The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-14 00:00:00

ice.-.--,--~.--

IMPF,RIAL PARLIAMENT

ROUSE OF LORDS—YESTERDAY.
The Low) CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five, o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

Tb e Stockton and Darlington Railway (Towlaw and
Cro Jk), Crystal Palace and South London Junction, Car-
and Silloth Bay Railway and Dock; London, Brighton
D. ad South Coast Railway (new lines), Frosterley and
'Stanhope Railway, North British Railway and Carlisle and
Silloth Bay Railway and Dock Companies, North British
Railway and Port Carlisle Dock and Railway Cos., North
British Railway' (Nonktonhall and Ormiston and Dalkeith
Branches), Kington and Eardesley Railway, and Lead-
burn, Linton, and Dolphinton Railway Bills were read a
econd tim e.

QUALIFICATION FOR OFFICES ABOLITION

BILL.

Earl DE GREY presented a petition from Gateshead in
faw3ur of this bill.

Lord TAUNTON having presented petitions to a similar
elect, proceeded to move the second reading of this bill.
Ho said the subject on which the measure was founded had
lately been so fully discussed in the other house of Pal-lia-
r-I,r t that he need not occupy their lordships by any length-
ened observations. The object of the bill was to relieve
parties taking Government or corporate offices from an oath
wbich was in the highest degree repugnant to the
kelings of a great body of her Majesty's subjects. It had
*been formerly said that the oath was one of the safe..
guards of the Church of England, but instead of being a
bulwark, he looked upon it as an edifice of sand. The oath
vas not required to be taken in Ireland, why, then, should
it be necessary in England ? Moreover, at the present time,
the oath was quite unnecessary and quite unintelligible ;
and as for any injury following its abolition to the Church
of England, he looked upon that as a circumstance quite im-
possible., for the Church was never in a stronger position than
at the present time. With respect to certain Government of-
fice,s, an act of indemnity was annually passed to relieve
persons taking those offices from subscribing to this oath.
He felt certain that not the slightest injury would be done
to the Church of England by the passing of this bill, but,
on the contrary, a graceful act would be conferred on those
who dissented from its teaching.
The Duke of MARLBOROUGH opposed the motion.
He did not think that there was any real grievance, and if
tha Dissenters were not actuated by hostile feelings
towards the Church of England, they would not object
to take the oath required. The bill was sup-
ported by a society called the Liberation Society, the
object Pof which was to destroy the union which now
-existed between Church and State, and therefore he moved
that the bill be read a second time that day six months.

*Lord W ODEHO USE supported the bill.
The question having been put from the woolsack, the
numbers were—

Content
Not Content B7
Majority.....
—32

The motion was accordingly lost.
Atttention was called by the Marquis of CLANRI-
CARDE to the fact that the Bishop of Winchester had
gone by mistake with the "contents" into their lobby, and
his vote had not been given by the tellers, though it had
been recorded by the clerk. He thought the vote ought
not to stand as recorded on the journals.
A long discussion followed as to the course to be pursued,
and resulted in the right rev. prelate being finally asked on
which side he meant to vote, and his stating that he in-
tended to vote with the " non-contBnts."

The Bills of Exchange (Ireland) Act, 1861, Amendment
Bill passed through committee.
The 4 lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-YESTERDAY.

The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
The Denbigh, Ruthin, and Corivan Railway Bill was
read a third time and passed.

The following bills were considered and agreed to, and
ordered for the third reading:—Bradford, Wakefield, and
Leeds Railway (further provision s)—Brean Down Harbour,
&c.—Bristol Water Bill—Caterham Water Bill—Hull and
Hornsea Railway—Scottish North Eastern Railway—Vale
of Clwyd Railway.