The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONVON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 26, 1854.

companies should be liable under such circumstances.
The legislative machinery seemed that session to be
wholly out of gear, but he hoped that in the next session
the Government would do their duty in this matter.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY could assure the
noble earl that a similar measure to that which had been
withdrawn would be introduced next session.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS--(YESTERDAY.)
The STUMM took the chair at 12 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Lords' Amendments to the West London Rail-
way and the Westminster Terminus Railway Bills were
considered and agreed to.
THIRD READINGS.

The Stainforth's Estate and Stirling's Estate Bill were
read a third time and passed.
The Worsley's Estate Bill was read a second time.
BRIBERY BILL.

The consideration of this bill, as amended, was then
proceeded with, commencing with the adjourned debate
on Lord John Russell's clause making it illegal to give
refreshments to voters on the day of nomination or
polling.
Mr. WALPOLE opposed the clause as being at
variance with public opinion. It was hopeless to think
of inducing the elector to register his vote solely from
patriotic motives.
Mr. THORNELY strongly objected to allowing
either travelling expenses or refreshments, as it would
be only. opening the door to endless bribery and
treating.

Mr. T. EGERTON said the clause was decidedly
at variance with the feelings of the country, prohibiting
as it did the commonest hospitality, and he was satisfied
that it would be largely evaded.
Mr. STANHOPE argued that it was unjust to expect
that men would come from a long distance to poll at
county elections, if they were required not only to loose
a day but to pay for their own refreshments. He there-
fore agreed with the last speaker that all parties would
combine to evade the clause. _

Mr. L. HEYWORTH remarked that, if they wished
to elevate the character of the elector, they must abolish
both travelling expenses and refreshments.
Mr. M-CANN said the bill would be useless if they
allowed reasonable refreshments of any kind. It was a
mistake to permit travelling expenses, but if they per-
mitted refreshments, bribery and treating would be as
rife as ever. _ _

---Capt. SCOBELL hoped the noble lord would adhere
to the clause.

Mr. E. BALL obtained his election without the ex-
pense of a penny piece, and he never would consent to
sit.upon any other terms. A member of Parliament gave
up a good deal of time to the service of his constituents,
and it was unjust to expect him to pay either travelling
or refreshment expenses The dignity of the electors, as
well as the integrity of the member, depended in a great
measure upon the absence of both, and, under these cir-
cumstances, he should oppose treating of every kind.
Mr. ROBERTS also supported the clause.
Mr. BARROW insisted that county electors coming
from a distance were entitled to reasonable refreshment.
The house then divided, when there appeared—
For the clause
Against it 35
Majority —.42
The clause was accordingly read a second time.
Lord R. GROSVENOR moved to add the day of de-
claration to the day of nomination and polling.
Lord J. RUSSELL hoped the• noble lord would not
press his amendment.
Mr. G. BANKES moved to insert the following
words, " not being refreshment reasonably incidental to
the travelling expenses of such voter."

Mr. HILDYARD seconded the amendment.
Lord J. RUSSELL said the object a the clause was
to remove the uncertaicty of the law of treating, but if
this amendment were adopted, he was afraid it would
not attain that object, because it was very difficult to
decide what were reasonable refreshments to be allowed
to travellers. He therefore could not assent to the
amendment.

Sir F. KELLY thought it would be carrying their
legislation too far to reject this amendment. The house
already decided that reasonable travelling expenses
should be allowed to a voter coming from a distance,
and how could they stop short in allowing him reasonable
refreshment in the course of the journey when it was
long.

After some further discussion the house divided, when
there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority -- 52
The amendment was accordingly rejected
Lord R. GROSVENOR movel to leave out from the
word "refreshment" in line six, to the end of the clause,
in order to insert the words "shall be deemed an ille
gal act, and the person so offending shall forfeit the sum
of 40s. for each offence to any person who shall sue for
the same, together with full cost of suit," instead thereof.
The amendment was agreed to, after a brief technical
discussion.

Mr. M'MAHON moved to add the following clauses
after clause 14 :—ln case of any indictment or informa-
tion by a private prosecutor for any offence against the
provisions of this act, if judgment shall be given for the
defendant, be shall be entitled to recover from the pro-
secutor the costs sustained by the defendant by reason
of such indictment or information, such costs to be
taxed by the proper officer of the Court in which such
judgment shalt be given. It shalt not be lawful for any
Court to order payment of the costs of a prosecutor for
any offence against the provisions of this ac, un-
le,s the prosecutor shall before, or upon the finding
of the indictment, or the granting of the information,
enter into a recognisance, with two sufficient sureties, in
the sum of 2001. (to be acknowledged in like manner as
ia't now
i required ionf
ac a sdeesf e on fd
awritsn of
an certiorarieao
tw) a
Irld. i et
hd
the conditions following, that is to say, that the prose-
cutor shall conduct the prosecution with effect, and
shall pay to the defendant or defendants, in case he or
they shall be acquitted, his or their costs.
Mr. PHINN opposed the clauses, as the principle of
giving security for costs by a prosecutor was unknown
to the English law ; but if it were, the case of bribery
was not one which it ought to apply to.
Sir F. KELLY insisted on the other hand, that
bribery was an exceptional case, and since parties were
liable to be improperly prosecuted for it during the heat
of political excitement, it was only right to recover
their costs. At the same time it should always be pro-
vided that prosecutions for bribery by the Crown should
be exempt from this rule.

