The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-07 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS--(YESTERDAY.)
EXPENSES OF ELECTIONS' BILL.
On the motion of going into committee on this bill,
On clause 1,
Mr. BARROW moved the omission of words, so as
to limit the responsibility of the candidate to acts done
by himself, and not leave him liable for the misconduct
of an agent of whose proceedings he had been quite in
the dark.
Mr. MULLINGS consented to strike the objection-
able words out.
After a few words from Mr. HENLEY and Mr. VERNON
SMITH, the amendment was agreed to.
Some other amendments were made, and the clause
was then passed.
(in clause 2, relating to bells and bell-ringers, a long
discussion took place, and after a division upon some
verbal alterations, and a promise by Mr. Mullings that
on the bringing up of the report he would endeavour to
further amend the clause in order to meet the views of
bon. members, the question was put that the clause as
amended be passed.
Col. SIBTHORP moved that the clause be rejected.
The committee then divided, when the numbers were—
For the clause
Against it l7-82
The clause was then agreed to as was also clause 4.
The remaining clauses of the bill then agreed to, and
the house resumed.
PROBATE OF WILLS AND ADMINISTRATION
BILL.
On the motion for going into committee on this bill,
Dr. PHILLIMORE appealed to the hon. gentleman
the member for Sheffield (who had charge of the bill)
whether, after the statement of the Government last
night, he would press the bill at the present time.
Mr. HUME thought this was a reform per se, and he
thought there was no occasion for waiting for the Go-
vernment, especially after the delay which had taken
place in introducing the Government measure, for which
no adequate reason had yet been given.
Mr. HADFIELD said the bill had been approved of
by most eminent authorities in the three kingdoms,
and he should certainly not relinquish it unless some
More satisfactory assurances were given by the Govern-
ment that they would take the matter up in earnest.
Mr. HENLEY thought if the bill were carried into
kw it would lead to the greatest confusion.
Mr. CROSLEY said that as none of the members of the
Government were present, he should move that the con-
sideration of this bill be adjourned until this day week.
The motion was agreed to, and the debate adjourned.
SIMONY LAW AMENDMENT BILL.
Dr. PHILLIMORE moved the second reading of this
bill, the object of which was to prevent for the future,
the next presentation to any benefice. Up to the time
of the Reformation, the repression of this offence had
been left to the censure of the ecclesiastical power, but
the earliest acts of s ome our most pious reformed monarchs
had been directed against this offence. The house had
always dealt with this subject in the largest spirit, conceiv-
ing always that the spiritual trust was essential, and the
rights of property only accidental. At present, ac-
cording;to the canon law, it was simony to sell the liv-
ing when it was empty • but if it was sold while the
present holder was alive, though he might be
on his death-bed, and only have 25 minutes to live,
it was a valid contract. (Hear.) The scandal that
this practice led to in the church was most prejudicial to
its real interests, as every one must acknowledge who
read the newspapers in which the advertisements for the
sale of livings appeared in such numbers. He had care-
fully guarded the bill, so as to make it prospective and
not retrospective, and he should be perfectly willing to
receive any alteration in committee.
Mr. BOUVERIE moved the adjournment of the de-
bate, as there was important business on the paper.
Sir R. H. INGLIS thought that the motion for ad-
bournment of the debate ought to have been moved
efore the speech of the hon. and learned gentleman,
Mr. BUTT said this was not so much a bill far the
m endment of the law of simony as to make that
simony for the future which was not simony now.
The bill interfered with the rights of property in a
most unjustifiable manner. He differed from the prin•
ciple of the bill, and also from the details by which the
principle was carried out. He yielded to no man in
his desire to advance the spiritual welfare of the people
and the efficiency of the Established Church. The hon.
and learned gentleman had taken extreme and exceptional
cases for the groundwork of the bill, and instead of pro-
viding for these cases only he had dealt with the general
system of Church patronage on these exceptional princi.
plea.

- Mr. MALINS supported the adjournment.
Mr. WILSON hoped the debate would be adjourned
before six o'clock, because the Government had some
Customs resolutions to pass before the rising of the
house.

Mr. BANKES said that Wednesday was a day pecu-
liarly set apart for private members, and he was not
disposed to give way to the Government. If they had
wished for an adjournment it should have been moved be-
fore the speech of the hon. and learned gentleman the mem-
ber for Tavistock (Mr. Phillimore). He intended to speak
till six o'clock, and he hoped the lesson would be of
use and profit to the Government. (Cries of " Oh.")
He was in possession of the house and they could not
prevent him.
The right hon. gentleman continued to speak until
six o'clock, when the house adjourned.

A message from the Lords, announced yesterday to
the Cominons that they have agreed to the following
bills :—Malicious Injuries (Ireland) ; Wimpole, Wrest-
lingworth, and Patton Road ; Hull and Holderness
Railway ; Glasgow and South Western Railway (No.
2) ; Rochester Bridge, without amendment. South
Eastern Railway (North Kent Railway to the Thames,
&c.), with an amendment. That they have passed a bill,
intituled, "An Act for continuing and amending the
Act for facilitating the Sale and Transfer of Encumbered
Estates in Ireland." Also, a bill, intituled, "An Act
for incorporating the Trustees of the Bingley Free
Grammar and General Education Schools, and other
Charities at Bingley, in the county of York, for autho-
rising the Sale, Exchange, or Mortgage, by the Trustees,
when incorporated, of the several Estates belonging to
the said Schools and Charities, respectively situate in the
parishes of Bingley and Bradford, both in the said county
of York, and for other purposes relating to the said
Schools and Charities."