Foster to Constantinople,
and moved an address for a copy of their report on the
finances of Turkey, and of any correspondence that might
have taken place between the Governments 'of France
and England relative to their mission. He
contended that the value of our trade with Turkey and
Persia required that we should pay particular attention to
all that related to the state of Turkey. This country had
also a great political interest in the well-being of Turkey.
Mr. LAYARD agreed with Mr. Freeland in his views
I regarding the general interest which Europe had in the
wellbeing of the Turkish empire. The state of its finances

not long ago, he remarked, was not very encouraging, and
its credit was low, but the present Sultan had shown great

vigour and energy of character, and an ardent desire to re.

store the prosperity of the country. In spite of great diffi-
culties, he had effected some wholesome reforms far beyond
expectation, and he had no doubt he would complete the
rest. The report referred to was a most able document;
the scheme it embodied was a very practicable one, and,
what was of great importance, it showed that the state of
the country was really sound, and that, with a little manage •
ment, its financial difficulties might be got over, and a
balance be established between revenue and expenditure.
He described some of the reforms already accomplished and
their results, expressing great confidence in the character
of the Sultan and in the high feeling of hohesty which
was, he said, an essential element of the Turkish character.
This motion was likewise withdrawn.
CONSOLIDATION OF THE STATUTES.
Sir F. BELLY then rose to call attention to the consoli-
dation of the statutes. He said he should first put the heuse
into possession of the present state of this question, and
show how little really remained to be done by briefly stating
the history of the question and what had been effected. For
more than two centuries this important subject had occu-
pied the attention of legislators, lawyers, and statesmen,
but nothing whatever was effected in the way of legislation
until the year 1826, when the late Sir R. Peel and the late
Lord Tenterden succeeded, although in a limited and im-
perfect manner, in consolidating the statutes relating to
criminal law. In the year 1833 the first commission ema-
nated from the greatest law reformer of the day. That com-
mission was appointed to consider the state of the statute
law, and to submit to his Majesty the means by which that
law might be consolidated. From 1833 to 1852, inclusive,
no less than seven commissions were directed to some of the
most experienced judges and lawyers of the day, 13 reports
were made, and bills, or schemes, and plans submitted to
the Government from time to time ; but inasmuch as all
these schemes involved not only the impracticable task of
consolidating the statutes, but the amendment of the statute
law and the codification of the entire common law of Eng-
land, the whole of these schemes and plans entirely failed.
In 1852, under the auspices of Lord St. Leonards, Mr.
Greaves and Mr. Lonselale were instructed to prepare a
bill, not only for the consolidation but the amendment and
to some extent the codification of the criminal law. A bill
was prepared, but when this bill came to be submitted to
a committee of the House of Lords, so large and extensive
were found the objects in view, and so many and so great
were the difficulties surrounding the first step of the un-
dertaking, that after some seven or eight days had been
spent by some of the most learned law lords, no more than '
three clauses of this bill, containing 1,000 provisions,
were passed ; and even with regard to these three clauses
great differences of opinion existed. Every scheme having
failed, in 1854, Lord Cranworth, who then held the great
seal—and whom he could not name in connexion with this
subject without giving him the tribute of saying that if the
statute law of this country should ever be consolidated, more
praise must be ascribed to him than to any other individual
in the community—Lord Cranworth brought into existence
the late statute law commission, and in 1856 the first real
and effective steps were taken towards consolidation on. a
plan submitted to them. It was found that the whole of
the 49 volumes of the statutes at large, each volume con-
taining on an average not less than 1,000 closely printed
pages, and comprising altogether between 40,000 and 50,000
statutes—it was found that these 40 volumes might upon a
proper system of consolidation be reduced to somewhere
about four, and that the 40,000 or 50,000 statutes might be
reduced to 200 or 300 in number, each statute on a subject
embracing within itself all that pertained to that subject.
And in order to satisfy the Government of the day and the
public that that task might be accomplished, the attempt
was first made in relation to the criminal statute law. In
