The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-31 00:00:00

which devolved upon them in reference to addiesses to
the Crown. Before the act of last session it was neces-
sary in each particular case where it was intended to
issue a commission with a view to ulterior proceedings,
which were to affect the borough and not the individual
members by whom the contest was carried on, that an
act of Parliament should be introduced for the purpose
of constituting an extraordinary tribunal, vested with
extraordinary powers ; and their lordships would recd.-
loot what great care was taken that there should be
grounds for the passing of these particular acts. In
many instances when the House of Commons had heard
evidence by its committees, and sent up bills for the dis-
franchisement of a borough, their lordships examined
the evidence, but in other cases their lordships admitted
the parties to protect themselves and plead at the bar the
reasons why the act should not be carried into effect. It
was notorious that in the first instance in which an inquiry
was asked for—that of St. Alban's—that their lord-
ships, before consenting to that inquiry, and according
to the ordinary practice, requested to have the evidence
taken before the House of Commons laid before them.
A considerable time was given for the, purpose of ex-
amining that evidence, and it was his duty to ask their
lordships to assent to the bill for constituting the com-
mission of inquiry in that case. But in order to simplify
the proceedings, a general act of Parliament was passed
last year, on the principle of the general enclosure act,
which authorised the issuing of a commission in the
event of a joint address of both house of Parliament.
Consequently they were placed, with regard to the ad-
dresses to the Crown, precisely on the same footing as
they were previously to the passing of the act of last
session. Therefore if previously to the act of last session
they felt bound before issuing a commission to examine
and sift the evidence taken before the House of Com-
mons, he contended with great respect that the noble and
learned lord was mistaken in his doctrine when he said
that it was not necessary to surround the parties with
the same protection as to the examination of the evi-
dence which they had before the passing of the act of
last session—(hear, hear)—and therefore he denied that
the onus lay on their lordships' house to prove that
the House of Commons had come to a wrong conclu-
sion. (Hear, hear.) Having stated this, he begged to
say also that he deprecated and regretted the manner in
which this subject had been brought to an untimely con-
clusion, which caused the abandonment of the case, and
the leaving of the house by his noble and learned
friend. (Hear, hear.) Considering the great judicial
ability of his noble and learned friend, his great skill as
a lawyer, his high position, and his age, and looking
also to the circumstances of the case and the interests
involved, he thought he should not be made a subject
of that levity, of that offensive and sneering laughter,
which he regretted the noble earl opposite permitted on
the part of some of his subordinates and supporters.
(Hear, hear.) He thought his noble and learned friend
acted in the manner due to his character and position in
refusing to continue a discussion in the circumstances to
which, for the first time (and he hoped it would be the
last time), he felt himself exposed. (Hear, hear.) He
could not blame the course his noble and learned friend
pursued in declining to continue a discussion in which
he had met with disrespect. (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of ABERDEEN—My lords, I cannot con-
ceive what the noble earl means. (Loud cheers.) The
noble earl says that I permitted my subordinates—
whom does he mean by my subordinates 9—(cheers)--
that I permitted my subordinates to sneer. (Cheers.)
I can only say this, that I entertain unfeigned respect
for the noble and learned lord—(hear, hear)—that I did
not sneer—(hear, hear)—and that I did not entertain
the slightest feeling at any time but that of respect for
the noble and learned lord—(hear, hear)—and that I
listened attentively to his remarks. (Hear.) But when
the noble earl charges me with permitting my subordi-
nates to laugh, I can only say that I do not know any
one in this house who is not perfectly free either to laugh
or to cry. (" Hear, hear," and a laugh.)
Lord CAMPBELL said he regretted the course the
debate had taken—the more so as the blame, if any,
attached to him. The noble and leaned lord, for whose
learning and character he entertained the most sincere
respect, in arguing the case, stated that the report of
the House of Commons did not comply with the terms
of the act of Parliament, because it did not say that the
corrupt practices prevailed at the last election. He
(Lord Campbell) dissenting from that view of the act,
asked the noble and learned lord to refer to the words
of the act of Parliament, as was the ordinary habit in
courts of justice. (Hear, hear.) He did that without
meaning the least disrespect to the noble and learned
lord. (Hear, hear.) Neither did he believe that the
noble and learned lords near him meant the slightest
disrespect towards the noble and learned lord. (Hear,
hear.) With regard to the question before the house,
they were bound to see that the evidence was such as
to justify the House of Commons in coming to the con-
clusion they had come to ; but it was not necessary that
their lordships should come to a distinct conclusion of
their own. The noble earl's (Derby's) remarks had re-
ference to a bill for disfranchising a borough, in which
case it would be necessary for their lordships to consider
the evidence for themselves. (Hear.)
The address was then agreed to.
The other orders were disposed of, and their lordships
adjourned at a quarter to 8.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY. )
Lord GODERICH presented a petition from Hud-
dersfield in favour of the Combination of Workmen's
Bill.