The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, ,F:! TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 6, 1840.

in her hands for sarety, and she was afterwards induced
to deliver up the money to the prisoner, who, immedi-
ately on getting possession of it, started off for London.
She followed him and being unable to get the amount,
or any portion of it, back again, thought fit to give him
into custody. The witness added that the prisoner ob-
tained the money from her one day in her bedroom.
Mr. HENRY 'inquired g the matter bad been taken up
by the creditors of the brother-in-law in any way?
The inspector did not know anything of the case be-
yond what had been stated by the woman.
Mr. HENRY said he had no power to detain the pri-
soner upon a charge of felony, as she had evidently
given him permission to take the money..
He was therefore discharged, the prisoner and the
woman then walked away together.
CLERKEIV WELL.
Just before Mr. Combe left the bench, a middle-aged
man, of respectable appearance, who gave his name
Timothy Thompson, was brought into court in the cus-
tody of Mr. Inspector Julian, G division, charged by
Mr. Joseph Cornick, proprietor of the Pakenham Arms,
Lower Calthorpe-street, Gray's Inn-road, with stealing
a set of fire-irons.
It appeared that, in the course of yesterday afternoon,
the prisoner entered the parlour of Mr. Cornick's house,
and called for something to drink, which was served.
No suspicion was entertained of him, but after a short
period of time had elapsed he left the place with some-
thing in his possession, which excited the suspicion of
Mrs. Cornick, who was behind the bar. Sho imme-
diately proceeded to the parlour, and, missing the fire-
irons, hastened outside, and the prisoner being in sight,
she requested a man to pursue him, which he instantly
did, overtook the prisoner with the articles in his pos-
session, and took him to the station-house.
Mr. Inspector Julian said that numerous robberies of
this nature had, for a length of time past, been com-
mitted on licensed victuallers in every part of the metro-
polis, by a fellow answering the description of the pri.
soner, especially in Islington, Holloway, Hackney, and
the eastern parts, information of which bad been given
to the police, who had been on the alert to apprehend
him, but he had eluded their vigilance. Fire-irons,
glasses, spoons, and pictures had been stolen from their
houses, and it was only a short time ago that Mr.
Cornick, and several other licensed victuallers in the
neighbourhood of Clerkenwell, had been robbed of paint-
ings which had hung up in their parlours.
Mr. Thomas Thurlby, of the George the Fourth,
Bagnigge• wells-road, said he had been plundered of his
fire-irons and other property exactly in the same way
as Mr. Cornick, and he had no doubt by the prisoner.
Mr. COMBE inquired where the prisoner lived.
Prisoner replied, 4, Ironmonger-lane, St. Luke's.
Inspector Julian said the name he gave was supposed
to be fictitious, as well as the address, and that no exer-
tion should be spared to trace the reality and the pro-
perty stolen if he (the prisoner) was remanded.
Several gentlemen connected with the trade, who had
been plundered under similar circumstances, were in
Court, but they could not identify the prisoner.
Mr. COMBE asked him what he had to say to the
charge?—Prisoner (coolly): I don't deny it. I was
driven to it by desperation.
Mr. COMBE—You stand remanded until Wednesday
next, at 12 o'clock in the forenoon.
The prisoner was then conveyed to prison in the
police-van.

SOUTHWARK.
David Thomas, a man of respectable appearance, was
placed at the bar before Mr. Cottingham on the follow-
ing charge:—
Phcehe Hyde, a pretty-looking little girl, 12 years of
age, stated that she lived at Shoreditch, and that on
Saturday she was sent by her mother with a bundle to
her aunt at Haggerstone. On the road there she met
the prisoner near the canal-bridge, and he spoke to her,
asking her where she was going. She told him, and he
then took the bundle out of her hand, and said he would
carry it for her, as it was heavy. She refused at first,
and he then said if she did not let him carry it he would
it into the canal. She was afraid he would do and al-
lowed him to have it, and he then turned back and said
that he wanted her to come into town with him, saying
that he would take her to 'a shop and buy her a new
frock and a pair of new shoes. They then walked on
together, and he took her into a public-house and they had
some beer, and he wanted her to drink some gin and
water, which she refused. After they left the house lie
took her into two or three other public-houses, and
wanted to prevail upon her to drink more, but she would
not; when they came out of the last house she wanted
him to give ber the bundle, but he refused, and she then
began to cry in the street, but still kept walking by his
side. While she was crying two women came up to her
and asked her what she was crying about, when sho told
them she wanted her bundle ; upon which the prisoner
said that he was her father, and that they had no busi-
ness to interfere, on which the women went away. The
prisoner and she then walked forward, and he took her
over London-bridge into the Borough; they turned down
Tooley-street, and went on until they got to Deptford,
and when there he went down a by-street, and taking a
key out of his pocket opened the door of a house, into
which he desired her to follow him, adding that he
would get her the frock and pair of shoes he had
promised her. She did enter the house, but found no
person within, and when he got her into the par-
lour he took out a penknife and said, he would kill
her with it if she made any noise. The complainant here
described the conduct pursued towards her by the pri-
eoner, which is unfit for publication, but which, if true,
amounted to an attempt upon her person. After keep-
ing her there for some time they left the house together,
and as they were returning the same way they came he
took her into another public house, in the taproom of
which, n) persons being present but themselves, he again
repeated the attempt upon her rerson ; while he ens
doing so the pothoy came into the room, who must have
s,wn the state of disorder in which her clothes were on
his sudden entrance.
Mr. COTTINGItAM—Why did you not call out when
he was doing as you describe, or tell the potboy?
