The Sun.
London, England, 1831-06-30 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, JUNE 29.
At Four o'clock the SPEAXER took the chair, at which
time there was but barely the sufficient number of Meni-
hers present to constitute a House.
Several private Bills were passed through various stages,
and several petitions were presented in favour of certain
Rail-road Bills.
Lord STANLEY brought in a Bill for the more speedy
recovery of debts in the district of the Tower Hamlet,
which was read a first time.
CANINE MADNESS.
Mr. Alderman WOOD brought in a Bill to prevent the
spreading of canine madness, which was read a first time,
and ordered to be printed.
Sir M. STEWART presented petitions from several
places in the county of Renfrew in favour of Reform,
and took that opportunity of expressing his great regret
and disapproval of the military having been called in at
the late election at Lanark. The Member made
some further observations.
Mr. C. DOUGLAS thought the circumstances of the
case quite justified the resorting to military aid. As the
whole subject was under judicial investigation by tl.e
Lord Advocate, he thought it therefore neither proper or
necessary to go into any details.
Mr. P. STEWART quite disapproved of the military
having been called out, as the large civil force at Lanark
had neither been overpowered or called into action. The
lion. Member went into some details.
After some obsens from Sir G. CLERK, Sir Wm.
RAF, anal Mr. P. STEWA RT, the petitions were ordered
to be printed.
Mr. SEVERN presented a petition from Fowey against
the stamps on marine insurances.
Mr. WILBRAHAM presented a petition from Mac-
clesfield, praying that the hours of work for children
should be the subject of a legislative enactment.
Mr. D. W. HARVEY moved for a return of the
number of informations filed by the Attorney-General re-
specting charitable institutions since the date of the last
return, and for other papers connected with the same sub-
ject.—Ordered.
Mr. PROTHEROE also moved for certain returns
connected with charitable bequests in Bristol.
HUME suggested that the returns should be ge-
neral throughout the country. He was sure that many
funds raised by bequests were perverted from the channels
intended for them by the persons who bequeathed the

money.
Mr. PROTHEROE declined at present to taske his
motion general, as the information he required would, he
believed, allay the excitement that prevailed upon this
subject.
Mr. HUNT said he knew that one charity in Bristol
was 1201. a year, for the Mayoress to give 21. a year to
sixty poor women, and, upon inquiry, he found that in se-
veral instances the 3layoresses had, instead of laying out
the money in that way, put above 1001. a year into their
own pockets.
Mr. S. RICE doubted whether the object of this return
could be accomplished; it was calling on the parties to give
accounts of all their charitable funds, how they arose, how
applied, &c., and the question embraced a nice question of
law as well as of fact. No one could tell to whom to ad-
dress the order for the return, and he could not conceive
hew a return in accordance with the motion could be made.
Mr. O'CONNELL denied that any point of law ex-
isted with respect to the return, it was matter of fact ;
it was merely' to order a return of the money actually re-
oeived., and the mode in which it was expended.
Mr. PROTHEROE was willing to withdraw his mo-
tion and wait for a more general one, if it was the desire
of the House.
Mr. D. W. HARVEY moved for a return of the esti-
mated expense to be incurred under the Waterloo-street
Bill, distinguishing the amount borne by the public from
that borne by private individuals.
JURIES IN IRELAND.
Mr. O'CONNELL said, that as it was not the intention
of Ministers to bring in a Bill to put the laws relating to
Juries in England and Ireland on the same footing, be
gave notice that on the 19th July he would submit a mea-
sure for that purpose. On the 26th July he would submit
a motion to enable defendants in prosecutions for libel to
prove the truth of the contents of the libel, and thereby
discharge themselves.
The same Holf. GENTLEMAN presented two peti-
tions regarding education in Ireland—one from the
Guardians of St. Peter's Free School, and the other from
the Roman Catholic inhabitants of St. Catherine, Dublin.
He denied that the Roman Catholic Clergy were adverse
to education.
LAW EXPENCES IN SCOTLAND.
On the motion of Mr. HUME, and after a few words
from Mr. Rice, the Lord Advocate, and Mr. Cotillion], a
copy
was ordered of an account rendered by the Sheriffs
and Stewards in Scotland to the Court of Exchequer of
their receipts and disbursements in the public service
during the year 1830. Also a copy of an arcount of the
expenses attending criminal prosecutions in Scotland car-
ried on in the name or under the authority of the Lord
.Advocate, for the year 1830.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from the coal-whippers
of the port of London, against the new arrangements in
the coal trade, and praying compensetion.
Mr. SADLER. and Mr. F. LEWIS each said a few
words, after which the petition was laid upon the table.
THE SIX ACTS.
