The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-19 00:00:00

ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
___

Wheat. Barley. -1,1i1;: Oats. Flour.
• 230 ' Ito 1,090 1,870 ' 1,080 sack..
Irish.. ........ I 620 300
2,410 380 1,900 brls.

BOROUGH HOP.
An increased amount of business has been transacted in
most kinds of hops, and prices have been well supported.

WHITECHAPEL.

The supply of meat is moderate, and the trade rules
heavy at the annexed rates :
Beef, from 2s 8d to 4s 2d; mutton, 3s Od to 4s 4d; veal,
4s Od to 5s 4d ; and pork, 3s 8d to 4s 8d per 81bs.

WoLVEs IN JWALLACIIIA.—BUCHAREST, lAN. 29.
—The weather firth been extremely severe of late, and the
wolves have in consequence been more than usually daring
in their attacks. A few days since Madame Carisoglus,
one of our handsomest townswomen, and belonging
to a leading family, was returning to town in her
sledge, when the horses, becoming frightened, overthrew
the vehicle, and the unfortunate lady was cast on the
ground, and soon devoured by the wolves. Another
occurredfeoarsteunat pedlarewas
just
on
athtteacoktehderbsy a idepoafetk of
the bridge.
ferocious
4n un-
animals, but before he was killed two mounted gendarmes
arrived, and fired on them they were frightened away
for the moment,
but, notwithstanding the appeals of the
poor man, the gendarmes left him wounded on the road,
and shortly after the wolves returnedand finished his suffer-
ings. Ten, or twelve other fatal cases have been reported*

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS-YESTERDAY.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at fivo o'clock.
THE EDUCATIONAL CODE.

Lord BELPER presented petitions against the new
educational code. _

ARRESTS OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN AMERICA.

The Earl of CARNARVON took the opportunity to
correct a slight mistake he had made respecting the num-
ber of English subjects he had stated the other night had
been arrested and confined in Fort Warren. He had stated
that there were three persons, but he had since learned
that one had taken the oath of allegiance to
America, and therefore he had removed himself
from the protection of the British Government. While
he was addressing their lordships he would take the oppor-
tunity of asking a question of the noble earl the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, of which he had given him private
'notice. He then proceeded to allude to the arrest of Mr.
Shaver, and asked whether any claim for compensation for
indignity offered that gentleman in America had been de-
manded by the British Government ; and, also, whether
there was any further correspondence, in addition to that
already presented, in the hands of the Government.
Earl RUSSELL said with reference to the case of
Mr. Shaver, that gentleman had not claimed com-
pensation, and that being so, he (Earl Russell)
had not claimed compensation for him from the American
Government. The noble earl seemed to have overlooked
that Mr. Shaver, it was said, was the medium of commu-
nication between the Northern and Southern pariies, and
that he had also conveyed revolvers to the Con-
federates, Mr. Shaver had not said the charge
was unfounded, and before he asked for compenea-.
tion for that gentleman, he thought he ought to have satis-
factory evidence that the charge was at variance with the
fact. If Mr. Shaver had acted in the manner described,
and had given the Confederates aid, he had acted
In direct contradiction of her Majesty's royal proclamation,
and he had no right to ask for any compensation for the
inconvenience he had suffered. As he had said before, Mr.
Shaver had not made any demand for compensation,
and the-assertion of the American Government remained
uncontradicted. With respect to the other topics touched
upon by the noble earl, no one could regret more than he
did the lamentable position of affairs in America, and owing
to that unhappy state of affairs the acts of the Government
ought to be looked upon with great forbearance—acts
which, under other circumstances, would call for remon-
strance and indignation from this country. Mr. Shaver
had not yet demanded compensation, and therefore he did
not think that he should be justified in directing Lord
Lyons to take any steps in the matter, but in the event of a
claim being made, satisfactory evidence would be required
that he had not acted in the manner described.
THE TAXING MASTERS IN DUBLIN.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE wished to ask whe-
ther it was intended to fill up the office of a third Taxing-
Master in the Court of Chancery in Dublin; and also what
progress had been made in collecting judicial statistics in
Ireland ?

Earl GRANVILLE was understood to say that commu-
nications were now passing between her Majesty's Govern-
ment and the Government of Ireland, in reference to the
appointment of a third taxing master, and that when they
had come to some decision on the subject he would state
the fact to the noble marquis. With regard to the other
question, a gentleman had been appointed to collect the
statistics, but it was expected that they would net be com-
pleted until next year. The noble earl was nearly inaudi-
ble in the gallery.
THE OFFICERS OF THE INSOLVENT DEBTORS