1856,with the assistance of Lord Chief Justice Jervis, Lord
Wensleydale, and Mr. Greaves, the whole of the criminal
law of England was consolidated, and comprised within
seven bills. These bills afforded a fair specimen of what
could be effected in the way of consolidation. They were
too late to be laid before Parliament during that session,
but in 1857 they were brought into the House of Lords by
Lord Cranworth. They underwent the consideration, and
he thought he might add the severe criticism, of a select
committee of the House of Lords ; but with some amend-
ments these bills passed the House of Lords, and eame
down to the House of Commons in the course
of that session. Political questions, however, of greater
moment,which had been so often fatal to attempts at con-
solidation, effectually prevented any further steps being
taken at that time. Parliament was dissolved in the course
of that session, and when it re-assembled there were too
many other matters brought before it to permit any fur-
ther steps being taken in that year towards consolidation.
In 1858, these bills were again brought before the House
of Lords. In that year there was a change of government,
and it was found impossible in that session to pass these
bills even through the first effective stage in that house.
But a great deal was done in the course of that year. The
statute law commission, satisfied with the success of the
attempt to consolidate the criminal statute law, proceeded,
with the assistance of competent professors of the law, to
frame a great many other bills, which they were prepared to
submit to Parliament. But another event occurred of great
importance in 1858 in connection with this matter. His
learned friend the member for the University of Dublin was
induced to undertake the assimilation of the criminal sta-
tute law of England and Ireland. His right hon. and
learned friend took counsel with the then Lord Chancellor
of Ireland (Mr. Napier), and although it was found impos-
sible to make progress in 1851, yet in 1859 his right hon. and
learned friend and those who had assisted him in Ireland
were prepared with a series of amendments to the bill which
they had almost perfected in England, by which the crimi-
nal statute law of the two countries was assimilated, and in
effect made to form a complete consolidation. In 1859 a
dissolution of Parliament took place, and when Parliament I
re-assembled it was found impossible to do more than lay
the bills on the table of the house. During 1860 those bills
were considered and revised, and in some respects mended,
by the present Government; and here again he must offer
his humble tribute of praise to the noble and learned lord
who now held the great seal, who from the moment that the
question of consolidation was submitted to him. had done
all that one man could do to aid this great work. Those bills
having passed the House of Lords,he, with the assistance
of the present Attorney,General, passed them through a
select committee of this house, and the statute law of Eng-
land and Ireland thus united and assimilated had become a
portion of the consolidated statute law of the land. What
had been done with the criminal law of England and Ireland
might likewise be done with every other branch of the law.
By the consolidation of that one branch of the law 106
statutes had been consolidated into seven. But it was not
merely by the passing of these seven consolidated statutes
that the Government had done good service by means of
the statute law commission. It was obviously necessary
before any consolidation of the law could be effected that
some analysis of the statute law should be made, that
some index should be framed pointing out what statutes
and parts of statutes were still in force ; and accordingly a
gentleman of the name of Wood with the assistance of
some persons of eminence, was instructed by the statute
law commissioners to prepare an expurgatorial index of
statutes, beginning with the year 1858 and going back-
wards, and so taking the acts of parliament which had
passed session after session and ranging them in columns, so
I a, sate.
_show which were in force and which were repealed or
n.iosao obe;caosnade obsolete.ap pe Ia
appeared
ed might:hat perhaps interest the e house
it now
to which 20 of the 40 know that this index had been carried back to the year
from 1800 to 1858, a period
3,371 were still w
to be attributed, 40 volumes of the statutes at large were
gze,,obselete. It
were passed 6,887 Aatutes. Of these
antiYo,r partly, but many of them only
is, illy in force ;
I:itely repealed, or had l.lieleoG, or more than half, were abso-
when this work of expurgation was to be expected
1:5 carried out still further,
ttlat the forty volumes bliglAn
Government had availed thernselZis ulced to three. The
1 Mr. Wood, in the last session, of rgey h
of tis work
x-arli.lament they not