The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-22 00:00:00

tisers would have the opportunity of judging in what pub-
lication it would be best to insert their notices, and they
had a right to require the means of forming this judgment,
having to pay a tax for their advertisements. (Hear, and
oh, oh.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXUIIEQUER quite ad-
mitted that this return, of all the returns relating to the
revenue, was the one commonly read with the greatest
interest. At the sam• time he hoped that the home would
pause before acceding to the motion. He thought it a strong
objection to begin with, and one that called for some con-
sideration, that the production of this return, which had
been at one time usual every year, was a practice delibe-
rately abandoned by the house. Having been thus aban-
doned in the year 1837, it had never since been resumed by
authority of the house, and the subsequent production of
seturns on this subject ordered in 1851 was the act, and
perhaps the hasty act, of a select committee of the house—
at any rate, an act which neither the Government nor the
house had an opportunity of considering, and a proceeding
which took the proprietors of newspapers completelyiby
surprise. This much as regarded the practice of the house
up to the present moment. The right hon. member for
Manchester argued that thiS return ought to be made be-
cause it would reveal nothing but the truth. Now, first,
if this return should reveal nothing but the truth, that was
not of itself a conclusive reason why it ought to be made.
It was not the practice of that house to make revelations,
without some very strong overruling public interest, as to
the private affairs of individuals. He was told that they did
not scruple to give information respecting insurance com-
panies for public purposes, though that information might
incidentally involve the exposure of their affair. But it
was forgotten that the case of insurance companies belong-
ed to a class totally different, and one with which the house
had always dealt on distinct and opposite principles. The
principles followed by the house had always been to respect
the secresy of private affairs, but to exercise strict vigi-
lance and make close scrutiny into the affairs of joint-
stock companies. It was on that ground that their affairs
were sometimes inquired into, and for his part he did not
scruple to say that it would be better if this inquiry were
more extensively pursued. But the question now was,
were they to subject the proprietors of newspapers, per-
sons engaged in private business on their own account, and
carrying on private speculations, to an exposure of their
affairs, for which there was no precedent in the course of
policy acted upon by the house ? He thought the house
would not consent to deal with them on any exceptional
principle, which might be justly complained of as inflict-
ing needless hardship. (Hear.) Undoubtedly the return
would make known the truth, but the same remark would
apply to publishing returns made under schedule B and D
of the income tax, which might give information as to the
solvency of particular persons that would be very valuable
to other parties deal;ng with them. [An hon. member
said there was no stamp in that case.] He could not ad-
mit that the existence of the stamp made any difference in
this point, and what he wanted to impress was the unfair-
ness of subjecting one class of private traders to the hard-
ship of an inquisition from which every other class was
exempt. Nor could he admit that the convenience of ad-
vertisers formed any valid reason for inflicting this hard-
ship. He did not assent without considerable qualification
to the doctrine that this return would show nothing but
the truth. Had it been raquired from year to y -ear,
on a long series of years, undoubtedly it would show
nothing but the truth, but to call for such a return
upon a particular motion, and with very short no-
tice given,, undoubtedly held out an opportunity to par-
ties who desired it, for laying in an extra stock
of stamps, and thereby getting up a false appearance of
circulation. Whatever, therefore, might be the case as
regarded the particular moment of the return, it would be
very far from the truth to say that it might be depended
upon for giving au accurate view for any lengthened period.
(Hear.) But he hoped the house would keep in view the
fact of the return having been formerly dropped, after ex-
perience of its results, on the petition of the parties
affected, and the injustice of publish;ng the affairs of those
who, after all, were strictly private traders for the supposed
benefit of the world at large. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUME was quite surprised at the opposition of the
right hon. gentleman, and he thought the Government had
offered no good reason for opposing the return. If the
Government taxed advertisers, they had a right to know
where they could get the best credit and the best value for
their money.
The motion was then, by leave, withdrawn.
MANNING OF THE NAVY.
Mr. STAFFORD moved for copies of the reports and
evidence taken by a committee appointed by the late Board
of Admiralty on the subjec:, of manning the navy.
Sir J. GRAHAM said the repo_ t had only been placed
in his hands last Monday, and he had not yet had time to
consider it. It was, therefore, premature to call for its
production.
Mr. STAFFORD said he would not press the motion
under those circumstances, and it was accordingly with-
drawn.
The LORD ADVOCATE brought in the Shelia
Court (Scotland) Bill, which was read a first time.
On the motion of Mr. WILSON, the house adjourned.

