The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-11 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EvENzta.

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

BARRACKS IN IRELAND.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE asked the Secretary
of Statd for War if the rumour was true that several small
barracks in Ireland were to be sold ?

Earl DE GREY said it had for some years been under
consideration whether certain small barracks should not be
sold. The Duke of Wellington had had the subject of
small barracks constantly under his consideration, but the
matter had been now in some measure decided on, as it
WAS proposed to dispose of 19 small barracks, but barracks
in Galway were not amongst the number. Soine of the other
small barracks it was proposed to use as militia stores.
In reply to Lord PA.Nmtran,
Earl DE GREY said that the Government was well
convinced of the inadvisability of splitting up the regi-
ments into small detachments.

The Earl of MALMESTITTBY trusted a price commen-
surate with the value of the barracks would be insisted
upon.

The subject then dropped.
THE CASE OF MR. EDMUNDS.
The LORD CHANCELLOR laid on the table reports
and documents relative to the case of Mr. Edmunds, and
moved that they be printed for the use of the members of
the select committee exclusively.
The motion was agreed to.
ATTORNEYS AND SOLICITORS BILL.

The LORD CH.ANCELLOR moved the second reading
of this bill.

Lord ST. LEONARDS objected to the measure that it
would abolish all the regulations of the courts for the pro-
tection of clients, and legalise bargains such !as that of
which they
had
,had experienca in the course of the well-
known case of Swinfen and Kennedy. Again, the clause
allowing attorneys acting as trustees to charge their costs,
would enable an attorney to instruct himself to tax his own
costs, and to make a legal bargain with himself.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said the bill was in sub-
stance the same as that of last year, when it was read a
second time after debate. Its object was to alter the only
relic in our institutions of the ancient absurdity of attempt-
ing to regulate the remuneration of professions and trades.
He admitted that the trustee clause was susceptible of
amendment, but he could recommend with confidence the
remainder of the bill.

Lord CHELMSFORD regarded the measure as vicious
in principle. With respect to conveyancing, he suggested
the adoption of the Scottish system, which was a scale of
remuneration according to the value of the property.
Lord CRANWORTH doubted whether a sufficient case
had been made out for a general departure from a very
salutary principle, althoug he was favourable to the bill
as regarded the conveyancing business, but not at all in
cases of contentious litigation.
On a division the bill was rejected by 23 to 21.
Their lordships adjourned at 10 minutes past seven
o'clock until Monday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

On the motion of Mr. C. FORSTER., the order of the day
for the second reading of the South Hams (Devon) Rail-
way Bill was discharged, and the bill was withdrawn.
On the motion of Mr. C. FORSTER, the minutes of evi-
dence taken before the committee on the London, Tilbury,
and Southend Railway Bill in session 1852 was referred to
the committee on the London, Tilbury, and Southend
Railway Bill for this session.
PETITIONS.

Petitions were presented in favour of a reduction or re--
peal of the malt tax ; the duty on fire assurance ; for a
redress of the alleged grievances of Indian officers ; for an
improved system of railway communication in Ireland.

LAW RELATING TO PATENTS FOR
INVENTIONS.

Mr. HIBBERT asked the Attorney-General whether her
Majesty's Government intended to bring in a bill this ses-
sion to carry out the recommendations of the commission
for inquiring into the working of the law relating to letters
patent for inventions.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the Government
would introduce a bill on the subject, in accordance with
the recommendation of the commission.

REGISTRATION OF COITNTY VOTERS.

Mr. WESTERN asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether it was his intention to bring
in any measure founded on any of the recommendations
contained in the report of the select committee on registra-
tion of county voters ; and, if not, whether he purposed to
introduce any bill for the amelioration of the present sys-
tem of county registration.

Mr. T. BARING, in the absence of Sir G. Grey, said
that his hon. friend the member for West Sussex introduced
a bill on this subject, but he was unable to prosecute it
this session from his state of ill health, but the honourable
member for Northampton intended bringing forward a bill
on the subject, and under these circumstances Government
did not intend to introduce any bill in reference to the sub-
ject.
POLITICAL ASSOCIATION IN DUBLIN.

