The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-22 00:00:00

LAND) BILL.

On the motion for the third reading of the bill,
Mr. GOULEURN hoped the bill would be post-
poned, or that an opportunity would be given for dis-
cussing its provisions.
Colonel DUNNE, who had charge of the bill, de-
clined to accede to this request.
Mr. E. LOCKLIA.RT moved that the bill be read a
third time this (lay three months.
Mr. CRAUFURD seconded the amendment.
Lord NAAS supported the bill, contending that it
was sufficiently discussed upon the third reading of the
London University Bill.

Mr. ELLIOTT said the bill would be most unpalata-
ble to the people of Scotland.

After a brief conversation,

. .
Lord J. RUSSELL approved of the bill, but at the
same time heithought it would be better,to postpone its
discussion until Wednesday next, when his noble
friend at the head of the Home Department would
be in his place. He therefore moved the adjournment
of the debate accordingly.
Colonel DUNNE objected to any adjournment, and
insisted upon going to a division on that question, as it
was evident the Government were anxious to commit a
breach of faith in this matter.

The house divided, when there appeared—
For the adjournment
Against it 43
Majority
The debate was then adjourned until Wednesday next.

SPIRITS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
BURIALS BEYOND THE METROPOLIS BILL.
On the motion for the third reading of the bill,
Mr. HADFIELD moved an adjournment until Mon-
day, which was seconded by Mr. Frewen, but ulti-
mately this amendment was withdrawn, and the bill was
read a third time and passed.

BRIBERY BILL.

The committee on this bill was then resumed.

The original bill having been got through,
Lord J. RUSSELL moved the insertion of the fol-
lowing clause, viz. :—" And whereas doubts have arisen
as to whether the payment of the expenses of conveying
voters to and from the poll, as also the giving of re-
freshment to voters on the day of nomination or day of
polling, be or be not according► to law, and it is expedient
that such doubts should be removed, and that the law should
be settled in these particulars, be it declared and enacted,
that from and after the passing of this act, it shall be
lawful for any candidate or other person, subject always
to the provisions of this act as to the payment of election
expenses, to pay or cause to be paid the actual and rea-
sonable expenses of bringing any voters to the poll."
Lord R. GROSVENOR opposed the clause on prin-
ciple, and declared his intention to take the sense of the
committee upon it.
Mr. L. HEY\VORTH objected to the clause as open-
ing a door to bribery and corruption of the worst kind.
Mr. V. SMITH was afraid this clause, like the whole
bill, would only have the effect of legalising wholesale
bribery, and severely punishing retail bribery.
Mr. CRAUFURD moved as an amendment, to insert
in the clause, after the word " shall," the word "not,"
so as to make travelling expenses illegal. If the com-
mittee assented to this amendment he should then move
the omission of the words "actual" and "reasonable."
After some discussion, in the course of which it was
contented that this clause would make the payment of
these expenses compulsory where it was now optional,
Mr. FITZGERALD agreed that the preamble was
untrue, because there could be no doubt that, under the
existing law, a candidate could legally pay the reason-
able expenses of bringing voters to the poll if he so
thought fit.
Mr. CAYLEY said he believed it would ultimately
be discovered that the real solution of this question was
to have the votes collected at the residences of the elec-
tors.

After some further discussion, it was agreed to strike
out of the clause the words " as also the giving of refresh-
ments to voters on the day of nomination and on the day
of polling."
The committee then divided on Mr. Cranfurd's amend-
ment, when there appeared--
For the amendment
Against it
Majority --61
The amendment was consequently rejected.
The clause was then agreed to.
Mr. RE ADLAM then moved the following proviso
to the clause :—" Provided always that it shall only be
lawful at elections for boroughs for the candidate to pay
the expenses of bringing up to the poll from their resi-
dences within the borough, or, with respect to freemen,
from their residences within seven miles from the
borough, of aged or infirm voters, and reasonable pay-
ments for the purpose shall be legal."
After some discussion the committee divided, when
there appeared—

For the proviso
Against it
Majority
On the question that the clause be added to the bill,
the committee again divided, when there appeared—
For the clause
Against it ............
Majority
The clause was accordingly added to the bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL then moved the insertion of a
clause to the effect, _that the giving, or causing to be
&Nen# anyo
tO ytor•on tin d,%1 of nomanatio4 'or clarof
_ _ _

polling, on account of such voter having polled, or
being about to poll, any meat, drink, or enter-
tainment by way of refreshment, or any money or
ticket to enable such voter to obtain refreshment, shall
be held and be taken to amount to bribery or treating,
as the case may be, within the meaning of this act.
Mr. Walpole, Mr. Hildyard, Mr. Henley, and other
hon. members suggested practical difficulties in the way
of adopting the clause, and ultimately the clause was
deferred for the report.
Some other amendments were made in the bill, and
it was finally passed through committee.
The Admiralty Courts, the Highways (Public Health
Act), and the Chancery Amendment Bills were consi-
dered as amended, and ordered to be read a third time.
The Land Revenues of the Crown (Ireland) Bill, the
Land Assessed and Income Taxes Bill, and the Ducby
of Cornwall Office Bill were passed through committee.
The house then adjourned.