The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-04 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.)

The house resumed at five o'clock.
REPLY OF HER MAJESTY TO THE ADDRESS.

After the presentation of some petitions,
The LORD CHANCELLOR said--I have to ac-
quaint your lordships that the house waited this day
upon her Majesty with the address, which was voted by
your lordships on Friday last, and that her Majesty was
pleased to return the following most gracious answer :
" I have to thank you for your loyal and dutiful ad-
dres. It is highly gratifying to me to receive an
assurance of your co-operation in giving effect to the
measures which I coo,i,ler necess try for the honour
of my Crown, and the welfare of my people."

ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
The Earl of ABERDEEN gave notice of his inten-
tion to move the adjournment of the house for the
Easter holidays, from Tuesday the 11th inst. until
Thursday the 27th.
CHURCH BUILDING ACTS AMENDMENT
BILL.
The Earl of HA.RROW BY moved the second reading
of this bill, the object of which is to enable churches in
parishes, in cities and market towns to be pulled down,
and to permit benefices to be united for religious pur-

poses.
Earl POWIS objected to the loose wording of the bill,
which rendered it difficult to ascertain to what localities
it would be applicable. He thought the measure would
not prove so innocent as it seemed to be at the first
glance.
The Bishop of LONDON explained that all the pro-
visions of the bill were conditional. He supported it,
as being absolutely necessary in the present condition of
the metropolis.
Lord ST. LEONARDS contended that all the churches
which were to be pulled down under the provisions of
the measure should be determined upon and designated
before the bill was allowed to pass.
The bill was then read a second time.
TESTAMENTARY JURISDICTION BILL
The house went into committee on this bill,

On Clause 6,
Lord WYNFORD said the commission which was
appointed on this subject refused to recommend the
transfer of the jurisdiction to the Court of Chancery, and
and the majority of those who voted on the report were
the judges to whom under this bill the jurisdiction would
be transferred. He moved, as.au amendment, that in-
stead of the words " exercised by her Majssty's High
Court of Chancery," the words " exercised by her Ma-
jesty's Court of Probate" be inserted.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said if this amendment
were adopted the bill would be male a t,tally different
bill, and every word of it must be altered. tie there-
fore trusted that their lordships would not agree in this
amendment.
The Earl of DONOUGHMORE suppOrted the
amendment.
Lord CAMPBELL thought that instead of erecting
a Court of Probate it would be better to let the bd.i stand
g there to
thewa s
as it was, and let the business of Probate
at
Court of Chancery, always supposing th •
one tribunal in the Court of Chancery to which parties
could resort
Lord ST. LEONARDS agreed that the jurisdiction
should be in the Court of Chancery and not in a Court
of Probate ; but he wished that it should be confined to
one Court in Chancery, and that the Udge of the
Prerogative Court, whose office-had been kept up at his
suggestion, should be called on to sit with the judge of
that court when necessary.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he thought that
the clause in the bill provided all that was necessary,
and avoided difficulties which the laiiguage of the clause
of his noble and learted friend caused.
Lord ST. LEONARDS said that he had been told
by one of the principal advocates that the giving them
precedence in the court would be a great boon ; but as
he only wished to benefit them, and they did not desire
it, he would strike that provision out.
The Earl of HARROWBY inquired whether the es-
tablishment of one court in Chancery would have the
effect of keeping up proctors and advocates.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he hoped so. He
thought the business would naturally fall into their
hands, although they could not have precedence. As
to exclusive right to the business that was never con-
templated.
Lord ST. LEONARDS said that he could not strike
out that part of his clause which related to the prece-
dence of advocates in the new court.

The clauses up to 36 were then agreed to, with verbal
amendments.
Before clause 37 was put,
Lord ST. LEONARDS moveck the. clause above
stated, with reference to confining the jurisdiction of
probate to one court in Chancery ;
Which was opposed by the LORD CHANCELLOR.
Their lordship then divided
For the clause
For the amendment... lO-4
The remaining clauses and the schedule having passed,
the house resumed. The bill to be reported this day.
Their lordships adjourned at 20 minutes past eight
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—L(YESTERDAY.)
The house resumed at half-past 5 o'clock.
THE ADDRESS.

The SPEAKER acquainted the house that the house
had to-day been with her Majesty, and presented the
address in reply to her Majesty's message, to which she
had been pleased to make the following most gracious
reply :

" I thank you for you loyal and dutiful a ldress. The
declaration of your sentiments on this occasion aff irds me
great satiNfaction, I rely with confidence on your co-ope-
ration in the measures which I may consider necessary
for thehonour of my crown and the welfare of my peo►ple."

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Lords amendments to the Leeds New Gm Bill
were considered and agreed to.
' The following bilis were read a third time and passed :
—Bacup Improvement, Brighton and Hove Gm, Clyde
Navigation (Amendments to be proposed), Doncaster
'Cemetery, Glasgow New Street, Hereford Improvement,
Imperial Gas Company,' Stockton, Middlesbrough, and
Yarm Water, North London Railway.
" The following bills were consigleretl, and ordered to
be read a third time :—A.rnbergate, Nottingham, and
Boston, and EamternJanction ; Belfast Harbour ; Blyth
and Tyne Railway ; Bolt. m Gas, Cardiff Ga Chesterfield
Market, Hamilton Waterworks, Harrow Waterworks,
Havering, Dagenham, Sewers ; Kingswood Roads ;
Port Gordon Harbour ; Ridghil., Lanes, and H dettouse
Road; Salford, Stockport, and •MAnche‘ter Division;
Tyne Keeltnen ; Wellin.gton (Salop) Improvement ;
Whiteha.ven, Cleator, an,l Ezrement Railway ; Loudon,
Bri bton, and South Coast R hilts.
The Dackbarn Improvemei.t (No 2) Bill was read a
second time, anti or lereti to b coonnittel
NORTH LONDON RIILWXY.
The Marqu's of C FIANDOS moved the third reading
of this bill, which gave rise to considerable discussion, in
the course of which

Mr. CARDWELL announced that on Thursday next
he should state the course which the Government meant
to pursue with rtgard to the general question of railway
legislation.
The bill, as well as several other railway bills which
atood on the paper for progress, were postponed until
Monday next, in consequence of this annourv.:eroent.
CHURCH LEA3EHOLDS.

On the motion of Mr. INGHAM the following address
was agreed to :—Address for return of the number of
leaseholds (every lease being considered as a distinct
leasehold) in the several dioces-s of England and Wales,
in respect of which applications have been made by the
lessees either to the archbishops and bishops, or deans
and chapters respectively, for the purchase of the rever-
sion or for the sale of the term, or for both in part ; and
whether on such application terms have been either
agreed upon and referred to the Church Estate Commis-
sioners, or declined by the lessees, or whether such ap-
plications have been declined by the lessors, and, if de-
dined, on what grounds, or remain under consideration.
RAILWAY SCHEMES.
On the motion of the Marquis of CHANDOS the
following return was ordered :—Copy of any communi-
cation from the General Committee on Railway and
Canal Bills to the Board of Trade, in reference to the
report of the tatter on railway schemes, dated February,
1854 ; and of any answer of the board thereto.

SCOTCH EDUCATION.
On the motion of Mr ALEX. HASTIE, the following ad•
dress was, agreed to :—Address for copies of correspon-
dence that has taken place between the promoters of. the
Secular School, St. Andrew's square, Glasgow, and the
Coinmittee4 of Council cm Education ; and of the cor•
respondence between die promoters of Williams's
SeCular School, E linburgh, and the stout committee.