The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-04 00:00:00

MINORCA.

The Earl of COLCHESTER wished to withdraw
the motion of which he had given notice respecting cer-
tain proceedings of the French Government with regard
to the Island of Minorca ; he wished, first of all, however,
to offer a few observations on the course he had intended
to pursue, and the motives which influenced him. The
Island of Minorca had many natural advantages, pos-
sessing, as it did, one of the finest harbours in the Medi-
terranean, and being situated between Spain and Africa,
and commanding, in some measure, the trade of that part
of Europe. He had thought that their Lordships
should, on these accounts, have their attention called to
any attempt on the part of France to seize on the Island.
But, as he had since understood from her Majesty's Go-
vernment, that some of the papers on the subject could
not be given, and as he had also learned that they would
lay all the others on the table which it would be ad-
visable to make public, he begged leave to withdraw the
motion of which he had given notice.
The motion was then withdrawn., and the House ad-
journed at a Quarter past Seven.

HOUSE OF COMIIION,S FBI. 3.

The SPEAKER took the Chlir at the usual hour.

Lord CLEMENTS presented a petition from
Leitrim, praying for extension of the franchise in
Ireland.

Mr BARNABY presented a petition from Hog!cy,
in the county of Worcester, praying for Church
Extension.

Mr. VILLIERS presented two petitions from the
county of York, praying for the total repeal of the
Corn-laws.

Mr. NEELD presented a petition from Chippen-
ham, praying tor Church Extension.
Air. BAINES presented petitions from Stanmore
and other places in Essex for the abolition of Church-
rates, and the discharge of John Thorogood.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE presented a petition from
the county of Tyrone, praying for the extension of tte
elective franchise, and for municipal reform in Ireland.
Mr. BROTHERTON presented two petitions from
merchants of Manchester, in favour of the Designs and
Patterns Protection Bill.

Mr. W. COWPER presented a petition from Hert-
ford, praying for the abolition of Church-rates, and the
discharge of John Thorogood.
Sergeant CURREY presented a petition from Ire-
land, praying for the extension of the elective franchise.
Mr. REDDINGTON presented a petition from
Galway, praying for municipal reform, and extension of
the elective franchise in Ireland.

Mr. PRESHFIELD brought up the Report of the
Committee on Public Petitions.

Sir E. KNATCHBULL presented petitions from
Kent, praying for Church Extension.

Mr. J. M. O'CONNELL, presented a petition
from the County of Kerry, praying for the Extension
of the Election Franchise in Ireland.

Mr. O'CONNELL presented a number of petitions
from the counties of Wexford, Clare, Antrim, Kilkenny,
Down, Tyrone, Waterford, Donegal, Limerick, Ar-
magh, and Queen's County, praying for the extension
of the elective franchise, and for municipal reform in
Ireland.

Mr. DE HORSEY presented petitions from New-
castle-under-Lyme, and several other places, praying for
Church Extension.

Mr. A. WHITE presented a petition from Sunder
land against the Corn-laws.

Mr: WILBRAHAM presented a petition from
Congleton, in Cheshire, praying that the House would
appoint a Committee to examine Mr. R. Owen as to
the means he had devised for the amelioration of the
condition of the human race.

Lord G. SOMERSET presented a petition from
Monmouth, praying for Church Extension.
Mr. D. BRO WNE presented a petition from Aglish,
in the County of Mayo, for a further Extension of the
Franchise in Ireland, and also for Corporate Reform
in that country.
Mr. SOMERS presented petitions to a similar effect
from Sligo and other parts of Ireland.
Mr. AINSWORTH presented a petition from the
Socialists of Bolton praying the House to appoint a
Committee to inquire into the principles of Mr. Robert
Owen. Though he (Mr. A.) repudiated the principles
of the petitioners, yet, as the petition was properly
worded, he considered it his duty to present it.
Sir H. FLEETWOOD presented a petition from
Preston to the same effect.

Sir W. FOLLETT presented a petition from Exe-
ter, praying for an extension of Church accommodation.