Complainant—l was afraid he would kill me, and that
was tee reason I did not make any noise. She then went
on to describe that after they left the house and got into
Tooley-street, it being then six o'clock in the evening,
she began to cry again, and was spoken to by some persons,
whom she told that the pt isoner had brought her away
from llaggerstone, and would not give her up her bundle.
A crowd collected, when a policeman came up, and when
she informed him of what happened, ho took the pri-
soner into custody.
A surgeon was next examined, and his evidence went
to prove that although there was evidence of much vio-
lence having been used towards the complainant, yet
that a capital offence had not been perpetrated.
Mr. Binns, on the part of the prisoner, said that
his instructions were correct, the complainant's statement
of the alleged offence was destitute of truth, and that he
was in a condition to prove that when the mother of the
child was ae ked if there was anything the matter with
her daughter, the reply was that there was nothing.
Mr. Cowl:soma:si said that even if it was proved the
mother said so, it had nothing to do with the charge
against the prisoner, for the complainant had now given
a statement which, if founded in truth, constituted a
charge of a most serious character against the accused.
The magistrate then asked whether the pot-boy of the
last public-house they were in was present?—The po-
liceman said that he desired him to be at the court that
morning, and he promised that he would, but he was not
in attendance.
Mr. COTTINGHAM directed that a warrant should be
issued to compel his attendance, and that all the evi-
dence beariag on the case should be brought forward,
and for that purpose remanded the prisoner.

OPENING OF THE CANADIAN
PARLIAMENT.
(From the Buffalo Express.)
We are indebted to Mr. Kissick, the gentlemanly
operator here, of this line, for the following Speech of
the Governor-General of Canada:—
MONTREAL, JAN. 18, 1849.—This day, at 3 o'clock,
P.M., his Excellency, the Governor-General, proceeded in
state to the chamber of the Legislative Council, in the Par-
liament building. The members of the Legislative
Council being assembled, his Excellency was pleased to
command the attendance of the Legislative Assembly,
and that House being present, his Excellency opened
the second session of the third Parliament of the province
of Canada, with the following speech from the throne :
Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gen-
tlemen of the Legislative Assembly,— I have much satis-
faction in informing you that uninterrupted tranquillity
has prevailed in the province during the recess. The
proofs which the people of Canada have furnished during
this period of general excitement and disquietude of
their love of order, and of the attachment they bear to
their institutions, will tend, I trust, to establish the
credit of the province on a firmer basis, and promote its
prosperity.
I am authorised to state, for your information, that it
is her Majesty's purpose to exercise the prerogative of
mercy in favour of all persons who are still liable to
penal consequences for political offences arising out of
the unfortunate occurrences of 1837 and 1838, and I have
the Queen's commands to invite you to concur with me
in passing an Act to give full effect to her Majesty's
most gracious intentions.
It affords me much pleasure to state that in compli-
ance with the desire of the local Legislature, expressed
in a joint address of the two houses of the Provincial
Parliament, the Imperial Parliament has passed an Act
repealing the clause in the Union Act, which imposed
res. rictions on the use of the French language.
I have been in communication, during the recess,
with her Majesty's Provincial Secretary of State for
the Colonies, and with the Lieutenant-Governor of
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick on the subject of
the Provincial Post-office, and I am enabled to inform
you that on the meeting of the Imperial Parliament,
steps will be taken for conferring on the provincial au-
thorities the entire control and management of this de-
partment. I trust that when the necessary arrangements
for effecting this object shall have been completed, it may
be found practicable to establish a low and uniform rate
of postage for the British North American provinces.
I am disposed to believe that an increase in the repre-
sentation would be attended with considerable advantage
to the public interest. And I recommend this subject,
which is one of no ordinary importance, to your best
consideration.
It gives me, much gratification to state that the op-
position manifested at one time in certain parts of
Lower Canada to the School Act has in a great measure
subsided. I am of opinion, nevertheless, that this Act
may with advantage be amended in some of its de-
tails; and I feel confident that you will readily con-
sent to make such alterations as shall render it as little
as possible onerous to the rate-payers, without, how-
ever, compromising the important principle it has con-
secrated in securing for all the youth of this section of
the province the blessing of education.
Among the subjects which will probably engage your
attention, are the system of judicature in both sections of
the province, the laws for the regulation of municipalities,
and the constitution of the University of King's College.
The officers employed in exploring the country be-
tween Quebec and Halifax, with the view of discovering
the best line for a railway to connect these two points,
have presented a report which contains much valuable
information, and sets forth in a strong light the
advantages of the proposed undertaking. I shall
lay it before you, together with a dispatch from the
Secretary of State for the Colonies, expressive of the
interest taken by her Majesty's Government in the ex-
ecution of this great work.
Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly—
I shall direct the public accounts for the estimates for
the year to be laid before you.
I rely on your readiness to grant the supplies which
are necessary for the public service.
Gentlemen of the Council and Assembly—
I have observed with much concern that Canada has
participated largely in the commercial depression, by
which the last year has been so unfavourably charac-
terised.
I hare not failed to impress on her Majesty's Minis-
ters the urgent necessity which exists for the re'-
moval of such provisions from the Imperial Statute-
book as may tend to restrict the [commerce of the
Province, by checking the resorts of foreign ship-
ping to its ports in search of freight, and I have much sa-
tisfaction in stating that my representation on this
head has been cordially responded to by the Queen's
Government.
Among the measures which seem to merit the atten-
tion of the Provincial Parliament, at this time, being
calculated to raise the credit of the Province, to extend
its trade, and to contribute to the development of its
resources, I recommend to your consideration the fol-
lowing, as specially important:—The provision of such
funds as may be required for the completion of the St.
