The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-01 00:00:00

IMPERIAL

HOUSE OF COMMONS--(THIS DAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at 2 o'clock.
RAILWAY BILLS.

BOTIVERIE moved that the committee of selection
do nominate, from time to time, not more than one in
Eve of the members nominated by them as the general
committee on railway and canal bills, to act as chair-
men of sub committees on inch bills. To be made a
'Standing order.—Agreed to.
The West London Railway Bill was read a second
time, and ordered to be committed.
PETITIONS.

Mr. B. PARKER presented a petition from Preston,
praying for an amendment of the criminal law.
Several petitions were presented against any alteration
in the Parliamentary oaths.
A number of petitions were presented praying that
public-houses may be closed on the Lord's-day.
GRAVEYARD OF BERKELEY.

Mr. C. BERKELEY wished to ask the Under
Secretary of State for the Home Department whether
an application, signed by the proper authorities, had
reached the Home Office for closing the graveyard of the
town of Berkeley, in the county of Gloucester ; and, if
such application had been received, why the noble lord
had allowed three months to elapse without taking any
steps with regard to the subject.
Mr. FITZROY said a letter was received on the
14th of last November, and on the 6th of December an
answer was sent stating that an officer would be
sent down in due course to inspect the grave-
yard. Three officers had been appointed for the
especial purpose of inspecting the graveyards of the
country, and the inspector of the Gloucestershire dis-
trict would visit the Berkeley churchyard as soon as
possible. Of course, -wixestrhtristport was received at
the Home office it would be. immediately acted upon.
SUPPLY.
The report of the cotriMittee-of supply on the war and
ordnance expenses was brought-up and agreed to.
LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE.
On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. LUCAS took the opportunity of adverting to the
ease of the Misses Arrowsmith, referred to last
night by Mr. Chambers. He mentioned that while these
ladies were in a convent. he had an interview with
them, and he could assure_ the. house that they enjoyed
as much liberty and happiness there as it was possible
for one to obtain out of it., It was entirely with their
own free will that they entered and remained in the
convent.
The subject then dropped.
ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.
The house then went into committee of supply on the
Ordnance Estimates.

902,821/. was voted for -defraying the expense of
works and buildings abroad.
[LEFT SITTING.]

ALLEGED TRAFFIC IN SITUATIONS BY
IRISH REPRESENTATIVES.

Yesterday the committee on this subject re-assembled
in committee-room No. 19. Present : Mr. Henley (in
the chair), Lord Hotham, Mr. I. Butt, Mr. Macartney,
Mr. Granville Vernon, Mr. Bentinck, and Mr. Muntz.
Mr. Ennis, chairman of the Irish Midland Railway,
was the first witness. He said he was acquainted with
Mr. Christopher Kelly in 1841, who was then a clerk in
his counting-house, but denied that he had any conver-
sation with him in reference to the payment of a sum of
money to a member of Parliament for obtaining a situa-
tion as a stipendiary magistrate ?
The Chairman—Then lf Mr.- Kelly, has stated that a
Bum of 500/. was paid-404k member of Parliament on
the promise of a place, and the promise of another
500/. on that premise being ratified—you have no know-
ledge of it -
Mr. Ennis said he had not. If such conversation had
taken place he had no recollection of it. He would not
take upon himself to say, aye or no, that no such con-
versation took place, but he was strongly of opinion that
it did not. At the same time he was not in so good a
position to remember such a thing after 13 years had
passed as perhaps Mr. Kelly was.
Mr. Hanley was then called. He said he was a sti-
pendiary magistrate, and his' first appointment took
place on the 13th Feb., .Is4l.
The Chairman—lt has been stated to us by a witness
who was examined last week that your name has beer
mixed up with other persons in reference to that ap-
pointment. It is hardly fair to ask you anything further
upon this point, unless you wish to make any statement
upon it.
Mr. Henley—The statement of Mr. Kelly in the
papers is without a shadow of foundation. I applied to
two members of Parliament, and I have no objection to
lay their communications before the committee ; but no
such transactions as Mr. Kelly alleges ever took place.
The witness here produced a letter from the late Mr.
Dillon Browne, dated Dec. 5, 1837, in which .the writer
expressed his fear that the Government would pay little
attention to recommendations coming from him. The
next communication was from Mr. Somers :—" St.
James's Hotel, St. Jameis-street, Dec. 18, 1838.--My
dear Honley,—l have much pleasure in complying witt,
your request, and forward you the enclosed letter for
Lord Morpeth, wishing you success.—Believe me, in
haste, yours sincerely, .1. P. SOMERS."
A letter from Lord Brabazon was.of a tenour similar
to that of Mr. Browne.
In answer to the chairman the witness said he received
his appointment from Lord Morpeth.
Mr. Butt—Are the committee distinctly to under-
stand that you never icte any Consideration for your
appointment ?
Mr. Honley—Never.
The Chairman—Has there beeii any application made
toou for money on the part of Mr. Somers ?
Mr. Honley—At the time of-my appointment as ma-
gistrate I sold off my stock, and in the newspapers I
advertised that I had 1,0001. to lend. I was subse-
Inently applied to, and through my solicitor I lent 4001.
to Mr. Somers and 4001. to some one else. I lent the
money to Mr. Somers on the security of his bond. I
have not received the interest, and the property has been
sold by the Encumbered Estates Court, and after the
previous creditors are satisfied, I am the first to be paid.
I think that loan was made in 1840. A similar sum
was lent to Mr. Custins by Mr. Kane, my solicitor,
about the same time. In that case I have not received
one farthing. I applied to Mr. Somers three or four
times for the interest, and the only excuse for not pay-
ing it he made to me was by not answering my letters.
The money was lent on mortgage, and the interest was
to be paid from time to time, but I had no communication
with Mr. Somers, except through my solicitor.
Mr. Vernon—Then were you satisfied to let your
money go for 7 or 8 years and receive no interest for it ?
Mr. Honley—l was not, but under the circumstances
what could Ido ? I did not consider the money that I
lent to Custins near so well secured as that I lent to Mr.
Somers.

