The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 18, 1854.

consented to withdraw the word " misdemeanour," be-
cause it was one of the best protections afforded by the bill
against bribery.
Mr. HILDYARD was afraid that persons subscribing to
any election fund would be guilty of a misdemeanour
under this clause, although they might have received the
sanction of the election officer.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL did not think that the
clause would prevent either clubs or private individuals
from subscribing their money to secure the return of their
favourite candidate; the object of the enactment was sim-
ply to provide that money so subscribed should be paid in
the same way as the money of the candidate himself—
through the election officer. It was perfectly plain that
unless the prohibitions imposed upon candidates were ex-
tended to all other persons, the bill would be inoperative.
(Hear, hear.) As to voters clubbing together to pay their
common expenses, he was clearly of opinion that such a
case would not come within the meaning of the clause.
Sir J. PAKINGTON approved the clause, but thought
the noble lord had made a desirable alteration by modi-
fying the penalties. Even with this enactment, he was
afraid they would not succeed in putting a stop to all im-
proper practices on the part of the friends of candidates.
Mr. NE WDEGATE would ask the Attorney-General
whether the fact of voters clubbing their money together
would not compel them to give an account of their ex-
penses to the election officer ? He thought the clause
would destroy the independent action of the consti-
tuencies.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said every man was en-
titled to pay his own expenses, and the mere fact of his
joining with another voter in the payment of their com-
mon expenses would not bring him within the meaning of
the clause. The sole object of the clause was to prevent
his expenses being paid by another person without the
knowledge or sanction of the election officer.
Mr. AGLION BY thought that this was one of the most
valuable clauses in the bill. It was necessary for the pro-
tection of the honest voter, would enable them to secure
purity of election, and was of still more importance as a
protection to the candidate himself.
In reply to a question from Lord R. GROSVENOR,
Sir F. KELLY said he would undertake to propose a
clause to this effect—that if, upon the trial of an action to
recover these penalties, it should appear to the judge that
payments had been made without any illegal intention, it
should be competent for him to reduce the penalties to any
sum not less than 40s.
The amendment proposed by Lord J. Russell was then
agreed to. •
Mr. LIDDELL said he was still unsatisfied with the
clause, and would persist in his motion for its rejection.
The committee then divided, when there voted—
For the clause ll5
Against it 26
Majority
The clause was accordingly agreed to as amended.
Clause 27 provides that an account of the election ex-
penses should be made out by the election officer.
Mr. HENLEY suggested that the- abstract to be pub-
lished should contain an account of all sums claimed, as
well as paid, otherwise it would not afford the candidate a
sufficient protection against exorbitant claims.
Mr. WALPOLE thought the clause was sufficient as it
stcod. It provided that the election officer should make a
return of all the expenses incurred by the candidate; that
should embrace all claims made upon him.
Sir F. KELLY had no objection to introduce the words
" and all sums claimed, although the same shall not have
been allowed."
The clause as amended was then agreed to.
On clause 28,
Mr. HENLEY said that this clause enacted that the
returning officer should keep copies of the accounts in some
convenient place for public inspection ; but it did not pro-
vide a sufficient machinery for that purpose.
Mr. G. E. H. VERNON thought that the proposed
remuneration of 101. to the election officer would not at all
compensate him for the labour imposed by the clause.
After a few words from Mr AGLIONBY and Mr. ELLIOT,
Sir F. KELLY admitted that some place ought to be
fixed by the act where the accounts should be deposited.
He would suggest the office of the clerk of the peace in
counties, and of the town clerk in boroughs. The accounts,
however, could be deposited with them till they were
complete, some time after the election might elapse before
that), and it would therefore be necessary to provide some
place for their custody in the interval. He would be pre-
pared to make a proposition on bringing up the report.
Mr. HENLEY considered that the matter required
great care ; it was necessary that some person should be in
constant attendance, or the accounts might be tampered
with by any person making a copy,
The clause was then agreed to.
On clause 29, providing that the election officer shall in-
sert an abstract of the accounts in two newspapers pub-
lished or circulated in the place,
Lord R. GROSVENOR wished to know who was to
pay for the advertisement.
Sir F. KELLY said the expense should be defrayed by
the candidates.
Lord SEYMOUR reminded the hon. and learned mem-
ber that there were many districts in which there were not
twosine,F,w.esiKpreaEupia ey eLrLspd.u,s,baliidshtehde clause met the difficulty by the
word .
Mr. HILDYARD did not see any necessity for the pub-
lication in the papers at all. He intended to take the
sense of the committee on the clause. If the accounts
were to be published, he thought the claims ought to be
also, and not a mere abstract.
Mr. AGLIONBY thought one newspaper would be suf-
ficient. He would move an amendment to that effect.
Mr. GROGAN said the publication in the papers would
be very expensive. He would suggest that the accounts
be not published unless on the requisition of either can-
didate.
Sir J. PAKINGTON hoped his right hon. friend the
chairman of the select committee, or some other member
of it, would assign a reason for the clause. It seemed to
him very absurd ; it gave no security, and he would vote
against it unless some good reason was given.
Mr. MAGAN suggested that the accounts should be
placarded through the district instead of being published
in the papers.
Lord SEYMOUR asked who was to pay the election
officer for the expense of advertising ? The clause was only
permissive and not compulsory, and he regarded it as all