Lawrence canals at the earliest period.
These great works may, it is believed, be so far per-
fected, at a small additional expense, as to permit vessels
drawing nine feet on the outward and eight feet on the
inward voyage, to pass from Lake Erie to the Oceab.
Soon after the opening of navigation, when this object
shall be accomplished, Canada will possess an inland na-
vigation unparalleled in capacity and length, and con-
necting the marts of the<commerce, to the growth of
which it is impossible to assign limits.
The enactment of a law authbrising the alienation
of work of a purely local character, which has been
executed at the cost of the Province, and giving the
Government such powers as may be necessary for the
organization of the provincial debt and creation of an
efficient sinking fund ; this debt has been contracted,
not in the prosecution of costly wars, whether of
defence or aggression, but in the construction of
works of utility ; the more important of which can
hardly fail, when completed, to prove remunerative. The
existence of a large revenue, derived from customs,
places the creditor of the Canadian public in a very ad-
vantageous position, which will be improved when the
principle of a sinking fund is brought into fictive
operation.
The amendment of the existing Emigration Act, with
a view to the removal of such provisions as tend to pre-
vent emigrants, who propose to settle in Canada, or the
Western States of the Union, from proceeding to their
destination by the route of the St. Lawrence. The
passenger trade is an important branch of the trade in-
wards, which cannot be discouraged without prejudice
to the trade outward. I shall not fail to make every
exertion which the interests of the public health will
permit, to reduce the expenditure of the emigration
department to the scale of the years preceding 1847,
when a passenger tax considerably less onerous than
that now levied, with the occasional addition of a small
grant from the public treasury, sufficed to cover it.
I would further recommend for your consideration
the expediency of setting apart a portion of the public
domain in order that the revenue derived from the sales
thereof may form a fund, the interest of which shall be
applied to the support of common schools.
It may probably be deemed advisable to authorise
the Government to invest the capital arising from this
source, either in the stocks of the Province, or in those
of some of the principal railways, the construction of
which has been sanctioned by Parliament. In matu-
ring these and all kindred measures which have the
promotion of the moral and economical well being of
the people of this important province for their object,
you will find me ever willing and desirous to co-operate
with you in the possession of a revenue derived from so
many independent sources, and exempt from numerous
charges that weigh heavily on the resources of
other communities. Canada enjoys great and singular
advantages. May we hope that, under God's blessing,
our legislation may be so directed as to enable her to
reap the full benefit.
lio

ZINC FOB ROOFING : SINGULAR PROPERTIES OE
ZlNC.—This metal, is in fact, a curious and anomalous
mass of contradictory properties. Chemically speaking,
it so greedily devours oxygen, that it will strip even
iron of it, yet we see how completely it can protect its
own substance from this very tendency to oxidize, and
this, too, from its very strength of affinity for oxygen.
Chemically speaking it is so combustible, that it may be
made to burn and blaze; and yet from its practical
power to cover itself with a firm though thin shell or
crust of stony or glassy oxide, and from the much
stronger heat required to melt it, we have no doubt that
it will constitute (though not a fire-proof material like
iron or stone), a safer covering for roofs than lead at
least; for though, where the ordinary inflammables have
already originated a conflagration, it will much
.rather
promote than retard the blaze, yet certainly it will pro-
tect the woodwork of roofs from sparks, and burning
embers, &c., contributed by adjoining conflagrations,
both by its surfacial incrustation, and by its solidity in
circumstances where lead would melt and disappear, ex-
posing the timbers beneath to the burning embers. A
case of this very kind lately occurred. We quote from
The Sun newspaper:—" While the firemen were em-
ployed upon this fire (at Lincoln's Inn) an alarm was
given that another had broken out in Chancery-lane,
and it was ascertained that some of the burning flukes
had been wafted by the wind upon the roof of the law
chambers, No. 77, in the lane, and having melted the
gutter, had come in contact with the timber underneath,
and had fired the roof. When the fire brigade arrived
with their engines the flames were racring with such
fury that the two roofs at the least were in great danger
of being consumed."—Builder.

KING'S COMM;
which will prove Eefici
,Lal to a large oNm x. A
--narrangement,'
ben
class , of young
men, who are prevented bytheir avocations from indulg•
ing in literary and scientific pursuits during the day
time, came into operation at this College on Friday last.
The council have determined on the appointment of
professors, whose duty it shall be to give evening lec-
tures, open not only to regular students of the college,
but to all gentlemen who may feel disposed to attend.
The opening lecture w:sdelivtired on ri.day evening
the Rev. Dr. Jeff. Principal of King's College, anon by
var
Christ Church, Oxford, " On t he Relation ehich. Scientificc
of
Pursuits bear to Religion." It was announced that
the regular course, which commenced last evening,t
would be continued without intermission every even-
ing, Saturday excepted, until Friday, March 30. The
lectures appointed for the present term are " Manufac-
tures and Machinery," eight lectures, by Professor
Cowper; "Public Health," el& lectures, by Professor
Guy, M. B.; " Chemistry," eight lectures, by Professor
Miller, M.D., F.R.S.; " Natural History," eight lec-
tures, by Professor T. Rymer Jones, F.R.S.; " Physical
Geography," five lectures, by Processor D. T. Ansted,
M.A., F.R.S. Three evenings are to be devoted to the
illustration, by the oxy-bydregen microscope, of the.
structure of the lower animals.
An appointment as Military Knight of 'Windsor is
vacant by the death of Lieut.-Colonel Campbell.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 5.
Their Lordships met at Five o'clock.
Lord CAMPBELL presented several petitions against
the sale of intoxicating liquors.
THE ADDRESS.
