The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-30 00:00:00

UST.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, March 29.
THE STOCKPORT MAGISTRACY.
The LORD CHANCELLOR (in continuation) said—
When the Municipal Reform Bill passed, although the
town clerks were removable, it was thought proper to
introduce a clause to secure them compensation, because
it was apprehended that incoming corporations might
select other persons, entertaining views in accordance
with their own. Who these parties had dismissed Mr.
Coppock did not know. Representations were made to
him in the month of November that the number of
magistrates was insufficient, from various persons, and
suggestions were made that they ought to be increased.
There were at Stockport, in 1841, thirteen magistrates,
since when the population had increased 10,000, and he
was asked to add six other magistrates, which ho re
fused, but nominated four, which he thought a sufficient
number. Subsequently, when the county courts were
established, he nominated the judge of that court to the
magistracy, considering him a fit and proper person to
discharge the duties, he being, moreover, resident in the
neighbourhood, which made the five additional magis-
trates. It was also to be observed that there had been
a decrease in the number of magistrates in this borough
from deaths. With regard to the appointment of these
magistrates, he judged from the papers that were laid
before him, he had no personal communication with
them, nor did it appear that the petitioners brought any
charge against, or took any objection to them, the ap-
pointment was by the Secretary of State, in the exercise
of the undoubted prerogative of the Crown. There were
thirteen magistrates in the borough in 1841, and now
there were eighteen, which was not too great a num-
ber, considering the increase which had taken place in
the population. He had only looked to the merits of the
parties as they appeared in the documents laid before
him. With reference to political opinions, it was pro-
bable, no doubt, that the parties applying to Govern-
ment entertained opinions in accordance with those of
the Government; and, therefore, the nominations would,
in all probability, be of gentlemen of the same views.
The principle he acted on was to appointanumber, to cor-
respond with that which existed in 1841, and to appoint
persons free from objection. He hoped their Lordships
would consider that he had done nothing inconsistent
with his duty.
Lord STANLEY said there were no doubt thirteen
magistrates in 1841, but of these there were but nine
resident and acting, while in 1848 there were sixteen,
and eleven resident and acting magistrates.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that these facts
were not laid before him. He acted on the allegations
laid before him.

The Marquis of SALISBURY said he thought a case
for inquiry had been made out.
Tho petition was then laid on the table.
EDUCATION IN IRELAND.
The Bishop of CASHEL rose to atic whether the
Committee of Council on Education, having laid down
rules whereby they can give to schools in England of all
denominations, including Roman Catholics, assistance
from the State, the Government is prepared to act upon
the principle of those rules, by affording to the schools
in connexion with the Established Church in Ireland an
equal measure of assistance, without requiring any con-
ditions to which the members of that Church find them-
selves in conscience bound to object.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE replied, that it was
most distinctly not the intention of her Majesty's Go-
vernment to extend to Ireland those regulations with
respect to national education which were in course of
being applied to England.
On the motion of Lord CAMPBELL, the Commons'
amendments to the Larceny Bill were agreed to.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. March 29.
IRISH SAVINGS BANKS.
(Continued from our Third Edition of last night.)
Mr. NAPIER seconded the motion, and said he could
hardly think, after the able and lucid' statement of
The Honourable Member for Dublin, that there could
be any reasonable doubt whatever
that this was a
fit case for a full and searching inquiry be-
fore a Committee of tho House. The whole
facts had been so fully and correctly statvd, that he
was spared the necessity. of entering into any details,
but he wished to refer to one matter, viz., that the
proceedings which were pending in the Queen s
Bench against the trustees would not stand in
the way of an investigation, and he was authorised to
state, on the part of the trustees, that they were desirous
of appearing before the Committee to give any evidence