The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-22 00:00:00

Russell) heartily concurred in the motion for leave to in-
troduce the bill ; and he trusted the noble lord would not
unduly press a measure of such importance at a period of
the session when Parliament might not be able to give to
it that attention which it deserved. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUME considered the bill of the noble lord was of
the utmost importance, but he complained that it wholly
overlooked the secular education of the masses of the people.
His (Mr. Hume's) opinionwas that the interest of the Church
required that no dignatary should be maintained in her ser-
vice unless he had duties to perform, and that her ser-
vant should be paid in proportion to the duties they had
to discharge. When so large a sum as 3,000,000/. had been
raised by the voluntary contributions of the Free Church
of Scotland, he surely was not wrong in expecting that
much more zeal and spirit might be shown by the rich and
wealthy in this country. At any rate, he rejoiced that
now the first stop had been taken ; because, though he
could not agree with all the propositions of the noble mar-
quis, he was sure it would effect a great reform which had
long been wanting in the Church. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HEADLAM expressed his entire concurrence in the
object of the noble lord. With respect to the diocese of
Durham, the operation of the scheme of the commissioners
was to divert the church funds of that district, and apply
them to the country at large, leaving the population of Dur-
ham comparatively destitute. Newcastle, with Gateshead,
contained a population of 113,000; they had been applied
to to raise a fund for the Church, to which they had ac-
ceded, though it was very hard upon them that their own
funds should be diverted in the way he had described.
The population of this county of Durham had increased
faster than any other district, with the exception of Lan-
cashire and one or two others—the result of the open-
ing of the great coal field there ; and there was no
doubt that r, district with a population so rapidly grow-
ing must? equire a great extension of church accommoda-
tion. He should endeavour to introduce into the bill a
clause giving the districts where the funds were produced
a prior claim upon them.
Sir B. HALL said he had long paid attention to this
subject, and had endeavoured to bring about a better dis-
tribution of church property, in consequence of which he
had been exposed to much obloquy. He certainly did not
expect, at so early a period, to see the House of Commons
acquiescing in the proposition to permit a bill like that to
be introduced, which went further that anything he had
ever proposed. He would not enter largely into tile sub-
ject, as there seemed a unanimous feeling that the propo-
sition should go forward, and should be discussed on the
second reading. If it were proposed that the revenues of
the church should be made available for the church gene-
rally, instead of for particular districts, he would eve it
is hearty support. The )4church ought to be viewed
generally, not in sections ; and if any district was
more richly endowed than another—if there was more
property in Durham than was necessary for the wants
of the community—the poorer districts ought to have
the benefit of the distribution of that property. (Hear,
hear.) In Wales, real poverty might be seen among
the working clergy; and any proposal to make the su-
perfluous wealth of the diocese of Durham available for
the wants of the church, either in the poorer districts of
England, or in the principality, should have his hearty
support. He sincerely hoped that the bill would pass into
a law this session, being confident that its result would
be to render the church more beloved and more cared for.
-Mr. EWART expressed his approvral of the leading
features of the bill. He wished to call attention to an
anomaly in the working of the capitular act, by which
the deans on the old foundations received more than those
on the new, who were limited to 1,0001. a year, and some
of them actually received less than the canons. In this
respect, the object of the act had been defeated ; and he
hoped the bill now proposed would supply a remedy.
Mr. FERGUSON spoke in praise of the efforts of
the hard-working clergy, to whom, he said, the present
efficient state of the church was mainly due. (Hear.)
In his own name, and in the name of the working clergy,
he thanked the noble marquis for having introduced the
bill.

Mr. A. PELLATT concurred in the tribute of praise
which was bestowed on the noble lord for having intro-
duced the bill.. He sympathised with the distresses of the
working clergy of the Church of England, but, at the
same time, there were clergymen in the enjoyment of large
incomes for . which they did but little in return. He
thought there ought to be a most searching inquiry into
those incomes, and into the management of church pro-
perty. As a nonconformist he thought he was entitled to
claim a part At the merit for the nonconformist clergy in
helping to WM about the improved state of things which
the noble marquis referred to.
Mr. PHILLIMORE observed that pluralities were
rapidly disappearing, and by the existing laws it was im-
possible they could be renewed.
The Marquis of BLANDFORD, in reply, tendered his
thanks to the government for the manner in which they
had received his motion, which he agreed in thinking,
with his hon. friend the member for Marylebone, was a
sign of a great advance. (Hear, hear.)
Leave was then given to bring in the bill.
SEPTENNIAL ACT.
The SPEAKER having called on Lord Dudley Stuart,
whose motion for the repeal of the Septennial Act and of
shortening the duration of parliaments, stood next on the
notice paper,
Mr. HUME submitted to his noble friend whether, con-
sidering that the government had promised to introduce a
reform bill next session; considering also the great im-
portance of the subject, the state of the house (which was
very thin), and the prospect of the debate being inter-
rupted, it would be better for his noble friend not to sub-
mit his motion under these circumstances. (Hear, hear.)
Lord D. STUART said he was most unwilling to post-
pone a question of so much importance as the shortening of
the duration of parliaments, but at the same time he was
desirous of giving every weight to the opinion of so eld, so
tried, and so steady a reformer as his bon. friend. He was
quite aware also that he rose to bring forward his motion at
the most critical hour of the clay. (Laughter.) Under these
circumstances he would bow to the better judgment of
his hon. friend. But he should decline to give any pledge
9.8 to the course he should pursue in reference to the sub-
ject in the present session, or any future session of Parlia-
ment. (Hear, hear.)
The motion was then withdraw).
SEIZURE OF WATCHES.
Mr. M. CHAMBERS rose to move for a select com-
mittee to inquire into the circumstances connected with
the unlawful seizure by two officers of the customs, on the
10th day of February, 1852, of foreign and English
watches of the value of upwards of 5,0001., and of books,
letters, papers, and bills of exchange, the property of
Lucien Marchand, and to ascertain what steps have been
taken by the commissioners of customs to investigate the
conduct of the officers, and to make restitution of such
property. The hon. and learned gentleman, after a few
introductory observations, and characterising the seizure
as unlawful, was proceeding to, state the circumstances
under which it was made, when
An HoN. MEMBER moved that the house be counted.
And there being but 35 members present, the house
adjourned at a quarter to eight o'clock.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, JUNE 21.