nonsense.
Sir F. KELLY said the clause was not his production,
but that of the hon. member for Manchester (Mr. Bright).
Still he thought it important. Its object was to give pub-
licity to the accounts, but more especially to the names of
parties who made claims upon candidates. No greater
check could bo devised against improper claims upon can-
didates than publication, and he hoped it would be adopt-
ed. The expenses of advertising would form part of the
election expenses, and would not fall upon the election
officer. At the same time he thought a single advertise-
ment would be sufficient in any ono newspaper published
or circulated in the county or place.
The clause having been amended to this effect,
Mr. HILDYARD thought that his hon. and learned
friend ought not to disavow the authorship of the clause.
He ieminded him of the maxim, " Qui facit per alium facit
per se." He objected to the whole cause on the ground that
it required the publication of all claims upon the candidates
which were allowed, while there was no direction to pub-
lish those which were disallowed. He moved an addition
to this effect, but should still take the sense of the committee
upon the question that the clause stand part of the bill.
Sir F. KELLY said the word " account" in this and in
the two preceding clauses would include the publication of
the charges disallowed. Still, if this interpretation was
objected to by his hon. and learned friend, he would not
oppose the introduction of words to the effect he desired.
Mr. HILDYARD totally differed from this interpreta-
tion of the three clauses.
Mr. BRIGHT said publication in the newspapers of ab-
stracts would be a check upon expenditure to which the
candidate ought not to be exposed. He recommended the
house to adopt the clause without the amendment sug-
gested by the hon. and learned member for Whitehaven.
Sir J. WALSH contended that a great object was to be
obtained by the introduction of the words proposed by the
hon. and learned member for Whitehaven. By holding
up unjust claims upon candidates the committee would be
doing as much for the prevention of bribery as they would
by the publication of admitted claims.
Mr. BENTINCK subbmitted that the time should be
limited during which the election officer should be obliged
to submit the accounts to inspection. Twelve months was
too long; three months were sufficient; and he should
move an amendment to this effect on the report.
Mr. WALPOLE approved of the clause as it stood. The
effect of the amendment moved by the hon. and learned
member for Whitehaven would bo that candidates would
have all sorts of exorbitant and unjust claims made upon
them by mischievous persons.
Mr. HILDYARD could not accede to this reasoning.
If the candidate was called upon to publish at all, he ought
to publish the claims that were wrongfully made upon him,
and he denied that it would be either vexatious or unwar-
rantable.
Mr. MASSEY said the 28th clause effected all the pur-
pose of necessary publicity, and all beyond was mere
scandal.
After a few words from Mr. G. BUTT, who said he should
vote for the rejection of the whole clause,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said it was of great im-
portance to insure authentic publicity. The 28th clause
enabled every elector to obtain the accounts, and he might
publish them if he thought proper ; but it would be better ,
to adopt means to secure publicity in an authentic form.
This was the duty of the election officer, and the object of
it was that the public might know the amount of the ex-
penditure. As to making it incumbent upon the officer to
publish the claims he disallowed as well as those allowed, it
was a minor point. He did not see much objection to it,
but certainly
Publication by the election officer was one of
the most important parts of the bill. (Hear.)
Mr. V. SMITH said the object of this bill was to invoke
public opinion in diminution of expenses, and for the pre-
vention of bribery. This could only be done by publishing
the accounts in the newspapers, the provision fof which he
regarded as one of the most important in the bill. But he
did not think it would be beneficial to publish accounts
which were disallowed.
Mr. PIGOTT objected to the amendment, on the ground
that it would tend to encourage litigation on the part of
candidates.
After a few words from Mr. BENTINCK,
Lord R. GROSVENOR called attention to the fact that
the clause did not state by whom the expenses of the
o. be. Spublished. C l
jL
pub-
lication of the accounts were to be paid. He gave notice
that he should propose that they be paid out of the county
or borough rate, and in cases where there was neither, that
te v e r
should a special rate should be laid fur the purpose after the
election.
Mr.o 117.
publicity.claims
the
utmost
mswha
Mr. HILDYARD withdrew his previous verbal amend-
LY
ment in order to move to insert after the word " correct,"
thought
H e was
favourable all c
"or claims unobjected to," and at the end of the clause,
or by which the same have bean claimed respectively."
The amendment was agreed to.
Lord R. GROSVENOR moved to add at the end of the
clause, "the expenses of such
publication to be defrayed
out of the county rate or the borough rate, and where there
is neither a county nor borough rate, by a special rate
denominated an election rate, to be levied on the electoral
district."
Lcrd J. RUSSELL thought there was 901110 omission in
the bill in not providing for payment of the cost of publica-
tion. Supposing the expense were to be paid by the candi-
date, a very fit place for making that addition would be at
the end of clause 34. But his noble fu lend said it ought
to be paid out of the borough or county rate. He thought
a great principle was involved in that proposal, and there-
fore it should be made either by a separate bill, or by a
separate clause, and not by adding a few words at the end
of a clause. He did not think it advisable to throw the
expenses of an election on a county or borough, and this
amendment involved that principle, different from the law
as it now stood.
Mr. DEEDES objected to the amendment.
Mr. BRIGHT believed from his experienceof newspaper
proprietors there would be great competition to get hold of
these accounts and to publish them. They would prove an interesting item of jutelligence, and 4e ellould be quitel

