The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.)
THE BISHOP OF SALISBURY AND THE
ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONERS.

The Bishop of SALISBURY entered at some length
into a personal explanation on the subject of certain
statements lately made with regard to some arrange-
ments madaby him 16 years ago fer the settlement of the
revenue of his see, charging him with selfish and avari.
cious conduct, and also with endeavouring to mislead
the commissioners as to the average income of the diocese.
The right rev. prelate went at length into figures to show
that he had acted with the greatest fairness and equity.
The object which he had in view appeared to him at the
time and appeared to him now to be just and reasonable.
The rev. prelate in conclusion, said that he had no right
to ask of their lordships any expression of opinion on
this case, nevertheless, if any one of their lordships had
still any doubt with regard to any part of his statement,
if he would have the goodness to put to him any ques-
tion, he would thereby add to the load of obligation that
he had already incurred. (Hear.) It had been his ob-
ject to show that the commission, through his corres-
pondence with which these charges arose, was one of
which he was not a member, and with which he had no
special relations of friendship or influence ; that whether
their decision was right or wrong, they alone were respon-
sible for it; and that the difference between the anticipation
and the result arose from a better management of the pro-
perty which his agents had been able to effect. He had
proved the latter by Mr. Caswell's letter, in reference to the
copyhold estates, and by Mr. Sotheron's letter in refer-
ence to the leasehold estates. He trusted, therefore, he
should be acquitted of any guilty malversation of pro-
perty dedicated to the highest purposes.—(Hear, hear.)
Nevertheless he admitted that the law under which he
had acted was in itself improper, and he had shown his
sense of that by availing himself at the earliest moment
of the new regulations that had been made. He had
voluntarily resigned an income which had averaged
6,7001. a year for fourteen years, and which he could
legally and equitably have retained, and had accepted
instead a fixed revenue of 5,0001., which the Legislature
had, attached to the see. He thanked their lordships
from his heart for the opportunity they had given him
of making this explanation, and he left his cause in
their hands, not, he trusted, with presumption, but
nevertheless he might say, in the evidence of conscious
innocence. He concluded by moving that the letter he
laid on the table.

After a few words from the Bishop of ST. ASAPH,
the motion was agreed to.
- - -

THE IRISH CONSTABULARY.-ILLICIT DIS-
TILLATION.

Lord MONTEAGLE, pursuant to notice, moved the
appointment of a select committee to consider the con-
sequences of extending the functions of the constabulary
in Ireland to the suppression or prevention of illicit dis•

filiation. He did not desire to throw any diffieulty in
the way of the collection of this revenue ; but he believed
the adoption of the system' proposed by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer would cause great mischief.

The Earl of ABERDEEN was understood to say
that he would not offer any objeotion to the appointment
of the committee on the ground that there was a great
variety of opinion on this subject, the appointment of a
committee might lead to the satisfactory settlement of
the dispute.
The Earl of DONOUGHMORE was glad that the
noble earl consented to the appointment of a committee.
The committee was then agreed to : names to be given
at the next meeting of the house.
THE SIX-MILE-BRIDGE AFFAIR.
The Earl of CARDIGAN again brought the Six-
mile-bridge affray before the house, and wished to know
if it was the intention of the Government to prosecute
the two Roman Catholic priests who were implicated in
the riots at the last Clare election. It was evident that
considerable difference of opinion existed in the Cabinet
on this subject, and it was absolutely necessary that it
should be distinctly understood whether or not Roman
Catholic priests were to interfere at elections for the de-
struction of the Protestant Church. The noble earl con-
cluded by moving for the correspondence connected with
a recent speech of Lord John Russell in the Lower
House.

The Earl of ABERDEEN replied, that it had been
unanimously determined by the Cabinet to prosecute
both priepts and soldiers, but, upon referring the matter
to the legal authorities in Dublin, it bad been decided
that the prosecution of the priests would not further the
due administration of justice, and therefore the prosecu-
tion had been abandoned. With reference to the corres-
pondence moved for, the noble earl was quite welcome
to make what use he pleased of the admissions which had
been made respecting it, for, in reality, they amounted
to very little, and the House of Commons had accord-
ingly treated the matter as one of very little importance.
In conclusion, he could assure Lord Cardigan that the
Government were determined to maintain the Irish
Church, and to be deterred by no intimidation from
doing impartial justice to all parties in Ireland.
After some further discussion, in which Lord DERBY,
Lord REDESDALE, the Duke of NEWCASTLE, and other
noble lords took part,
The Earl of CARDIGAN withdrew his motion, as
Lord Aberdeen had admitted the authenticity of the cor-
respondence.
Several bills were advanced a stage, and their lord-
ships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.)
TRUCK SYSTEM.

Mr. C. FORESTE Et asked the Secretary of State for
the Home Department whether, in consequence of the
report of her Majesty's commissioner for inquiring into
the operation of the truck system, it was the intention
of the Government to propose any measure on the sub-
ject ?
Lord PALMERSTON said the matter was one of
really. great, importance, and seemed to require fresh
legislation. He hoped to bring in a bill founded on the
report of Mr. Tremanheere.