The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-26 00:00:00

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r. ALPER lAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, Nov. 25.
Tl-. 8 Earl of SIIAFTESBURT took his seat on the
We olsack as Deputy Speaker at Four o'clock,
and the swearing in of Peers was proceeded with
until five o'clock. Among the Peers who took the
oaths, we noticed Lord Foley, Lord Dunally, the
Bishop of Oxford, &c.
ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS.
Earl SPENCER brought up her Majesty's answer
to the Address.
COMMERCIAL DISTRESS.
Lord STANLEY gave notice that he should on
Tuesday move for the appointment of a Committee
to consider the commercial distress at present existing
in the country, and he wished to know whether the
Government would consent to the appointment of
such Committee.
Earl GREY, who spoke in a very low tone, was
understood to say that it was the intention of the
Government themselves to move for the appointment of
a Committee of that House of a similar nature to the
Committee to be moved for in the other House.
Lord STANLEY would, under those circum-
stances, withdraw his notice.
BANK RESTRICTION.
Lord ASHBURTON asked whether it was true
-that on Thursday last the Bank directors had resolved
that it was expedient to reduce the rate of interest
from 8 per cent. to 7 per cent., and that it was not
until the Monday following that they had received
the letter of the First Lord of the Treasury, and
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to make some
reduction in the rate of interest, and whether the
mercantile community was therefore thus kept in a
state of suspension from the Thursday until the Monday?
Earl GREY complained that the question had
been asked without notice. He had no doubt, how-
ever, that 'whatever had been done had been done
upon an understanding between the Bank authorities
and the Government ; but he could not at present
give an answex to the question.
Lord ASHBURTON would give notice of the
question for a future day.
SCOTCH REPRESENTATIVE PEERS.
The Duke of BUCCLEUCH moved that the mi-
nutes of the last election of Scotch Peers be printed.
Agreed to.
COMMERCIAL DISTRESS.
Lord STANLEY said he would postpone his
motion for a Committee on the commercial distress,
of which he had given notice for Tuesday, but he
would not withdraw it altogether, until he knew
exactly the terms of the motion to be brought forward
by the Ministers.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Nov. 23.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.

A number of Members, amongst whom were Sir
De Lacy Evans and Mr. Morgan John O'Connell,
took the oaths and their seats.

Sir R. 11. Inglis, Lord G. Somerset, Lord
Ashley, and several other Members whose names we
could not catch, presented petitions against tha admis-
sibility of Jews into Parliament.
EDINBURGH ELECTION.

The SPEAKER said he hadto acquaint the
House that he had received the following letter from
Mr. Cowan, who had been elected as ene of the
Members for Edinburgh :
" Sir,—l beg to state that at the recent election for
Edinburgh I had the honour to be returned one of the
Members for that city. It was not until some time after
I became aware of my disqualification from being at the
time of the election engaged in a contract for the supply
of stationery to the Government ; so that, though I am
no longer a contractor, I am nevertheless (I am informed)
liable to heavy penalth s if I sit or vote in the House ;
though, therefore, I am desirous of displaying the ut-
most deference to the House, I have no desire to shrink
from any duties I may owe to my constituents. These
circumstances render it requisite that, in conformity
with with the advice I have received, I should decline
taking the oath or my seat ; and I hare respectfully to
request that you will communicate this my intention and
desire to the House.

" I have the honour, Sir,
To rennin with all respect,
" Your obedient humble servant,
" C. COWAN.

"Edinburgh, Nov. 19."
DUBLIN ELECTION;

A petition was presented against the return of Mr.
Reynolds for the city of Dublin, which was ordered
to be referred to a Select Committee.
FACILITATING PUBLIC BUSINESS. I
Mr. BROTHERTON rose and said—l wish to
offer a suggestion to the House, which I hope will be
acceded to. lam sure no Member wishes—
The SPEAKER intimated that the Hon. Member
was not quite in order.
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK (across the table)
—Why don't you give notice.
Mr. BROTHERTON (with considerable ernpha-
sis)—l wish to O'er a suggestion to the House—
namely, whether it would not be expedient until
the Christmas holidays that the orders of the day
should take precedence of notices of motions. I say
no Hon. Member can wish to stop in town at this
season of the year.—(Loud cheers and laughter.) I
do think, therefore, that we ought to confine our-
selves now to pubic business of the greatest int-
portance.—(Renewed cheering.) I offer this suggestion
because I believe, if it be adopted, that the public bu-
siness will be much expedited, and I think it will also
be a great convenience to the House.
Here the matter dropped.
DISPUTED RETURNS.