in a condition to act immediately on the spur of the mo-
ment in this matter, or not at all. The report to which he
has referred was published in 1839. Well, what happened
in the case ? The committee came to no decision upon the
subject, but there were one or two reports drawn up by
different members of that committee; and when the com-
mission sat which subsequently reported, they dissented
from those views, and substituted one of their own. At
any rate, therefore, the subject was not so easy of decision
as the right hon. baronet seems to think, This commission
having reported, no Government that succeeded it has ever
attempted to carry that report into effect—and why ? Be-
cause they felt the change was so great, involving as it did
the remodelling of every military department, and their
consequent consolidation, that unless they had a great deal
of concurrence of opinion in favour of that specific plan,
and unless there was a great change of feeling, in would be
in vain to attempt to carry it out. Four Governments suc-
ceeded to the appointment of that commission, but none of
them attempted to make the change which had been sug-
gested. It might be possible to do a great deal, and I hope
it is, at the present moment ; but I must say at the mo-
ment when every department was strained to its utmost
for the purpose of sending out, on a great emergency, a
force amounting to nearly 40,000 men, under very great
difficulty with regard to ships, but I hope and believe in a
state of very great efficiency, if we had chosen that as the
time, as suggested by the right hon. baronet, for carrying
into practical effect certain theoretical improvements in
this and that particular subject—if we had, regardless of
delay, and of the great emergency, set about squaring all
these departments to a model suggested 25 years ago, the
Government would have been unworthy of the position
they hold, and unworthy of the confidence of the country.
(Clmers.) The Government felt, and justly felt, that the
first thing to do was that which pressed most. There is
no doubt about it that the duties of a Minister charged
with the management of the colonies are so great as to be
incompatible with those of carrying on a war. In former
years, when this country was at war, the Colonial Mini-
ster, it is true, carried on the war, but for the simplest of
all reasons, that he neglected the colonial business. But
that cannot be done now. That, as I have said, was the
first thing to be done, because it was necessary to the effi-
ciency of the service, and therefore we did that first. Tho
noble lord stated the Government would then take care,
after due consideration, and step by step, to put the new
department on another system, which should free them
from the recurrence of acknowledged evils ; but he declined
to state exactly how he would distribute the various duties,
and what changes he would make in the different depart-
ments. .And he was quite right in acting on general prin-
ciples, for I may remind the right km. baronet that this
paragraph appears in the report of the committee which
sat three years ago :—" Your committee refrain from
pointing out any detailed course of action on this subject,
leaving the responsibility of that to those whose official
position and authority can alone guide them in applying
a remedy to the present state of things." I stated at the
commencement of the session, when the hon. gentleman
the member for Montrose raised this question, what
were my views on the subject generally, and what were
the views of the Government. From none of those views
have I seen any reason to depart. We have already
taken this great step ; we have disconnected the co-
lonies from the War Department. We have, there-
fore, one responsible head, who can supervise all these
establishments, and who can supervise all the changes
which are to be effected in these departments. He will at
once have the commissariat put under his authority. That
is a great and important step. He will then have the means
of examining to what extent the consolidation of the mili-
tary and civil portions of the Ordnance can be carried into
effect. But if you ask us to put the Whole machinery out
of gear—(hear)—for the sake of introducing some theory
which the right hon. baronet might easily in a few mo-
ments sketch out on a sheet of paper, I say I think the
subject is by far too important to be treated so lightly as
that ; and on such an emergency the Government are
pound to feel their way as thy go on. They would not
risk the efficiency of those departments, on the efficiency
of which the safety and success of our arms at this moment
so materially depends. The right hon gentleman says he
cannot understand how you can have two Cabinet Minis-
ters both engaged in military departments. But I beg
him to bear in mind that the duties of the Secretary-at-
War are not of an executive character. His duties are
delegated to him by the Treasury. (Hear, hear.) The
Treasury has the great financial check and control over all
the expenditure of the country, but the expenditure of the
country is too great and too minute in its details to be sus-
ceptible of being checked by any officer of the Treasury,
and therefore they delegate to the Secretary-at-War, with
reference to the army, all the powers which they exercise
themselves in respect to other departments of expenditure,
and he checks and controls the expenditure with a view to
proper economy and efficiency. If, therefore, you have
him doing the duties of both departments, he ceases to
have any check or control. (Hear, hear.) I have heard
the hon. member for Montrose constantly complain that
the management of the navy was far more expensive than
that of the array. I have no doubt the management of the
army has been far more closely looked into than that of the
navy, because in the case of the army one man expends
the money and another holds the purse; not a regulation
can be made by the Commander-in-Chief without the con-
sent of the Finance Minister, in the person of the Secre-
tary-at-War ; and that is tho secret of much of the eco-