PARMA AINTART DIVISION.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FEB. 21.

OFFICE OF EXAMINER (COURT OF CHANCERY)

BILLS.
(In the Committee.)
Clause 2—Any person to be hereinafter appointed to the
office of Examiner of the High Court of Chancery, shall be
a practising barrister in some or one of the courts of law or
equity, of not less than seven years' standing in the pro-
fession. Motion made, and question put, " That the
clause, as amended, stand part of the bill." The committee
divided—Ayes, 72 ; Noes, 30.

IdAJORITY—AYES, 72.
A'Cout t, C. H. W. Fagan, W. - Osborne, Ralph
Ad,. er ley, C. B. Ferguson,, Sir Robert Palmerston, Viscount
Ball, John Ferguson, Joseph Phillips, John Henry
Bellew. Captain Gibson, M. Phinn, T.
Berkeley, C. F. Gladstone, William Pike, W. .'.
Bethel , Richard Goderich, Viscount Rlchardo, 0.
Bowyer, George Goodman, Sir George Robartes, T. J. A.
Boyle, Colonel Graham, Sir James Russell. LordJ.
Brotherton, Joseph Greene, John Russell. F. C. H.
Browne, Valentine Gregson, Samuel Sawle, C. B. G.
Bruce, Lord Ernest Herbert, H. A. Scobell, Capt.
Byng, G. IL Charles Herbert, Sidney Stafford, A.
Cardwell, H. E. Hervey, Lord Alfred Stanley, Lr.rd
Charter's, F. Heywood, James Stapleton, John
Ch isty, Samuel Home, Joseph Vernon, G. E.H.
Clinton, Lord Robert Ingham, It obei t Walpole, S. H.
Cobbett, J M. Kershaw, James Warier, Edward
Coca burn, Sir A. Kirk, William Wilkinson, W.
Cowper, W. F. Knatchbull, Wm. F. Wilson, James
Craufurd, E. Laslett, William • Wilson, M.
Crossley, F. Lowe, Robert
Crowdei , Richard B. Milligan, it.
Di amlanrig, Viscount Moncreiff, James
Duncan, George Roslyn, E. M.
East, Sir J. Musgrave, Earl Hayter, W. G.
Elliot, John Mute, Col. Berkeley, Granville
MINORITY—NOES, 30.

TELLEPI.

Annesley, Earl of Knox, W. S. S-Irling, W.
Barrow, Wm. H. Langton, W. H. Sullivan, H.
Brooke, Sir A. B. it acartney, G. Tyler, Sir G.
Bait, Isaac Mackenz►e, W. F. Vausittart, G. H.
Crook, Joseph M'Cann, J. Waddington, H. S.
Fitzgerald, W. R. S. Macgregor, James WrlCott, Adm.
Forbes, William Ili'Mahon, Patrick
Grogan, Edward Manners, Lord J.
Hamilton, Lord C. Mitchell, W.
Henley. J. W. Montgomery, Sir G.
II mlson, Gem ge Palmer, Robert Dlnl►ings J. Randcf.ph
Joliffe, Sir W. G. H. Spooner, Richard Mutrough, J. P.

TELLERS.

