The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-18 00:00:00

MUTINY BILL.

On the motion of Mr. MACAULAY the House
went into Committee oa the Mutiny Bill.
Clauses up to 5 were agreed to without any amend-
ment ; on clause 6 being put,
Lord ELIOT wished to call the attention of the
Secretary at VVar to a circumstance that was greatly
complained of in his part of the country. By a change
which had taken place in one of the clauses of the Mutiny
Bill, persons enlisting in the army were taken from the
jurisdiction of Magistrates, so that when a man de-
serted his wife and family, and enlisted in
the army the country obtained the benefit of his ser-
vices, and his wife and family became chargeable on the
parish.
Mr. MACAULAY observed that a married man
who deceived the officer on enlisting by representing
that he was unmarried, was liable to puiaishment under
the present military law.
Sir H. HARDINGE said, when a regiment was
ordered on foreign service, only six wives were allowed
to follow each company, while it was well known, that the
married men were six times that number. The women
and chi:dren then had to go to their parishes, so
that he saw no difference between the case ofa married
soldier and one who enlisted after his marriage.
After a few words from Lord SOMERSET and Mr.
HUME as to the inconvenience attending the present sys-
tem of carrying baggage on marches, the clauses were
agreed to.
The House then resumed, and Mr. BERNAL brought
up the Report.
The House then went into Committee on the Marine
Mutiny Bill.
The several clauses were agreed to and the House re-
sumed.

The Report was ordered to be received to-morrovf.
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.

Mr. WALLACE then rose to bring forward the
motion of which be had given notice. His ob-
ject was to show that for three or four years
past a practice had prevailed of havine political
-
clubs established in the University of' Glasgow,
which were encouraged by the professors and at-
tended by them. He believed such a system
to be extremeiy dangerous to the youth, who were
sent to the University for the purpose of education,
and that it was also most unwarrantable and impolitic.
He had himself been applied to to become a member of
the Liberal Association of the University of Glasgow ;
but he refused, because he thought it inconsistent, and
unbecoming the character of that Institution to convert
it into a political ,arena. He was aware that a very
able public person, who was now no more (Sir D. K.
Sandford), presided over the first meeting of the Uni-
versity Peel Club ; and gentlemen who belonged to his
country, and especially to the west part of Scotland,
must know that in respect to the junior classes espe-
cially, the colleges might more properly be designated
Grammar Schools, as a large proportion of the lads
were no more than fourteen or fifteen years of age. He
would put it to the Right Hon. Gentleman the
Member for Tamworth. whether it was a course which
he could defend in the face of the country, to induce
youths of the ages he had mentioned to congregate for
political purposes, or to go to convivial meetings, to sit
there for hours, to be excited by speeches and
toasts, and to indulge in wine ad libitum —(A
laugh)—in which the Right Honourable Baronet
knew very well they were in no ways restrained.
He hoped to have the support of Hen. Members op-
posite, and that they would think it their duty to
assist him in putting down this nuisance, as he would
term it. He found no less than five Professors of the
University were in the habit of attending these Tory con-
vivial meetings, but he had letters from three Pro-
fessors declining to become members of the Liberal
Association, which was instituted in opposition to the
Peel Club, and expressing their disapprobation of per-
sons in their situation lending themselves to any such
societies. He would not waste the time of the House
by reading those letters, but would mention the names
of the writers. They were Professors Nichol, James
Thomson, and Thomas Thomson. Having read these
names, he would read the names of those Professors
who belonged to the Peel Club. They were Jeffery,
Flaming, Members of the Club, and Principal Mac-
forelane, Dr. Cowper, and Mr. Ramsay. He trusted he
was not misrepresenting any of these gentlemen, for he
believed he had received his information on good autho-
rity. School-boys required more care than those who
had sttained more mature age, until which, fortunately,
in England and in Ireland, youth were not permitted
to resort to the Universities.—(The Hon. Gentleman
hero having occasion to stop for a few moments to re-
fer to some documents, there were cries of " Question"
from the Opposition, on which he remarked that he
could not read so well by the wax-candles as he could
have done by the nude light. The Peel Club was chiefly
employed in nominating the Lord Rector. That the
students should desire to elect to that high office sonic
leader of one or other of the two great political parties,
was quite natural. But the question was one of prin-
ciple—whether such things were advisable and benefi-
cial for a seminary of learning ? He would just state
to the House the two last toasts which were drank at
the meeting of the Pe& Club—the one was " the Ope-
rative Conservative Association of Glasgow," and the
other was " the Progress of Conservative principles in
the University."--(Hear, hear.) He did not find
any thing in this Club which bore the least
resemblance to an association established for literary
purposes ; it was established solely for the purpose of
securing the election of a Lord Rector of Conserva-
tive principles—and when he looked at the state of
wrangling which must in consequence be established
among th members of the College he thought he was
justified in asserting that the formation of such a club
must lead to their neglecting their studies. He felt he
should have no right to ask for such a return as re-
garded a private club, but as the University was a
public establishment, supported at the public expense,
he hoped that the returns would be granted, so that
the public might know whether or not any of the Pro-
fessors of Glasgow were members of those political ,
clubs. He asked for these returns with a view to
,`eund ulterior measures, so as, if possible, to put
do wn this nuisance. The Honourable Gentleman con-
clueled by moving for a return showing in columns the
namcs and status of the Office-bearers and Professors
in the University of Glasgow .who have enrolled, or are
now members of the political club call the University
Peel Club, together with the names of those of the
above who have held or now holy honorary offices
therein, or who attend the convivial or other meetings
thereof, with the name of the offices held by each, to-
gether wi,..11 the whole number of students, and that of
those from each class of the University in the said
Club, and the probable age of the youngest students be-
longing to the Logic, Greek, and Latin classes ; also
the date of the origin of the Club, the place or places
of the meetings of the aforesaid Club, and whether
they are held within or without the College walls ; and
similar returns as respects the Glasgow University Li-
beral Association.
Mr. HUME seconded the motion.

