The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-29 00:00:00

JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL.

The Earl of ABERDEEN rose to move the second
reading of this bill. Two years ago when the subject
was before the house, he had voted against the measure,
but about Jan. or Feb., 1852, he had changed his opin-
ion on the subject, and before the accession of the noble
earl opposite to office, he had mentioned to his right
hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and to the
noble lord near him (Newcastle), his intention of sup-
porting the measure when itagain came before Parliament.
He had stated this now in order that it might not be
supposed his change of opinion might not have any-
thing to do with late political combinations. (Hear.)
The disabilities under which the Jews at present la-
boured were the remnant of that feeling of persecution
which had formerly prevailed throughout all Christen-
dom. We had looked upon the Jews as a people which
had committed an inconceivable crime, and having im-
precated upon their own heads the Divine curse, and we
had taken upon Qui selves more or less to give effect to
the Divine wrath and carry out the vengeance of the Al-
mighty. It had long been acknowledged by all that re-
ligious disbelief or religious error should be no obstacle
to the enjoyment of civil rights, and the Jew was the
only exception to this rule. The disabilities which Par-
liament had formerly imposed upon the Roman Catholics
were not enacted because of their religious tenets, but in
consequence of their political opinions. It was said that
this measure would unchristianise the nation ; but they
had allowed Jews to enter the legislatures of Canada and
Jamaica, and yet the effect had not been to unchristian-
ise these colonies.

[LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(THIS EVENING.,
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before four o'clockJ

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Rossendale Waterworks Bill was read a third
time, and passed.

The London Docks Bill, and the Londonderry, Ennis-
killen, and Sligo Railway Bill, were considered, and
ordered to be read a third time on Monday.

TOTN ES ELECTION.

The members of the Totnes Election Committee were
called to the table and sworn, and appointed to sit at
twelve o'clock to-morrow.
HARWICH ELECTION.

The members of this committee were also sworn, and
appointed to sit at twelve to-morrow.

PETITIONS.

Mr. WILCOX presented a petition from tea-dealers in
Southampton against any increase in the cost of trading
licenses.

Mr. FREWEN presented a petition from Sussex in
favour of the total repeal of the malt duties.
Lord GODERICH presented ,several petitions from
Yorkshire in favour of legalising marriage with a de-
ceased wife's sister.

Mr. OLIVEIRA. presented several petitions from
Kent to the same effect.

Mr. A. HASTIE presented a petition from tea and
coffee dealers in Glasgow, against any increase in their
annual licenses.

Mr. A. KINNAIRD presented a petition from En-
field, Middlesex, against the opening of the Crystal
Palace on Sunday.
Mr. HEADLAM presented a petition from Newcastle,
in favour of the reduction of the duty on cork ; also a
petition from Gateshead, approving of the proposition to
extend the income tax to Ireland, and generally in favour
of the Ministerial budget.
Lord BROOKE presented a petition from Warwick-
shire against the malt tax.
Lord D. STUART presented a petition from Fredk.
John Cheshire, on behalf of himself and other settlers in
Canada, complaining of being ejected from certain lands
purchased by them from the British Government, on the
ground of such lands forming part of an " Indian re-
serve."

Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from the Man-
chester Chamber of Commerce, praying that the gene-
ral propositions of the budget be passed into a law.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL presented a petition
from the Polytechnic Institution, Southampton, in favour
of the distribution of Parliamentary papers to literary
and scientific institutions.
CLERGY RESERVES BILL.

The SPEAKER acquainted the house that the Lords
had agreed to the Clergy Reserves (Canada) Bill. (Cheers.)
THE BUDGET.

Lord PALMERSTON presented a petition from
Finsbury, in favour of the Government financial scheme,

RAILWAY AMALGAMATION.

In reply to Mr. RICARDO,

Mr. OA.RDWELL said it was the intention of the
Government to lay down their views on the subject of
railway amalgamation in the course of the present session.
M. KOSSUTH AND THE SEIZURE OF ROCKETS
AT ROTHERHITHE.

On the motion that the house at its rising do adjourn
until Monday next,

Sir J. WTALMSLEY said it would be in the recol-
lection of the house that when he put a question a few
days ago to the Government respecting the seizure of
rockets at Rotherhithe, he received an intimation that
legal proceedings on the subject were then pending.
Since then he had received a communication from M.
Kossuth, in which he unequivocally stated that he had
no connection either directly or indirectly with the manu-
facture of warlike stores or arms in this country. Other
statements had been publicly made on the same
subject, and they were gaining general credence in the
metropolis greatly to the injury of the reputation of M.
Kossuth. He therefore wished to ask the noble lord
the Secretary for the Home Department, whether the
legal investigation into the seizure of arms or warlike
stores at Rotherhithe, had resulted in substantiating the
charges or insinuations that Louis Kossuth was con-
nected therewith ; and, whether the police had been
employed to watch the residence of Louis Kossuth or
the houses of other political refugees.
Lord PALMERSTON said the house was aware that
one of the proceedings before the Bow-street Magistrate
with regard to the seizure of gunpowder was closed, and
that a decision had been given, and that, with regard
to the other case as to the rockets, the magistrate
interrupted the proceedings, and stated that he thought
the case ought to be sent before another tribunal. The
honourable gentleman had asked him what was the
result of this latter proceeding as regarded certain im-
putations which had been cast upon M. Kossuth.
Now he really could do no more than say, that that
which had hitherto passed in regard to these proceedings
was now before the public, and that every man was in a
position to form his own opinion upon that which had
been stated in evidence. (Hear, hear.) When the
further proceedings which were pointed out by
the magistrate were entirely concluded, the pub-
lic would then have still better grounds on
which to arrive at a decision. With regard to the last
question, he had to state that it was the duty of the
police, according to their general as well as their special
instructions, to watch the proceedings of any persons,
whether Englishmen or foreigners, who were open—it
might be rightly or wrongly—to the suspicion of con-
templating any breach of the law. (Hear, hear.) Nei-
ther M. Kossuth, nor any political refugee in this coun-
try, could ibe exempt from these ordinary precautions,
which were taken against any individual, whether he
was a British subject or not. (Cheers.)
Mr. BRIGHT wished to know whether the proceed-
ings taken by the police in this matter were in the first
place instituted in consequence of, or arose from, direct
or indirect instructions from the Home Department.
The noble lord, in his answer the other night, and to-
night, had taken a course which in his (Mr. Bright's)
opinion was not becoming his position, nor becoming
the Government of this country in regard to Kos-
suth. They spoke in that and the other house as if
we offered a refuge to the exiles from all foreign
countries— (hear, hear)—but it had been broadly stated
in the public press that the Government had either di-
rectly or indirectly permitted spies to be set on the
house of M. Kossuth— -(hear, hear)—andlon all the per
sons who went in or came out of the house, and who
were supposed to have any communication with
him. (Hear, hear.) Then there was a seizure of cer-
tain war stores at Rotherhithe, and the newspaper
which was the great organ of the Government, pv.b-
lished the most defamatory charges against Louis Kos-
suth. The noble lord, who must know all the facts of
the case as well as any man in the kingdom, was
asked to state, not the whole circumstances of the
case, but whether he had any evidence which con-
nected M. Kossuth with the proceedings at Rq.