The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-20 00:00:00

RESUME OF THE SESSION.

The parliamentary session which will this day be
brought to a close has been of an unusually protracted
and laborious character. Its career commenced under
the Derby and Disraeli administration, upon the 4th
November, 1852, when the constituent of the represen-
tative branch of the legislature comprised a greater num-
ber of new and inexperienced members than any pre-
vious Parliament for many years past. Under these
auspices it progressed, until the catastrophe of the 16th
of the following month, which resulted in the overthrow
of the Derby administration, and the formation of a new
cabinet by the Earl of Aberdeen. On the 31st Parlia-
ment adjourned, and on the 10th February, 1853, it re-
assembled for the real business of the session.
During this period the House of Commons has sat
159 days, and 1,152 hours ; being, in 1852, 38 days and
174 hours ; and in 1853 121 days and 973 hours. In
1852, the sittings averaged 4 11-19th hours each, and
in 1853, 8 1-24th hours each. During the whole ses-
sion they have averaged 74 hours each. The total num-
ber of hours in which the house sat past midnight is
125 ; being 64 hours in 1852, and 118& in 1853. Alto-
gether these sittings amount to 15 5-Bth days of 8 hours
each. The phenomenon known as a "no house" has
occurred only once, namely, on the 7th June ; but the
" counts out," including the "no house," at 6 o'clock
when the house met at 12, have been 8 in number.
The total number of divisions taken in the Commons
has been 260, being 21 in 1852, and 239 in 1853. The
greatest number in any one day has been 9, which oc-
curred on the 7th July and on the Ist August. The
divisions in the Lords have amounted to 25 only, all of
them in the course of the present year.
The only acts which received the royal assent under
the Derby administration were the Bills of Exchange
and Notes Metropolis Bill (a temporary measure baring
reference to bills falling due on the day of the Duke of
Wellington's funeral), which received the royal assent
on the 17th of November ; the Bank Notes Bill, the
West India Colonies, &c., Loans Act Amendment Bill,
and the Commons Inclosure Bill, which received the
royal assent on the 16th of December. Several other
measures, however, which were prepared by the late
Government have also been enrolled upon the statute
book.
Subjoined is a resume of some of the more important
events of the session :

1852.
Nov. 4. The new Parliament opened by Commission,
and the swearing in of members and peers proceeded with.
In the Commons—Mr. Speaker elected.
11. The swearing in of members continued until to-day,
when Parliament was formally opened by the Queen in
person. The address in reply to the gracious speech from
the throne moved and agreed to in both houses.
12. Message from the Queen relative to the funeral of
the Duke of Wellington.
16. In the Lords the Lord Chancellor made an elaborate
statement upon the administration of law in the Courts
of Chancery.
17. Both houses resolved to attend the funeral of the
illustrious Duke of Wellington.
18. Parliament attended at the funeral and did not sit
for the dispatch of business.
22. Mr. Napier introduced a series of bills for improv-
ing the relations between landlord and tenant in Ireland.
23. Mr. Villiers brought on his celebrated motion de-
claring free trade to be a wise, just, and beneficial mea-
sure.'
25. Debate on the free trade resolutions resumed.
26. The same concluded, and divisions taken.
29. Sir A. Cockburn brought on the case of the Derby
election petition.
Dec. 3. Ele Chancellor of the Exchequer made his finan-
cial statement.
6. The Marquis of Clanricarde introduced the free trade
question into the Lords. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
announced the change in the government of France, and
the recognition by this country of Napoleon 111. The
debate on the budget resumed. Supply, involving the
question of the defences of the country introduced.
9. Mr. Wilson called attention to the effect of the sugar
duties acts of 1846 and 1848 upon the British sugar

colonies.
10. The proposed new house tax under discussion in the
Commons.
16. Mr. Goulburn brought up the report of the Derby
Election Committee. Division taken on the inhabited
house duty, and the Government defeated by a majority of
19, the numbers being ayes, 286, noes, 305.
18. The Earl of Malmesbury announced in the Lords that
in consequence of tha division of the previous night in the
other house, the prime minister had gone to see her Ma-
jesty at Osborne. The Commons did not meet.
20. The Earl of Derby in the Lords, and the Chancellor
of the Exchequer in the Commons, stated that Ministers
had tendered their resignation to her Majesty, and that it
had been accepted.
23. The Earl of Derby announced that the Earl of Aber-
deen had undertaken to form an administration.
27. In the Lords, the Earl of Aberdeen, the new Pre-
mier, made a ministerial statement. The Commons occu-
pied with the issuing of new writs consequent upon the
Government appointments.
From this date till the 31st occupied in a similar manner,
when Parliament adjourned till February 10.

1853.

