The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-23 00:00:00

ELECTORAL DIVISIONS.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE presented a pe-
tition from two parishes near Drogheda, against the
present system of electoral divisions in Ireland, and
praying for a more equitable arrangement.
COMMISSIONERS OF BANKRUPTCY.

Lord BROUGHAM wished to call the attention of
their Lordships, and especially of his Noble Friends the
late and the present Lord Chancellors, to a return which
had been laid on their Lordships' table, in reference to
the Commissioners of Bankruptcy in town and country,
which was evidently incorrect in some of its details.
According to one calculation in that return, there were
344 days in the year, and by another there were 354
days. In one part it was said, concerning the
Bristol Commission, that the Commissioners sat
188 days in bankruptcy, 135 days in insolvency,
and 31 days in small debts. There was no doubt about
what this must mean ; it was clear it was meant that the
Commissioners sat 188 days in all, the 135 days and the
35 days being parts of that period. Again, it was said
►n reference to one of the Commissioners of Bristol, that
he sat, during the year, 258 days, while his colleague
only sat 174 days ; the first number, clearly ought
to have been 158 days. His Lordship said there
were here six functionaries capable of a great deal
more work in point of time, or what came to the same
thing, that that number might be diminished. They
were employed at present altogether not more
than six weeks in the year, and some fews days more in
small debts, but altogether the time was something
about a quarter, at least not a third, of a year. It
would naturally be said that he (Lord Brougham)
ought to take blame to himself. But, as his
Noble Friend opposite well knew, he (Lord
Brougham) was the only person out of eleven
that examined the old system, and introduced the
present alterations, and out of eleven persons he was
the only one that did not think six Commissioners
were enough. He recollected he had a struggle to
keep the number so low as it was ; Sir Thomas Wilde,
now Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Sir
Frederick Pollock, now Chief Baron of the Exchequer,
both opposed him, the one being for twelve and the
other for fourteen Commissioners. He (Lord Brougham)
was obliged to come to a compromise that the number
should be seven ; but by a clerical error it was made six,
which error he (Lord Brougham) took advantage of,
and would not allow it to be amended. He gave their
Lordships notice that he would introduce a Bill making
some necessary alterations in these matters. He moved
that the present return should be amended.
The motion was agreed to.
DISTILLATION FROM CORN.

Lord RODEN presented a petition from the
mayor and corporation of Drogheda against distillation
from corn for the next two years.
RUM DUTIES.

Lord RODEN presented a petition from the same body
igainst the proposed introduction of the rum duties.
The petition set forth that it would be injurious to the
distillers of Ireland, who had ►nvested large sums of
money in their distilleries, and that it would be ruinous
to the labourers employed in these distilleries as well as
to other classes.

POOR-LAW SETTLEMENT.
Earl FORTESCLTE presented a petition from the
guardians of the Honiton union, in Nottinghamshire,
praying for the abolition of the present law of settle-
ment. The Noble Earl said that he agreed to much of
what had been stated in the petition. He was disposed
to agree in what was stated as to the Act of last session,
which, so far from being productive of advantage, had
been a source of great hardship. Ho could not, how-
ever, go the length of admitting that the present law
should be altogether dispensed with.
Lord MELBOURNE presented a similar petition
from the Guardians of the Basford Union, in Lincoln-
shire.