The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-04 00:00:00

\,L 'A T 3 LT Afil

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.)
BRIBERY BILL

The Duke of NEWCASTLE moved that the standing
rders be dispensed with in regard to this bill, which
Was opposed by Lord Redesda!e.
After a few words from the Marquis of Lansdowne,
the Marquis of Clanricarde, and Lord Brougham,
The house divided—
Contents
Non-contents
Majority
The resolution was therefore carried

. 33
-8

The Earl of DERBY thought it would be objection-
able to make any amendments in the bill, now that the
house had resolved to proceed with it, for there was
really no time for a proper consideration of such amend-
ments in the other hou-e. He really would suggest to
the noble duke whether it would not be as well to sus-
pend the standing orders and pass the bill outright at
once.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE did not concur
with the noble earl in thinking that amendments should
not he moved. He should himself certainly at a subse-
quent stage propose to alter the clause as to travelling
expenses, so as absolutely to put an end to payments on
that head. _

The Duke of NEWCASTLE entirely approved of
the course which the noble marquis intended to follow,
and he should be happy to discuss any amendment with
him. He trusted that noble lords would move such
amendments as they thought necessary, so that the bill
might be made as perfect as possible. He moved that
the bill be read a second time.
The bill was then read a second time.
STAMP DUTIES BILL.
This bill was react a second time.
INCLOSURE, &c., OF LAND BILL,
This bill was read a third time. •
STANDARD OF GOLD AND SILVER WARES

BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
Their lordships then adjourned at ten minutes past
eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.)
The house resumed at six o'clock.
STAMPED LETTER-PAPER.

In reply to a question out by Mr. T. DIINCOMBE,
Mr. WILSON stated that on the passing of the Penny
Postage Act, fears were generally entertained that exten-
sive forgeries of ,tamps would take place, and several pre-
cautionary provisions were introduced into the bill, one of
the regulatiops being that a piece of silk should be drawn
throug the paper of which envelopes were made. Experi-
ence had shown that these precautions were not exactly
warranted by the necessity of the case. Various applica-
tions had been made with respect to issuing stamped letter
Paper. - The subject was now under the consideration of
the Government, and he was not without hope that ar-
rangements might be shortly made by which any person
Henning a quantity of envelopes or letter paper might have
them stamped at the Board of Inland Revenue. (Hear.
hear.)
THE CASE OF MR. NOVELLO—UNSTAMPED
PUBLICATIONS.
In reply to a question put by Sir J. SHELLEY,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that,
in consequence of the resolution of the House of Commons,
on tie subject of the present state of the law re2,arding
newspaper stamps, it had become the duty of the Govern-
ment carefully to consider the whole question. with the
view of ascertaining whether any practic,d and satisfactory
Measure could be introduced on the suojed. The opinion
of the Attorney-General had been taken on the ques-
tion, and the suggestions which he had made had been
discussed by himself. It was, however, impossible at
uthe present period of the session for him to draw the
attention of his colleagues to the question in such
manner as its importance demanded. It would
be the duty of the Government daring the recess to
endeavour to prepare some satisfactory and effective mea-
sure. Although the question in a fiscal point of view was
?ne of only secondary importance, still there were many
Important considerations connected with its proper settle-
ment. It was impossible io the present state of the ques-
tion to come to any resolution which would have the effect
of announcing to parties that they might disregard the law
as it now exists, and on the other hand, and pending a
probable application to Parliament for a change of the law,
it was not the intention of the Government to carry out
the existing law in a more stringent manner than had been
hitherto adopted. With respect to the particular publica-
tion of Mr. Novelle), there was no doubt whatever that,
conducted as it was some time since, it was amenable to
the law. He hail, however, been given to understand that
the publication had been conducted with considerable cau-
tion, and with a proper and judicious regard to the present
state of the question, and it could not therefore, under
such circumstances, be the desire of tha Government to
adopt any course which might justly be liable to the im-
putation of harshness. (Hear, hear.)
THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. LAWLEY TO THE
GOVERNORSHIP OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