nomy in the department of war which had been practised
for a great number of years. If, therefore, you combine the
two things, yon do away with that whole system of econo-
mical control in the management of the army which has
lone so much to enhance its efficiency. Again, the right
hon. baronet says you ought not to have two Cabinet Mi-
nisters. But why does he assume you are going to consti-
tute the departments with two Cabinet Ministers? Ho says
the office is useless, and if it is useless why not abolish it?
I think I have satisfied the house that, financially speaking,
the existence of the office of Secretary-at-War is vital to
the efficiency of the army. (Hear, hear.) The Secretary-
at-War now exercises a very wholesome check over the ex-
penditure of the army • and I am clearly of opinion that
the control which the Secretary-at-War has over the ex-
penditure of the army, under the Commander in-Chief,
ought to be extended to the expenditure which is now
under the Master-General, as the commander-in-chief of
the Artillery and Engineers. It may be true, as the right,
hon. baronet says, that the office itself, being quite dis-
tinct in its nature, will, by the creation of a Secretary of
State for War, lose a great deal of its importance. I think
it would be an advantage if the house could see the who!o
expenditure for maintaining the personnel of the army put
before the house from time to time, as much as possible,
by the head. (Hear, hear.) There have been a great many
things done by the Secretary-at-War which did not strictly
devolve upon him, but which the Colonial Minister could
not do—(Hear)—and in that way there is no doubt many
functions have been performed by him of late years which
had better have been performed by some other officer. I
still stand out for this, however, if you mean to coatinuo
the steadiness with which the financial check has been
brought to bear on the expenditure of the army, and
which I have shown is so necessary to its good government
and economy, you must maintain the office of Secretary-
at-War as a separate office. But the right hon. gentleman
says there ought not to be two Cabinet Ministers. I will
not discuss that question with him. I have looked at this
matter with perfect impartiality, I believe, and without
any party feeling—(cheers) ; and so far from attempting
to prevent change I have urged change. I have very freely
expressed before Parliament my own opinions as to what
evils should be remedied, and how they should be remedied.
I have made no secret of those opinions. At this moment
I confess I am sorry to hear the right hon. baronetobject to
there being two Cabinet Ministers, one for the manage-
ment of the war, and the other for the interior of the army,
but having been a long time Secretary-at-War, I felt my
knowledge of details might he of some value in enabling
the Government, in the work of fusion, to distribute the
duties of the several departments. (Cheers.) I thought I
should not be justified in asking myself in this crisis whether
the office I hold should be abolished, and I therefore wil-
lingly undertook to continue the duties which I now per-
form. lam sorry the right honourable baronet dis-
approves of my so doing, but I can only say that the as-
sistance which I have given shall continue to be given ;
and while I refuse to accept the challenge to lay on the
table a detailed plan of every change or alteration that may
at present be in contemplation—knowing the danger of
meddling with a great department of the Government, upon
the efficiency of which at this moment depends the safety
and much of the success of one of the finest armies that
ever went forth to confront an enemy—(cheers)—but hav-
ing at the same time a perfectly distinct conception that
the object we ought to aim at is the redistribution of the
duties of the offices in question—l trust the house will not
deprive the Government of that assistance and confidence
which are necessary to enable them to bring these changes
to a good issue, taking care to proceed step by step ; and if
time and the opportunity be given us for doing that, 1 feel
satisfied wo can eventually introduce into the military de-
partments of the State changes which will greatly enhance
their efficiency, and on which even now depend the honour
and the safety of this country. (Loud cheers.)
Colonel DONNE said, with respect to the proposed
transfer of the management of barracks, it so happened that
at this moment, when the great body of our troops were
abroad, that subject was of the very least importance.
The Secretary at War had adverted to the separation of
the civil and military departments of the Ordnance. He
thought it would be exceedingly difficult to understand the
difference between the civil and military departments, and
still more to effect their separation. He expressed his
gratiScation that the management of the militia was not
to be removed from the department of the Home Secretary,
for if the country could not have the services of the noble
lord at the head of the war department, it ought at least
to have the satisfaction of seeing the militia left entirely
in his hands. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. G. M. BUTT expressed his surprise at the speeches
of the noble lord the President of the Council and the right
hon. the Secretary at War. When called upon to vote the
estimates fur this new department, the committee might
at least expect to be furnished with some clear explanation
of the new office and the duties of the officers. Nothing
of the sort had, however, been vouchsafed, and the speeches
to which he had referred could only be understood on the
ground that it was thought necessary to appoint an addi-
tional high officer of State at a large salary, with a consider-
able staff to assist him. He did not think that the coun-
try would consent to the appointment of a second Cabinet
officer, if there was to be no consolidation of the duties of
the various departments.
The vote was then agreed to.
THE BRIBERY BILLS, &c.
The house then went into committee on the Bribery
Bills.

