The Sun.
London, England, 1840-07-31 00:00:00

bunal from which the public would be excluded. If
such a tribunal were established, the clergy would he
reduced to a state of spiritual bondage.
Mr. WA KLEY said that the Bill could remedy no
evil which the existing law might not remedy. But he
objected to it besides, inasmuch as it appeared to him to
revive the ancient Inquisition in its most odious form.
It was a measure, he was sure, introduced by some med-
dling Bishop, who would be the person least likely to
exercise the power which it gave with prudence, with
temper, or forbearance. The Hon. Member concluded
by moving the omission from the clause of the words
which authorised Bishops to institute inquiries into the
characters of clergymen against whom evil reports might
have circulated.
Sir DE LACY EVANS objected to the excessive
powers given by the clause.
Dr. NICHOLL would persist in pressing the
clause on the consideration of the House. He did not
think that it gave the Bishops any power of which the
parochial elegy could complain.
After a few words from Mr. PRIM and Captain
PECHELL, the amendment was withdrawn.
Mr. WARBURTON then moved the omission of
the words which gave the bishop the power of instituting
the inquiry on his own mere motion.
Dr. NICHOLL considered that the Bishop was
from his position the most fitting person with whom
the inquiry should originate.
Mr. WARBURTON would withdraw the amend-
ment, but he would divide against the clause.
The question being then put that the clause should
stand part of the Bill,
Mr. WARBURTON moved the omission of the
clause.

Lord MORPETH hoped that the Hon. Member
would not divide the House on the subject, but would
allow the Chairman to report progress.
Mr. WARBURTON felt it his duty to persevere
in dividing the house upon the clause.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but no di-
vision took place.
The House resumed, and the Chairman then re-
ported progress.
The Militia Ballot Suspension Bill was read a second
time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow,
The Militia Pay Bill was read a second time, and or-
dered to be committed.
The Notices of Election Bill was reported, and the
Bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.
PAROCHIAL ASSESSMENTS BILL.

On the question that the Report on this Bill should
be agreed to, _ _ .

Captain PECHELL moved that the words 51.
should be struck out of the 4th clause, and the words
20s. inserted, the Hon. and Gallant Member consider-
ing that 51. was too heavy a penalty.
Mr. P. SCROPE had already lowered the penalty
from 201. to Si., and be considered that the clause
would be inoperative if the penalty was further reduced.
After a few words from Mr. HODGES and Captain
PECHELL, the amendment was withdrawn.
The Report was then agreed to, and the Bill was
ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.
The second reading of the Coal Duties' Bill was
postponed till to-morrow, as was also the third reading
of the Railways Bill.
BOROUGH OF BIRMINGHAM.

On the motion of Mr. F. MAULE, the House re-
solved itself into a Committee, in which the Hon. Mem-
ber proposed a resolution, on which he intended to found
a Bill, to enable the Lords Commissioners of the Trea-
sury to advance money to provide for the administration
of justice in the borough of Birmingham.
The Report was ordered to be received to-morrow.