On the question being put,

Mr. COLQUHOUN said that among the motions
of the Hon. Member for Greenock, the one then be-
fore the House appeared to him to stand without a pa-
rallel. What, he would ask, had the House to do with
the p.roceedings of the young gentlemen of the Uni-
versity al Glasgow? Among the duties enjoined on
them, was there not that of choosing a Lord Rector
by popular election ? And yet, because these young
gentlemen bai..4 formed themselves into an association for
the purpose o.r arranging how that Rector was to be
chosen, they hAd incurred the censure of the lion.
Member for Greetiock, who had always put himself for-
ward as the advocate for popular rights and popular
elections,—( Hear,
hear.) At the meetings of the club
in question, speeches had been made by himself, and by
Hon. Friends around him, and he thought that the
Hon. Member, if he wished to be consistent with
himself, should have moved for a return of their names
also. Toasts had been proposed at these meetings, and
he thought that the Hon. Member would have done
well to ha‘'e moved for a return of these in addition.
He trusted the House would give no countenance to
the motion, otherwise they might just as well move for
similar returns from the Union of Cambridge, from the
Debating Society of Oxford, or from the Fox or Pitt
Clubs.. —(Hear, .and laughter.)
Mr. HUME oi:served that the lion. Gentleman who
had just sat down appeared to think it was of no im-
portance how the youth of the country conducted
thms,:lves.--(01i and laughter.) Instead of moving
simply for a return, his Hon. Friend the Member for
Gr eenock ought to have moved for a Committee of
In, The Hon. Gentleman opposite had alluded
to the Union of Catniwidge, and to other private clubs,
but he ivould..ask was the. public money voted to support
those private clubs? Tile Professors of Glasgow mere
pan,' by the country to set tvn example to students, and
ne,t to became political leaders, distracting society, and
defeating the object for which they were appointed,
namely, educati.on. Those Professors, instead of de-
voting their time to the promotion of education, had
devoted it to t f.,e propagation of political strife.
He knew that a Liberal Association had been formed,
but that was only est. %bindle(' as a counterpoise to the
Peel Club. Political s trife ought not to be allowed to
enter within walls that were intended for the diffusion
ofeduGclaatsigono,w, praying for and when a petition had been presented
from inquiry, be thought that it
was but right that an invest,.
cation should take place.
Sir J. GRAHAM had very'
much doubted whether