Clauses 22 to 25 inclusive were agreed to without com-
ment.

On elause 26 being proposed,
- - -- -- -

Mr. LIDDELL moved its omission from the bill on the
ground that its provisions would involvo the candidate in
serious penalties for acts even of the most laudable and
necessary character, even those of the payment of money
on his own private account, unless such payments were
made through the election officer.
Lord J. RUSSELL expressed his opinion that the result
of the omission of the clause would be, in many cases, to
render nugatory the appointment of the election officer.
He was favourable to the retention of the clause, and ap-
proved its principle, but thought that some mitigation
might be safely made in the extent of the penalty which it
enforced. He suggested, therefore; that, instead of mis-
demeanour, the penalty should be fixed at 50 pounds; and,
if thought necessary, Parliament might hereafter incr.?age
its severity.
Mr. G. M. BUTT considered the clauso essential to the
bill, and approved the mitigatory suggestion of the noble
lord.

I Lord R. GROSVENOR suggested that the magistrate
should have power to inflict a lower amonnt of penalty in
cases where the offence did not appear to be of a flagrant
y y
character.
Mr. W. J. FOX supported the retention of the clause.
If the word " misdemeanour" was to be withdrawn, the
penalty ought to be ver considerabl increased.
Sir F. KELLY opposed the amendment. If they au-
thorised the payment of any expanses relating to an elec-
tion except to or through the election officer, they would
open the door to a large expenditure in bribing, treating,
, and other corrupt practices. (Hear.)
1 Mr, W, WILLIAM regretted that the noble lord had

content to have no provision with regard to payment for
publication. It would be greatly advantageous to the
public as well as to the candidates that publication should
take place ; the public would be great gainers by the pub-
lication; and he was quite satisfid to allow the question
of publicity to settle itself. . .

JAMAICA LOAN BLLL.
On the motion of Mr. WILSON this bill passed through
committee.

CHANCERY AMENDMENT BILL.
On the motion of the SOLICITOR-GENERAL this bill
was red a second time, and ordered to be committed on
Friday_
COURT OF CHANCERY (COUNTY PALATINE OF
LANCASHIRE) BILL.
On the motion of the SOLICITOR-GENERAL this bill
was read a second time, and ordered to be committed.
REGISTRATION OF BILLS OF SALE (IRELAND)

Mr. HEADLA.M agreed in thinking the newspapers
would compete for the publication, but that argument was
not conclusive against the clause, as a precedinc, clause
provided for one authentic copy being exhibited, from
which the newspapers would make publication.
Mr. HILDYARD said it wasquite clear thehousewould
be guilty of a great constitutional mistake if it cad any
burden on the particular body or district which returned
members. The constitutional law was that they were
members, not for the benefit of this or that place, but for
the benefit of the nation. If the expense was to be borne
by the public, it must come out of the public purse, for
whosa benefit they sat there, if they sat there for the
benefit of anybody, which people out of doors doubted. (A
laugh.) To throw any expense on a particular place would
be recognising that the member for that place was bound
to look exclusively to their interests.
The amendment was withdrawn.
On the question that the clause stand part of the bill,
Lord J. RUSSELL submitted that it was a very valu-
able clause, which he hoped the committee would adopt.
It was very trite there would bo compstition to publish
these accounts, but nobody could say, unless there were an
authorised publication, that it wouldl be a fair and correct
publication. The newspapers of one party would give cer-
tain extracts from the accounts, and the newspapers of the
other party would give certain other extracts, but there
would not be a fair publication of the official copy of the
accounts. He thought it very desirable the constituents
should know what sum had been expended, and how that
account was made up.
Mr. HILDYARD objected to the clause altogether, and
assured the house the expense of these publications would
be very heavy in counties where there were a great many
polling places, and a corresponding number of items.
The committee divided—
For the clause ' 178
Against it 94
Majority --84
The clause was accordingly agreed to, as was also
clause 30.

BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
MEDICAL GRADUATES (UNIVERSITY OF
LONDON) BILL.

On the motion that this bill'be read a third time,
Mr. COWAN expressed a hope that it would be post-
poned until the next session.

After some discussion the third reading was postponed
till Thursday.
SALE OF BEER, &c., BILL.

Mr. W. P NTTE lc moved the second reading of this bill.
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD said he would oppose the bill
unless the hon. member would agree to extend the time
of closing public-houses on Sunday evenings from nine
o'clock until ten.

On clause 31 being proposed,
Mr. BENTINCK called attention to the fact, that up to
the present time no precaution had been taken with re-
spect to the character of the person to be appointed elec-
tion officer.

Sir F. KELLY said that means would be taken to have the
duties of the election officer efficiently performed byimposing
penalties for the non-performance of them. If an election
officer were guilty of embezzlement or ran away, he would be
indictable and liable to punishment. It was originally pro-
posed to appoint a barrister, but the proposal was met
both in the committee and in the house with universal
disapprobation. He would be exceedingly indebted, and
he was sure the Government would also be indebted, to
any hon. gentleman who would frame a clause to meet the
difficulty of the case.
Mr. BENTINCK did not see that there was much use in
indicting a man who had gone to America. He did not
see anything in the clause to enforce the payment of money,
or the return of documents in the hands of an election
officer at the time of his death by heirs.
Mr. J. BALL suggested there should be a power of ap•
peal against the domination of an improper person.
Mr.HILDYARD thought that security should be given
that the person who was appointed should not be a person
who was capable of absconding, and thereby preventing an
investigation into the practices that had taken place.
The clause was then agreed to.
On clause 32 being proposed,
Lord SEYMOUR, wished to know how an agent was to
act who was going about the country incurring expenses ;
should he take the election officer with him, or should he
return to the election officer to have the expenditure ap-
proved of ?
Sir F. KELLY stated that the candidate would appoint
his agent in writing, and notify the appointment to the
election officer, so that every person interested in the elec-
tion might know who the agents were that the candidate
had appointed.
Mr. LABOUCHERE wished to receive some explana-
tion of what was meant by an agent.
Sir F.-KELLY replied that an agent was indicated by
the payment of money, but a person could not be consi-
dered an agent because he had conveyed a letter or per-
formed a small matter of that kind.