COURT.
Lord CHELMSFORD, who had a question on the paper
with reference to the non-payment of the salaries, &c., of
he officers of the Insolvent Debtors Court who had been
transferred to the Court of Bankruptcy, under the provi-
sions of the Bankruptcy Act of last session, said he had
given this formal notice of his question in order to call the
attention of his noble and learned friend on the woolsack to
it, and that he might give such an explanation as the case
deserved, it being one of very great hardship on the officers
referred to. Under the act of last session the Insolvent
Debtors Court was abolished, and by two clauses the clerks
and officers of the court were transferred to the London
Court of Bankruptcy, and by two other clauses, viz., the
33d and 36th, provision was made that the salaries and
allowances of the officers should be paid as under the old
law—they were to receive the full amount of their salaries
from the fund referred to in the Act of last session. No
one could read the section to which he referred without
seeing that it was the intention of the Legislature to trans-
fer to those transferred officers the amount of the salaries
and allowances which they had previously received ; but
although several weeks had elapsed since the previous
quarter's payments became due, they still remained un-
paid. This circumstance had caused serious inconvenience,
not to say suffering, to the parties and their families. He
would mention two instances of the hardship which had re-
sulted from it. One of the officers in question incurred a
debt which he agreed to pay by instalments, and thought
the means he had of doing so was by receipt of his salary.
Not receiving it he was unable to meet his engagement,
and his creditor, not believing that it was his inability to
pay, but considering that it arras from dishonesty on the
part of his debtor, put an execution upon his goods. The
other was the case of a man who had insured his life for
the benefit of his family, and was unable to pay the pre-
miums in consequence of his salary not being paid, and the
consequence was that his insurance dropped. Those parties
were entitled to the sympathy of their lordships. (Hear,
hear.) He hardly expected to hear that, if the fund had,in
consequence of the change from insolvency to bankruptcy,
run dry, the officers were to be deprived of their salaries
and allowances. He was satisfied that their lordships
would feel that the case of these parties was entitled to
their consideration. (Hear.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he was much obliged
to his noble and learned friend for affording him an oppor-
tunity of making a statement upon the subject. He could
say with sincerity that nothing had occurred since the
passing of that Act of Parliament which had given him so
much vexation and caused him so much pain as to find the
position in which the cfficers of the Insolvent Debtors Court
had been placed. It had arisen from the fact that words
had been used in the act with one view and to express one
object, upon which the clerks of the Insolvent Court had
naturally put a different construction, and one which had
given rise to expectations which unfortunately he had not
the means of meeting. The difficulty arose in this way.
The officers of the Insolvent Debtors Court were paid partly
by salaries and partly by fees, The salaries were paid by
an annual grant voted by Parliament, but they were very
inconsiderable as compared with the emoluments which
the clerks represented they had received from fees.
The annual vote made by Parliament was expressed to
be for the purpose of discoarging salaries, certain allow-
ances, and certain compensations, and with a view to
entitle the clerks to have the benefit of a continuance of
that vote the 30th section was framed. The language
of that secti n was very 1,rg,3 and extensive
in the commencement. It gave to the clerks the full amount
of the salaries, remunerations, allowances, and compensa-
tions which they then respectively received. These were
large words no doubt, but unfortunately they were limited
in a manner inconsistent with their ordinary meaning by
the following words. They were to have this benefit, but
" out of the same fund, and payable in the same manner in
all respects as if the act had not been passed; and for such
purpose the annual sums now payable out of the monies
voted by Parliament for the use and purpose of the Insol-
vent
Court, shall be paid in future to the credit of the ac-
countant in bankruptcy." The unfortunate effect therefore
was that these salaries, allowances, and remunerations were
to be derived out of a fund which was limited to a fund which
Was itself limited to salaries properly so called, and allow-
ances and compensations. The difference between salaries
and fees was so great, that while the sum voted by Parla-
ment was about £6,000, the sums claimed by the officers
amounted to £20,000. If the clerks relied on that particular
section as giving them a perpetual annuity to the amount
of the fees they happened at the time to bo in receipt of, it
waa impossible to suppose that such could be intended. It
'was at variance with all former principles of legislation,
Which was to ascertain the value of an office about to be abo-
lished. and to give appropriate compensation. All he (the
Lord Chancellor) could do was to apply the money voted by
ratliament to the payment of salai ies, and he regretted he
could not do more. If the operation of the clause had been
perfeetlY understood.
on the part of the officers they unques •
tio ably would eve
a made some claim for compensation; and
outhe other' ha
they were ton be
he understood—which he did not—
thatb fees and not by salaries only,he
should undoubtedlyeid
As
it have provided for them some means of
compensation.
sufficient to pant
was
these
gentlemen are left with
not with sufficient totheie praaolvia.rdieo, properly so called, but
to that which, from t
e fora salary at all equal
they were in receipt u
ofo asetvertital sources referred to,
clause
r:ime the act came
into operation. The other
ruired some expla-
nation, because by the 26th Election
eeqtwerain funds which
were in the Insolvent Debtors Court
ruptcy,
to directedpp to be
transferred to the Court of Bank
.to
three several purposes, one of which was, to defray salaries
of of clerks and other persons transferred from the
one court
to the other. That particular fund had aceuntrakted from
unpaid dividends, which might be claimed at any time, but
the interest on the unclaimed fund had always been treated
by Peril ment as applicable in part payment of salaries, and
accordingly the annual vote had always been worded in this
way
176 is voted for payment of salaries, and for
•
payment of certain allowances and certain compensations,
but it is reduced to that sum by deducting from a larger
sum that would be the amount of the salaries, the probable
amount of the interest on Exehequer Pills, purchased with
unclaimed moneys, and applicable under a particular statute
in part payment of salaries.''Such was the wording of the
26th section Was to last vote. The intention of the
because
the trans-
ferthe principal sum to the Court of Bankruptcy,
the creditors whose dividends were unclaimed should apply
in future to that court for payment. These officers had
appealed to him to pay them the residue of their claim out
of that fund, but it was impossible he could do so. The
utmost he could do was to apply in payment of their sala-
ries the annual sum voted by Parliament. The subject I
bad been One of great anaiet to him and he had directed