After some observations from Mr. HILD YARD.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the clauses,
believing that it would be unwise to throw any obstacles
in the way of prosecutions for bribery, or they would
never be undertaken at all. He had, however, no objec-
tion to give the judge the power of granting the defend.
ants costs where he thought the prosecution had been
instituted without sufficient cause, or from malicious
motives.

After some further discussion the clauses were agreed
to, and were ordered to be added to the bill.
Some other clauses were added to the bill, which was
then considered, as amended, and ordered to be read a
third time on Friday next at the evening sitting.
The other twelve o'clock orders were then disposed of,
and the sittings were suspended at four o'clock.

The house resumed at six o'clock.
QUEEN'S MESSAGE.—ADJOURNED DEBATE.
Mr. BOUVERIE having brought up the report of sup-
ply on the vote of credit.
On the question that the resolution be read a second
time, _ _

Lord D. STUART rose to move the addition of the fol-
lowing amendment, of which he had given notice :
"That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, to
return her Majesty the thanks of this house for her most
gracious message, and to assure her Majesty, that her Ma-
jesty, deeming it expedient to provide for any additional
expense which may arise in consequence of the war in
which her Majesty is now engaged against the Emperor of
Russia, may fully rely on the cheerful zeal and constant
affection of her faithful Commons, and to assure her Ma-
jesty that they most readily do make provision according
to her Majesty's wishes, and humbly to pray, that her
Majesty will be graciously pleased not to prorogue her Par-
liament until she shall have been enabled to afford to this
license more full information with respect both to her Ma-
jesty's relations with foreign powers, and to her views and
prospects in the contest in which her Majesty is engaged."
He had stated last night that he thought it desirable such
a motion should be made, and the occurrences of last night
had convinced him that such a motion was now not only
desirable, but necessary. Probably the annals of Par-
liament did not record a similar occurrence to that which
the house witnessed with astonishment last night, when
the leader of the Government in that house came down
on a solemn occasion, and not in the heat of contro-
versy, and not in reply to observations made by his
opponents, but deliberately made an exposition of the
policy of the Government—of the objects which they pro-
posed to attain in the present war—and then, not after the
lapse of any length of time, but almost within the same
hour, contradicted what he had said before, and gave an
explanation which was understood by the house to be a
retraaation. (Cries of " No, no.") It was an explana-
tion so different from the former statement of the noble
lord, that he knew no word by which to describe it except
'.' retractotion." It appeared that almost every one in the
the oppositio
house had understood the noble lord as he had been under-
the
that such
stood by the right
hon. member for Backs, the leader of
kind, he found that n• (Cries of " No.") He did not hesitate to
ing to the usual
was the general understanding, and on look-
in an organ thatarie
urce of information in matters of that
derstood in the tby all of them the noble lord was an-
manner. He found from the report
avoured the Government, that the noble
Lord D. STUART—Tha
emaiimes.
lord said—
Lord J. RITSSELL—N
(Calls of "Order.")
Well, if he was out of
journal, he would takehet
leer in referring by name to that
report of another organ which
equally favoured the Government.
.4 The noble lord was
there reported to have said. Rut there is another mode
in which the position of R menacing to the inde-
tifhe establishment of
pendence and integrity of TuusrkeaLlis
ictrgmbination of art
a great fortress repared with
fithat
aanndd
science
mademake aist,iaroapdrecgonnatte
ready
ena slt
diwi; t
vßp onao
:is
tys
shi bp
oml possible
tmf oae rnv art
te rt o
1
large fleet of line-of-battle ships,
come down with a favourable wind to thea
I consider is a position so menacing to Turkey
treaty of peace could be considered safe which lePtrthea ne
Em-
peror of Russia in that same menacing position with respect
to Turkey." (Cheers.) His friends had cheered that quotc-
tion very much. They were delighted with it, and so was hae
He had cheered the declaration of the noble lord as loudly as.
Any one; but did the noble lord stand by it on its being
repeated ? The noble lord afterwards got up and said that
ha had made use of no such expressions. (Cries of "No
no," and "Hear, hear.") The noble lord said, " What I
said was that I thought Russia could not be allowed to
maintain the menacing attitude which she has lately done
by keeping so large a fleet at Sebastopol." (Hear.) Was
the declaration the same ? (Hear.) Did the hon. gentle-
man perceive no discrepancy between thong 3 According