... _
Mr. h \VA RT presented a petition from a place in
Ess,x, praying for the liberation of Mr. Thorogood.
The Report on the Bristol Port Improvement Bill
was brought up. _

Mr. 13A KII:Y presented petitions from certain pa-
rishes in the county of Cork, for an extension of the
elective franchise in Ireland.

Mr. F. SHAW presented a petition from certain in-
habitants of a parish in Suffolk calling for further Church
accommodation.
THE PRIVILEGE CASE.

Sir EDWARD SUGDEN presented a petition
signed by 599 members of the bar, 27 of whom we•e
Queen's Counsel and Sergeants-at-Law, stating that
the petitioners had heard with alarm of the recent pro-
ceedings of that House, in committing to the custody of
the Sergeant-at-Arms a plaintiff for bringing an action
in the Court of Queerils Bench and the Sheriffs,
for executing the judgment of the Court. The• Hon.
and Learned Member stated that no document ever
came before that House entitled to greater attention,
because every one knew the reluctance which the Bar
felt in coming forward, except on very great occasions,
with any petition, and this petition was signed by men
of every grade of political opinions.—(Hear, hear.)
The petitioners prayed that the parties in custody
might be discharged. He begged to move that the pe-
tition be printed.
The SPEAKER—Does the Right Hon. Gentleman
intend to found any motion upon it ?
Sir E. SUGDEN—Certainly I shall, Sir.
The petition was then ordered to be printed with
the votes.

Mr. LEADER presented a petition from several in-
habitants of London, stating they had heard with ex-
treme regret, notwithstanding the opinion of the Judges,
that Frost, Williams, and Jones, were about to be tran-
sported for life. The petitioners considered that they
ought to receive free pardon, and, therefore, prayed
the House to address her Majesty on the subject.
The Hon. Member stated that he coincided with the
views taken by the petitioners, and as he intended to
call the attention of the House to the subject, he begged
to move that the petition be printed with the Votes.
Ordered.
Mr. M. O'FERRALL brought up the Navy Es-
timates, which were laid on the table.
On the motion of Sir T. FREEMANTLE leave of
absence was given to Lord Francis Egerton, Mr. John
Stuart, Sir Hugh Campbell, Mr. R. Trevor, Sir S.
Canning, Mr. Wilson Jones, Lord Lowther, Mr. Dawson
Dinner, and several other Hon. Members.
On the motion of Mr. O'CONNELL, leave of ab-
sence was given to Mr. Maher.
On the motion of Colonel CONOLLY, for Mr. S.
Maxwell.
On the motion of Sir R. HERON, for Mr. Fa-
zakerley.
THE NEW ACT FOR THE TRIAL OF ELEC-
TIONS. THE FIRST ELECTION COM-
MITTEE UNDER IT.

The SPEAK bithen said, I beg to lay before the
House my first wak rant, for the appointment of an
Election Committee under the New Act.—( Hear.)
The warrant was read by the Clerk, and was as fol-
lows :

" Pursuant to an Act passed in the 2d and 3d of
her present Majesty. for the Amendment of the Juris-
diction for the trial of controverted Elections, I hereby
appoint Thomas Green, William Milnes, The O'Con-
nor Don, W. Orde, E. Strutt, and J. Young, Esqrs.,
the Members of the General Committee for the trial
of disputed elections, during the present Session. C. S.
Lefevre, Speaker."
Sir ROBERT PEEL wished to ask, if any of the

Members for whom I,iave of absence had been obtained
should hereafter appear in the House, before the period
of leave had expired, whether they would not then be
liable to serve on Committees?
Lord J. RUSSELL said that was the rule of the
House.—(Hear, hear.) Leave of absence expired
when they re-appeared.
Oa the moot on of Mr. R. STEWART, leave of
absencsi for a month, or till Easter, was given to Sir R.
Fergussen, to Mr. Fitzgibbon, Mr. L. White, and
Lord Duncan.

On the motion of Col. CON OLLY, leave of absence
was granted to Sir Robert Bateson, on account of
illness.

