The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-13 00:00:00

DUELLING.

Earl MOUNTCA SHE L gave notice that it was his
intention, shortly after the Easter recess, to call their Lord-
ships' attention to the subject of duelling, and to move
for a Committee to inquire into the causes of duelling,
and to see if some measures could not be adopted by which
that practice might be put an end to.—( Hear, hear.)
In the present state of things some such course
as that was absolutely necessary; and if their
Lordships did not take any steps in the matter, he
should move the repeal of the Act of Victoria alto-
gether, fcr it was quite ridiculous to allow the law
to remain as it was. Individuals did not know whether
they might fight a duel or not. The Act of
Victoria strictly said that any man who did fight a duel
was liable to be tried as a felon. The matter could not be
allowed to remain as it at present stood, but something
must be done. He knew the difficulties that attended the
subject, but there was no reason why they should not be
inquired into, and then upon a proper Report their Lord-
ships would be able to see whether it was feasitle or not
to check the practice of duelling.
ST. SULPICE.

The Bishop of EXk:;*ltaiT wished to nit 400, 4!4.1.1.
Marquis ( Normanby) whether he had looked into that
to which he (the Bishop of Exeter) alluded yesterday,
from the present Chief Justice Stewart in 1827, on legal
right of the Seminary of St. Sulpice, and whether he had
made up his mind to present it to the House or not?
The Marquis of NORM ANB Y replied that be had
looked into it and found that there was that objection
to thu production of it which had struck ' him
yesterday, namely, that it was the opinion of a Law
Officer. According to the general rule, and he thought every
praiseworthy rule, the opinion of a law officer was considered
confidential, and, therefore, ought not to be laid be-
fore Parliament.—( Hear, hear.) On examining that
Report, be did not see any special circum-
stances in the case to induce their Lordships
to depart from that general rule. But even if it were
produced he did not think it would help their Lordships
at all. The opinion he admitted to be against the strict legal
right to the claim, but the latest information they had on the
subject was contained in the despatch of Lord Goderich—be
admitted that the opinion of Mr. Stewart was against the
strict legal right to the claim, but riots ithstanoing that
admission he thought when the discussion came on that he
should be able to convince their Lordships that the Right
Rev. Prelate had no case. He believed Mr. Stewart was
a Member of the General Council when the ordinance had
passed.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH thought Mr. Stewart bad
been examined before their Lordships on the subject.

The Bishop of EXETER would not press his motion
on the subject; but although be would net for a moment
impute intentional unfairness to the Noble Marquis,
yet he put it to their Lordships whether the
Noble Marquis had treated him quite fairly. If
he had sail absolutely that on his own respcnsibility he
would refuse the production of the paper, that would have
been fair ; but to say that the paper if produced would not
help his argument was, as he submitted to their Lord-
ships, not the way in which a Secretary of State
should have met a motion of that sort—( Hear,
Lear)—but he was quite satisfied with the almission
made by the Noble Marquis, with regard to the despatch
of the Noble Earl. he Lad read that despatch, which
had pleased him highlj, ; and it took up preusely the po-
sition which he meant to maintain before their Lordships.
The Marquis of NORMANBY said that the accusa-
tion of unfairness was one so frequently made by tee Right
Rev. Prelate, that it lost much of its force when brought
forward by him.—(A laugh.) What he bad stated was,

:hat he maqe the adaliisiot; that the opinion was againsi

the strict legal right, but still he did not think that the
opinion, if produced, would help the Right Rev. Pre-
late's argument. What he said was that the law officer's
opinion ought not to be produced—
The Bishop of EXETER—No 1 no 1 no 1 what I asked
fur was the special report of the Law Officers of the Crown
relating to a strictly legal question. The Noble Marquis
said that the strictly legal opinion supported what I said ;
but yet he said that the opinion, if produced, would not help
stay argument.;
Tile; Earl of MINTO rose to order. The Right Rev.
Prelate had no right to interrupt a Noble Lord when speak-
ing, and then to commence a speech himself.
The Bishop of EXETER had thought the Noble Mar-
quis had finished speaking.
The Marquis of NORM ANBY had not fioiihed when
he was interrupted by the Right Rev. Prelate—be was
standing at the table, and was in the middle of a sen-
tence, when he was interrupted by the Right Reverend
Prelate %sith " No, no, no l" Now, the Right Rev. Pre-
late would hardly have commenced a speech with the ra.
pid articulation of those
,three monosyllables.—( A
laugh.) The. Right Reverend Prelate had asked him
to produce an.opinion given by Mr. Stewart, as Attorney-
General of the Colony ; he bad refused on the grounds that

such opinions were always considered as confidential; he
had also stited his opinion that its production would
not help the Right Rev. Prelate's argument, but at same
time he had volunteered an admission to the Right Rev.
Prelate that the opinion was, that the strict legal right was
not in the Seminary.
;;;The Bishop of EXETER regretted that the Noble
Lord had thought proper to say that he (the Bishop
of Exeter) was in the habit of throwing out insinuations
of unfairness. He did not think that he was it► such a
habit, but whenever he made charges of unfairness
against Noble Lords upon the benches near him he gave
an opportunity to the individual to meet the charge.
POOR-LAW COMMISSION OF IRELAND.

Lord GLENG A LL moved that a clerk in the office 01
the Poor-law Commissioners of Ireland, and Mr. Phelan,
an Assistant-Commissioner, be summoned to attend at
their Lordships' bar on Tuesday next.
After some discussion the Noble Earl withdrew hi

motion, the Marquis of Normanby undertaking to proct;e.
the attendance of the Clerk, and to agree to the
summoning of Mr. Phelan, if Lord Glengall should think
it necessary to press his motion on a futu:c day.
The Report upon the Copyhold Enfranchisement Bill
was then brought up, and the Bill was ordered to be read
a third time on Monday.
Lord Keane's Annuity Bill was read a second time,
and ordered to be committed on Monday.
The House then Adjourned.

MOUSE OF COMMONS, AIABoi 12.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o' Clock