Earl FORTESCOE, as Lord Steward of the
Iloniehold, appeared at the table, and reported her Ma-
jesty's reply to the Address. It was in the following
terms:—" I thank your Lordships for the assurance of
your loyalty to my person and attachment to the insti-
tutions of the country. It will always be my desire to
promote the happiness of my people."
On the motion of Lord SHAFTESBURY, the reply
was ordered to be printed with the votes.
The Bishop of LONDON laid upon the table a Bill
for regulating proceedings against clerks in holy orders.
Lord STANLEY presented a petition praying that
grants for education should be regulated by Acts of Par-
liament.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Lord STANLEY said it would, no doubt, be in the
recollection of their Lordships that last session he di-
rected their Lordships' attention to the mode of transact-
ing business in this and the other House of Parliament,
and the great inconvenience which resulted from the
deley which generally took place in bringing up Bills to
their Lordships' House. It was his intention to have again
adverted to this subject, but he understood some amend-
ment was to be proposed in the other House in the
mode of managing the business of the two Houses, and
he thought it better to wait till their Lordships
had had an opportunity of seeing those amendments
before he revived the question. In the mean.
time, however, he trusted the Noble Marquis the Lord
President of the Council, would have no objection to
lay upon the table a return showing the progress of
the Bills introduced into both Houses during the last
session.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was understood to
say that he tied no objection to the return being made.
It was ordered accordingly.
IRISH POOR-LAWS.
The Marquis of LINSDOWNE gave notice that on
Friday he should move the appointment of a Select
Committee, to take into consideration the suspension of
the :poor-law in Ire!and, with the view of altering and
amending its provisions.
ENTAILED ESTATES.
On the motion of the Duke of RICHMOND, the Se-
lect Committee on the subject of entailed estates was
re-appointed.
THE NORTH WALES RAILWAY.
Mr. Putman, the Deputy-Usher of the Black
Rod, appeared at the bar of the House, and
stated that Messrs. Chadwick, the chairman, and Mr.
Mariner, the secretary of the North W ales Railway,
were in attendance, in obedience to their Lordships'
order, made at the close of last session.
On the motion of Lord MONTEAGLE the parties
were ordered to be called in.
The parties having appeared at the bar,
The LORD CHANCELLOR asked Mr. Chadwick
what he had gut there.
Mr. Chadwick replied, that their Lordships had
ordered him to produce the accounts and papers con-
nected with the North Wales Railway. Personally
he had no objection to the production of the papers,
but he begged to inform their _Lordships that the affairs
of the company had become the subject of a suit in
Chancery, and the papers required had been handed
over, to the officer of that court.
The parties having been ordered to withdraw,
Lord MONTEAGLE said, immediately after their
Lordships' order was made last session, he received.a let-
ter stating that there would be no objection to produce the
papers referred to in their Lordships' order, and he could
not understand why they should not be produced now.
Railway companies had been invested with large powers,
and it was important that their Lordships should take
care that these powers were not abused. In this case,
he insisted that they had, and he submitted that, in
vindication of their Lordships' authority, they ought to
commit the parties in default of their producing the
papers demanded by the order of the House.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that parties disobey-
ing the order of the House were liable to be committed
for contempt, but he doubted much whether- in. this
instance the parties had been guilty of any such con-
tempt.
Lord MONTEAGLE insisted that they had been
guilty of contempt. Why were not the papers produced
last session?
Lord BROUGHAM protested that there had been no
contempt. The parties did not refuse to produce the
papers, but simply informed their Lordships that one of
the superior courts of law had taken cognizance of their
accounts.
Atter some further discussion,
Lord BEAUMONT moved that the parties be again
called in.
The parties being again at the bar,
Lord MONTEAGLE asked Mr. Chadwick if he had
come prepared with the papers referred to in the order
of the House?
Mr. Chadwick replied that he had.
The papers were then produced and handed in.
Lord MONTEAGLE, handing a letter dated August,
1848, to Mr. Mariner, asked it the letter was in his
handwriting?
Mr. Mariner admitted that it was, and, by the desire
of Lord Monteagle, proceeded to read it. It simply
stated that there would be no objection to produce the
papers.
The Duke of RICHMOND inquired if the accounts
delivered in were open to the shareholders of the com-
pany ?
Mr. Mariner said they were.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE wished to know,
then, why the papers were nut produced last session ?
Mr. Chadwick explained that there was some diift•
catty in the way of producing them.
In reply to a question from Lord BROUGHAM,
Mr. Mariner admitted that he received an order from
the Board of Trade, directing a return of the papers to
their Lordships in the early part of August, but without
the authority of the however of directors it was not his
province to obey. He, , communicated it to the
chairman.
Lord BROUGHAM told Mr. Mariner that it was his
duty to obey the order of either House of Parliament
without consulting any one.
In reply to further questions from Lord BROUGHAM,
Mr. Chadwick said he heard of the receipt of the
order from the Secretary soon after it was made, and
after he had summoned a board of directors to consder
the question, and obtained their authority for the step,
he directed the secretary to prepare the accounts and
make a return to the order.
The parties having again retired,
Lord MONTEAGLE proposed, after: the ser-
vice of the order by the officer of the House, to
leave the matter in their Lordships' hands to deal
with it as they should think fit. In the meantime he
should move Out the parties should be called in and
ordered to attend again that day week.
Lord BROUGHAM, who had walked round the
House, and taken up his seat on the Bishops' bench,
suggested that before they proceeded to commit the
parties they could not be too particular in ascertaining
whether the order was received in time to make the re.
turn last session.