it was ins duty to address the house one such e leo-
tion.—( Hear, hear.) He thought the British public
would regard with amazement that discussion—that
they would believe the House did not duly appreciate
the vast national interests now at stake, and the value
of their precious time, when they were called upon to
consume it in a debate of that description.—(Cheers.)
But considering the connection he had with the Uni-
versity of Glasgow at the present moment, be could not
help saying a few words. In the first place, he begged
to call the attention of the House to one or two mis-
representations of fact (unintentional, no doubt) which
had fallen from the Honourable Gentleman opposite.
It had been imagined by the Hon. Member for
Greenock that these institutions were held forth as
literary institutions. It had been frequently avowed
that the institutions mentioned in the motion were
political institutions with political objects. Instead of
the Peel Club being the first club of a political charac•
ter, founded by the University of Glasgow, the fact was
directly the reverse. The Campbell Club had existed
for some time, and its avowed object was to influence the
elections of Lord Rectors, and it was in consequence
of certain parties having been re-elected by their own
casting votes, given in their own favour, that a strong
political feeling was created in the University against that
monopoly of distinction in connection with party
politics. In 1836, upon the election of the Right
Hon. Baronet, the Member for Tamworth, for the
purpose of counteracting the influence of the Camp-
bell Club, which then existed, the Peel Club was
founded. But he would ask whence arose all this
coyness and unwillingness to have political subjects dis-
cussed. They had it from the highest authority, that
permanency was given to institutions by agitation,
but it appeared that the dissemination of political prin-
ciples emanating from those societies gave alarm to
Hon. Gentlemen opposite.—( Laughter, and cries of
" Hear, hear.") Two Hon. Gentlemen sitting oppo-
site—members of the Government (Mr. Fox Maule
and Mr. Robert Steuart)—had recently returned from
a Scotch election.—( Laughter.) They now knew what
were the political sentiments of the county of Perth.
The Hon. Member for Greenock appeared to be very
uneasy about the dissemination of those principles—
had they already begun to produce some effect ?
( Hear, hear, and laughter.) Probably there would be
a change En the representation for Glasgow.—(Hear,
hear, and laughter). Whence all this coyness and ap-
prehension? While the Campbell Club alone assisted.
and while there was a monopoly of political power and
patronage, not a word of complaint was heard.—( Hear,
hear.) But since the system of open election, the party
of Hon. Gentlemen opposite had been defeated three
times, and then, and not till then, was a complaint,
which he must call trumpery, made.—(Cheers.) He
really felt for the Speaker when he put the motion
—( Hear, and laughter) for he observed that
Right Hon. Gentleman almost ashamed that a question
of that description should be brought before the House.
He (Sir J. Graham) scouted it altogether.—( Hear,
hear.) But then the Hon. Gentlemen opposite rested
their motion upon the ground that the public supported
the University. Now among all the desires of her Ma-
jesty's Government to promote education, he did not
observe they had been inclined to sustain that valuable
institution by a grant of public money. Last year there
was a grant withheld—withheld on grounds entirely in-
explicable, and quite insufficient.—(Hear, hear, hear.)
At that moment no connection whatever existed be-
tween the Treasury and the University of Glasgow.—
(Hear, hear.) Although her Majesty had been advised
to exercise her power of granting additional Professor-
ships, yet her Majesty had not been advised as yet to
endow them.—( Hear, hear.) They had been created
but they were unendowed. The public did not contri-
bute one shilling to the expenses of the University, and if
arguments were wanting to oppose such a motion as
this, he would add, that while they withheld all aid from
an institution of that description, they were seeking to
inquire into the political sentiments and political pro-
ceedings of those who were not so young as had been
described, but who were between eighteen and twenty,
and quite as competent to form political opinions as the
Hon. Member for Greenock.—(Cheers and laughter.)
Mr. DENNISTOUN would not have risen if the
Right Hon. Gentleman had not informed him that the
city he had the honour of representing was about to
change its representative. That Right Hon. Gentle-
man ought to have been the lest person to have made
such a statement, although he doubted he spoke feel-
ingly upon the subject ; for if he (Mr. Dennistoun)
remembered rightly, the Right Hon. Gentleman at one
time represented a great northern county.—(Hear, hear,
and laughter.) The same majority that returned the
present Member for Perthshire turned the Right Hon.
Baronet himself out of the great northern county.—
( Hear, hear, from Sir J. Graham.) But Hon. Gentle-
men opposite had stated that it was too bad to take
up the time of the public with such a motion
as this.—(Hear, hear.) For himself, he must say
that during the last week he had attended three days
in that House at four o'clock, and had been unable to
make a House, and upon no one of those three days
had he seen either the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir J.
Graham) or the Hon. Member for Kilmarnock present.
