The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-08 00:00:00

GREEK LOAN.

Mr. ROBINSON begged to know when his Majesty's
Government intended to. bring forward the Greek Loan
Bill?

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he should not move it
before the House went. into a Committee of Supply.

REGISTRATION OF VOTERS' RILL.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved that this Bill be read,
a third ,time. The Noble Lord stated that 'Since the
proposal of the names of those who were'to act as Regis-
trars, two gentlemen bad declined performing that office,
Mr. Rogers and Mr. Alexander, instead of whom, with the
approbation of the Attorney-General, be should propose.
Mr. Russett Gurney and Mr. Edward Winslow.

Mr. AGLIONI3Y said that since the passing of Col.,
Davis's 'Act, which provided that certain persons who
should act as county-clerks, agents, &c., should not be en-
titled to vote ; many persons were in the habit of voting,
trusting to a petitio❑ being presented thereafter against the
return. He, therefore, in order to extend the provisions
Of that Act passed in the reign of George IV., should.
tnove that such persons be subjected to a penalty not ex-
ce!2ding 1001. nor less than 10/., the amount to be
,ascerr
tained by the verdict of a jury.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL considered this clause
ought to be adopted for the law ;• as it at present stood in
this respect, it was a perfect dead letter.
Th. 2 Earl of LINCOLN considered the clause that had.
been moved had nothing whatever to do with the Bill
fore the House.- A clause affecting the right ,of voting
.aught not to be mixed up with a Bill which only affected
practice of registration..
Mr. ROBINSON thought the clause was closely Con-
nected with the provisions of the Bill then before the
House. _ _ _

Mr. WILKS agreed with the Noble Lord (Lincoln)
that it was inconvenient that Acts relating to one subject
should have clauses inserted in them relating to another
Although he should not object to a separate Bill, giv-
ing effect to the object of the Clause that had been.
moved, yet he did think it was inconvenient when they were
dealing with a Bill affecting the registration of voters to in-
sert a provision as to what should be the proceeding at
elections.

Lord J. RUSSELL considered the Clause that had
been moved did properly belong to the Act, because it was
rendered necessary in consequence of their establishing a
system of registration by the present Bill. Formerly, if a
person before the election, or at the time of the election,
took upon himself to be an agent, that would have been
stated at the time of the poll, and the vote of the person
would have been refused ; but now, if they adopted a sys-
tem of registration, though the party might not be disquali-
fied at the time time of being registered, yet he might at
the time of the election.

Mr. C. Ross and Mr. PRAED opposed the clause.

Sir T. FREMANTLE agreed with the Noble Lord
(Lincoln) that this was a very bad precedent—it was quite
irregular, as the clause bad no analogy to the Bill, and no
one would ever think of looking in this Bill for a clause im-
posing such a penalty ; it was, in fact, a trap or snare for
the voters.

The clause went through Committee, and was added to
the Bill without a division.
Mr. TREVOR moved a clause to enable freemen to re-
gister, who had not been on the lists for more than two
years in consequence of holding a Government situation.
In the town he represented the Postmaster was a freeman,
and not registered ; surely he should not be disfranchised
on that account. He proposed that one year should be
allowed to such persons for registration after quitting their
situations.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL had no objection to the clause
—but perhaps the Noble Lord opposite (Lincoln) might
object to it, as having no analogy to the Bill.—(A laugh.)
The clause went through a Committee, and was added to the
Bill.
The Earl of LINCOLN could not allow this clause to
pass without stating his opinion upon the Bill. He was
ready to admit that tie gentlemen who had been proposed
were unobjectionable, but still he felt himself bound to
oppose the clause on principle.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that it, could not be expected
that persons would be free from political partialities, but
he thought that upon this question all parties were agreed.
Sir T: FREM A.NTLE did not object to the names,
but he objected to these alterations being made in the list
of names without notice. The Noble Lord (Russell)
ought to have ascertained whether these gentlemen were
willing to accept the office before they were appointed. It
appeared that he did not do so, and they were called upon
on the third reading to insert new names, when it was im-
possible to know who they were. They ought to see them
in print before the names were inserted.
Lord J. RUSSELL could only repeat that he adopted
the present plan at the suggestion of the Right Hon. Baro-
net (Sir R. Peel), and had completed it with the concur-
rence of the Hon. and Learned Member for Huntingdon.
Mr. C. ROSS said that the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R.
Peel), had only a choice of evils.
The alteration was then agreed to, and the name of
Winslow was inserted instead of Alexander.
On clause 65 being put,
Mr. PRAED proposed to insert certain words, the
efEct of which would be to reserve the right of voting to
persons who had been in occupation for a certain time.
Mr. WARBURTON opposed the amendment.
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the House di-
vided, when the numbers were—
For the clause 72
For the amendment 24
Majority ••• —4B
On our return to the gallery, we found
Mr. PRAED opposing the names inserted in the Bill to.
form the Revising Barristers' Court. For the proposed
salary he thought more talented men than those named
might have been obtained. He did not think the new
System would work so well as the old one, for then the
registration took place when there was nothing doing-, and
therefore it was no sacrifice for a barrister of considerable
practice to accept the situation, which they Would not now
do. He would feel it his duty to divide the House against
the passing of the Bill.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL had not suggested a
single name of those contained in the Bill, but as the selec-
tion was, in his opinion, the best whichcould be made, lie
was quite willing to take the responsibility of the whole
upon himself.—(Hear.) How was it possible to please the
Hon. Member for Yarmouth when he objected to the