Mr. B. DENISON said, that if agency were to be con-
fined under this clause to the payment of money, it should
be so stated.
Mr. HENLEY said that it was rather hard to ask the
house to pass a clause directing a candidate to make a de-
claration, when they did not know what he was to declare.
He thought that they should have some more precise defi-
nition of the word "agent" than was contained in the
bill. He did not see w this clause could be carried out
in the case—not a very unfrequent one—in which a person
was nominated without his knowledge. He would then
be a "candidate," and as such would by this clause be
compelled to inform the election officer of the name of his
agent, although in fact he had none and knew nothing
about the matter.

➢ir. V. SCULLY suggested that the words "if any''
should be inserted after the word " agent." He did this
in order to meet the case of a candidate not having an
agent.

-Mr. G. H. VERNON asked if it would be possible to
insert a provision to make some one answerable for the
expenditure, in the place of the candidate, in cases where
the latter was nominated without his knowledge. Could
they not, in such a case, throw the responsibility upon his
proposer.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought that some pro-
vision should be inserted to enable some one, in the absence
of a candidate, to do what he might and ought to do if
present, otherwise the current expenses could not be paid.
Sir F. KELLY also thought that some provision was
requisite to meet the case of a candidate nominated with-
out his knowledge. It would, however, be impossible to
insert words with that object in the present clause. He
would undertake to framo a clauso which, if assented to
by the house, might be inserted on bringing up the report.
Lord ADOLPHUS V. TEMPEST then moved that
the following provision should be added to the clause :
" And no person being a candidate at any election, or hav-
ing been elected, who shall have made the declaration re-
quired by this act, and shall in all things have well and
truly conformed thereto, and shall not have been guilty of
any contravention of this act, shall be liable civilly or cri-
minally, nor shall his election be questioned by reason of
any illegal act clone by any other person than his agent
or agents named and notified to the election officer, accord-
ing to the provisions of this act, unless such illegal act
shall be proved to have been done by or with his authority,
or sanction : Provided always, that nothing herein con-
tained shall be deemed to legalise any controverted elec-
tion, or to affect the jurisdiction of a select committee of
the House of Commons over any election which shall be
shown to have been obtained by bribery or any other ille-
gal act or acts or practices."
- The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the amendment,
and said he believed all tha good which the bill was calcu-
lated to effect would be very dearly purchased if such an
innovation was introduced. It had been hitherto held
that candidates were responsible for the acts of their agents,
at least in a Parliamentary sense, if not in a legal one.
Mr. WA LPOLE thought that the clause proposed by his
noble friend simply provided that, before the seat of a
member was taken away, or before a candidate was affected
by the consequences of bribery, treating, and undue in-
fluence, it should be shown that such acts were done, not
merely by his friends, but with his implied or expressed
authority, or were subsequently sanctioned by him. He
did not think this amendment proposed anything like the
introduction of a now law, but was rather the recognition
of an old law.

Lord D. STUART supported the proposition of the hon.
member for Birmingham.
After a few remarks from Mr. F. CROSSLEY,
Mr. IV. PAT EN agreed to the suggestion of the hon.
member for Birmingham.
The bill was read the second time.
The Returning-officer Bill passel through committee.
At the suggestion of the SOLICITOR-GENERAL,
Mr. PELLATT withdrew the Letters Patent for Inven-
tions Bill.

Caledonian Hunt ,ll
Warwick Autumn 17
Richmond 18
Newmarket H .23
Worcester Autumn 31