—(Laughter, and cries of " Oh, oh," from the Opposi-
tion.) They might make the most of it. They com-
plained of the public._ time being taken up ' - but why
did they not attend to their duty and make a House ?
(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He must protest against
the doctrine that had been laid down, that it was a right
and proper thing for the youth of the Universities to
be instructed in political partisanship. There were a
greater number from 14 to 18 than from 18 to 20. He
himself entered the University at the age of twelve and
a half years, and was not older than a great number
of his fellow students. The Liberal Association was
formed in consequence of the Peel Club, but one of
the fundamental rules of the Liberal Association was,
that the instant the Peel Club was dissolved the Libe-
ral Association should he at an end, and he promised
that that would be the case.—(lronical cries of " Hear,
hear" from the Opposition.)
Mr. WARBURTON said that if the object of the
motion of his Hon. Friend had been to prevent politi-
cal discussion, he would not have agreed with it; but the
question was, whether it was advisable the youth at
that University should separate themselves into dis-
tinct parties, assisted by Professors, and carry on dis-
cussions upon political subjects with all that acrimony
which belonged to the meetings of those of a greater age.
The Hon. Gentleman read extracts from the evidence
given by Principal Macfarlane and six Professors of the
University of Glasgow, from which it appeared that the
average age of the students in the Latin and Greek
classes was 14 years ; that many entered between the
ages of 11 and 12, and some of them had known stu-
dents under 10 ; yet the youngest boy had the same
voice in the election of Lord Rector us the most emi-
nent member of the University ; that the elections
were frequently tumultuous and riotous, and
led to great insubordination on the part of the
students. These were the opinions of the whole
of the Professors who had given evidence,
excepting one, and if such were the results of the elec-
tion for Lord Rector, which occurred at different pe-
riods, what results might they expect to flow from the
constant existence of these political clubs ? He did not
think that it was a question upon which they ought to
come to a vote, or to engage the labours of a Commit.
tee, but as it was before the House, let them meet it
honestly, for no man could approve of the Professoss
and Students being mixed in such clubs.
Sir R. PEEL—When the subject is before the
House, let us act honestly by it, said the Hon. Mem-
ber for Bridport, and what was his own conduct ? He
had been in possession of the evidence which he had
read to the House for a period of nine years, and until
the present time it had been allowed to slumber on their
shelves. Why was that ? The reason was obvious—at
that period, and for a long course of years, the office
of Lord Rector had been held by gentlemen of the
same party as the Hon. Gentlemen opposite.—(Cheers.)
But now when a turn had taken place in the political
feelings of the youths attending that University, when
the office of Lord Rector has become Conservative,
then Hon. Gentlemen come down and say let us act
honestly, and. complain of that practice, of which so
long as it benefited themselves they never heard a
word.—(Cheers.) Would the Hon. Member not have
acted quite as honestly if he bad not contented himself
with quoting the evidence given by the Professors, but
have gone on and put the House in possession of the
opinion of the Commissioners upon the point. The
Professors were against the power of election being
lodged in the students of the University, but the Com-
missioners reported that great advantages arose from
the election of the Lord Rector being vested in the
young men. The right had existed from 1727 ; ever
since that period the young men had been invited to
take part in the election, and they had exercised
that right in a manner satisfactory to his mind. When
he saw them elevate to the Rectorship such men as
Mr. Cockburn, Mr. Jeffrey, the Marquis of Lansdowne,
and other eminent men, he would pause before he would
consent to that right being taken away. To come doer'
to his own election in 1836, who opposed him upon that
occasion ? Why the Attorney-General, a most eminent
Scotchrnan, holding the highest legal rank which could
be held by a Member of that House. The friends of
the Attorney-General did not think with the Professors
quoted by the Hon. Member fur Bridport ; they were
not afraid of creating tumultuous assemblies and riots
by a contested election. However, the Attorney-Ge-
neral was soundly beaten, and the club was instituted,
He frankly acknowledged that it was a political club,
formed for the purpose of supporting Conservative can-
didates and the spread of Conservative doctrines. Would
a majority of that House descend so low as because
a turn had taken place in the public mind, when a re-
action had set in against them, to establish such a pre-
cedent as would be set by the inquiry called for by the
Hon. Member for Greenock ? The Hon. Member for
Glasgow had offered tht, upon the dissolution of the
Peel Club, there would be an immediate dissolution of
the Liberal Association ; but he at once told him
that he would not have the apportunity—for the mem-
bers of that club knew that they had got the vantage-
ground—they would not yield a foot's breadth—for they
felt that the offer made, if accepted by them, would be
exchanging their gold for copper.—(Laughter and