Sir H. BRUCE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether his attention had been called to the fact of a sti-
pendiary magistrate having signed a requisition to the
Lord Mayor of Dublin to convene a meeting to form an
association for certain political objects ; and, if so, whether
he considered it consistent with the duty of a stipendiary
magistrate to sign such a requisition ?
Sir R. PEEL said that the attention of the Government
had been drawn to this subject, and it appeared that Mr.
French, the magistrate in question, was a most respectable
Roman Catholic gentleman, who had discharged his duties
for 18 years in a most efficient manner. The Government
had thought it right to direct his attention to the matter, and
they had received a reply inwhichhe regretted the course he I
had adopted, and which he has taken merely in his capacity
of a chairman of the board of commissioners of Cashel. The
Government considered that under the circumstances it
was unnecessary to :institute any inquiry into the matter.
Mr. SCULLY moved the adjournment of the house in
order to enable him to make some observations on this
subject, and deprecated the principle that a gentleman
holding the position of Mr. French, who was the heir pre-
sumptive to Lord French, should be prohibited by his offi-
cial status from passing an opinion on any public subject.
His resignation of the office in which he acted would be an
injury to the district where he resided.
After a few words from Sir R. PEEL,
The motion was withdrawn on the promise that the right
hon. baronet would consent to postpone the second reading
of the Union Officers. Superannuation (Ireland) Bill until
after Easter.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.
Mr. (I•. DUFF asked the First Commissioner of Works
whether he had under his consideration the letter from the
senate of the University of London, dated Nov. 10, 1864,
on the subject of a building for the university ; and
whether he proposed to take any, and, if so, what steps,
with a view to meet the wishes of that body; as explained
in the specification which had been laid before him.

Mr. dOWPER said that he had received communications
as to the amount of building accommodation which would
be required by the University, but it was an important
question, and should be referred to a commission.

PUMPING OF SEWAGE TO HAMPSTEAD, &c.
Mr. BLAKE asked the hon. member for Bath whether,
adverting to Mr. Ellis's letter to the chairman of the Metro-
politan Board of Works (dated Feb. 18, 1862), a copy of
which will be found at page 415 of the Report on Sewage
(Metropolis), and the seventh clause of Mr. Ellis's tender for
the sewage, which will be found at p. 423 of thesanie
as well as Mr. Ellis's examination before the select commit,repee
report
of last session, and in particular his answer in question
2,100, which will be found at page 85 of the same report,
it does not appear that Mr. Ellis's plan does contem-
platenotgate,
pumping the sewage to Hampstead, Highgate,
Shooter's-hill, or any:other point to which the Metropoli-
tan Board of Works objected.
Mr. TITE, who was scarcely audible in the reporters'
gallery, entered into some explanation on the subject, and
was understood to say that the matter should be fully con-
sidered, and that the Metropolitan Board of Works ought
not to be called in to decide the partial point at issue.

ANOMALY IN TARIFF.
Mr. J. B. SMITH asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether it was his intention to rectify the singular anomaly
in our tariff—viz., that while wooden ships and all articles
manufactured of wood, are allowed to enter British ports
free, the raw material wood is subjected to a duty ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
one of the ways of removing the anomaly was to impose a
tax on shipping—(laughter)—but he could assure the hon.
member that there was no such intention. He was not
Prepared to give an answer to the question at present.

UNION CHARGEABILITY BILL.
In reply to Mr. BENTLNCX,
Mr. VILLIERS said it was intended to proceed with
the army estimates next Monday, and if the discussion
respecting them was over at an early hour, it was intended
to move the second reading of this bill.

In reply to Lord STANLC'EITDE.
Sir C. WOOD said that Ts'everal letters and dispatches
on the subject had been received yesterday, and ho would
lay them before the house withou deIay.STIMAES.
THE ARMY ESTIMATES.
In reply to General PEEL,
hemost conve-
on.
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said the
nient course to him would be for the and gallant
member to defer his observations on these estimates until
he (the Marquis of Hartington) had made his general state-
ment.