pointmcnt of his own brother—(Laughter)--who he had no
doubt would do his duty most honourably. There could

be no doubt that the Lord Chancellor would be the best
judge of the proper persons to be appointed.
Mr. PRAED said that with respect to the observa-
tions which had been made relative to his brother, he had
only to say that he was a barrister of long standing.
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the House di-
vided, when the numbers were—

- For the Bill
. Against it
Majority
The Bill wag accordingly passed.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

Lord J. RUSSELL said, that before he proceedei
to move the further orders of the day, be wished to
state the course which he meant to pursue with regard to
three Bills on which amendments bad been made by the
House of Lords. One was the Marriages Bill, another the
Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill, and the third
Om Registration of Births Bill. With respect to the
Marriages Bill and the Registration of Births, he was
disposed to move that that House do agree to the amend-
ments made by the House of Lords in the Bill, as
they did not affect the principles of the Bill as agreed
to by this House. But with respect to the other Bill—
the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill—if he
were disposed to move, er rather if his Learned Friend
were disposed to move, that they do agree to the amend-
ments made by the Lords, and on which their Lordships
insisted, he would be ready to do so this evening. But as
the Bill was of so much importance, and as the course
which he intended to take was a different one—(Hear,
hear)—he would move that the consideration of those
amendments be postponed till to-morrow. At the same
time, be would take the liberty to state, that although
he felt the very great consequence and importance of the
loss of this Bill, which contained so much of useful amend-
ment of the Corporation Act of last year, yet the clauses
upon which the Lords insisted were in his (Lord John
Russell's) opinion so objectionable, that he preferred the
loss of this rather than agreeing to those clauses. He
would therefore state to-morrow the reasons which induced
him to move that this House do still disagree to the amend-
ments of the Lords.—(Loud cheers.) The Noble
Lord then moved that the consideration of the Lords'.
amendments to the Municipal Corporation Amend-
ment Act be taken into consideration to-morrow.

Mr. WI LKS would take the liberty of saying, that as
to the Registration of Births Bill and the Marriages Bill,
it was desirable the time should be fixed as nearly

is possible, when they might come on for the consideration
of the HOuse.

Mr. CHARLTON said, that with respect to the Muni-
cipal Act Amendment Bill he wished to say one word.
The poor people in the different almshouses were totally
unprovided for, and no person was in a situation to pay
them a single farthing. He, therefore, wished to know how
the Noble Lord had proposed these poor people should be
paid, between this time and the first day of next Term
When the Government recollected of what importance this
Bill was, he thought they would not endeavour to throw out

the Lords' amendments. He should to-morrow move
that the present Trustees remain in power until Parliament
otherwise provides. lie did not think it possible that in the;
meantime the funds could be misapplied ; but surely the
poor people were not to be left to starve.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the Lord -Chan;
celler had, even now, powers sufficient to afford redress,
and Clem was no occasion for waiting till next term, for the
Court of Chancery was open at all times.
ECCLESIASTICAL APPOINTMENTS BILL.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved the third reading of
the above Bill.

Sir R. INGLIS did not mean to oppose the Bill, but ai
he thought the honour of the Crown and of the House was
pledged to the passed chaplains, he trusted the Government
would take the case into consideration.