The SPEAKER then proceeded to read the names
of the Members, according to the provision of the New
Act for the trial of controverted elections, in order that
Members exempt from serving upon Election Com-
mittees should state their ground of exemption upon
their names being called.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, on his name being
called, said he was sorry to be under the necessity of
claiming exemption upon the ground of the pressure of
his public duties. He would be most will►ng to take
his part in the labours of the House ; but he could de-
clare conscientiously that he could not sit upon Election
Committees without neglecting the duties of his office.
Lord J. RUSSELL moved that Sir John Campbell
be excused from serving upon Election Committees.
Sir GEORGE CLERK begged to ask whether
the excuse required was to be a permanent one, in the
case of the Attorney-General? as, if so, it would of
course become a precedent for excusing every person
holding the same office. Or, was it on account of
some peculiar or temporary pressure of public business
the Attorney-General desired to be excused ? If that
was the case a limited time ought to be stated.
Mr. GREEN thought that it would be a more con-
venient course if, at present, the names of Hon. Members
claiming exemption should only be set down, and that
the discussion should be taken to-morrow.

Sir G. CLERK said the Act was imperative, and
the exemption must be decided upon at once.
Sir E. SUGDEN thought this question one of great
importance. He admitted that the business of the Attor-
ney-General might be a sufficient excuse for his not serving
on Committees. But there were many Members of that
House who were practising at the bar, and if the
Attorney-General employed in his private practice the
time which they were compelled to devote to
the business of the House, that would give him
an unfair advantage over them. His Honour-
able Friend the Attorney-General had an opportunity
of stating his objections to the Bill, whilst it was in
preparation ; and it had been suggested that Gentlemen
practising at the bar should be exempted. But the
Attorney-General was of opinion that they had no
peculiar claims to be excused. It was his
impression that if the House compelled practising
barristers to attend upon Election Commit tees
they would find it impossible to attend to their business
at the bar, and the result would be that the Courts
would not be able to sit. It might be said that other
barristers might be found who would do their duty in
their absence, but he (Sir E. Sugden) thought
there would be a great difficulty on that point.
It would therefore be an advantage, not to the bar, but
to the pubic generally, to excuse members of the bar
altogether. If they were forced to sit on Committees,
it would be the means of excluding them altogether
from being Members of that House.—(A laugh.) He
thought there ought to be either a general exemption of
the whole bar, or no exemption at all.
Sir R. PEEL was ilecidedly opposed to any attempt
on the part of the gentleman at the bar to excuse them-
selves from sitting on Committees.—(Hear.) If he
compelled gentlemen of the bar to enter the House, he
should then certainly feel very much disposed to grant
what was asked ; but as they had the option of
coming into the House or not as they pleased,
ho thought that they were bound to serve. He believed
that %vim one Member was serving on a Committee
°the, gentlemen at the bar might be found to supply
his With respect to this individual ease he
was grieved at the necessity for the application ; he
could not consent to its being understood that the At-
torney-General was always to be exempt, but if the
exemption was allowed in the present instance it must he
stated that some peculiarity rendered it necessary,
and when that no longer existed he should move that
the Attorney-General fall into the general ranks of the
profession and be called upon to serve, and his support
must therefore depend on the specific excuse offered.
He should be sorry to establish the precedent that
future Attorney-Generals should be excused.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, he only
asked the favour on account of the peculiarity of his
present circumstances, and be did not ask it for the whole
Session, but if the House would grant it until Easter he
should be satisfied.

Lord J. RUSSELL moved that the Attorney-Ge-
neral be excused until Easter.
Sir F. POLLOCK asked whether it was the in-
tention to move for a similar exemption for the Soli-
citor-General.

Lord J. RUSSELL said he did not know whether
the Solicitor-General would require it, and that he
only asked it for the Attorney-General.
Sir R. PEEL said he had asked whether or not the
leave of absence for Lord Francis Egerton would ex-
pire upon his return to England. The words of the
Act of Parliament expressed that every Member who
should have leave of absence should be excused attend-
ance during such leave. He thought that instead of
the House giving Lord F. Egerton leave of absence,
until Easter, it should only have been given until his
return, otherwise such a practice would be a great
inducement to Members not to take their seats ; he,
therefore, thought exemption from serving on Elec-
tion Committees should be only during the absence of
Members from England.
Mr. Thomas Freemantle, Mr. Goulburn, and the
Speaker, made some observations, which were inaudible
in the g.dlery.