Mr. HUME, on presenting a petition from Mr. Hether-
ington, the printer of the Republican, for the repeal of
the Six Acts, observed, in reference to what had passed
yesterday, that he was authorised by the petitioner to state
that he was, only the printer of the Republican, and in
order to be assured of the fact, he (Mr. Hume) had ob-
t iined possession of two of the manuscripts from which
two of the numbers of the Republican were printed, and
hence it appeared that the real writer was a person in the
enemy's camp, with whose name no doubt many gentlemen
who heard him were acquainted. (Cries of " name,
name.") He had no objection to name him—Mr. Lo-
rimer, awl if it were required he would give his address
:else. (Hear, and laughter.) The arguments of the pe-
tit:o ter against the continuance of the Six Acts were most
convincing : it was as if a tyrannical law had passed for-
bidding shoemakers to make shoes for the lower orders ; by
theie acts printers were allowed to print only for the higher
orders, as none could buy but those who ii ere rich. Ile
(Mr. Hume) had been furnished with a list of eighteen
individuals confined for various periods, from six months to
three years, during seven years, while the late Secretary
for the Home Department was in office, although ke (Sir
R. Peel) had himself slid last night that it would be far
better not to engage in any such proceedings. He moved
that the petition be brought up.
Sir H. HARDINGE, in the absence of his Right Hon.
Friend (Sir R. Peel,) asked whether the Hun. Member
meant to say that Mr. Lorimer, who, he asserted, was in
the enemy's camp, wrote in the Republican in opposition
to the sentiments and principles he really professed? If
such were his conduct, he (Sir H. Hardinge) could only
say that no punishment could be too heavy for such a
person when convicted.—(Much cheering.)
Mr. HUME added, that he would completely satisfy
the Right Hen. Gentleman ; he would give him Mr.
Lorimer's address, and then by calling upon him he would
be able to satisfy himself.—(Cheers and laughter.) He had
said that he entertained great suspicion that the manu-
script for the Republican came from the enemy's camp,—
(No, no.) The author in all such cases ought to be pro-
secuted, and not the unfortunate printer.
Sir H. HARDINGE called upon the House to recollect
the first statement made by the Hon. Member for Middle-
ttex ; be did not give it as a mere matter of suspicion but
of fact, that the manuscript of the Republican came from
the enemy's camp.—(Cheers from all sides.) Now the
Hon. Gentleman seemed anxious to back out of his as-
sertion.

Mr. HtTME—I am not.
Sir H. HARDINGE—The lion. Member had given
It.
h 55 a fact that Mr. Lorimer, who wrote in the Repub-
can, was connected with the present Opposition side of
the House—that he was in the enemy's catnp: he did not
seem now prepared to treat the subject with his ususi
flumes,.

Mr. HUMP ...-I said that I bad a suspicion—(No !)
~
a strong ~,piek,
that it did comen7(No, no)—then I will say at once
laughter.) trom the enemy's camp.—(Cheers and
INIr. ROSS contended, that before the Hon. Member
ventured on such an
assertion, he ought to be able to prove
that Mr. Lorimer was real with Gentlemen on
the Opposition side of the House.
Captain GORDON argued that the Republican wa.,
parts of the the organ of Political Unions in varioust
a letter sent
king-
dom, and be read one or two sentences from
by Mr. Hume to the Political Union of Dunfermline, f
commending the establishment of reading roop'tnees:,t":tlthi.enec'irreeu--
'ont"t
to
circu-
lation of pamphlets, and holding out the ex
the elective franchise would in time be communicated
them, although not at present contemplated.—(Cheers re-
peatedly from Mr. Hume.) The same advice had been
given to the Political Unions at Paisley, Greenock, and
other large towns, where the Hon. Member for Middlesex
had talked to them in his correspondence of the" Rights of
Man"—words used by the enemies of the British Consti •
tution and of everything that pertains to it.
Mr. lIUME vindicated the course he bad pursued wit!)
i'egard to Political Unions. He wished that instro,lio I

should be given to the lower orders, by meats of reading-
rooms and pamphlets, in order to render them fit to re,
ceive the elective franchise. As to the words " the
rights of man," the Hon. and Gallant Member cotrpled
the cant of 1793 with the political contests of the present
day ; but be (Mr. flume) challenged him to produce any
writing by him (Mr. Hume), within the last twelve
month., which mentioned " the rights of man." He
would move that the letter be laid on the table.
Mr. GORDON explained.
Sir C. WETIIERELL would only read to the House
the title in the first page of one of those papers, published
on Saturday, the 18th June. The first article was headed
" The Sovereignty of the People," and it was dated, " th.