Mr. G. P. BENTINCK thought that the house was
bound to apply some remedy to the very anomalous
at
state
of the law on this question. The case of agents
present solely on the caprice of election committeesrested of the
house, and he hoped that if the amendment of his noble
friend was not carried, those who had charge of the bill
would themselves adopt some provision to remedy this
anomalous, if not absurd, state of things.
Mr. HEADLAM opposed the adoption of the amend-
ment, which he considered opened a
i side door to bribery
and corruption. The candidates, if t were carried, might
reap with impunity all the advantages of such acts.
Mr. AGLIONBY also opposed the amendment.
Lord J. RUSSELL feared that the proviso would greatly
embarrass the operations of the bill, and that there would
be danger in the principle.
The committee divided, when the numbers were—
For the amendment
Against it 143
Majority
The amendment was, therefore, lost; and the clause, as
amended, was ordered to stand part of the bill.
The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, and obtained
leave to sit again on Thursday.
STAMP DUTIES BILL.
The house then went into committee on this bill, and
resumed the consideration of its clauses.
Clause 9 having been agreed to, several new clauses were
brought up by Mr. WILSON, and incorporated in the bill.
Mr. VANCE moved the addition of the following clause :
—" Whereas it is expedient to reduce the stamp duty now
payable on deeds of submission and award in cases of arbi-
tration ; be it enacted that the stamp duty of 355., now
' payable on deeds of submission and award in cases o arbi-
tration, shall be reduced to the sum of 205."
Mr. WILSON said this was a bill for re-distributing
and not reducing the stamp duties, and therefore there
was no reason for reducing this particular duty any more
than there was for reducing any other of the duties.
The committee divided, when the numbers were For the clause
Against it lO5 b
Majority
The clause was therefore lost.
The remaining clauses were agreed to, the CHAIRMAN
reported progress, and the house resumed.
STANDARD OF GOLD AND SILVER WARES BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill, the various
clauses of which were agreed to.
The house having resumed, the order for the third read-
ing of the Wreck and Salvage Bill was discharged.
JOINT-STOCK BANKS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
POOR-LAW CONTINUANCE (IRELAND) BILL.
On the order for the third reading of this bill,
Colonel DUNNE asked for an inquiry into the expenses
of the commission, which he characterisd as extravagant, PUBLIC WORKS.--The Board of Public Works are at
and also into the administration of the law in Ireland. present busily employed. The old mansion adjoining Lord
Mr. J: BALL denied that the expenses of the commis- Harrington's, in Whitehall, is being prepared for the new
sion wereextravagant, and, notwithstanding it wasa quater- Secretary of War. The mansion of the late Duke of
past. one o'clock, and in spite of unmistakeable manifesta- Leeds, in St. James's-square, and lately occupied by Mr.
tons of impatience on the part of house, adduced statistics Lane Fox, has been purchased for the copyhold depart-
upon the subject. ment, the business of which has heretofore been trans-
Mr. BUTT, with a view "to cut short the debate," acted in Whitehall. It is in contemplation to surround
moved its adjournment. the whole of Greenwich Park with rails.
Sir JOHN YOUNG opposed the motion as unreason-
FURTHER CLOSING OF PUBLIC-HOUSES ON SUNDAY.
able, and promised that, during the recess, inquiries
should be made into the powers and expenses of the corn. —The " Sale of Beer, &c., Bili," just brought in by Mr.
mission. He thought that this assurance ought to be suf- Wilson Patten, proposes to provide, under a Si. penalty
ficient, and could not consent to an inquiry into the whole for every sale, that public-houses and beer-shops in Eng-
working of the law, with which he believed the majority land and Wales shall not be open for the sale of spirits,
of the Irish people were satisfied. wine, or beer (except to bona fide travellers or lodgers
The house divided on the question of adjournment, and therein) between 2 and 6 o'clock, or after 9, on Sunday,
the numbers were— Christmas-day, Good Friday, or any Fast or Thanks-
For the motion
83 giving-day. These houses would then be open only from
Against it
—47 1 to 2, and from 6 to 9. Another clause provides that no
Majority
Mr. VANSITTART then moved the adjournment of the sale of fermented or distilled liuors or sell therein
the house ; when, upon a division, there appeared q ,
such liquors on those days, except as refreshment for
For the motion
Against it
Majority
wine, beer, or other fermented or distilled liquors.
Colonel DUNNE moved an amendment limiting the e • the names
J.FOTHECARIES -HALL.— .o.lowing are
existence of the new commission to two instead of four
The house divided, when of the gentlemen who passed their examination in the
years, as originally proposed.
there appeared— science and practice of medicine, and received certificates
For the motion
1854 : Thomas Webb,
Against it
Cheadle, Staffordshire; Henry Vale James, Leominster,
Majority
The bill was than reads time.
Lancaster.

.148

Day whcn made m From a-ha; When
COUNTRIES. In General Post- Port due
Office, London,. Dispatched. Enu
America (byßrit.pack)N Every Friday .. • . Liverpool ...
America (by United Sts.
packet) • • • • • • • • • . Liverpool ... July 19
America (by U. States
.• ..... • Southampton,
Auplatcrplkleoitan)
*1 'July 4 ..... • Southampton A. 17611-
st 4
Ditto (via Marseilles) NI ......... .. • Dover ....
Ditto (via Cape of Good!
tnia
Hope) ............ N ;July • , „ nicer A
Africa (West Coast) .. Nl'.!3d of the month. Plymouth LLirriVe'
Alexandria .......... N 8,9, 24, & 30 of tn. Dover
Alexandria.... • .....M 4th & 20th of mon. Southampton
Bahamas ........... 7.1117 th of the mon t; !Southampton,
Belgium ...... • ... ..NlDally. •• •• Dover ......
Brazil ...... ......31,9th of the month.. SouthamploniJull 16
Buenos Ayres
i9th of the month .. j Southampton 'July 16
Cape of Good 'lope N 'l4th of the 'Dont!, Plymouth ..
Cape of Good Hope ..N 14th of the month. tiouthamplon
Cape, de Verde ~N 114th of the month Southampton
Ceylon (see India)
Ceylon ~.,N 14th of the month i 1i-illy 20 t
•
Channel Isles .• . • •• „N,Mon.,Wed &Frid Southampton iT,i•
Citili 21 ;2(1 & ;17titofmonth Sguthampton Jull "
China (sec India)
Constantinople ......N 7,8,17,21,&27 °rm. Dover ,
Constantinople 4th & 20th of mon. Southampton' 111
Cont. of Europe 21 & NiTwice daily ...... Dover .. To Egypt (see India) I
•„dllOl
France . ..... & NlTwice daily ,• .• • . Dover
Gibraltar 7, 17, 20, 27 of in.lB.nuthampton 'July A"
Greece (see India) I
Greytown & 17th of mon.:Southampton (July 16
Hamburgh ..........N Tuesday & Edda.) ,London .....I
Savannah 11t2nd of the monti Southampton Aug.
Holland Dally „ „ „ Dove, f.
Honduras of the month.;Southampton 'JuIY
India (vlaSouthampt.)2ll4th & 20th of Rion.: Plynnuth
India (via Marseilles)MlBth& 24th of month !Dover
lonian Isles (see India)!7, 17, & 27 of moniDover.. . • • • ! 11/
Ireland ........M & N ;Twice daily ...... !Flols head ..„(10
Lisbon .......• • Ml 7, 9, 17, &27 of in. Southampton lu/Y `
6
Madeira ....2119th of the month Southamptori•JuiY ~
Madeira ............Nl23d of month .... Plymouth ..
Malta (see India)
Malta ...... ••• 7,17,12,27, 30 ofm. Dover July 20
Mauritius (see India) 1
MauritluS ..........Nll4th of the month
Mexico ..... „It 2nd of the month. Southampton Aug. 1
Naples ...... ........N .15thl5th25thormon Dover ......
New Granada ...... 3j 2d & 17th of month Southampton New Zealand „ Ily private ship .. Various port Uncerto
Papal States •„N sthlsth2sdhormon. Dover ......
Peninsula „ „ 7thl7th2Bthofmon Southampton
Peru
„, „ M?d & 27th of mon Southampton .Tu•, Yl6
Port Natal ..........N 14th of the month! Plymouth ..
Sicily N sthlsth22tholmon,,Dover
Tuscany „ 15th25thotinon.1Dover
Venezuela .. „ ......Mi2d& 17th of month Southampton jll7l. 16
Van Diemen's Lan cl (seei 1
Australia) . .
........At
I West Indies !2d& 17th o! monthi Southampton..l.lllv 16