Sir ROBERT PEEL'S opinion was that the dura-
tion of the period during which leave of absence was
granted, should be always short, but to be renewed if
necessary.--( Hear, hear.)
It was then agreed that the Attorney-General should
be excused attending Election Committees until after
Easter,

Mr. MAUNSELL moved that Mr. W. R. Cart-
wright be excused, he being sixty years of age.

Agreed to.
The SPEAKER then proceeded with the names.
On the motion of Mr. ELIOT, Sir Rufane Donkin
was exempted, we believe, on account of age.
On the name of Lord J. RUSSELL being called,
the Noble Lord rose and said, Sir, I beg to state that,
during the period of my holding the office I at present
hold, I cannot attend Election Comm ttees, without
great inconvenience to the public service.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
likewise obtained exemption, on the same ground.
Lord PALMERSTON likewise was, for the same
reason, excused.

NATURALIZATION OF PRINCE ALBERT.

Mr. Baron ROLFE and Mr. Justice MAULS, brought
the Bill from the Lords for naturalizing Prince Albert,
which

On the motion of Lord J. RUSSELL, was read a
first an 3 second time.

SOCIALISM.

Lord ASHLEY gave notice, for Thursday, of an
Address to her Majesty, praying that the appointment
of Mr. Fair to the Registrarship of Marriages in Bir-
mingham be eancelled.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BAINES gave notice of a motion for leave to
bring in a Bill respecting first-fruifs and tenths.
LORD MONTEAGLE AND THE COMP-
TROLLERSHIP OF THE EXCHEQUER.

Mr. LIDDELL gave notice, for an early day, that
he would move for a copy of the warrant pensioning Sir
J. Newport, and of the appointment of Lord MonteAgle
to the Comptrollership of the Exchequer.—(llear.)
Mr. EW ART gave notice of a Bill for equalizing
the duties on East and West India rum.
EDUCATION.

Returns were ordered of the manner in which the
Education Grant for 30,0001. for 1839, has been
expended.

Likewise (on the motion of Sir J. Graham) of
Post-office appointments—(we did not hear what
dates.)
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
Lord J. RUSSELL stated, in answer to Sir R. In-
glis, that he should move, on Friday, the adjournment
of the House to Tuesday.
HIGH TREASON—CASES OF FROST,

JONES, AND WILLIAMS.
Mr. GODSON asked if the Government could in-
form the House if it were not true, that two out of the
three Judges, who had tried frost, Jones, and Wil-
liams, had not agreed that the point of law should be
decided in their favour ?

Mr. F. MAULE said he really could not answer
the question.--( Hear, hear.) All that the Noble Se-
t/try for the Home Department could be officially aware
of was, that the whole of the Judges had decided that
the conviction was good.
Mr. GODSON said he should move, on Thursday,
for the production of the papers, memorials, &c., in the
Home Office, respecting the affair.—(oh, oh.)
HANOVER.
Lord CASTLEREAGH asked if the Chancellor of
the Exchequer would lay before the House a statement
of the sums received by his late Maje=ty from Hanover.
The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
said he possessed no means of answering such an in-
quiry.—(Hear, hear.)
PRIVILEGE—MR. T. B. HOWARD.
The SPEAKER then said, the House is aware
that an order was made for the attendance of Mr.
Howard—will they hear from the Messenger what has
occurred ?

Thomas Styne, the Messanger, who had received
from the Sergeant the order, was then called, and
being examined by the Speaker, stated that he had
gone to Mr. Howard's residence, and that he was told
Mr. Howard was at Hull, where, however, he had not
been able to find him ; and he had been unsuccessful
in his search ever since.—(A laugh ) He had called
again repeatedly at the offices of Howard, but without