Feb. 10. Parliament re-assembled. Lord St. Leonards
laid upon the table a series of measures connected with
law reform. The Earl of Derby put a question to the
Premier relative to the ministerial policy. In the Com-
mons, Lord J. Russell made a statement upon the Govern-
ment measures to be introduced.
14. The Lord Chancellor introduced important measures
of law reform. The Marquis of Clanricarde brought before
the consideration of the house a speech recently made by
Sir C. Wood at Halifax, in which the right hon. baronet
spoke slightingly of the Emperor of the French. Mr.
Disraeli brought forward the same subject in the Commons.
15. Mr. Peel brought in the Clergy Reserves (Canada:
Bill ; and the Bishop of Exeter raised a discussion on the
same subject in the Lords.
17. Mr. Kinnaird called attention to religions persecu-
tion in Tuscany, as exemplified in the case of the Madiais.
18. Mr. Disraeli made inquiries respecting our relations
with France. The navy estimates proceeded with in Com-
mittee of Supply.
22. Mr. Spooner brought on his Maynooth motion.
24. The Earl of Ellenborough called attention to the
war with Ava. Sir J. Pakington made a speech on the
Australian colonies. Lord J. Russell stated the views
of the Government relative to the civil disabilities of the
Jews.
25. The Earl of Ellenborough introduced the Indian
question in the Lords, and Sir H. Willoughby the war
with Ava in the Commons. The army estimates were pro-
ceeded with in committee.
28. The Earl of Derby introduced the subject of the
Canada Clergy Reserves.
March 3. The Registration of Assurances Bill read a
second time in the Lords.
4. Lord Lyndhurst directed attention to the conduct of
foreign refugees in this country. The Canada Clergy Re-
serves Bill read a second time in the Commons.
7. National education in Ireland brought before the
Lords by the Earl of Clancarty. Questions connected with
pilotage and the mercantile marine in the Commons.
10. Mr. Fitzroy brought in the Aggravated Assaults
Bill.
11. The Earl of Ellenborough in the Upper, and Mr.
Bright in Lower House, introduced the question of the
future ernegont of India. The Jewish Disabilities Bill
re ad
17. a The Six-mile-bridge affray
second time in the Commons.
before the House of Com-
mons.
18. The same subject in the Lords. Parliament ad-
journed for the Easter recess.
April 4. Parliament re-assembled. Lord Campbell made
a speech upon the recent City address to Louis Napoleon.
Lord John Russell stated the intentions of the Govern-
ment with regard to the important subject of national
education.
7. Addresses in both houses to her Majesty on the birth
of a prince. The Irish consolidated annuities under dis-
cussion in the Commons.
8. The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated the proposi-
tions of the Government with regard to portions of the
national debt.
11. The Canada Clergy Reserves Bill and the Law of
Evidence (Scotland) Bill read a third time and passed in
the Commons.
14. Mr. M. Gibson moved his well-known resolutions
for the repeal of the " Taxes on Knowledge," and divisions
taken upon them.
15. In the Commons railway amalgamations and the
seizure of alleged warlike stores at Mr. Hale's factory,
Rotherhithe, came on for a discussion. The Jewish Dis-
abilities Bill, after a long and animated debate, read a
third time, and passed by a majority of 288 to 230.
18. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a speech of six
hours' duration, which occupied seventeen columns of the
newspapers, propounded his budget. In the Lords the
Far; of Winchelsea, after a long debate, failed to obtain a
committee to inquire into the system of education at May-
nooth.
19. In the Lords the case of Mr. Kirwan, and in the
Commons Sir B. Hall's motion with respect to the doings
of the late Board of Admiralty, wore under discussion.
21. Mr. Fitzroy brought in the Hackney Carriages Bill.
22. The Canada Clergy Reserves Bill debated at length,
and reacts, second time in the Lords. In the Commons the
South Sea and Other Annuities Compensation Bill went
through committee after long discussion.
25. The Income and Property Tax resolution debated in
the Commons and adjourned.
26. The South Sea, &c., Bill passed the Commons.
28. The Canada Clergy Reserves Bill passed the Lords.
The Budget debate resumed in the Commons.
29. The Jewish Disabilities Bill, of which the second
reading was proposed by the Earl of Aberdeen, was thrown
out in the Lords by a majority of 164 to 115.
May 2. Sir E. B. Lytton's amendment on the Income
Tax resolution in the Budget lost in the Commons by 323
to 252.
3. The Charitable Trusts Bill read a second time, and the
South Sea, &c., Bill a third time, in the Lords. The Chat-
ham Election under discussion in the Commons.
5. Mr. Hale's case discussed in the Commons at the in-
stance of Mr. T. Duncombe.
6. Mr. Dnffy's conduct led to a debate.
. 10. Earl Grey failed to obtain an address to her Majesty
on the subject gf secondary punishment. Mr. T. Chambers
brought in his Nunneries Bill.
12. The Income Tax resolution of the budget finally
passed through the Commons, and the debate on the
Legacy Duty resolution was commenced.
13. Parliament adjourned for the Whitsuntide recess.
19. Re-assembled; and the civil service estimates com-
menced in committee of supply.
26. Mr. Phillimore unsuccessful in an attempt to bring
in a bill for the reform of the church-rate system.
27. The Earl of Malmesbury in the Lords, and Mr.
Disraeli in the Commons, drew attention to the relative
positions of Russia and the Porte. The Succession Tax
Bill under discussion in the Lords.
30. Russia and the Porte, and the importation of slaves
into Cuba, formed the staple of the debates in the Lords.
31. Lord Lyndhurst's Alteration of Oaths Bill was read
a second time in the Lords. Mr. Moore brought the ques-
tion of the Irish church under the consideration of the
Commons.
June 1. Lord Hotham's Judges Exclusion Bill thrown
out in the Commons on the third reading by 224 to 123.
2. Lord Lyndhurst's Alteration of Oaths Bill lost on
going into committee by a majority of 84 to 69. The
Hackney Carriages Bill passed the Commons.
3. Sir C. Wood introduced the measure for the future
government of India, which was debated at great length
and ultimately adjourned.
6. The war in Burmah discussed in the Lords. The
Indian debate resumed and again adjourned in the Com-
mons.
. 10. The Marquis of Westmeath impugned the conduct
of Mr, Keogh, the Irish 001.W003renWhi, at the last