The Duke of RICHMOND—My Lords, I entirely
concur with the observation which has just fallen from
the Right Rev. Prelete.—(Laughter.)
The parties were then called in and ordered to attend
again on Monday next.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 5.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'clock.

NEW MEMBER.
Mr. LAWRENCE LIE.YWORTII took the oaths and his
seat for the borough of Derby.
SUPPLY OF GAS IN THE METROPOLIS.
The Sheriffs of London appeared at the bar, and pre-
sented a petition from the Mayor, Aldermen, and Com-
mon Council of the city of Loudon, relative to the
supply of gas in the metropolis.
LUSH POOR-LAW.
Mr. FAGAN presented a petition from the board of
guardians of the Cork Union, praying that a Committee
might be appointed to inquire into the whole system of
the Irish Poor-law, with a view to its amendment.
FINANCIAL REFORM.
Mr. ELLIS presented a petition from Rea dig, pray-
ing for a reduction of the duty upon tea, sugar, and
coffee; and that the duty .upon timber, bricks, paper,
soap, and other articles might be altogether repealed.
PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.
Mr. F. O'CONNOR presented a petition, stating in
substance that the producing classes were unrepre-
sented, and praying for annual Parliaments, vote by
ballot, electoral districts, and payment of Members of
Parliament.

ROM AN CATHOLICS.
Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition from the Church
of England Association at Bath, praying that the Roman
Catholic clergy might not be endowed in Ireland, or in
any part of her Majesty's dominions.
CHURCH REFORM.
Sir GEORGE STRICKLAND presented a petition
from a large meeting held at Preston, signed by the
Rev. S. Slade, complaining of the recent decision of the
Queen's Bench, and the other Courts at Westminster,
by which a clergyman dissenting from the Established
Church was prevented ministering to other congrega-
tions, and praying for ecclesiastical reform.
POOR-LAW.
Colonel DUNNE presented a petition praying for
certain alterations in the Irish Poor- hiV.
ROMAN CATHOLICS.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE presented a petition praying
for the repeal of Roman CathoIicNFUNDED disabilities.
DEBT.
THE FUNDED AND U
On the motion of an Hort. MEMBER, a return of the
amount of the funded and unfunded debt of the United
Kingdom, up to the Ist of January, 1849, was ordered.
CIRCULAR LETTER OF EARL GREY.
Sir R. H. INGLIS postponed his motion with respect
to the circular letter of Earl Grey until Thursday.
THE SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS
ACT (IRELAND).
Mr. J. O'CONNELL gave notice that he should move
the following amendment to the motion of the Noble Lord
at the head of the Government, that the suspension of
the Habeas Corpus Act be continued in Ireland :—Tbat
Committee of 31 AlPmbers should be formed, to examine
the documents on which the Noble Lord rested the ne-
cessity for continuing the suspension of the Act, and to
report whether the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act
waa, or was not, necessary for Ireland at the present time,
BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.-7THE HABEAS

CORPUS ACT.
The Hex. MEMBER then proceeded to complain of
what he believed the House would agree with him was e
breach of the privileges of the House. The document
which he held in his hand had been left at his resiW nee
that morning; and the statements in it were such that
he hoped its publication would be deemed a violation of

the privileges to which he had referred. It
was stated to have been " Presented to both
Houses of Parliament by command of her
Majesty,"
,and purported to be a letter from the Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland to the Secretary of State for the
Home Department. Believing it to he a breach of the
privileges of the House. he should net unlikely feel it
his duty to move that " William Clowes, the printer of
the document, be called to the bar of the House, to
answer for himself or for his instigators." It would
then be for the House to determine what should be done.
The SPEAKER said he was not aware of the nature
of the paper of which the Hon. Gentleman complained.
He, however, understood him to say that the paper had
been presented by command of her Majesty. The
publication of such a paper could not be a breach of the
privilege of the House.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL—I beg to say that that document
is an authentic one, and that it has been presented to
the House by comnsarel of her Majesty.—(Hear hear.)
Mr. J. O'CONNELL—WeII, then, I beg to move that
the House do now adjourn.—(Laughter.) I believe I am
in order. The representations in that document to which
he had referred could not be passed- over lightly or in
silence. At the risk of his unpopularity he had no
hesitation in sating that the document was unconstitu-
tional, yet they were assured by the First Minister of
the Crown that it was authentic.
Mr. DRUMMOND rose to order. He wished to know
from the Right Hon. Gentleman in the chair if the ob-
servations of the Hun. Gentleman had anything to do
with the question of adjournment?