cheers). It ouid not ee Li' 't '
into such an inquiry—if they did, where were they to
end ? It might be said that the Church ought not to
interfere in elections ; but he would go no farther, for
the House must see that the inquiry, once en-
tered upon, must be interminable—it was one of
the distinguishing marks of a free country, that
they must permit the exercise of free discussion.
Nothing could be more intolerant than for the House
to set an example of interference with a convivial body.
He was glad the debate had arisen, for it had recalled
to his mind his visit to Glasgow, and his connection
with its University. Of no part of his political life
was he more proud than of the reception he there met
with, and he never heard it mentioned without feelings
of pride and satisfaction, and with an earnest desire of
doing all in his power for its prosperity. His Hon.
Friend behind him had suggested that the motion ought
to include the toasts given at the club. Now, the
character of a toast might depend much upon the song
which followed it. He found one toast in the book ;
it might be a political one, but he confessed he could
not see it ; it was that of " the Treasurer."—(A laugh.)
The song which followed was " Money in both
pockets"—(Loud laughter)—so that if the song were
true, the club was in a very flourishing condition. He
called upon the House not to begin such an inquiry ;
it would end in being a most odious inquisition upon
opinion—a censorship of sentiment and political feeling,
which he hoped the majority of the House of Commons
would not set up.
Mr.- F. MAULE, ever since he had seen the mo-
tion upon the paper, had endeavoured to persuade his
Hon. Friend to withdraw his motion.—( Hear, hear.)
But it was to be remembered that the Hon. Member
for Greenock was not a member of the Liberal
Association, and that that association had not an
opportunity of measuring its strength.—(Cries of
" Last year.") He for one objected to the power of
election residing in the youth of the College, and how-
ever little objection there might be to the boys
meeting and holding such disquisitions as they
pleased, he believed that was the first instance in
which professors mixed in political clubs with stu-
dents.—( Hear, hear.) The Professors might carry those
political feelings into the class room—,,hey might show
great partiality and interest in the advancement of those
belonging to their own clubs, while they neglected
those belonging to their opponents. He trusted that
that discussion would induce the Professors to withdraw
themselves from their respective clubs, and abstain from
taking any part in them in future.
Mr. WALLACE replied, that although the Right
Honourable Gentlemen opposite who were Lords
Rectors of the University of Glasgow, had no hesita-
tion in finding fault with the time of the House being
occupied in bringing forward this motion, they had un-
scrupulously indulged in wasting its time far more than
he had done, as the length of time each had taken
would manifest. But they had not only wasted the time
of the House with frivolous and irrelevant matter, for
each had studiously avoided speaking to the points which
he had submitted as matters of complaint, deserving of
being put put an end to. Not one of them had said a
word of Professors at the head of the University leading
the tender youths committed to their care into the
mazes of political controversy and the orgies of political
convivial meetings.—( Hcar, hear.) Their friends, the
professors, with the Principal at their head, were care-
fully left out of sight, as were the places of mectir.g
within the walls of the college.—(Hear.) These were
the points of which he complained, and nothing which
had fallen from either of the Right Hon. Gentlemen had
in the slightest degree altered his opinion. The Greek
class-room exhibited the first meeting of the University
Peel Club, and its late distinguished professor (Sir D.
Sandford) was the first chairman of that political asso-
ciation ; these were facts undenied by those who op-
posed this motion.—(Hear.) But there were other facts
still more important, viz., the open declaration by the
two Lords Rectors opposite of the Glasgow University
Peel Club being ostensibly for the purpose of promoting
political principles, and these Right Hon. Gentlemen,
whose bounded duty it was to advise by precept and ex-
ample the mere children, which very many of the stu-
dents deserve to be called, unblushingly admitted their
encouraging and approving University political disputa-
tion, and their attendance at convivial meetings. These
facts would now go openly before the public—(Hear,
hear)—and enable the citizens of Glasgow, and the pa-
rents and guardians of youth generally, to learn what sort
of intermixture of political excitement and acrimony
the students of the Universit7 would receive along with
their studies. The Right Hon. Baronet had alleged
that the Peel Club had made itself happy to the tune
of " Money in both pockets," and they had a good
right to do so, for the Professors, who patronized and
encouraged them, had one pocket filled from the State-
purse, and another from the parents of the youths
who were sent to the University for far different pur-
poses than becoming political partizans in support of the
views of their professors in the choice of Lords Rectors.
It was true that at present these Professors, in conse-
quence of a dispute, had no public money in their
pockets, but their present Lord Rector had intimated
his intention of again placing them as recipients of pub-
lic money ; and when the estimates came forward would
be the time for him (Mr. Wallace) to move certain
resolutions, to the effect that no Professot who to con-
ducted himself should receive public pay. He would
only-express his belief of great injury being likely to be
done to the University of Glasgow from the promulga-
tion made this night of the manner in which politics
were encouraged.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon.
Baronet the Member for Pembroke, had said that the
Campbell Club was a political one ; he (Mr. Wallace)
begged to set him right, that it never had been, nor was
it so now—it was a literary club, and had never been
held in the Greek clash-room, nor anywhere else
within the College walls. The Hon. Member then with-
drew his motion, assuring the House that he would not
neglect his duty when the estimates came on.
After a few words from Sir J. GRAHAM the mo-
tion was withdrawn.
THE lONIAN ISLANDS.
Lord C. FITZROY rose to move for a copy of the
despatch to the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian
Islands from the Colonial-office, conveying an order for
the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly of those
islands in October last, on account of a difference be-
tween that body and the Senate, relative to the Bth
article, 3d section, chap. 6 of the Constitution, under
which the Legislative Assembly claimed a right inde-
pendent of the Senate.
Mr. VERNON SMITH said in the present thin
state of the House he should not enter into a discus-
sion of the question to which the Noble Lord's motion
referred. He had no objection to the production of the
copy of the despatch, and should reserve his reply until
he had ascertained whether the Noble Lord meant to
found any specific motion thereon.
The return wa: then agreed to.
Mr. P. SCROPE obtained leave to bring in a Bill
to amend and explain the Parochial Assessments Act.
Mr. SLANEY moved that the following gentlemen
be appointed to the Select Committee on the health of
towns :—Lord James Stuart, Lord Viscount Sandon,
Mr. John Ponsonby,Mr. Greene, Mr. Richard Walker,
Mr. Wilson Patten, Sir Harry Verney, Mr. Baines,
Mr. Oswald, Mr. Tuffnell, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. log.
ham, and Mr. William Smith O'Brien.
GERMAN COMMERCIAL LEAGUE.