ARRIV.A.OI, REAR-ADMIRAL COREY'S SQUADRON AT
SPITHEAD.
Rear-Achnir4 orry' s squadron, consisting of the
Prince Regent;"-90 (flag) ; London, 90 ; Imperieuse, 60 ;
Amphion, Highflyer, 21; and Leopard, 12, hove in
sight off t ' port this day at half-past 12, and came up
to Spithe in the following order :—The Prince Regent,
towed by; e Leopard ; London, towed by the Impe-
rieuse ; phion, towed (!) by the Highflyer. The
Prince Regent anchored at 1 55 p.m. ; London, at 2 ;
Leopard, at 2 4 • Imperieuse, at 2 16 ; Amphion, at
220 ; and Highflyer, at 2 34. There is now assembled
at this port the most powerful fleet of steamers of war
the world can produce, among them nine sail of the line
(sailers and steamers), and eight first-class frigates, as
the following enumeration of their character v• ill show :
Horse-
Name. Guns. power. Class.
Duke of Wellington l3l 780 Screw three-decker.
Neptune 120 Sailing three-decker
Agamemnon
Prince Regent ..... 90 Sailing two-decker.
London
Imperieuse 6O 360 Screw frigate.
Blenheim
Ajax
Hogue GO 450 Screw two-decker.
Edinburgh 5B 450 Screw two-decker.
Arrogant
Amphion. . •
Sidon
Highflyer
Odin
Encounter l4 360 Screw corvette.
Vesuvius
Banshee 2 360 Paddle express boat.

A most appalling accident occurred on board the
London. The Imperieuse had her in tow. By some
unaccountable means the chain at the' end of the towing
hawser snapped, and in an instant killed First Lieu-
tenant Wellesley P. Chapman and five men, besides
severely wounding five others, one of whom died shortly,
afterwards. On the same day a marine jumped over-
board from the London, and was picked up by High-
flyer's boat, which was instantly manned and lowered
in time to pick up the man and save his life. The above
accident happened when the Lizard bore N.E. by E.
730 miles. Barring accidents, the squadron is healthy.
It appears, that on coming out of Lisbon, the Am-
phion broke her slide-valve, which placed her, as a
cripple in regard to steam. The squadron exchanged
signals with the French merchant barque Brilliant, in
lat. 41 55 N., and long. 14 15 W. ; they also, in leaving
Lisbon on the 12th, passed the William 11/Mower, of
Dumfries. The evolutions of the squadron consisted of
bending and reefing sails, beating to quarters, night
attacks, boarding, &c.

The Neptune, 120, Captain Scott, came out of the
basin to-day, and took up moorings off Gosport. She
is fitting for sea with all expedition.
The Odin, 16, Captain F. Scott, came into harbour to-
day to have her bottom examined.
The Oberon steam-vessel, Lieut. Wise, came into har-
bour to-day to be paid off.
The Banshee dispatch steam-vessel, Lieut. llosken,
came into harbour this afternoon to coal.

The Royal yacht Victoria and Albert, Capt. Crispin,
received her crew to-day, and is now ready for her Ma-
jesty's service.
The Vernon Indiaman passed this port for London
this morning, from Bombay. She sent in, by the Deal
lugger, Axton, master, the following passengers :
Lieut. T. J. Francis, of the 9th Lancers ; Ensign Wm.
Sheehy, 64th Regt. ; and Mrs. Abbott and family.
COURTS-MARTIAL.—A court-martial took place on
board the Victory this day to try Thomas Calmeaton,
quartermaster of her Majesty's steamer Encounter, for
stealing and disposing of an eyeglass belonging to Mr.
John Browne, naval cadet of the same ship. The case
depended upon the identity of the receiver, and this not
being satisfactory to the court the prisoner was acquitted.
A court-martial has also been ordered on Thomas Ben-
nett Clarke, gunner of the Royal Marine Artillery of her
Majesty's steamer Arrogant, for leaving hi station, re-
fusing to do his duty, and for striking his serjeant.
PRINCESS ROYAL, 91, SCREW.—Everything in connec-
tion with the progress of this launch is being carried
into effect with the utmost energy. Seats have been
erected for the accommodation of upwards Of 5,000 per-
sons. It has been considered necessary to carry out her
ways some 20 feet, in case of any falling short of the rise-
of tide. Nothing has been spared to give effect to the
launch of this sister ship to Agamemnon, and we trust
that a fine day will give effect to a scene so dear to the