The SPEAKER said the observations he had heard
did not relate to the question of adjournment.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL said he should proceed to state
his reasons for submitting that motion. The questions
dealt with in that document were of so grave and im-
portant a nature, that he believed the dignity of
the House would be best supported, and the
liberty of the subject in Ireland respected, by the
adjournment of the House, in order to afford time for
the consideration of the representations in that docu-
ment, and as to the motion for the continuance of the
suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, which would be
brought forward by the Noble Lord to-morrow. Indeed,
by adopting such a course, they would but follow -in the
footsteps of their predecessors, who were as equally
jealous of the liberty of the subject and the main-
tenauce of the integrity of the constitution as
they were. Nay, be would go further, and say, that
it might not unlikely become the duty of the House
to consider whether the document in question did not
form sufficient grounds for the impeachment of the
Noble Lord at the head of the Government, and of the
Lord-Lieutenant, who had appended his name to it.—
(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He assured the House
that the matter was by no means a light one, nor did
the matter on which he was seekit''e the opinion of
the House, partake of a trivial character. He
was not going into any discussion of the personal
merits or the personal capacity of the Lord-Lieutenant
of Ireland. These were undoubted ; but what
did the document to which he had referred
contain? Here they had the head of the Executive of
Ireland taking on himself to declare that a constitutional
object was unattainable, and therefore the subjects of
her Majesty in Ireland should be prevented from seek-
ing tnat constitutional object. In the sixth paragraph
the mask was thrown off, and it was in that he would
recommend the destruction of the constitu-
tion of Ireland. Ile recommended the doing
away with the high privilege of personal security,
and he recommended it in order to put an end
to political movements of all kinds. He used
the words "political excitement." Who had authorised
the Lord-Lieutenant to tell the subjects of Ireland that
a perfectly legal object was not to be attain-
able ? Was it not monstrous that may member
of the Executive should propose to Parliament an inter-
ference with the Constitution, with a view to prevent
the people seeking for the attainment of a con-
stitutional object ? Would the House do what
that Nobleman called upon them to do, to say that
tne people ehould not agitate for the repeal of an Act ce
Parliament? Would the British House of Commons, jealous
of the libettit s of the subject, the guardians of the Bri-
tish Constitution, asserting themselves to be the legislators
not only for ,England, but also for Scotland and Ireland,
on the mere personal recommendation of that Nobleman,
consent to trample upon that Constitution, and to make a
distinction between Englishmen and Irishmen ? The
Lord-Lieutenant of In-land was seeking to put down an
agitation which was already out of itself—which was ut-
terly extinct. Not a spark of the ancient fire was yet
to be seen; the agitation as yet had no vitality in it; and
the Lord-Lieutenant called upon the House to inifict
that gross outrage on the whole of the Irish inhabit-
ants, without even a pretence that the agitation existed
at that moment. He (Mr. J. O'Connell) asked for the
adjournment of the House, in order that Members might
have time to consider the document in question. If
Members thought that this matter did not come
home to them. at this moment, it would ere long,
it this precedent were established. They them-
selves thought that there could not have been a
worse indication exhibited of the regard of England for
Ireland.—(Hear.) He had but, one consideration to
press upon the Legislature, and he asked them whether
they had yet taken into consideration that Eng-
land and Ireland were bound together with indissoluble
ties? He asked them whet-her they had not some claim,
to resist this most iniquitous this most tyrannous
measure?--(Hear, hear.) That document told of
disaffection ; and he trusted that he might
be permitted to tell them that uo paper could
possibly have issued from any quarter that would be
more likely to be productive of so mischievous a result
us disaffection. lie did think that they might
take it into consideration that there were
tnesns of even legally raising disaflction. He would
not threaten them, but he warned them of the conse-
qusnces that might arise from the adoption of the prin-
ciples of that now acknowledgedly authentic, but
most tyrannous document—(Hear, bear)—a document
which was alike a disgrace to the Crown and to the
country—a document which was calculated to disse-
minate deceit and engender mischief. The hour
of Ireland had come, and she was under their feet, but
the day might shortly arrive when the hour of England
might also come. He did believe that the destiny of this
country had arrived, that its hour had now come, and
that if this iniquitous measure were persevered in, that
it wool-1 end in the destruction of the welfare of those by
whom it had been so unfortunately and so shamefully
promulgated.
Mr. GRATTAN rose to say a few words, bat was
met on all sides of the House with cries of " Seconder,
seconder." After several attempts to speak, the Hon.
Gentleman concluded by saying, " I second the motion."
The SPEAKER.—There is no motion before the
House.—(Laughter).
The matter then dropped ; and
The SPEAKER read the names of those Members
who had refused to serve on Committees.
The different Government Members of the House
were also excused avenclance on Committees.
SESSIONAL ORDERS.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL then rose to move the
sessional orders. As there was some alteration pro•
posed in them, especially by the Committee that
sat last year, he would make a few observa-
tions upon them. The first resolution be had to
propose was one that had been universally
ad,pted, the 2d and 3d were adopted at the suggestion
of the lion. Member for Montrose, and he saw no ob-
jection to their continuance. The 4th, sth, 6th, 7th, and
Bth resolutions were likewise the same as last year. The
9th was a resolution which was agreed to by the Com-
mittee of last year, as to the manner of conducting the
business of the House and for the purpose of expediting
it. The Noble Lord, after alluding to the 10th, 11th,
and 12th orders, said that the 13th respected the privi-
leges of the House, and that subject had been carefully
considered by that Committee in the resolution, and he
saw no objection to the adoption of;it. The following are
the resolutions propoded by the Noble Lord:-
1. That in the present Session of Parliament all Orders of
the Day, set down in the Order-book for Mondays, Wednes-
days, and Fridays, shall be disposed of before the House will
proceed upon any Motions of which Notices shall have been
given.
2. That at the time fixed for the commencement of Public
Business, on days on which Orders have precedence of No-
tices of Motions, and after the Notices of Motions have been
disposed of on all days, Mr. Speaker do direct the clerk at
the table to read the Orders of the Day without any question
being put.
3. That the Orders of the Day be disposed of in the order
in which they stand upon the paper; the right being re•
served to her Majesty's Ministers of placing Government
Orders at the head of the list, in the rotation in which they
are to be taken on the days on which Government Bills have
precedence.
4. That no Notice shall hereafter be given beyond the
period which shall include the four days next following on
which Notices are entitled to precedence; due allowance
being made for any intervening adjournment of the douse,
and the period being in that case so far extended as to in-
clude four Notice days falling during the sitting of the House.
5. That the House do meet every Wednesday, at Twelve
o'clock at Noon, for Private Business, Petitions, and Orders
of the Day, and do continue to sit until Six o'clock, unless
previously adjourned.