Mr. WODEHOUSE begged to withdraw the
motion of which he had given notice, the copy of Dr.
Bowring's Report having been that day placed in the
hands of Hon. Members. He thought the thanks of
the House were due to Dr. Bowring for the able man-
ner in which that Report had been prepared.
CORONER OF MIDDLESEX.

Mr. WAKLEY said it would be in the recollection
of Hon. Members that previous to 1837 the expense
of the Coroners of Middlesex had been paid out
of the Poor's-rate. It was then stated that it
was inconsistent with the objects for which
these rates were levied, to defray the 'expenses of
coroners, and the Solicitor-general introduced a bill to
remove the defects. By the, next act, the Magistrates
had very 'extraordinary powers conferred on them.
They were empowered to alter and vary the schedule of
expense ; but it gave the same power to rescind what
had been previously done. In the County of Mid-
dlesex, however, the Magistrates had thought it their
duty to rescind some of the provisions of the consta-
bles and beadles, who telt themselves unjustly deprived
of certain fees they were entitled to recover. Under
these circumstances, feeling that it was necessary that
some new enactment should take place, he thought it
advisable, not being aware that any opposition was in-
tended, to move the appointment of a Committee, in
order to bring the facts fully before the House. The
Honourable member concluded by moving for a Select
Committee, to inquire into any measures which have
been adopted for carrying into effect, in the County of
Middlesex, the provisions of the Act 1 Vic c. 68, and
also into any proceedings of the Justices of the Peace
in relation to the office of Coroner in the said County ;
with power to send for persons, papers, and records, and
to report thereon to the House.
Colonel WOOD begged leave most decidedly to
oppose the motion. In the first place, the inquiry
should be general, and not confined to the county of
Middlesex. He was not aware of any complaint the
Hon. Member had to make against the Magistrates ;
they had framed a schedule of fees under the Act
Ist Viet., which had not been objected to by the other
Coroner. He thought the Hon. Member ought not
to make use of his station as a Member of the House
to institute inquiries for his own particular purposes ;
if he wished an inquiry, he should make it a general
one, and not as to those Magistrates alone whose duty
it was to see his accounts were correct,
' Mr. HUME agreed with the Hon. Member that
inquiry should not be confined to the county of Middle-
sex, and would suggest to his Hon. Fiiond to make it
a general one, which should be agreeable to all parties.
Mr. WAKLEY said he should accede to the sug-
gestion of his Hon. Friend, to extend the inquiry gene-
rally. (The Hon. Member altered his motion accord-
ingly.)