Mr. A. TREVOR agreed with his Hon. Friend, and
he hoped
,justice would be done to those gentlemen.
Mr. LENNARD had given notice of an amendment
on this Bill, but would content himself with protesting
atainst that part of the Bill which annexed stalls with the
Bishoprics of Litchfield, London, Exeter, and Salisbury.
The Noble Lord (J. Russell) bad not turned his attention
to the reforms required in the Church ; he trusted he
•wo dd do so now, and then they would be sure of a general
mea-ntre of a very different character next Session.
Lord J. RUSSELL did not think that it was necessary
to disturb what had been decided by the House after a long

zesission.

The was then read a third time and passed.
A Message from the Lords brought up several Private
Bilis, and also requested a Conference on the York and
'Exet(r Secular Jurisdiction Bill.—Agreed to.
The Coaference t'len took place.
On the return of the Members appointed to manage the
confercpce,

, •
Lord J. RUSSELL appeared at the Bat:, and stated
that they had met in conference with the other House of
Parliament—the conference on the part of the Lords being
managed by the Lord President of the Council on the Com-
mutation of Tithes Bill as amended—that their Lordships
had insisted upon some amendments, and had '•agreed to
iv up others.
POST-OFFICE COMMISSIONERS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in
moving the third reading of this Bill, stated that, in accor-
dance with a suggestion made on a former day, he had in-
serted a clause, fixing the amount of the salary to be re-
celvel by the Post-Office Commissioners.—(Hear.)
Colonel SIBTHORP asked what salary did the Bill
pronose to fix ?
Th 3 CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
3,000/..for the First Commissioner, and 1,200 each for the
others. _

Co'onel SIBTHORP said that the salary of the Seem-
'ary of the Post Office had been 2,500/., whereas this Bill
pro, ose 1 to give a sum of 4,800/. as the salaries of
the three Commissioners. How this was consistent
with the principle of economy he had yet to learn, although
n 3 doubt the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer
would reconcile it by some of his ministerial calculations.
—( A laugh.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated
that the salary of the Secretary of the Post Office, it
was true, had been only 2,5001. a year, but then the
emoluments had amounted to between 4,000/. and 5,0001.
He had stated before that the constitution of that office re-
vired some change, and such had been stated in the
Reports of Commissioners fur a great series of years—
(Hear, hear, hear.)
Mr. WILKES had stated in and out of the House that
his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer was
inclined too much to economy. Comparing the duties of
the Commissioners of Woods and Forests with the duties
of the Secretary to the Post Office, the general feeling
was that the compensation was hardly sufficient.—(Hear.)
In aiswer to a question put by Colonel SIBTHORPE,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
Government had the right to appoint to the place of Sir F.
Freel:ng immediately upon his death, but they had not
done so—they had left the office open, so that it might be
dealt with by the Commissioners when they had formed their
Board, and made enquiries as to the duty and necessity for
a Secretary.
In the course of a day or two more papers would be laid on
the table of the House, which would enable the Hon. Ba-
ronet to state in a more definitive form the objections he
wished to urge.
Sir T. FREMANTLE maintained that the question
ought to be decided whether there sbou!d be one or two
secretaries.

Mr. Baring, Mr. Labouebere, Mr. Aglionby, and Col.
Sibthorpe, made some observations.

Mr. G. F. YOUNG thouht that the remunerations
proposed to be given was greatly too large.
Mr. A. TREVOR complained that this Bill was brought
forward at so late a period of the Session.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
LIGHT-HOUSES BILL.

On the motion of Mr. P. THOMPSON, the Lords'
amendments to this Bill were agreed to. _ _ _

The Spirits (Excise) Duty Bill was read a third time,
and passed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved
the third reading of the Malt Duties (Ireland) Bill.
Mr. HAMILTON presented a petition fro:n e
Chamber of Commerce of Dublin against the Bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER wished
to say a few words with respect to the statements
which had been made relative to this Bill out of doors. The
Malt Duties in Ireland were much more evaded than in
England, which was not only the cause of inconvenience
and loss to the revenue, but was almost ruining the fair
trader. Many of them had prayed for this Bill which had
been drawn up under their sanction. If the parties inte-
rested said they were taken by surprise, it was not the part
of the Government to force such a B:11 on, but then the
responsibility of withdrawing the Bill would rest on those
who applied to have it withdrawn.
(LEFT SITTING.