6. That when such business has been disposed of, or at Six
o'clock precisely, notwithstanding there may be business
under discussion, Mr. Speaker do adjourn the -House without
putting any Question.
7. That whenever the House shall be in Committee at Six
o'clock, the Chairman do immediately report progress, and
Mr. Speaker do resume the Chair, and adjourn the House
without putting any Question.
8. That the business under discussion, and any business
not disposed of at the time of such adjournment, do stand as
Orders of the Day for the next day on which the House
shall sit.
9. That when any Bill shall be presented by a Member of
this House, or shall be brought from the Lords, the Questions
" That this Bill be now read a first time," and '" That this
Bill he printed," shall be decided without Amendment or
Debate.
10. That the Committees of Supply, and Ways and Means,
may be appointed to sit on any day on which -Orders of the
Day may have precedence of Notices of Motions.
11. That when a Bill or other matter (except Supply or
Ways and Means) has been partly considered in Committee,
and the Chairman has been directed to report progress and
ask leave to sit again, and the House shall have ordered that
the Committee shall sit again on a particular day, the Speaker
shall, when the Order for the Committee has been read,
forthwith leave the Chair without putting any Question,
and the House shall thereupon resolve itself into such Com-
mittee, unless a Member shall have given Notice of an In-
struction to such Committee.
12. That at the close of the proceedings of a Committee of
the whole House on a Bill, the Chairman shall report the
Bill forthwith to the House, and when Amendments shall
have been made thereto, the same shall be agreed to condi-
tionally without Debate, and a time appointed for taking the
same into consideration.
13. That with respect to any Bill brought to this House
from the House of Lords, or returned by the House of Lords
to this House, with Amendments, whereby any pecuniary
penalty, forfeiture, or fee shall be authorised, imposed, ap-
propriated, regulated, varied, or extinguished, this House
will not insist on its ancient and undoubted privileges in the
following cases:-
1. Vl4ll the ebject 9f 5114 PC4lllliery penalty OX forfeiture

is to secure the execution of the Act, or the punishment or
prevention of offences.
2. Where such fees are imposed in respect of benefit taken
or s.,rvice rendered under the Act, and in order to the exe-
cution of the Act, and are not made payable into the Trea-
sury or Exchequer, or in aid of the public revenue, and do
not form the ground of public accounting by the parties re-
ceiving the same, either in respect of deficit or surplice.
3. When such Bill shall be a Private Bill for a Local or
Personal Act.

14. That after Tuesday, the Ist day of May next, Orders
of the Day shall have precedence of Notices of Motions on
Thursdays, the right being reserved to her Majesty's Minis-
ters of placing Government Orders at the head of the list, as
on Mondays and Fridays.
Those alterations which he now proposediwould tend more
to the easy transaction of the public business, end at
the same time would riot limit the power of the House.
The first resolution was then put from the Chair.
Mr. GOULBURN, in seconding it, suggested certain
alterations which he said would meet the views of all,
and facilitate the public business.
Sir R. H INGLIS considered that there could be no
objection to the orders from No. Ito 4 inclusive. With
respect to No. 5, he would only observe that it was a
great inconvenience for that House to sit late, as on
Thursday last. The Hun. Baronet suggested several
verbal alterations in the eleuses. Ho should hope,
therefore that his Noble Friend would consider this
subject, either then or on the report of the
resolutions, and would consent to the intro-
duction of those words which the Speaker
himself suggested to the Committee, and which the Com-
mittee, on his suggestion, unanimously adopted.
The first resolution was then put, and carried.
On the 2d resolution being read, viz.—" That at the
time fixed for the commencement of public busineis on
days on which orders have precedence of notices of
motions, and after the notices of motions have been dis-
posed of on all other days, Mr. Speaker do direct
the clerk at the table to read the orders of the day with-
out any question being put,"
Mr. HUME said an amendment similar to that resolu-
tion was submitted by him to the House as an experiment.
He at the time was strongly of opinion that a great
deal of time had been lost on that step which
this resolution set aside. He must candidly state
at the same time that a large proportion of
the Members rather regretted that they had not
had more notice of that motion. His proposition to the
House would be to limit the duration of speeches.—
(" Hear, heel.," and laughter.) Hon. Members said,
" Hear," but they would be very much surprised to be
told that in a committee of seventeen he could not
get anybody to second his motion.—(Renewed laugh-
ter.) On reflection, he was still of opinion that that
course would be the very best to adopt. He was
unwilling to limit Members speaking in the House, so
much as to prevent their taking notice of matters which
they might think it their duty to notice; but he thought
that a limit might be set to the length to which
Honourable Members might press their reasons to the
House. The Committee were told, that in the United
States they were adopting that rule w ith the greatest
possible benefit ; and even in the courts of Jaw
there it was :proposed to act upon it. Ho
should be very glad to know what was the
feeling of the House with regard to this limita-
tion. If the House would agree to limit the speeches
of Members to one hour, save and except those
of Members propounding any specific measure to the
House, he thought they might abridge several of the
steps followed in the progress of Bills through the
House. It was stated before the Committee which
sat on this matter, that there were seventeen
stages through which measures passed in the House on
which Members might make observations. He should
consider halt' the number would be enough. He
did not wish to interfere with this resolution ; but
at a subsequent period, on giving due notice,
he would try what the opinion of the House might
be upon the limitation to which he adverted. He limited
his observations simply to the resolutions now before

the House.
The resolution was then put and carried.
Sir EDWARD WILLOUG EIBY really thought there
should be some limit to the time occupied in the dis-
cussion of questions by individual Members, especially
when he recollected how much time was occupied in
fruitless observations, and that a great portion of the
business of the House was transacted between the
hours of twelve and two. He well remembered the
case of a Bill with a hundred clauses, which passed
through Committee in what appeared not to be more
than ten minutes.