The house then went into committee for the purpose of
affording Sir J. Pakington an opportunity of calling the
attention of the house to the circumstances under which
her Majesty had been advised to appoint the Hon. Franeis
Lawley to be governor of the colony of South Austi alia.
Sir G. GREY said the right honourable baronet the
member for Droitwich had given notice of his intention to
call the attention of the house to the circumstances under
'which her Majesty has been most graciously pleased to op-
Point the Hon. Francis Lawley to the officer of governor of
south Australia. Circumstances have come to my know-
ledge within the last few days which induced me, not
long ago, to address a note to the right hon. baronet to
Say that I was anxious before he addressed the house in
Pursuance of that notice to make &statement to the house,
Which with its permission I will now proceed to do. After
have made that statement it will be for the right hon.
baronet, or any other honourable member, to adopt such
e°-"
" as his sense of public duty may lead him to think
fitting., lam desirous in the first place—as lam respon-
sible for submitting to her Majesty the name of Mr. Law-
ley for appointment to the Governorship of South Austra-
ha—to state frankly and unreservedly at once the circum-
,l4"loes under which I submitted that advice to her Ma-
•lestY'• (Hear, hear.) When I was entrusted with the
!eels of the Colonial Department, for a day or two before
had actually received them from her Majesty, I had
several conferences with the Duke of Newcastle, my im-
"'ediate predecessor, in which was stated the various
Inattes then penunicatding in that department. Among other
hinge
he communicated to me the arrangements which he
had recently made with respect to filling up various im
l'°rtant colonial governments which were becoming in
course of time vacant. He submitted to me the arrange-
laeuts he had made with respect to the governments of
„1.641ada, of New Brunswick, and of Norfolk Island. He
-,,a'ad.that Sir Charles Fitzroy having expressed his de-
,i,re on the subject, it had been intimated to him that he
eald be released from his detiee as governor in the course
the present year, and he had submitted to 1 er Majesty
re name of Sir Wm. Dennison, the present governor
°I. Van Dietnen's Land, as the succ ssor to Sir C. Fitzroy,
In New South Wales. The noble duke told me also that he
as,ad submitted to her Majesty the name of Sir H. Young,
s present governor of South Australia, for the governor-
hi
1) of New Zealand, which had become vacant by the ap-
Pointment of the governor of New Zealand to be the go-
thor of the Cape of Good Hope. He then informed me
l, being of opinion that among gentlemen administer-
'lg the governthent of other colonies of less importance
ere was no one who had particular claims upon the con-
sideration of the Government on the g ounds of public ser-
ee or public conduct, as Secretary of State for the colo-
llteshe had offered the governorship of South Australia to
A
I,f_ t* Lawley. He stated to me that his acquaintance with
Lawley was not of above six months' duration, but
that, from the acquaintance which he had had, and the in-
f.orrnation which he had received of Mr. Lawley's character
4rout those in whom he could place confidence, he was of
opinion that it was most desirable that a gentleman in his
Position; Of his character, and with his abilities, should
accept colonial service under the Crown. He stated to me
re4t he had been anxious to obtain the services-of Mr. Law-
ley as governor of South Australia, latxt4,rhat, as he -was
then on the point of surrendering the seals or the Colonial
Office, he had requested Mr. Lawley to give him an ins-
mediate decision with respect to whether he was, or
Was not, willing to accept the governorship of South
Australia Mr. Lawley was inclined to accept the
governorship, but was anxious, as a man must naturally
be under such circumstances, to hold some communication
With his family and his friends before he gave a decision
'which might affect the whole course of his future life. He
asked, therefore, whether a delay of a few days might be given
-him for deliberation. The Duke of Newcastle informed me
that he had stated, in answer to that request, to Mr. Law-
ley, that, as he only held the seals of the Colonial depart-
ment till I had received those seals, as I should do on the
next or following day, and as I should be unable to trans-
act the business of the department while absent from Lon-
don during my re-election, he did not,feel that he could
give the three days which Mr. Lawley had asked fur, but
that it was necessary for him to give an affirmative or
negative decision at once. He undertook, however, to
Mention the name of Mr. Lawley to me, to state all that
had passed with respect to his appointment, and to inform
me that had he remained Secretary of State for the Colo-
nies he should have submitted the name of Mr. Lawley to
her Majesty for appointment to the governorship of South
Australia, if Mr. Lawley, after a few days' deliberation,
lead desired and been disposed to accept that appointment.
ern anxious to state frankly and unreservedly to the
.4°llB8—and I have the Duko of Newcastle's full per-
-IMiseion to do so—that Mr. Lawley was wholly unknown
.? In% I have seen him engaged within this house and
have sat on the same side of the house with him
i_during the last few years ; but certainly have never
ren thrown into his society, nor been upon such
.erens
, with him as could authorise me to claim him as the
(),.st Common friend. The Duke of Newcastle, therefore,
Per Med me that he thought it right to state the only
`jawback which in his opinion might be alleged against
,t" appointment of Mr. Lawley, and under the circum-
.-allees I did not consider that to be a sufficient bar to his
tlPeintment. The Duke of Newcastle told me that, like
ir,ain:Y Young men I fear in his position of life, he ear
'le been addicted to—l hardly know how to describe
,nut--in ordinary language which will be understood by
leverYhodY, and all will understand what I mean—had been
~!Ifortunately "on the turf." He had been early inclined
nhorse-racing a habit adopted in common with many
llther men of high rank and society in this country. I
submitted that, so far from thinking this circumstance a lot eu the appointment of Mr. Lawley, or as constituting
objection to hie appointment, it was, on the contrary,
reeoliemendation under the circumstances which ho had
et
(A. laugh from the Opposition.) Honourable gen-
, tvnien opposite may laugh, but I certainly should not
Geer!e expected that a party which acknowledged Lord
ge Bentinck as their head in this house, would have
-acknowledged this as an objection. (Ministerial cheers.) I
'atrttifil should not hive thought to have heard them sneer
_on . employment of a person who had been so engaged, or
!,
at
that it was an absolute disqualification 'for office
t a man had been so engaged. (Renewed cheers.) I
that by, however, because if bon. gentlemen will wait
-till they hear the whole facts, perhaps the Duke ofd
that
their sneers might have been spared. They Duke of Ne
castle told me that Mr. Lawley had became deeply
in-
pressed with the conviction that the course was on whicheld not be abandoned too early, and he had stated that
s desire was to break off from those habits in which, un-
fortunately, I say, and say it honestly, he had been einPloYed. Mr. Lawley stated that he had accepted the office
of private secretary to my right hon, friend the Chancellor