A petition was presented against the return for
Stockport. The name of the Hon. Member oltjected
to did not reach the gallery-
EAST AND WEST INDIES.

Lord G. BENTINCK gave notice of his intention
to move for returns respecting the condition and pros.
pects of the East and West Indies and the Mauritius,
with a,„riew to their relief.
POOR-LAW ADMINISTRATION.
Mr. BANKES moved for leave to bring in a Bill
to amend the Poor-law Administration Act, by re-
ducing the amount of charges to which the unions
are liable under the existing Act. The Hon. Mem-
ber also moved for returns of the names of all persons
who have acted as commissioners of the poor-law
since the Ist of January to the present time.
CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS DISABILITIES OF
THE JEWS.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave notice that this
day fortnight he would bring in a Bill for the further
relief of her ;Majesty's Jewish subjects from civil
and religious disabilities'.
IRISH ESTATES.
Mr. B. OSBORNE moved for a return respect-
ing the estates under the management of the Re-
ceiver- General and Court of Chancery of Ireland.—
Agreed to.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

Sir J. PAKINGTON gave notice that he would,
upon an early day, move that, until Christmas, all or•
ders of the day should have precedence over notices of
motions.
RATES OF DISCOUNT AT THE BANK.
Mr. KNIGHTLEY moved for a return of the
minimum rates of discount charged by the Bank of
England since the passing of the Act of 1844, with
the variations in the same.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that he had conferred with the Governor and direc-
tors of the Bank of England upon the subject, and
they had no objection whatever to grant the returns.
Mr. F. BARING suggested the propriety of
having all the returns and documents with respect to
the Bank of England laid upon the table as early as
possible.
Mr. HASTIE thought that the return moved for
by the Hon. Member would be amended by the addi-
tion thereto of the minimum rates of discount charged
by the Dank of England since the year 1835.
The motion was agreed to.
SCOTCH ENTAILS.
Mr. B. COCHRANE wished to know whether it
was the intention of the Government to bring in any
measure for the amendment of the law relating to
entailed estates in Scotland ?
Sir G. GREY said that a Bill was in an advanced
state, and would no doubt be brought forward by the ,
Lord Advocate at an earl 7 period of the session.
POOR-LAW SETTLEMENT.
Sir J. PAKINGTON wished to know whether the
hte
Government intended to bring in any measure for
improvement of the present law of settlement of
the Poor.
that he
Sir G. GREY
would
do was not prepared at present to say
be understood thastno He did not, however, wish it to
upon the subj ect.
Bill would be brought forward
BRIBERY
AT ELECTIONS.
Sir J. PAKINGTON-viished to know, from the
Noble Lord at the head of the Government, whether
it was his intention to bring
ject of the bribery and corruption in
any Bill on the sub-
taken place at the recent electns reported to have
cIA
on e
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the Government
,not intend to introduce any measure
ROMAN CATHOLICMr. ANSTEY moved for leave to brinlgE:Si
to amend the law relating to Roman Catholic a Bill
chari-
ties. The mischief which the Bill sought to remedy was
recited in the preamble, and was shortly this :—Down
to a recent period, antler the general provisions of a
law, the profession of the Roman Catholic religion
was rendered unlawful, and it was also made an
illegal act to make any endowment for the
Catholic religion.
advancement of the Roman
The enactments by which relief was given to the
Roman Catholics certainly took away that stigma
from their religion; but there was considerable doubt
tj
EIVS 1 4%1 bit
to the retrospective effect of these Acts, and itd
eel-
""" -7ifia. very much in doubt, in consequence of the
sionf\ef the present Lord Chancellor of England,
whether Roman Catholic charities, established at the
k,:p 4;4; period when the law of Superstitious Uses was in
.t. +- : force, were at the present day legal. To meet
that mischief he proposed by his Act to give a retro!
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