Mr. EWART thought that the Government ought to
have power to order the taking of their own motions,
with a certain restriction as to the interest of the other
Members.
Mr. GOULBURN thought that the order ought to
be altogether left out.
Sir G. GREY said that this resolution was simply
similar to that of last year, from which no inconvenience
whatever had been found to arise.
Mr. HUME conceived that some regulation should be
made by the Government for the greater expediting of
the public business. He thought, for instance, that the
Government ought to be prepared with their Bills, and
a day ought to be fixed after which they should have no
right to introduce a Government measure. He
believed that much of the detective legislation
by which the statute-books were disfigured and
which had caused much dissatisfation, was owing to
the late period of the session at which these Bills were
introduced. The House was in fact taken by surprise,
and ho .thought that the Government ought
to take into consideration all the measures
which they intended at all events to push
through, and to lay them on the table at an early pi -
riod of the session. Ile felt quite assured that 'such
a mode of proceeding would tend materially to expedite
public business.
Sir R. PEEL conceived a great disadvantage would
arise by the institution of any such rule. There was, in
the first place, the great provability, that from unfore-
seen contingencies the rule would have to be set aside.
Say that the Ist March should be the day,
who could say what might arise before the
time of the dissolution? He thought, too, that a great
disadvantage would arise from laying a great number
of Bills on the table at once. Such a mass of legislation
would prove a great inconvenience, and tend to a greater
deficiency than that which ensued from the present plan.
Mr. HUME did not care whether it was the lit of
March or the Ist of July, all he contended for was that
a certain time should be appointed, beyond which Go-
vernment Bills should not be introduced.
The 4th resolution was passed after a few observa-
tions.
On the sth resolution being proposed, which
was to the effect that the House should meet on
Wednesday, at twelve o'clock, for the purpose of private
business and orders of the day,
Mr. LAW moved, as an amendment, to except such
Bills being considered on that day as involved the repeal
of public statutes.
Colonel SIBTHORP seconded the amendment. He
thought Wednesdays were generally selected by the
Government to smuggle in Bills and vote away impro-
perly the public money in a House consisting often
of not more than tweive or thirteen Members.—(A
laugh.)
Mr. EWART could not see how the Recorder's pro-
position could be adopted without going further.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL proposed an amendment
to the resolution, to insert notices of motion after orders
of the day.
The Noble Lord's amendment was agreed to, and the
Recorder's negatived without a division.
The 6th resolution was also agreed to without any
comment.
The 7th and Bth resolutions were carried without any
discussion.
Upon the 9th resolution being proposed—that when a
Bill shall be presented by any Member, or shall be
brought down from the Lords, the question, " that this
Bill be read a first time," and "that this Bill be printed,"
shall be decided without amendment or debate,
Mr. VERNON SMITH said that these resolutions
proposed to alter many old forms and stages of proceeding,
but did not deal with the protracted discussions which were
the subject of so much complaint. He wished that they
should diminish the number of discussions and re-dis-
cussions upon Bills, but not to alter the stages of the Bill.
He thought one of the most expedient modes for facili-
tating business would be to adopt the suggestion of an
Hon. Member, for no adjournment of the debate to be
permitted, unless the motion was moved and seconded,
and unless 21 Members stood up and said " aye " in
favour of the adjournment. He did not offer this sug-
gestion as the very best mode that could be devised ; he
only referred to it as affording a means of expedition far
beyond those which would be effected by the proposed
resolutions. He wished to know, if the resolution were
carried, whether it would he competent to have a division
on any Bill when brought forward?
Mr. BROTHERTON said, if the House would adopt
the suggestion which ho had furnished to his Hon.
Friend, he would propose it at once.
Mr. DRUMMOND considered this was the only place
where monster meetings were permitted, and where
individuals were obliged to listen to matters which they
were not disposed to hear.—(Laughter.) With re-
gard to the forms of legislation, he would
just ask what was the use or meaning of
debating the Queen's Speeches ? They had been
summoned together last Thursday to debate something,
but he wanted to know what practical good had resulted
from the two nights' discussion which had taken place?
—(Hear.) He conceived that one of the principal duties
of Members of that House was to audit the public ac-
counts, and it was this duty which, in his opinion, de-
manded the utmost latitude of debate.
After a few remarks in a low tone of voice from Lord
J. RUSSELL,
Mr. WALPOLE would suggest the expediency of
going back to the old practice of the standing orders—
namely, that of not allowing any public Bill to be pre-
sented to the House, unless it had been left three days
with the Clerk of the House.
Mr. GOULBURN said the Hon. and Learned Mem-
ber, he believed, had misunderstood the order in ques-
tion. If the proposition were adopted he was afraid it
would lead to protracted discussion at the early stages
of the Bills.
Sir R. INGLIS thought his Hon. and Learned Friend
only intended that Hon. Members should give a little
more attention to the construction of their own legisla-
tion, for it was the crude state in which Bills were
broght forward that often canted so much needless
delay.
The resolution was agreed to, as were the 10th, 11th,
and 12th, with trifling verbal amendments.
The 13th resolution having been put by the
SPEAKER,
" That with respect to any Bill brought to this House
from the House of Lords, or returned by the House of
Lords to this House with amendments, whereby any
pecuniary penalty, forfeiture, or fee shall be authorised,
imposed, appropriated, regulated, varied, or extinguished,
this House will not insist on its ancient and undoubted
privileges in the following cases:-
4_61, When the object of ouch pocuni§ry 13940 CI