Sir THOMAS FREMANTLE said he was pre-
pared to object to the original motion—he objected to it
stiil more strongly as amended—for the Huu. Member

uo wouud6 viever wou1:1 jusrliy
House
.in acceding to it , the true grounds for the mo-
tion ought to be stated to the House. The Hon.
Gentleman stated that the magistrates had exceeded
their power in rescinding the table of fees, but be
found the Act of Parliament gave them the power of
altering and varying it, which he thought was equivalent
to the power of rescinding. Hr should divide the
House, on the ground that no sufficient reasons had
been given for the motion.
Alderman WOOD thought a Committee should be
appointed, as a change would take place in consequence
of the adoption of the new Rare' Police Act.
After a few words from Lord Palmerston in support
o! the motion, and from Colonel Wood in explanation,
and Mr. tremble against it,

Mr. 1V AK LEY replied. He thought he was not
treated fairly by Hon. Gentlemen opposite. He asked,
was that House to be detained by any lengthened
statement? Again, ought he, when moving for a Com-
mittee of Inquiry, to have attacked the character of
t hose who were not there to defend thernselves-7-4 WaS
not to be supposed, if a Committee ►were to be ap-
pointed, that he could influence it. He was ready, if
desired, to go into a general inquiry—but he believed
such a one was not called for—he had not moved for
the Committee in an invidious or hostile spirit, but be-
cause he believed matters of great importance would
he elicited by it. It was true there were parties with
whom he was contending, but not in that House, and
he was ready to contend with them out of it, and be-
lieved they would be defeated. He should be glad if
the Hon. Members opposite would be of that Commit-
tee. He believed the Magistrates misconstrued the
law. The office of Coroner was greatly calculated to
prevent the increase of crime, and it was of the utmost
importance that it should be properly exercised.
After a few words from Mr. Cripps and Sir Thomas
Fremantle, in explanation, the House divided, when
there appeared—

For the motion 3l
Against it l7
Majority in favour of the motion —l4
TITHE COMMUTATION ACT AMEND-