18th June, in the Year of the People ONE."—(hear,
hear.) He would let the House -see now what those
writers sail of the Church.—(Coughing.) He begged
pardon—he would call the attention of the House to one
paragraph.—(Hear.) " As a temporary relief, and pre-
vious to a total confiscation of what is called the propert!,
of the Church—(Hear, hear, and laughter.)—that
property should be subjected to a tax for the main-
tenance of the poor." Now he (Sir C. Wetherell) re-
minded the Hon. Member for Middlesex, that although he
disclaimed any connexion or community of opinion with
the writers in those publications, he (Mr. Hume) had
often said the property of the Church was resurnable by
Parliament.—(Hear.) Therefore, all the distinction be-
tween that lion. Gentleman and the Republican rested
upon the difference between resumption and confiscation.
—(Hear, oh, and laughter.) Now he (Sir C.W.) would
let the House see how those writers spoke of the army.
An article commenting on the assistance given by the army
to the civil authorities in quelling disturbances, was headed
—" The Army, Man-Butchers." But he would not
trouble the House longer by running through the whole of
I the Republican.—(Hear, hear, hear.) He concluded hp
I reading a passage from a letter of Mr. Hume to a Society
in Glasgow, in which that Hon. Member said he " bad
no doubt the franchise would be extended beyond the limits
of the present Bill ;" from which he (Sir C. Wetherell)
inferred that the Hon. Member for Middlesex anticipated
another new Constitution to supersede very soon that which
the Rerorm Bill would establish.—(Laughter.)
Mr. LAMB wished to remind the House of the incon-
venience to which such discussions as the present must
invariably lead. He bad heard it admitted by some of the
gentlemen with whom the conversation originated, that a
mischievous notoriety was given to those writings by pro-
secution.—(Hear, hear.) But it was of little use that the
Government should abstain from prosecution, if Hon.
Gentlemen were to take up the time of the House and
delay the public business, in order to confer upon such
writings the notoriety which their authors desired.—
(Cheers.) Ile believed, from what he had heard that
evening, that the discussion on that subject the day before
had contributed much to increase the circulation of the
publications in question ; and he greatly feared, from the
turn the debate had now taken, their dissemination would
be promoted still more extensively.—(Cheers.)
Mr. O'CONNELL defended the Hon. Member for Mid-
dlesex from the attack of the Learned Gentleman below
him (Sir C. Wetherell). He agreed with the Right Hon.
Gentleman opposite (Mr. Lamb), that such discussions
as the present effectually served the papers referred to in
the stead of advertisements. He was sure that the pro-
prietors must be very grateful to the Hon. Member for
Dundalk, who seemed to have volunteered his services to
them as bellman—(Much laughter)—and, in that ca-
pacity, to go about proclaiming to the public at what shop
they may purchase blasphemy and sedition at the lowest
price.—(Cheers and great laughter.)
Mr. PAGET deprecated those discussions, by means of
which the House was sometimes occupied to the fatiguing
hour of half-past one o'clock in the morning with matters
which in no way Concerned the welfare of the nation—
(Hear, hear)—whilst gentlemen, accustomed to the pure
air of the country, were shut up, for many weeks more
than was really necessary, in the close streets of the metro-
polis, to the injury of their health as well as of their do-
mestic affairs.—(Hear.) Besides, he thought that nothing
could more sink the character of the House than discus-
sions such as that introduced by the Hon. Gentleman
below him (Mr. Gordon.)—(llear.) He thought that the
high character of the Hon. Member for Middlesex ought to
have protected him from the improper, the unjustifiable
attack which had been made upon him.—(Hear.)
Sir H. HARDINGE thought that, when the Hon.
Gentleman who spoke last was sonic time a Member of
that House, be would he aware of the impropriety of
lecturing Hon. Members in a long sermon upon the sub-
jects whch they thought proper to discuss.
Mr. RICE agreed with the Hon. Member for Leicester-
shire, that the time which ought to be devoted to public
business was very injudiciously wasted in discussions like
the present.—(Hear.)
REFORM BILL.
In answer to a question from Mr. HL'aie,
Mr, RICE said, that as he was not charged with the
conducting of the Reform Bill, he could scarcely under-
take to answer the question of the Hon. Member for Mid-
dlesex. But he believed that the Noble Lord by whom
that Bill had been introduced was aware of the inconve-
nience which would he occasioned by that alause in the
Bill, excluding from the franchise householders who paid
their rent quarterly. He believed that the objectionable
provision in that clause was merely a technical mistake,
and that such a change would be made as would prevent
the inconvenience.—(Cheers.)
Mr. A. SANDFORD obtained leave to bring in a
Bill to remedy the defects in the titles to lands allotted or
taken in exchange under Inclosure Acts.
Mr. BENETT ruse to move, " That the Report of the
Committee on the Liverpool Election be reed," when
Mr. J. WOOD moved " That the House be counted."
There being only thirty-five Members present, the
House immediately adjourned.