the optttion .a the la* atviatil to be taken 'on it. They
had given it as their opinion that it was Utterly impossible
to corn° to the conclusion from the Words of tl e act that
the clerks were entitled to receive out of the funds in court
such swum of Money as in the aggregate would be equal to
the fees and salaries of which they Wert iu receipt at the
time the act came into operation. They added that these
gentlemen had a strong moral claim upon the tonsider-
ration of Parliament, but that the Lord Chancellor had no
power to apply any part of the fund mentioned in the
26th motion in payment of the claim. In this state of
things the only course open to these genttlemen was to
accept the salaries he had offered them or to apply to Par-
liament for relief. He had done all in his power for them,
and regretted he could not altogether relieve them from
the position in which they were placed.
Lord CRANWORTH gave his noble and learned friend
full credit for having done all in his power to obtain for
these gentlemen that to which they had not only a moral
right, but which it would be a disgrace to Parliament to
withhold from them. In the select committee the subject
had come under discussion, and the Lord Chancellor (Lord
Campbell) had assured them that the clerks transferred
were fully provided for, and that the words of the act were
amply sufficient for their protection. The words were that
they were to receive their full salaries as nearly as might
be out of the same funds. He merely rose to express his re-
gret at the present position of the officers, and to say that,
as a member of the committee, he should feel the result a
sort of humiliation if Parliament did not step in and give
these gentlemen full relief.
The Earl of DERBY said that having sat as a member
of the committee, he could bear testimony to the matter of
fact just stated by the noble and learned lord. Ho perfectly
recollected that it had been pointed out that a very small
portion of the remuneration of these gentlemen arose from
salaries, the greater portion arising from fees—that, in con-
sequence, they might be placed in a very great difficulty;
and I remember hearing the noble and learned lord who
then occupied the woolsack state that full and ample provi-
sion had been made for them.

Lord CHELMSFORD said that compensation could only
be given to officers whose offices were abolished, and whose
services were dispensed with, but these were efficient and
acting officers, entitled to their full salaries, the words of
the act being, "the salaries, remuneration, allowances, and
compensation, which they now respectively receive." These
were to be paid, "as nearly as might be out of the same
funds" as before. But suppose there were no funds, surely
the salaries of the officers should still be paid. He thought
that great injustice had been done those persons, end as
there had been clearly no intention to deprive them of the
amount which they had theretofore been in receipt of, he
trusted that no time would be lost by the Government in
introducing a bill in the House of Commons to afford those
gentlemen that to which they were entitled.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said his noble and learned
friend seemed to think that he argued against the claim of
these unfortunate men. :He never intended to do any such
thing. He merely stated the grounds on which the law
officers of the Crown arrived at their conclusion. He should
be sincerely happy if the construction of the act by the two
noble and learned lords were the legal construction. For
himself he had no desire to press the language of the act.
He believed that the language used showed the intention
to give these gentlemen the fullest possible remuneration.
The only difficulty had been that words had been used
without adequately understanding them. He must say
that he never from the commencement had any doubt about
the propriety of giving these gentlemen full remuneration,
but he had no means of doing it. This question had been
discussed again and again, and he must leave these gen-
tlemen to bring forward their claims in the proper mode.
He hoped their lordships would agree with him, that with
the limited power he had, he could not have made them
a more liberal offer than giving them these appointments
in the Bankruptcy Court, where the salaries were larger.
But the officers of the bankruptcy oourts were paid by
salaries and not by fees, and upon that there had been
misapprehension, but that misapprehension ought
not to be used to do an injustice to those gentlemen. He
should be happy to find that the House of Commons adopted
the same view. As far as he was concerned, he should be
happy to recommend and promote any measure which
would give them that redress which, if he had been aware
of the whole circumstances when the act was passed, he
should himself have taken care to give.
Lord CHELMSFORD explained that what he said was,
that his noble and learned friend urged the words in the
act as the ground of his inability to give these gentlemen
the remuneration to which they were entitled,
THE REVISED CODE.

The Earl of DERBY presented a petition from All Saints
Schools, Dalston, against the revised code.
Lord REDESDALE presented a petition from a place in
Kent to the same effect.