The Chairman—Through whose infleence did you get
the appointment
Mr. Honley—That of the late Mr. O'Connell.
After some other unimportant questions, the witness
was ordered to withdraw.
Dr. Gray was next called. He said he practised me-
dicine, and was the proprietor o" the Dublin Freeman's
Journal. He attended a dinner at Tuam in January
last, which was reported in the Freeman's Journal of the
27th of January.
The speech was read over to witness and was stated
by him to be a summary of what he said, and not a
perfectly accurate one. The public will remember that
he asserted some member of Parliament had endeavoured
to sell the office of paid guardian:
Upon being pressed by the committee to give the
names of the parties referred to he hesitated to do so,
stating that they were given to him confidentially.
The Chairman—You, in your discretion, made the
Statement, without saying to whom it points, and, as it
affects a whole body of gentlemen who may be sus-
pected most unjustly, I think you cannot withhold the
name of the parties.
Dr. Gray said as the statement was given confiden-
tially he had great difficulty in revealing that that was
confidential.
The Chairman—As this statement may be injurious
to several persons, you must, verify it by giving the
names.

Dr. Gray—lf I can do so without a breach of confi-
dence I am ready to do so.
The Chairman—Who is the solicitor ?
Dr. Gray—Mr. Charles O'Hara, of Wellington-street,
Dublin.
The Chairman—Who stated to you that he was nego-
tiating with a member of Parliament for the office of
paid guardian
Dr. Gray—Mr. James Fair informed me of the nego-
tiation. He is now an apprentice to Mr. Dooley.
To Mr. Vernon—He conveyed to me an impression
that he was acting as the agent of a member of Parlia-
ment.
The Chairman—Who was the member of Parliament!
Dr. Gray—Mr. Somers.
To Mr. Vernon—l do not know from my own per-
Renal knowledge that Mr. O'Hara was acting for Mr.
Somrs.
Mre. Butt—ln your speech you said the 'system was
generally pursued; do you know of any other instance?
Dr. Gray—l have heard of a great many, but not to
ray knowledge. I have heard general statements from
members of the house.
Mr. Butt—Can you give the committee any other in-
stance to justify the general charge and accusation you
have made ?
Dr. Gray—There are a great many cases, but I have
not inquired into them.
Mr. Vernon—Do you consider you can justify your-
self in making such a sweeping charge against a body of
members ?
Dr. Gray—l did not make a general charge. I spoke
of general corruption. I made no general charge against
the Irish members, but I did charge a section of them
with pretending to advance the condition of Roman
Catholics by obtaining situations, but instead of doing
so distributing them among their own friends, and thus
selling their country.'
It being now intimated that the Speaker was at
prayers, the committee adjourned.

GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANT.—The fifty-
eighth half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in this
company was held yesterday at their offices, 71, Lom-
bard-street, Mr. John Wilkin, in the chair. The report
of the directors, and a statement of the accounts for the
year ending the 31st December last were read to the
meeting. The report, which was very satisfactory, was
unanimously received and adopted by the proprietors.
The usual dividend and bonus were declared, and the
cordial thanks of the proprietors voted to the chairman
and directors for their continued zealous services in the
Management of the company's affairs ; after which the
Looting separated.