ELECTIONS.—A bill, now printed, has been introduced
into the House of Commons "to limit the time for pro-
ceding to election" in England and Wales. By its pro-
visions the election is to be held, with the usual for-
malities, in the counties not later than the 10th and not
sooner than the 6th day after the receipt of the writ ; in
the boroughs within the period of 6 days. The polling
for the Universities also is limited to 5 days (Sundays,
Good Fridays, and Christmas Day excepted), to begin
at ten o'clock in the morning and close at five o'clock
in the afternoon of each day. Powers are like-
wise given for altering the number of polling places.

FRIGHTFUL DEATH OF A BOY, THROUGH FALLING
INTO BOILING WATER.—Yesterday a fine boy, named
Joseph Somerville, aged six years, and whose parents
reside at No. 27, Castle-street, Long-acre, expired in
Charing-cross Hospital, after having endured for 15
hours the most acute agony from injuries received under
the following melancholy circumstances :—lt appears
that on Sunday evening Mrs. Somerville had boiled a
large kettle, containing several gallons of water, which
she emptied into a capacious tub, for the purpose of
washing her children, when, having occasion to go down
stairs for something she required, during her absence
the deceased, with another child four years old, got
playing round the steaming tub, and, in endeavouring
to reach across to his brother, overbalanced himself, and
fell head foremost into the boiling fluid. His piercing
screams brought his mother and the neighbours to his
assistance, and the poor little fellow was taken out in
nearly a parboiled state. He was instantly conveyed to
Charing-cross Hospital, where he was placed under the
care of Mr. Adkins, house-surgeon, who rendered every
assistance that surgical skill could suggest, but owing to
the extensive nature of the injuries, he lingered in
the most excruciating torment until death terminated
his sufferings.
FOREIGN WOOLLENS.—The Customs authorities have,
on the application of an eminent firm, with reference to
the 39th section of the act Bth and 9th Vict., chap. 91,
allowed plain woollen barege shawls to be taken out of
bond for the purpose of being bleached, dyed, and printed,
upon security being given to return the goods into ware-
house within two months, an account of the lengths,
qualities, and descriptions of the shawls being taken
before removal from the warehouse in a book to be kept
at each station for the purpose of identifying the goods,
as far as practicable, when examined on their return,
agreeably to the regulations of April, 1850, respecting
slk goods.

DEPARTURES FOR AUSTRALIA.—The departures from
the port of London for the Australian colonies during
the past week have again been numerous, but they have
principally consisted of vessels of small tonnage. The
number to Sydney was four vessels, with an aggregate
Large4e6i2r tonstot a
andb ur
capacityd eonooo f
twlo,a4s
NlBowt o ns; s
Zealand,ix
consequentlyt P30,1.77579P7
ship-
ments continue to be made of manufactured goods and
general merchandise, but the quotations for freight show
a further tendency to decline. ht
tons,
Ps
of
1T
Their
MELANCHOLY AFFAIR. Southampton solicitor
named Phillips, has been missing from his home for
nearly a fortnight. It was stated that his mind was
affected. The general impression in Southampton was
that he had been murdered while wandering about the
country and his body concealed. No intelligence reached
Southampton concerning him till Thursday last, when a
policeman arrived with the news that the unfortunate
gentleman had been found in an outhouse at Droxford,
in Hampshire,' about 16 miles from Southampton,
perishing from cold, hunger, and distress of mind.
OXFORD V. MANCHESTER.—The sculler's race between
Cooke of Oxford and Ault of Manchester, for 251. a side
came off in the afternoon of yesterday (Monday) at
Oxford. The distance was from Iffiey to Oxford, about
a mile and a quarter. Both men were superior scullers
in their different localities, Cooke being the champion of
the 'lsis, and Ault the champion of the Irwell. The
latter won the choice of sides, and took the Berkshire
side, which is rather an advantage. Both started well
off together, but after turning the first corner Cooke shot
ahead, gradually increased the distance, and finally won
by at least 50 yards. In fact Ault had not the least
chance of winning. The style of Coolie's rowing was the
theme of admiration of the thousands of spectators on
the banks of the Isis. The time occupied was 10 mi-,
nutes. The stream they had to contend against w
Prl
very strong one.