.1 When any of these dates fall o i a Sunday, the mails I*
despatched on the following day, with the eaceptien of the indid. the
Southampton), and the Malta, both of which will bo despatch()
preceding day.

[ADVERTISEMENT.] Her Majesty's Royal Letter
Patent, for valuable and extraordinary improvements
the most powerful and brilliant Telescopes, Camp, l'al3
course, Opera, and Perspective Glasses (glazed °ld
Munic German Glass), to know the distances
objects viewed through them—of great importsll3,
to the army, navy, and others. Messrs. S. andfly.
Solorpons, opticians, 39, Albemarle-street, Piccsa'',o.
Observe—opposite the York Hotel.—These telescopes P:"tli
sess srch extraordinary powers that some 3A inches, or
an extra eye-piece, will show distinctly Jupiter's Intl;
ring,Saturn's and the double stars; with the same
scope can be seen a person's countenance three
tulle
a a half distant, and an object from 12 to 11 "„4e"o
They are of larger and all sizes, with increasing P°'fbie,
a cco rdingly.—The Royal Exhibition, 1851.—Valusiro
newly-invented, very small, powerful waistcoat-pock
glass the size of a walnut, by which a person can be °e
and known Li mile distant; they answer every PurP-n s.
on the race-course, and at the opera-houses, country 81:03,
nery, and ships are clearly seen at 5 to 6 miles.
o
are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting' ro,
sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. OPerfal
race-course, camp, and perspective glasses, with wondslo
power ;an object can be clearly seen from 10 to 12 ,i,
distant. Newly-invented Spectacles ; immediately tPerf
are placed before extremely imperfect vision, evaa•
object becomes clear and distinct; the most aged,
fective eight is brought to its youthful, natural, and °O..
gival state. Deafness—Now Discovery—The Organic tea
brator, au extraordinary powerful, small, newlysinvtes,
instrument, for Deafness, entirely different from all others'
to surpass anything of the kind that has been, or probw'be
ever can be, produced. Being of the same colour 35,_ta
skin, is not' perceptible ; it enables deaf persons to 0,e3.
distinctly at church and at public assemblies ; the unlm,%.
sant sensation of singing noises in the ears is entirelY.„'icl
moved; and it affords all the assistance that possibly 0°„"e,
be desired.-39, .Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. OW"'
opposite the York Hotel.

BIRTHS.
OF A SON.
On the 13th inst., at the Rectory, Stoke Newington, the
wife of the Rev. Thos. Jackson.
On the 14th inst., at 18, Russell-street, Bath, the wi
fs
of J. T. Craster, Esq., HAI. 38th Regiment.

OF A DAUGHTER.
On the 13th inst., at the Vicarago, Great Walt/051i'
Essex, the wife of the Rev. J. H. Dyer. of
On th 3 14th inst., at 2, Bayswater-terrace, the Wife
Joseph Charlier, Esq.

MARRIED.
Aprio
On the 13th inst., at St. Luke's, Chelsea, Fr13,!;„,--r.
Saintsbury, Esq., of the Bank of England, to Sarah ki;,-er
lotte, second daughter of Robert Lemon, Esq., of m
Majesty's State-Paper Office.

DIED.
1
On the 14th inst., at Dunchureb, Mary Amelia, wic 100
of General Samuel Dalrymple, late of the Coldstre°
Guards, aged 72.

On the 15th inst., at Highgate, Thomas Clarke, Bsq.'
solicitor to the Board of Ordnance, aged 65. ea
On the 14th inst., at 20, Queen-street, Mayfair, /if
five weeks, of hooping cough, Blanche, only child of
Henry Vavasour, Bart.
On the 14th inst., at Bayswater, Ellen Matilda 05.„,ligello:
ton James, eldest daughter of Colonel llaughton tbm'
of the Bombay Army.

LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO
of No-. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, Nov' of
Strand, in the Precinct of Sa,voy, thj courPl
Vddlt4oB DlONdtqf Ji4y 18, 1884
_